You want to support your medical treatment

Medical treatment for cancer (and other conditions) is often physically (and mentally) difficult. To make this more bearable, to reduce side effects or to recover afterwards, we can help you with acupuncture and herbal therapy.

Cancer support and intensive medical programs

Cancer is a major disease, where regular treatments are often intensive. Side effects of medication, possible complications and uncertainty about the course are also likely to make this period stressful.

We help you with your medical treatment by:

• To balance and strengthen you preventively
• Reducing side effects
• Supporting your recovery after your treatment
• To work on energy and relaxation

In doing so, we monitor your personal situation and tailor support to what you find important.

Acupuncture is effective. Further on this page, we refer to scientific studies. You are always welcome to discuss your situation in person without obligation and without obligations.

Treating symptoms and side effects

In our experience, acupuncture is effective for many complaints that also occur outside the cancer disease and healing process. This includes, for example:

• Mental and emotional complaints such as anxiety, depression and insomnia
• Resistance problems such as cold and flu
• Digestive symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea, poor appetite and abdominal pain
• Pain symptoms such as head, neck, back pain, neuropathy and sore muscles, tendons and joints
• Pain or dryness in the mouth
• Sleep problems
• Hot flushes and night sweats

We have a lot of experience in resolving all of the above complaints, for both people with cancer and people without cancer. We see most people during their regular treatment or in the period afterwards.

Below you can read more about five complaints where scientific research shows that acupuncture supports cancer treatment.

Proven effects on cancer acupuncture

1) Tiredness

Fatigue is a common complaint during and after cancer treatments where acupuncture can effectively support. In Chinese Medicine, a good energy arrow is very important because it not only helps with recovery, but can also prevent other complaints from developing. This is something that in itself is important for everyone, but even more so after recovering from an illness or intensive treatment.

2) Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are the most well-known side effects of chemotherapy. Acupuncture helps both during and after chemo treatment. For your recovery and from Chinese Medicine, it is crucial to make these complaints bearable and, where possible, to reduce them. When the stomach does not function properly and appetite decreases, energy levels fall, with consequences for resistance and resilience.

In addition to the acupuncture treatment, we can also learn how to apply acupressure yourself to one of the important acupuncture points for nausea. This way, possibly with the help of a loved one, you can do something yourself when you need it most.

3) Dry mouth due to dehydration or radiation

Dry mouth (xerostomia) may result from dehydration and/or radiation. It is a complaint that can make eating and swallowing difficult. Scientific research has shown that acupuncture can support this.

4) Cancer pain and/or medication side effect

Various types of pain are alleviated with acupuncture: pain caused by cancer itself, post-operative pain and pain due to hormone or chemotherapy (such as neuropathy). Scientific research also describes that pain medication can be reduced as a result. Which, given the complex considerations of regular treatment, can be very desirable.

We specialize in treating pain. More information about this can be found on this page.

5) Anxiety

Scientific research shows that anxiety and depressive feelings can be reduced by using acupuncture. It has also been shown that acupuncture has contributed to reducing tension or anxiety during surgery.

Summarized

• Acupuncture promotes quality of life
• Acupuncture can help with side effects of regular medication
• Sometimes less additional medication is needed for side effects
• Acupuncture is easy to combine with regular treatment

References‍

Scientific evidence for the 5 complaints discussed can be found via Pumed. You can search there using these reference numbers: PMID: 18638692, 23109700, 19381315, 20038728, 17349495

Cancer support with Nurture Your Nature

We help you regain physical and mental balance. There is scientific evidence for a number of complaints, but we can also do a lot for you with other complaints beyond that. For example, to increase your energy, health and resilience. Or to relax and recover from it all.

Dietary advice for cancer

Dietary advice is part of the holistic approach to acupuncture. And the stomach and intestines are very important in Chinese Medicine. To make or keep you resilient, we also give the necessary attention to nutrition and digestion during your treatment.

Self-reliance and listening to your body

Our treatments always focus on what you can do yourself, step by step. Dealing with illness and the tension that may entail is an important part of this. We'll help you get started with a listening ear and practical tips to increase your self-reliance. Also take a look at this page about resource for more information about our approach.

