Integrative Oncology

Q. I have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. What can I do to increase my chances of overcoming cancer?

There is an increasing trend in the U.S. towards integrative approaches to cancer. MD Anderson and Sloan Kettering Memorial are two of most respected centers specializing in cancer treatments. Both programs have integrative medicine available to their patients at the center. There are professional societies of oncologists that focus on the integrative approach to cancer care. National Cancer Institute is actively promoting collaboration of alternative medicine practitioners and researchers in hopes of discovering new treatment regimen.

I think that first thing to do is to connect with an oncologist who can help you to develop a comprehensive strategy. I have observed several patients receiving outstanding care at Emory Winship Cancer Institute. Finding an open-minded oncologist can empower you to integrate the conventional cancer treatments with innovative integrative approaches.

There are several approaches to supporting patients with cancer. All of the approaches emphasize working with your oncologist. If the oncologist is open to using nutrition as an adjunct modality to strengthen you, then an anti-inflammatory diet advocated by Dr. Andrew Weil can be helpful. In addition, there are immune enhancing regimens that have been successfully utilized including Chinese medicinal herbal solutions and Asian medicinal mushrooms. There are clinical trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health exploring individual herb’s effect on cancer including Tumeric and Ginseng. There is no evidence to suggest that these herbs can be used alone for the treatment of cancer.

Even if the oncologist objects to the use of supplements, there are many things you can do. The role of acupuncture has been extensively documented for treating chemotherapy induced nausea and fatigue. There are many mind-body medicine approaches including meditation, self hypnosis, and guided imagery that can help the patients to experience healing. As matter of fact, a study conducted by Dr. Spiegel as Stanford University documented the benefit of weekly psychotherapy for cancer patients. There are a number of support groups available in this area. You should consider attending support group – if you do not enjoy one group, you should experience other groups.

I recommend all patients with cancer to READ and STUDY Dr. Bernie Siegel’s books including Love, Medicine, and Miracles. Dr. Siegel is a retired surgeon from Yale University who discovered that empowering patients with choices can help patients experience extra-ordinary healing.

Cancer can be a life-threatening disease. You need to take account of all options; as one of my mentor says “when you are fighting for your life, you should not have to fight with one hand tied behind your back.”

Energy Medicine

What is Energy Medicine?

Energy medicine recognizes ENERGY as an essential, living, moving force that determines the state of being of our mind, body, and spirit. In Energy medicine, ENERGY is the medicine and it is the patient. The body is healed by activating its natural healing energies, restoring energies that are weak, disturbed, or out of balance. Energy medicine is used to compliment other forms of medicine or as a self-help and self-care system.

There are two types of energy medicine. The first is using measurable energy to influence the flow, balance and harmony of energies. Measurable energies are things like the mechanical vibration of sound and electromagnetic forces, which include visible light, magnetism, monochromatic radiation (laser beams) and rays from other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. In measurable energy medicine, specific, measurable frequencies and wavelengths are used to influence flow, balance, and harmony of the patient’s energy systems. The second type of energy medicine is called biofield energy or subtle energy fields medicine that lack measurement by reproducible methods to date. Therapies involving biofields are based on the concept that human beings are infused with a subtle form of energy. The health of the subtle energy fields is reflected in the health of the body, mind, and spirit.

