The beginnings of complementary and alternative medicine can be traced back thousands upon thousands of years to the first civilizations of the world. Some of the very first forms of alternative treatment, in fact, were herbalism, which utilized the natural chemical substances and antioxidants found in various plants and minerals to heal illness, and hydrotherapy, with the use of hot mineral springs and ancient Roman baths. Even in today's modern society, alternative treatment is still the primary means of health care for roughly 70% of the world's populations, often, by choice. In term of cancer treatment, although it is almost never recommended as a substitute for standard forms of healing, complementary and alternative medicine does indeed hold an important place in the treatment process, whether as a means of arriving at a greater understanding of life with cancer or simply to relieve symptoms associated with the disease and disease treatment. In recent years, as alternative forms of healing, like yoga and acupuncture, have become more mainstream. Over 70% of cancer patients have turned to using complementary and alternative medicine along with regular cancer treatment.

What is Alternative Medicine?

In the simplest sense, alternative treatment refers to healing practices which are generally considered unconventional, at least in comparison to the primary medical systems of the Western world. Since complementary and alternative medicine is widely based more on indigenous and spiritual beliefs rather than on actual scientific evidence, there is a large majority which will immediately dismiss the practices associated with alternative treatment as being ineffective at curing diseases like cancer. The truth of the matter is, though, that the therapies based in this field of medicine- the majority of which focus on natural remedies, balanced energy of the body, and mind-body connection--can often have very powerful psychological and physical affects for disease--ridden individuals. While some people use the term complementary medicine to describe alternative treatment used along with conventional methods (with alternative treatment used to imply unconventional methods used as a substitute for standard healing practices), others use alternative medicine as a broad description.

Generally, complementary and alternative medicine is synonymous with a change of lifestyle that focuses on self care and all things natural. Herbalism, or the use of plants and plant extracts to treat illness, is a vital aspect of this philosophy. A balanced universal life force, or "chi," is also heavily rooted in alternative treatment; in practices like acupuncture, tai chi, and reiki, the aim of treatment is to restore energy in areas which have been blocked by the disease itself, or, from the stress which results from the disease. Meditation and prayer, in all forms, is equally important. By reaching an understanding about the possibility of death, as well as gaining new insight about the existence of a greater reality, cancer patients learn to cope with their disease and the emotions attached to it. 

Uses of Alternative Medicine

Although there is a relatively minimal amount of research which supports the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine in actually treating cancer, the use of alternative treatment practices has proven to have significant results, primarily if used in conjunction with standard cancer treatments. While there are alternative treatments, like some certain herbs and vitamins, which are currently being studied as having anti-cancer properties, and tests (mainly performed on animals and in cell cultures) have shown that several plants and plant oils do indeed help in slowing cancer development or minimizing the presence of a tumor, they have not been tested to an extent that allows them to be incorporated into conventional cancer treatment. 

In general, most alternative therapies can alleviate or completely treat nausea, insomnia, stress and anxiety, and depression resulting from cancer. A large number of cancer patients which adapt mind-body therapies and manual therapies, like acupuncture, tai chi, and yoga, also claim that circulation, posture, balance, and overall strength and energy all drastically improve. Many herbs, vitamins, and minerals, on the other hand, have shown a link to higher immune system defenses, and a reduction in inflammation in certain areas of the body. Those who utilize alternative treatment also tend to feel more of a connection to their disease.

Types of Alternative Medicine

While there are certainly types of alternative treatment which are recognized by the greater medical community as being safer and more efficient than others, and therefore, more apt to being suggested or approved for cancer treatment, complementary and alternative medicine can technically include any approach to healing that is not considered "mainstream." Practices naturally vary in different regions of the world, where some are not even considered to be alternative since their use is so widely accepted. As far as cancer treatment is concerned in the Western world, the therapies generally approved by oncology team are dependent on many factors, mainly, if primary treatment will be affected in any way by the use of additional therapies. Even throughout the majority of alternative therapies are seldom considered unsafe, especially if they are practiced by a trained specialist, there are bound to be exceptions. For instance, while many believe that multivitamin supplements will help increase the body's immune system throughout treatment, there are some studies which show that a high intake of vitamins may possibly be linked to cancer development. While herbs are usually considered safer for this reason, as the popular saying goes, too much of a good thing is never healthy; excessive intake of many herbs, vitamins, and minerals can actually create more harm than good to the body, as the curative properties of the plants and compounds can be toxic in high doses as well. Nevertheless, herbs, vitamins, and mineral supplements are still one of the most widely used types of alternative treatment.

Other areas of complementary and alternative medicine that have made their way to the forefront of the alternative treatment movement are practices focused on mind-body healing, such as aromatherapy and tai chi, which are founded on the belief that the body responds to the feelings and actions of the mind, and manual healing techniques focused around specialized methods of touch, like massage therapy and acupuncture. Spirituality, meditation, and prayer, which is often combined with deep-breathing practices, like those used in mind-body treatments, also holds a very strong place within complementary and alternative medicine. 

As the use of alternative treatment for cancer patients and healthy individuals alike continues to rise amongst the U.S population, more people are seeing the positive effects that such therapies contribute to both mind and body health. For many disease-stricken patients, complementary and alternative medicine often cements itself in daily life long after the conventional treatment period has been completed and the cancer is successfully healed. By adapting a natural approach to health, people are gaining far more control of their overall well being, and are finding that a balanced life, revitalized with energy, is entirely attainable through what has always been right in front of them.