Chinese herbal supplements for cancer

Chinese herbs work on the same principle as acupuncture. A lot of research has also been done into the positive effects of mushrooms. In general, they are both good for use as acupuncture for cancer.

There are some differences though:

First, there is a practical consideration: you can take and do something with herbs every day and relatively easily to treat your symptoms. If that appeals to you, herbal therapy is a great addition to your getting better plan.

Secondly, you must be able to take the herbs (tablets or tea), which can be difficult with nausea or dry mouth.

Third, we always recommend that you consult with your doctor if you want to take herbal supplements. When you take something in addition to medication, it is important that this is done in good order.

Learn more about different herbs for cancer

Do you want to know more about which herbs can be used? A good overview can be found on the website of cancer - current. There you can read more about the usefulness and the application, also scientifically substantiated. If you like a specific herb or herbal composition, we can help you use or order it. Please note: this only applies to the Chino herbal supplements.

Herbs for chemotherapy

Herbal supplement LCS101 is effective in Chemotherapy. The research shows that it helps support the blood system with symptoms such as: infections, severe fatigue and bleeding. If you want to know more about this or want to use the product, please contact us.

Mushrooms (mycotherapy)

Mushrooms (mycotherapy) are used as food supplements and are easy to combine with hormone and chemotherapy. Supportive, anti-cancer-related properties are attributed to specific mushrooms. The active substances are interesting because the cell walls and metabolism of mushrooms are in some ways similar to those of human cells. In combination with the fact that mushrooms have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries, this makes mycotherapy a valuable additional support.

This book by Powell discusses the science and application of mushrooms in cancer. This review article also explains the effects of medicinal mushrooms well. Talk to your doctor if you're considering mushrooms as a supplement.

To do this, we work with the mushroom supplements from Oriveda. If you want to use it, please contact us.

Learn more about how we can help you with mushroom supplements.

Good to know when using acupuncture or herbs

In acupuncture

Attention is required when lymph nodes are removed in the armpit area. When that has happened, the treating doctor may indicate that it is better not to treat that arm. The reason for this is that there is an increased risk of infection. In case of doubt, consult your doctor about this and let us know during treatment.

We never put needles in sore spots. So in the case of radiation or surgery, we never have to go to those places ourselves. We work remotely from the complaint, especially on the forearms and lower legs.

By the way, the needles we use are sterile and single-use.

With herbs

For herbal use, it may be good to separate the moment of ingestion of the herbs into time of administering chemo- and hormone therapy or other medications. A few options:

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• A smart precaution to take is, for example, to leave 2 hours between regular medication and herbs.
• Or with a long treatment via an infusion so as not to take the herbs that day and again the day after.
• Or when there is a certain rhythm in the regular treatment (e.g. 1 week of chemo and 1 week without chemotherapy) and then take the herbs a week without chemotherapy.

We can always make an appropriate plan for your situation.

When can I start acupuncture treatments?

Our advice is to start acupuncture just before the start of chemotherapy or hormone treatment. If there are health problems in addition to cancer, treatment can also start earlier. Then the advice is to come as soon as possible. This way, we can balance the body beforehand and ensure that you enter the regular treatment as well as possible. Acupuncture can also contribute to relaxation and dealing with stress.

Nutrition tips for energy and digestion

With the help of these tips, you can take action yourself to make your digestive system strong and build your energy levels:

• Eat hot for breakfast
• Drink warm water
• Exercise daily, stretching and stretching are very good for you. Take it easy and only do what you can — and that's good enough
• Avoid greasy and fried foods
• Be moderate with dairy, alcohol, and coffee
• Add soups to your diet
• Probiotics and vitamin D3 are good support for the intestinal flora and help reduce inflammatory reactions. Probiotics can be found as supplements or in foods such as sauerkraut, yoghurt, kefir or kombucha
• Ginger is good for digestion and helps with nausea
• Listen carefully to your body when you make these or other changes to your diet and habits

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