Alternative, Natural & Complementary Mesothelioma Treatments

Patients living with malignant mesothelioma may choose to try alternative, natural, and complementary mesothelioma treatments to supplement standard medical care. These supplemental therapies and treatments can support traditional medicine, relieve symptoms, and reduce side effects.

Keep in mind that if you’ve been exposed to asbestos and have mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to considerable compensation. Right now, more than $30 billion is available in trust funds for those affected by asbestos. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on knowledgeable mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more.

Natural Healing Therapies

Several alternative treatments are available, and as science progresses, even more therapies and treatments are predicted to become available.

Most non-traditional treatments are individual choices and are not a part of the conventional standard of medical treatment.

Many experts recognize complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as a valid supplement to traditional medicine. It is not generally considered a substitute for standard care.

Some of the more popular natural healing treatments for mesothelioma patients are acupuncture, massage, meditation, and chiropractic care.

These natural techniques may provide relief from symptoms of mesothelioma and its treatments:

• Chronic pain
• Inflammation
• Body tension
• Stress
• Headaches
• Nausea and GI distress

Although some of the benefits and therapy types are unproven, many patients get a beneficial sense of relief from trying them.

Vitamins and Herbs

Although most vitamins and herbal treatments are not recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), mesothelioma patients may benefit from them.

For example, Cat’s Claw is a popular natural herbal remedy that stimulates the immune system. Some people believe enhancing the immune system can support cancer treatments.

Vitamin C, if taken consistently, can help prevent cancer cells from growing, as well as strengthen bones and help the body produce collagen.

Following a good nutrition plan is also useful in fighting mesothelioma and other cancers.

Medical Marijuana

There have been several studies on marijuana and lung cancer patients, and the results have been positive so far. Most cancer patients who’ve taken medical marijuana reported that they experienced positive benefits:

• Pain relief
• Better sleep quality and the need for less sleep
• Increase in appetite and decrease in nausea
• Less stress and anxiety

More studies are needed since medical marijuana is still not legal in all states, and research is inhibited due to strict guidelines.

Cancer patients who used medical marijuana have reported a few side effects. Most patients said that the side effects were so minor that they outweighed the benefits. The most common side effects reported include:

• Red eyes
• Paranoia
• Dizziness
• Low blood pressure and increased heart beat
• Hallucinations
• Difficulties with food digestion

Side effects tend to vary from one person to another. Before trying medical marijuana to help with pain, consult your physician first, and most importantly, check your state laws to determine if it’s legal in your state.

Homeopathic Treatments

Homeopathy is an alternative type of medicine in which patients take diluted natural substances to bring their bodies to the same level as a healthy person. This natural approach works by giving patients natural medications that counteract normal body actions.

For example, even though an onion causes your eyes to water, a patient with allergies who has watery eyes can be given a diluted onion to counteract the effect.

Other examples include a system of diluted natural therapies consisting of plants, animals, or minerals are used, such as nettle, red onions, poison ivy, mountain herbs, and more.

However, keep in mind that there are no set standards for homeopathic remedies, and you should always consult with your physician first. Evidence that homeopathy works is also limited.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is a form of alternative medical care proven to be beneficial in numerous ways to mesothelioma patients.

Trained, licensed chiropractors perform a number of techniques to help patients overcome pain, which in turn can help decrease the need for additional pain medications.

Other benefits of chiropractic care include:

• Reduction in stress and anxiety
• An increase in mobility and flexibility
• Help with indigestion and nausea

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy helps reduce painful mesothelioma symptoms and treatment side effects, reduce stress, and improve recovery time.

Professional massage therapy differs from a basic massage given by a friend or family member.

Massage therapists are highly-trained professionals who generally work with physicians and chiropractors to offer mesothelioma patients the best forms of massage techniques to match individual needs.

Reiki

Reiki is a type of mind-body therapy based on the idea that a healer uses their hands to manipulate the energy running through the body to bring about balance and healing.

Reiki does not necessarily involve touch. The practitioner may either gently rub the hands over the patient’s body or move them over the body, hovering just over the patient and not touching.

Studies of reiki with cancer patients have found that the practice helps reduce stress, makes patients more relaxed, reduces fatigue, and even relieves pain to some degree.

Reiki is not a cure for any illness, but it is thought to promote healing and is often used as a supplement to traditional medicine for this reason.

Whether reiki really promotes healing or makes traditional treatments more effective remains unproven, but the practice of reiki seems to help cancer patients feel better.

Yoga

As an ancient practice, yoga has long been known to provide health benefits both physical and mental, but any kind of exercise has not always been recommended for cancer patients.

Modern research has proven that some activity is actually beneficial for people living with cancer and gentle yoga is a great way to get it.

Yoga has been proven to help cancer patients feel better in a number of ways:

• It reduces pain by increasing tolerance to it.
• It reduces stress and improves mood.
• It fights fatigue by providing a boost of energy. Ca
• ncer patients who practice yoga regularly report better quality of life than patients who do not.

Yoga for cancer patients should be gentle and taught by someone who understands the unique needs and the limitations of living with cancer.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a practice from traditional Chinese medicine and is today considered complementary and alternative medicine, often used in conjunction with traditional treatments for various conditions. The practice involves the insertion into the skin of thin needles.

The practitioner places needles in strategic points that help direct the body’s energy for greater balance and relief from symptoms or illness.

They target the needles at specific pressure points on the body, and knowing where and how to place them requires training and practice.

Acupuncture is not a replacement for cancer treatments and is ineffective at treating cancer or reducing tumors.

However, medical research has proven that acupuncture can have some benefits when used to complement treatment.

For example, one study found that acupuncture seems to reduce nausea and vomiting associated so often with chemotherapy. Acupuncture may also reduce pain and other side effects of treatment.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy may seem like nothing more than a magic trick. Still, it is a proven alternative and complementary medical practice that can benefit many types of patients, including those living with and fighting mesothelioma.

Hypnotherapy is the practice of helping a person come into a state of deep focus and intense relaxation. When in this state, the hypnotherapists can make suggestions to the patient, and the patient will be more responsive to them.

Studies have been conducted to find out if this type of therapy has real benefits for cancer patients, and the results are promising. Hypnotherapy can help a patient to manage pain, even leading to a reduced need for prescription painkillers.

It has also been proven to reduce stress and negative emotions like anxiety, specifically before undergoing a surgical procedure for cancer treatment.

Hypnotherapy may also be effective at reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and at boosting mood for patients experiencing fatigue.

What the Medical Community Says About Natural and Alternative Treatments

Although most natural and alternative treatments are not considered the mainstream way of battling diseases, many professionals in the medical community are beginning to see the benefits of CAM for their patients.

Today, more and more physicians are beginning to embrace complementary and alternative medicines and even incorporate certain natural treatments with their standard medical care.

The Mayo Clinic, for example, believes in holistic and natural approaches combined with traditional treatment.

As the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine continues to research and provide scientific evidence regarding these types of treatments, more members of the professional medical community are beginning to see the major advantages.

Talk to your medical team before trying any CAM treatment. There may be good reasons you should not use particular therapies or supplements. If given the go-ahead, it’s safe to try these alternatives.

Getting Help

Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for significant compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorney in your area. If you need additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.