Yesterday, The Union Tribune in San Diego published an article addressing the use of alternative medicine for cancer patients. At this point herbal and dietary supplements haven’t been tested enough to say whether they can help or harm an individual working to prevent or treat cancer. Below you will see a number of different forms of alternative medicine. First, techniques that are believed by scientists to ease the symptoms one would face while battling cancer; second, techniques that are not considered to be helpful and possibly even harmful; and finally, forms of treatment that offer a risk of hormone or drug interaction.

Alternative Medicine That Can Ease Symptoms           

• Massages
• Mind-Body Techniques- Includes meditation, hypnosis, different relaxation    techniques, behavioral therapy, bio feedback , and guided imagery.
• Ginger Capsules- Used to work against nausea brought on by chemotherapy.
• Yoga and Tai Chi
• Music and Art Therapy
• Acupuncture- Deals with certain types of nausea, pain, dry mouth and hotflashes.

 Alternative Options That Do Not Help And Could Cause Harm

•  High doses of vitamin E, A, and possibly C
• Laetrile
• Chaparral
• Shark Cartilage
• Pau D’arco
• PC-SPES- a herbal concoction for prostate health

Alternative Options That Offer a Risk of Drug or Hormone Interaction

• St. John’s Wort- Lowers the effectiveness of many medications.
•  Fish oil, garlic, ginger,gingko, and feverfew- All bring on the risk of bleeding.
• Magnesium and thiazide- Does not react well with cisplastin and similar cancer drugs.
• Red clover, dong quai, licorice- Offer a hormonal risk for women.
• Folic Acid- Interferes with the cancer drug methotrexate.

 All of the above information came from SignOnSanDiego.Com, Society for Integrative Oncology, American Dietetic Association, various federal agency Web sites, and AP interviews.