Application of measurable energy fields are used as diagnostic tools or therapies. The MRI (electromagnetic resonance imaging), cardiac pacemakers, radiation therapy, ultraviolet light, laser surgeries and others use electromagnetic fields that can be measured and dosed based on established evidenced based studies for desired clinical effects for the patient. Magnet therapy involves the use of static magnets used to influence physiologic processes affecting the tiny blood vessels of muscles which reportedly improves muscle health lessening pain. Pulsating electromagnetism has been used to promote healing of nonunion fractures in bones and is claimed to be effective in treating osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, and sleep disorders. Sound therapy uses measurable vibrations or frequencies to resonate with specific organs of the body for healing and support; examples include music therapy, wind chimes, and tuning forks. Light therapy capitalizes on the influence of varying frequencies and colors of light influence moods and hormones of the body. Natural, artificial, lasers, colors, monochromic, and high-intensity light therapies are examples of this type of energy therapy. Homeopathy uses highly diluted substances to stimulate the body to heal itself based on the principle of “like cures like”. Homeopathic remedies are believed to mobilize the body’s vital force to achieve a coordinated healing response throughout the body. The body translates the information on the vital force into local physical changes to heal form acute and chronic illnesses.
Subtle energy field medicine seeks to influence the life force of human beings. This life force is known under different names in different cultures; qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine, prana in Ayurvedic medicine, and pneuma in Greek medicine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the opposing forces of yin and yang regulate a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health. Acupuncture is the most well known form of subtle energy medicine. It is the stimulation of specific points on the body by insertion of thin metal needles through the skin intended to remove blockages in the flow of qi and restore and maintain health. Acupressure and reflexology operate on a similar belief. Some forms of subtle energy medicine are believed to emit or transmit the vital energy (external qi) to a recipient from a universal energy to restore health. Examples of this form include Reiki, Johrei, vortex healing, and polarity therapy, Therapeutic Touch Healing Touch, and Qi Gong. These therapies using external energy fields lack convincing evidence of their therapeutic effects by any biophysical means to date. Intercessory prayer, praying for another human being with or without their knowledge is a type of energy medicine based on the intentions of the praying person and belief in a divine being to intercede or influence the health of the one being prayed for. Each of these subtle energy field approaches lack effective scientific studies to validate their therapeutic effects. However, anecdotal cases of their effectiveness are increasing as is the popularity of such therapies.

By Dorothy Carey RNC
www.georgiaintegrative.com

Health Benefits of Tai Chi Part I

Health Benefits of Tai Chi
Part I
Yoon Hang Kim, MD MPH

Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art that combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow, gentle, and graceful movements. Tai Chi is designed to develop Qi or biofield energy. In Chinese medicine, activities cultivating Qi (biofield energy) is collectively known as Qi Gong. Qi Gong is the fourth branch of Chinese medicine along with acupuncture, herbs, and Tuina (Chinese medical massage). Therefore, with in the Chinese medical paradigm the health benefit are implicit and have wide social validity. In China, it is a common sight to witness a vast number of people practicing Tai Chi and other forms of Qi Gong in the parks.

Prevention of Falls
Tai Chi movements are unique in that a slow weight-shifting and turning of the hips allowing the practitioners to develop kinesthetic awareness. The movements are slow and continuous allowing the individuals to learn to move most effectively in between the form. By performing slow, continuous, and fluid patterns, the individual becomes aware of the optimal safe postures. It is postulated that such awareness could decrease the incidence of falls.

There are many studies showing Tai Chi to reduce the fall risks. One of the studies was conducted by Dr. Fuzhong Li at Oregon State University on 256 physically inactive, community-dwelling adults aged 70 to 92. Participants were randomized to participate in a three-times-per-week Tai Chi group or to a stretching control group for 6 months.

At the end of the 6-month intervention, significantly fewer falls, lower proportions of fallers , and fewer injurious falls were observed in the Tai Chi group compared with the stretching control group. Authors concluded that a three-times-per-week, 6-month Tai Chi program is effective in decreasing the number of falls, the risk for falling, and the fear of falling, and it improves functional balance and physical performance in physically inactive persons aged 70 years or older.

Fall injury is significant more than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year. Of those who fall, 20% to 30% suffer moderate to severe injuries that make it hard to get around or live alone and increase the chance of early death. Older adults are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often than they are for injuries from other causes. 16 The total direct cost of all fall injuries for people 65 and older in 2000 was slightly more than $19 billion: $0.2 billion ($179 million) for fatal falls, and $19 billion for nonfatal falls. Women suffers more complicated course for falls. 18 In 2000, the costs of both fatal and nonfatal falls were higher for women than for men. Medical costs for women, who made up 58% of older adults in 2000, were two to three times higher than for men.

In conclusion, there is a mounting evidence for the use of Tai Chi to prevent falls.

For Tai Chi lessons visit www.welljourney.com

Dr. John Kim has been studying Tai Chi since 1990's and still continues to learn Tai Chi; he teach Tai Chi through WellJourney.