What are complementary therapies?
Complementary therapies are any treatments or therapies that are not part of the conventional treatment (such as surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy) of a disease.
Complementary therapies are taken alongside conventional treatments. Alternative therapies are taken instead of conventional treatments.
Complementary therapies include:
- acupuncture
- relaxation therapy/meditation
- gentle exercise
- yoga
- tai chi
- guided imagery
- faith/spiritual healing
- laughter
- music
- art
- massage
- aromatherapy
- dietary therapies
- some support group programs
- naturopathy
- immune therapy
- homeopathy
- Chinese herbs
- vitamins.
What is the evidence about complementary therapies?
There is evidence that some complementary therapies can have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people with cancer. For example:
- relaxation techniques and guided imagery can reduce feelings of anxiety, stress or depression
- exercise can improve feelings of fatigue and distress
- relaxation techniques, guided imagery, massage and reflexology can relieve cancer and treatment-related pain.
These therapies are encouraged by health professionals and are incorporated in clinical practice guidelines.
However, it is important to note that a number of complementary therapies have not been tested in clinical trials so we do not know how effective they are or what their long-term side effects might be. Some therapies can interact with conventional treatments and reduce their effectiveness, while others may actually be harmful if taken with conventional treatments. It is important that you talk to your doctor before starting any complementary therapies to check that they will not interact with your treatments.
There is no evidence that complementary therapies can remove breast cancer, prevent it from coming back, or prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in the USA has developed an information resource about complementary therapies, with details of what is currently known about a range of herbal products and supplements. Please note that this is an American website and not all of the products listed may be available in Australia.
Questions to ask a complementary health practitioner
Before you decide on any course of treatment or activity, it is important to be well informed. You should also feel confident about the training of any complementary health practitioner. Questions you may want to ask include:
- What is your training?
- Exactly what is the therapy you are proposing?
- What do you hope it will do?
- What is the evidence for the success of this therapy?
- What side effects could there be?
- How common are the side effects?
- Will this therapy affect other treatments I am receiving?
- How much will this therapy cost?
It is also important to ask the doctor(s) who are providing your conventional treatment whether the complementary therapies you are considering could interact with the conventional treatments you are receiving.
