Posted in Complementary Therapies

The Power of Touch Therapeutic touch is a beautiful and powerful form of compassion and care. A hug, a simple brush of the knee, or a squeeze of a hand can convey reassuring support and comfort. When someone is going through cancer treatment, a time which is incredibly stressful, scary and traumatic, many friends shy away from physical touch, perhaps in fear it may not be welcomed or cause physical pain. In fact, patients are poked and prodded and examined with surgical gloves, all of w...

Vegan, paleo, keto, low carb, mediterranean, intermittent fasting..... 
There are so many buzz words when it comes to diet these days, and most people are left confused and frustrated, not knowing what to put into their bodies. Particulary when managing or preventing cancer, diet and nutrition are incredibly important. Unfortunately, "dietary trends" don't take into account the individual needs of a person, their health status, and physical and emotional coping abilit...

Cancer pain affects most people at some stage of their cancer treatment. It can be very debilitating, and it can cause problems with sleep, day to day functioning, exercise, mental health and relationships. There are a number of ways to manage pain, and like most things cancer-related, they work best in a larger treatment plan that is centred on the patient as an individual.   Does it work? Studies have shown that acupuncture can significantly reduce cancer-related pain, particul...

Integrative Oncology is the use of scientifically researched and validated Complementary Therapies to support patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. It is used alongside conventional medical interventions, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or hormone therapy. Complementary Therapies may include nutritional or herbal medicine, diet and lifestyle changes, psychological support, and other non-invasive therapies such as hyperthermia, oxygen therapy and more. ...

Peripheral Neuropathy is a common side-effect of some types of chemotherapy: especially the taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel), the platins (cisplatin, carboplatin) and vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine). It is the tingling or numb sensation in the hands and/or feet, and is caused by nerve damage that occurs from the treatment. It can be quite painful, and may significantly impact fine motor skills and daily function, such as handling utensils, writing, typing and, when affectin...

  Meditation is no longer associated with highly spiritual people sitting cross legged under a tree. It is becoming increasingly popular even with us common folk, and is proving to be very effective for managing stress and anxiety. A cancer diagnosis is clearly one of the most stressful things that can happen, and clinical studies are showing that Meditation and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction are very useful and should not be taken for granted. It is easy, safe and free - ...