Alternative Therapies in Cancer Treatment: Effectiveness and Evidence

Global Use of Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapy use varies globally: 42% in the US, 70% in Canada, 81% in Spain, 40% in China, and 80% in African countries. These practices encompass knowledge and skills based on indigenous theories and cultural experiences (Fjær et al., 2020).

Effectiveness in Cancer Treatment

Effective therapies include laser moxibustion, ayurveda, hypnosis, acupuncture, auriculotherapy, yoga, electroacupuncture, and guided imagery. Safe therapies without adverse events include acupuncture, auriculotherapy, kinesiology, hypnosis, and music therapy (Guerra-Martín et al., 2021).

References

• Fjær, E. L., et al. (2020). Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Europe. BMC Complementary Medicine, 20, 1-9. https://link.springer.com/
• Guerra-Martín, M. D., et al. (2021). Effectiveness of complementary therapies in cancer patients. Int J Environmental Research, 18(3), 1017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7908482/