01 May How Naturopathic Medicine Supports Cancer Patients Through Treatment and Recovery
Most of my new cancer patients come to see me shortly after being diagnosed, or while waiting for the final results to come in. Many of them have no previous experience in natural medicine, nutrition, or supplement use, while others arrive with bags of self-prescribed supplements based on Google searches or recommendations from friends and family. When I review their purchases before seeing me, I usually find that most of what they bought was inappropriate, and some of their purchases had the potential to cause harm or interfere with the recommendations from their medical doctors.
As a naturopathic doctor specializing as a naturopath for cancer, I always start with a thorough assessment of the patients’ level of health. This could include nutritional testing, hormone analysis, live blood analysis, gut assessments, body composition, or more. Many private labs offer health tests far beyond what medical doctors commonly use, or what’s provided under government-supported health care testing. I also recommend that patients get a health folder or binder to store copies of all test results and protocols from all members of their health team, to bring it to all appointments, and to share any information with every health care professional they are working with.
Natural medicines do work, and therefore have powerful influences on body chemistry. This means there is potential for overlap or contraindications with the simultaneous use of supplements, radiation, chemo, and prescription medications. Being under the care of a naturopath for cancer helps you navigate through the overwhelm of choosing appropriate supplements that are best suited to your situation, as well as optimizing the safe and effective use of natural medicines during or after radiation and chemotherapy.
Radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy are focused on removing or destroying the cancer cells locally and systemically. Side effects are often the result of unintended damage to healthy cells. Most cancer patients come to me because they need help with side effects, which often include low energy, weight loss, weak immunity, nausea, and digestive symptoms. Naturopathic medicine can provide a lot of symptom relief and quality of life during chemo and radiation, without interfering with the protocols of your oncologist and medical doctor.
Other Related Article – https://brontehealth.com/staying-healthy-after-cancer-or-serious-illness/
Detoxification is a key element of naturopathic treatment plans, and very useful during or after conventional therapies. When radiation and chemotherapy destroy cancer cells, your body needs to remove the waste. I call it “the toxic puddle”. If you are constipated, sedentary or you have had lymph nodes surgically removed, naturopathic treatments, particularly when guided by a naturopath for cancer, can help you encourage circulation and elimination of this toxic waste. This can be achieved through infrared sauna, Epsom salt baths, herbal medicines and homeopathy. Always consult with a licensed naturopathic doctor, ideally a naturopath for cancer, for safe and effective treatment protocols in detoxification during and after cancer treatments.
When you are deemed “cancer-free” by a medical doctor, it refers to the absence of disease, at least to the best of their knowledge. However, many cancer survivors still suffer from the after effects of surgery, chemo, and radiation. This could include fatigue, brain fog, digestive disturbances, poor sleep, hormonal symptoms, and anxiety about the risk of recurrence. This is when the true healing begins. This is when you start to work on your actual level of health and well-being rather than the pathology of the original diagnosis.
Treatment plans for cancer survivors are similar to prevention protocols, but after the fact. A naturopath for cancer takes a holistic approach to optimizing your body, mind, and spirit. We coach you with lifestyle medicine to implement healthy nutrition, sunshine, physical activity and stress reduction. We also keep a watch on subtle changes to your chemistry and physiology, so that we can correct dysfunctions well before you feel any symptoms. This may include the use of infrared digital thermography, live blood analysis, personalized nutrition, genetic testing or stool tests to assess your microbiome. Based on your analysis, we will help you create a prevention program for cancer survivors, including a detoxification routine and customized supplement selections.
New patients often ask me, “Do you really think there is a cure for cancer?”. The answer is NO. The truth is, there are MANY cures for cancer, because there are many cancer causes. Effective prevention and treatments for cancer are multi-factorial, highly individual, and require a team of health care professionals, each addressing a specific aspect of your whole state of being.
Dr Darlene Gustin, ND is a naturopathic doctor has had a special interest in helping cancer patients and survivors for over three decades. Her team of natural health practitioners provides health and wellness testing and a variety of treatment modalities to support and optimize the quality of life for a variety of chronic health conditions. Contact Bronte Natural Health Clinic, www.brontehealth.com at 905-825-8787 or bnhc@rogers.com or schedule an appointment.
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