Combining Natural Medicines and Conventional Cancer Treatment
Can antioxidant vitamins and immune-system enhancing herbs be combined with conventional chemo- and radiation therapy for cancer? This is one of the most hotly debated topics in cancer care. There are no simple cut and dry answers, but if oncologists and natural medicine practitioners work together, they can usually tailor a comprehensive treatment plan that will benefit their patients.
Some studies have shown antioxidant vitamins can reduce adverse effects of conventional therapies and even improve outcomes; others show deleterious effects.
Beyond antioxidants, naturopathic doctors and integrative MDs often use nutrients and botanicals to increase efficacy and tolerability of conventional treatment. These include: curcumin, quercetin, green tea, modified citrus pectin, melatonin, fish oil, and L-glutamine.
No doubt, there are specific circumstances in which there is strong evidence to contraindicate specific herbs and nutrients in combination with certain chemotherapeutic agents. But on the whole, most patients will benefit from judicious use of natural therapies to strengthen their immune systems, reduce chemotherapy side-effects, and improve overall nutritional status. This is not to diminish the need to recognize potential risk inherent in the use of natural agents and to further clarify their physiologic effects. As the adage goes, “just because something is natural doesn’t mean that it’s always good for you.”
The best thing you can do is consult with a physician (ND or MD) and/or an Oriental medicine practitioner who can answer these questions for you.
