The field of natural medicine - naturopathy and other natural approaches to supporting the body's healing forces - has much to offer when one is faced with a degenerative disease such as cancer.
A brief outline of the kind of support available: 1. Dietary counseling , with a focus on assisting clients and care support team members in dietary change. Menus, suggestions, resources, recipes, and guidelines are offered to this end. Naturopaths believe that internal tissue cleansing has supported tissue regeneration, increased natural immunity, and general strength of internal ecology. Anyone who seeks support in their journey of healing from cancer would be advised to follow a supportive whole foods diet rich in nutritious "super foods". Expensive supplements are not needed when wise food choices are made and established for the long term. 2. Herbal Therapeutics - roots, leaves, fruits, and also mushrooms - have demonstrated a wide and impressive array of anti-tumor and tissue regeneration functions in studies and research. Additionally, herbs help support our overall endurance, and some herbs are specifically recommended to protect the body organs and glands from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Essiac blends, custom made Chapparal pastilles, nutritive tonics, teas, and formulations are available to clients on a case by case basis. Supportive formulations for reduction of pain, improved sleep, reduced anxiety, alleviation of nausea are readily available from our custom apothecary. 3. Natural therapeutics such as massage, energy balancing, acupressure, hydrotherapeutic treatments, castor oil external poultices, flower essences - are highly supportive of the healing of body and emotion. In my practice over the past dozen years, clients have always shared with me that these therapeutics were part of what "got them through" the often difficult ordeal of healing from cancer, often with greater ease, and a higher level of health than they previously enjoyed. Most all such clients had full support of their physicians during this time. Such therapeutics are best integrated consistently in an overall healing program, with sensible holistic lifestyle changes expected to continue indefinitely. 4. The caring, compassionate approach of seeing someone in their wholeness, while giving space for clients to receive and participate in their healing process is empowering . Natural Therapeutics offer their potency in connection with that of the body, and with it's available vital life force - and for that reason, it is recommended that early incorporation of natural healing options be considered. |