When you think of holistic care or holistic cancer care, you would probably think of chemotherapy, surgery to remove tumors, or radiation to kill cancer cells. But dealing with and battling cancer means not only battling disease in your body but battling with a disease that affects your mind and spirit.
What holistic care does is it treats the whole person. It covers treatments physically, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually.
What Can Holistic Cancer Care Do For You?
The word holistic comes from the Greek word “holos” which means “all.” Holistic health is then the treatment of the whole person. Rather than just treating the specific part that is sick or damaged, holistic health focuses on all aspects of the person.
Holistic cancer care is not an alternative to mainstream medicine. A lot of people use alternative medicine outside of mainstream medicine. Although they won't cure your disease, holistic cancer care helps improve your well-being.
A person suffering from lung cancer for example will need prescribed medicine, radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery. But they will also need a change in diet and lifestyle, emotional support, mental exercises to get through.
Examples of Holistic Cancer Care
Holistic health is also sometimes called alternative medicine or natural healthcare. Here are five general types of holistic cancer care or health care as alternative ways to improve your well-being aside from mainstream medicine:
Energy Therapies
- The main goal of this type of therapy is to create a balance of energy in our bodies. One example of energy therapy is Reiki which uses a technique called “palm-healing.”
Biologically-based Therapies
- This type includes plants and other natural medicines.
Alternative Medicine
- This is also known as alternative medicine. One example of this is herbalism.
Mind and Body Interventions
- The mind is a powerful tool and if not used well, it can take over your life. Strengthening your mindset is so important especially when you are going through physically draining procedures. One example of a mind and body intervention is mindfulness meditation. This is not only effective when you have cancer or are sick. Just a few minutes of meditation the first thing in the morning will help transform your whole day.
Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
- Examples of this method include acupuncture, massages, and chiropractic therapy.
What Are Holistic Care Practices for Lung Cancer Patients?
Remember that holistic care is not a stand-alone treatment. Always check with your physician first.
With that said, here are a few additional practices you can do on your journey towards holistic health:
- Meditation
- Doing a few minutes of mindfulness meditation each day can help center your mind and ground you. It won't make you immediately heal your disease but it strengthens your mindset to help you deal with the effects of cancer.
- Having a support system by your side
- No man is an island. This is especially important to note when you are sick or going through life-changing events. Dealing with cancer is difficult and having loved ones around you who will support you along the way is so essential.
- Exercise
- Check with your physician what types of exercise you can do. But light stretches and walking will definitely help.
- A change in diet and nutrition
- If you weren't living a healthy lifestyle before your diagnosis, this is your wake-up call to do so. Eating more fruits and vegetables, lessening your sugar intake, or fatty foods is important to help speed up or improve your journey towards recovery.
A Word of Caution Before Trying Holistic Care
These types of treatments are not meant to be stand-alone treatments. Remember to always check with your doctor before trying any holistic care.
