Guidelines For Using Complementary and Alternative Methods

What are complementary and alternative methods?

"Complementary" and "alternative" are terms used to describe a number of products, practices, and systems that are not part of mainstream medicine. They can include things like herbs and dietary supplements, body movement, spiritual approaches, pills, extracts, and creams or ointments. Some are done by a person with formal education and training, such as art therapy. Others may be recommended by the person who is selling the product in a store or on the Internet, such as herbs or other dietary supplements. The methods can involve everything from enemas, like colon therapy, to no-touch "energy work" such as reiki. Some take a lot of time or cost a lot of money, such as strict diets or travel to another country for special treatments. Others are fairly cheap and easy to use, like vitamins or homeopathy. Some can be done at home on your own, such as meditation and prayer, and others require another person to give them, like massage or acupuncture. Some almost never cause harm, while others can be dangerous and have caused deaths.

You may hear about one or more of these treatments from friends, family, co-workers, salespeople, and others. The treatment may be something you've never heard of before, and it can be hard to get good, unbiased information about it. Here we will go over what you need to know before you decide to try one of these unconventional treatments. We will give you some ideas about how to look at these methods and what questions you might want to ask as you think about what might be best for you. It may also help you find out more about the treatments that interest you.

The American Cancer Society considers complementary and alternative medicine to be different from each other:

Alternative medicine is used instead of standard or mainstream medical treatment, often with serious outcomes for the patient.

Complementary medicine is used along with mainstream medical care. If carefully chosen and properly used, some of these can improve your quality of life.

People with cancer might think about using alternative and complementary methods for a number of reasons:

• to relieve the side effects of mainstream cancer treatment without having to take more medicine

• to find a less unpleasant treatment approach that might have few side effects

• to take an active role in improving their own health and wellness

• because they prefer alternative theories of health and disease, as well as alternative treatments

The decision to use alternative or complementary methods is an important one, and it is yours to make. We have put together some guidelines to help you think through the issues and make the most informed and safest decision possible.