Naturopathic doctors (NDs) believe that cancer
arises from an imbalance that causes a systemic
breakdown within the body. They help people
with cancer restore internal balance and build
their resistance to disease by empowering them
to make lifestyle and dietary changes. Naturopaths
prescribe natural therapies that can slow tumor
growth, strengthen the immune system, and enhance
the effectiveness of conventional therapy. Naturopathic
remedies can also relieve problems like inflammation
or insulin resistance caused by conventional
treatment. The naturopathic therapies that are
right for you will depend on your diagnosis,
state of health, and primary course
of treatment.
Naturopathic doctors
use a variety of therapies to
treat people with cancer, including:
Clinical nutrition. Naturopaths believe
that good nutrition is one of the
foundations of good health. Studies
show that people with cancer who
maintain high-quality nutrition fight
off secondary infections, recover more
quickly, and tolerate conventional
therapy better.
Depending on your needs, your
naturopathic doctor will probably
recommend dietary changes and
may supplement your diet with high-protein
shakes and vitamins, minerals,
and other nutrients usually taken in
pill form.
Acupuncture and acupressure. Among
the best-known procedures of traditional
Chinese medicine
(TCM), acupuncture and acupressure
are shown to relieve pain,
nausea of chemotherapy, and the side
effects of hormone therapies. Both
are based on the concept of Qi, or the
flow of life energy through the body.
Acupressure relies on the massage of
key energy points within the body
to realign Qi. Acupuncturists painlessly
insert thin needles into strategic
points in the body to redirect the flow
of energy.
Botanical medicine. Plants have been
used to treat medical conditions
since the beginning of civilization.
Today, 80% of the world’s population
uses botanical remedies, and many
drugs are plant-derived, including
some of the most powerful chemotherapy
agents.
Naturopaths use plant-based
medicines to fortify the body and
relieve symptoms. For example,
aromatic plants such as ginger, fennel, and mint can relieve nausea.
Green tea contains powerful cancer-fighting
compounds. Chinese herbs,
such as astragalus, are often used
to relieve symptoms and boost the
immune system.
Homeopathic medicine. Developed in
Germany in the late 19th century,
homeopathy is a system of medicine
that treats the symptoms and side
effects of cancer by stimulating the
body’s natural healing mechanisms.
Homeopathy embraces the philosophy
“like cures like,” using miniscule
doses of natural plant and mineral
substances that, in larger amounts,
would cause symptoms similar to
those of the illness. This encourages
the immune system to take action and
work to heal the underlying cause of
the symptoms.
Hydrotherapy. An extremely gentle
treatment, hydrotherapy can be used
internally to aid elimination of waste products, or externally
to stimulate blood flow and
boost cellular absorption of nutrients.
Many naturopaths recommend
that people with cancer drink eight
glasses of water a day. Purified or
bottled water is best, because it’s free
of chlorine and other chemicals. Your
ND may also use local application of
hot and cold compresses, a common
form of external hydrotherapy.
Natural cancer-fighting substances.
Certain natural substances have
been shown to be especially potent
in slowing the growth of tumors.
Your naturopathic physician might
recommend different agents, or
combinations of agents, based on
your diagnosis and treatment plan.