TUMOUR HEADACHES: COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENT
There are many side-effects to orthodox medical treatment that can be relieved by complementary therapies. Radiotherapy often causes itching skin, soreness around the area being treated, and a general feeling of tiredness. Cystitis, diarrhoea and fear, are also common symptoms. Chemotherapy can cause nausea, loss of appetite, hair loss and soreness of the digestive system (ulcers and lesions). The trauma involved with all of this, as well as the general debilitating effects on the system, can cause headaches as well.
While complementary therapies do not (or at least should not) claim to cure cancer, certain therapies can help the body fight the disease, and recover from orthodox treatment. It is important to talk to your doctor and your complementary therapist about all the treatments you are undergoing. In disease as serious as cancer, mismatched treatments can be fatal.
Aromatherapy is an excellent way to relax and recover, but should never be undertaken immediately after chemotherapy. Bathing and massage can often irritate sore skin. ‘The best means of using the oils is inhalation – a vapouriser or a gentle bath blend – perhaps rose and geranium, which may help fight fear and depression, and fennel to help with nausea. Niaouli and tea tree have been used in Europe to reduce surface burning during radiation treatment, and lavender has been used to treat radiation bums. Rosemary is said to stimulate re-growth of hair. Lavender applied to the nostrils or in the bath with camomile, can reduce the headaches linked with brain cancers.
Acupuncture is valuable when dealing with the side-effects of cancers, as listed above, and will help to relieve pain and depression. There are, controversially, reports from China that indicate that acupuncture stimulates our body’s anti-cancer substances. Chinese acupuncturists also claim that it boosts the body’s immune system.
Medical herbalism can relieve some of the symptoms of cancer, and encourage the immune system to work against it. All treatment must he tailored to complement the orthodox treatments being received. There will be options for pain relief, depression (St John’s wort) and nausea (ginger, peppermint or fennel), and calendula promotes healing of skin. Echinacea and garlic, taken internally, improve resistance to secondary infections. ‘There are many many options to help your body deal with the cancer and the side-effects of treatment – both of which can cause headaches.
Nutrition is particularly important in cancer. A strong, healthy constitution is much more likely to have a. fighting chance, and to respond better to treatment. Pain can be kept at bay by daily doses of phenylalanine, Supplementation of selenium may also help, under the guidance of a clinical nutritionalist. Some research suggests that it affects enzymatic processes that may inhibit the activation of some cancer cells. There is no doubt that it does have some anti-cancer properties. A good B-vitamin supplement will also help deal with the feeling of malaise, and Vitamin D is said to be useful. Sensible eating, perhaps a macrobiotic diet, is beneficial to some cancer patients.
Reflexology can help deal with the emotional repercussions of cancer, and speed up recovery after an operation.
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