Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Pain Management in Cancer Patients

Abstract

The field of Natural Health Sciences and Occult sciences is getting high attention and gaining importance in treatment of several diseases, that are not responding the traditional practice. However, the lack of extensive research and data supporting these fields is preventing them from becoming accepted method of treatment. Complementary and Alternative Medicine is not mysterious but science itself. In the last decade there is substantial research in these areas like aura, bioenergy or electromagnetic energy, radiation energy from bodies and techniques to measure these energies leading to wider acceptance. Holistic Healing is the practice of health that considers the entire person and all of the factors affecting the person and it is based foundational principles of Aurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbal medicine. Holistic medicine uses Mind and Body techniques, Natural products, Energy and Spiritual healing. Survey released by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM-NIH) revealed that 56% of population in US and in advanced countries uses CAM. Randomized Clinical studies conducted with 189 Patients undergoing standard chemotherapy, placebo or Reiki found that Energy healing (Reiki) was statistically significant in raising the comfort and well-being of patients post-therapy. Further, in the systematic review of 5 randomized clinical trials, two studies reported statistically significant reductions in pain when Reiki was used in addition to opioid agents. Additionally, energy healing on oncology patients undergoing infusion, showed 50% reduction in mean pain scores after each treatment. The investigations suggested that the sessions were considered helpful to improve well-being (70%), relaxation (88%), pain relief (45%). Similarly, in another cross over study, it was shown that in all sixteen cancer patients included in energy healing sessions, fatigue decreased, and quality of life was significantly improved with the reiki sessions compared with rest. Recent studies demonstrated that acupuncture was significantly associated with reduced cancer pain and can decrease the use of analgesics with moderate certainty of evidence. In addition, biology based practices like Herbal, probiotics and vitamins are also used to reduce pain. These methods are accepted by various professional certification agencies like National Certification Center of Energy Practitioners (NCCOEP) and Alliance of Energy practitioners (NAOEP) that is serving as resource for research and literature support. In summary, the complementary and alternative medicine field is upcoming and gaining acceptance as therapeutic method to increase patience confidence and reduce impact of ailment.