Every day, scientists learn more about complementary and alternative medicines, but there is still much more to discover. Some of the medicines described here require more study to confirm their efficacy. If you have cancer, you should talk to your doctor about utilizing complementary and alternative medicine before using any of the therapies indicated here.
CAM is sometimes referred to as “natural,” “holistic,” “home remedy,” or “Eastern Medicine.” Experts, on the other hand, frequently divide it into five groups. Below is a list of them, along with examples for each.
Mind–Body Therapies
To assist relax the body and mind, these exercises include mental focus, breathing, and body movements. Here are a few examples:
- Yoga: consists of a series of stretches and postures, with a focus on breathing.
- Tai Chi: is a calm, gentle form of exercise that emphasizes breathing and concentration.
- Meditation: is the practice of quieting the mind via focused breathing or the repeating of words or phrases.
- Hypnosis: is a calm and focused state of concentration in which a person focuses on a certain sensation, concept, or suggestion in order to help in healing.
- Biofeedback: The patient learns how to control some physiological activities that are ordinarily unnoticed using basic equipment (such as heart rate).
- Imagery: is the process of imagining events, pictures, or experiences to aid in the healing of the body.
- Interests in art, music, or dancing are examples of creative outlets.
Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
These are based on manipulating one or more bodily parts. Here are a few examples:
- Chiropractic: therapy is a form of skeletal manipulation that involves manipulating the spine, joints, and skeletal system.
- Massage: involves kneading, rubbing, tapping, and strokes of the body’s soft tissues.
- Reflexology: is the practice of affecting other regions of the body by applying pressure to pressure points on the hands and feet.
Whole Medical Systems
These are healing concepts and systems that have developed over time in many cultures and sections of the globe. Here are a few examples:
- Ayurvedic medicine: is an Indian medical system whose purpose is to purify the body and restore balance to the mind, body, and spirit.
- Traditional Chinese: medicine is based on the notion that health is the result of a yin-yang balance in the body.
- Acupuncture: is a popular Chinese medicine therapy that includes stimulating certain spots on the body to improve health or reduce illness symptoms and treatment side effects.
- Homeopathy: is a type of medicine that uses extremely tiny dosages of chemicals to help the body cure itself.
- Naturopathic medicine: employs a variety of techniques to aid the body’s natural healing process. Herbal therapies are one example.
Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
These are based on working with one or more parts of the body. Some examples are:
- Massage: The soft tissues of the body are kneaded, rubbed, tapped, and stroked.
- Chiropractic therapy: A type of manipulation of the spine, joints, and skeletal system.
- Reflexology: Using pressure points in the hands or feet to affect other parts of the body.
Biofield Therapy
Biofield therapy, sometimes called energy medicine, involves the belief that the body has energy fields that can be used for healing and wellness. Therapists use pressure or move the body by placing their hands in or through these fields. Some examples are:
- Reiki: Balancing energy either from a distance or by placing hands on or near the patient
- Therapeutic touch: Moving hands over energy fields of the body