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Kelsey Reichard Sonya Shearin 13 November 2011 English 121 Homeopathic Treatments: Why Alternative Medicine is the Smarter Choice for Cancer Patients Around 560,000 people die from cancer each year in the United States; about 1,500 a day, according to the National Cancer Institute. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are two treatments for cancer that are popularly used today; however the treatments are potentially more harmful than the cancer itself. Another option to treat cancer is through homeopathic treatments, which use natural supplements and changes in lifestyle to treat the cancer. These alternative medicines are sometimes used as an additional treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, rather than the primary treatment. Homeopathic treatments provide a safer alternative to mainstream medicine, as well as a better quality of life for cancer patients. Homeopathic treatments are a safer, more personalized treatment for a cancer patient. Homeopathy is a gentle healing method, designed to work with the body to fight disease. The medicine is based on the principle of similar, also known as like cures like. This idea is that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar substances in healthy people (Homeopathy: An Introduction). The drugs used in homeopathy are derived from natural supplements, such as plants, minerals, or animals. The patients are not overwhelmed by the amount of drugs being taken, as homeopathic medicines are generally prescribed in low doses. The idea behind this is the lower the dose, the higher the efficiency of the medicine (Homeopathy: An Introduction). Wayne B. Jonas, director of alternative medicine at the National Institute of Health, states that the drug itself is not what cures the illness, rather it is the reaction of the bodys healing

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mechanisms to the medicine that leads to improvement. The medicines are individualized to each patient, making the treatment personalized. When choosing the medicines, the physical needs of the patients are just one factor. The doctors also take into consideration the emotional and mental aspect of the patient, as well as their personality and family history (Ullman, Ramakrishnan). The personalized nature of the treatments allows the medicines to work more accurately, because they are designed to the specific needs of the patient. Some frequently used medicines include carcinosin, schirrhinum, and thuja. They have been proven to be beneficial in cancer care (Ramakrishnan). However, the medicines are only one part of homeopathic healing of cancer. Cancer is fed by sugar, so changes in diet when coping with the disease is important (Cancer Loves Sugar). Cancer will grow as it eats the sugars that enter the body through foods. Removing sugars from the diet is important, but will not remove the cancer. The cancer will begin feeding off of proteins and carbohydrates, a condition called cachexia, until the body starves itself to death. The weight of the patients will drop dangerously, so precautions must be taken to prevent starvation. Eliminating processed foods, fats, sugars, carbohydrates, and some meat and dairy will help tremendously, because it will cause the cancer to starve out. Changes in diet along with natural medications can allow the body to heal itself and become healthy once again. Ellen Belliveau, a breast cancer patient, used the methods of homeopathy and chemotherapy to treat her cancer. Ellen was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. By the time she had her biopsy, the cancer had metastasized to her lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and bones. She was told to start her chemotherapy right away, due to the advanced stage of the cancer. Ellen was a little wary of the idea of chemotherapy. She mentioned to her doctor the idea of looking at alternative medicines, but the doctor went ballistic and dismissed the idea. Ellen was still determined to see a homeopathic doctor. Ellen was amazed at the differences between the two doctors. She felt that

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even though the oncologists were nice, they gave her no control or help. They gave me directions and I had no choice. They were unable to help me think or plan or know what was happening. The best advice they gave was to go across the wig shop, because I was going to lose my hair in 17 days. They completely ignored me, completely ignored caring for me. (Belliveau) She met with a naturopath doctor, who sat with her for two and half hours discussing the condition of her cancer. Her doctor discussed with her the reality of the situation, giving all the facts. While it was frightening to hear, Ellen appreciated the truth in the situation and the sense of connection and being able to work with the doctor to have control over her body. One of the first things her homeopathic doctor did was to change her diet. Ellen weighed 115 at the beginning of this journey in May, but by the time she saw her homeopathic doctor, in early June, she weighed 89. She was taken off sugar and carbs. She began to eat above-ground veggies, proteins, eggs, and other foods to build strength and fight the cancer. As a part of the personalized type of treatment, her homeopathic doctor helped her to overcome emotional hurt, and for Ellen included grieving for the loss of her father. Emotional factors can overwhelm a cancer patient, so it is an important part of the process. Ellen was expected to go through six rounds of chemotherapy, but instead went through three. She attributes this to her homeopathic treatments. Studies have shown that homeopathic medicines provide cancer patients with a better quality of life. In a study done testing two groups of cancer patients, one treated through homeopathy and the other through mainstream medicines. Results showed that cancer patients who went through the natural treatments had a better quality of life, as well as fewer side effects left by the cancer. During homeopathic care we saw a significant and stable improvement in QoL (quality of life) which, as measured by the FACT-G (Functional Assessment of Cancer TreatmentGeneral), is sizeable at more than half a standard deviation. We do not see a comparable increase in

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QoL in the conventionally treated cohort (Bartsch). The medicines are natural and non-toxic, so they do not harm the body. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy use drugs and radiation to kill off cancer in the body, however homeopathic medicines work with the body to ward off the cancer. Naturopath physicians, Judyth and Robert Ullman, report that patients who use homeopathy for their treatment are benefited with the strengthening and protection of their immune systems. Homeopathy also increases in energy and vitality, reduces of symptoms left by cancer, and protects against future recurrences (Ullman). Homeopathic methods are sometimes paired with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as the two treatments are highly toxic and dangerous. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are more dangerous than the cancer and should be replaced or paired with homeopathic treatments. Dr. Guy Fagut takes a stance against chemotherapy in his novel, The War on Cancer, stating that it has not been delivering the results it should. Approximately 2% of patients with disseminated or metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread) treated with chemotherapy will be cured of their disease and prolongation of survival is not feasible for most patients afflicted by most types of cancers. Chemotherapy is the administering of powerful drugs into a patient to kill off cancer, and radiation therapy is using large doses of radiation to kill off cancer. Both treatments are highly toxic, even the smallest increase in the medicine will be lethal to the patient. The toxicity leaves the body weakened afterwards; chemotherapy will damage the things in the body that are currently growing (Buckman). These treatments have serious side effects such as hair loss, swelling, nausea and vomiting, sexual changes, and more. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have many long term side effects, such as memory loss and learning disabilities. These side effects are most prominent in young children. (3). Homeopathic treatments do not have the same dangers of leaving side effects, because of

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the non-toxicity of the medicine and the way it works with the body to heal. While doctors do not believe that homeopathy should be used for primary treatment of cancer, some will recommend using it to fight the side effects, for the medicines have been credited with helping aid the side effects of the cancer and chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However homeopathic treatments should be used as primary treatments in cancer, for they have been known to treat cancer well, especially in the areas of breast, prostate, and esophageal cancer (Klotter). Colleen Campbell, a breast cancer patient, took both homeopathic medicines and chemotherapy after being diagnosed in winter of 2008. Due to the chemotherapy, Ms. Campbell lost her hair, had severe swelling in her feet and ankles, and neuropathy, the loss of feeling in fingers and toes, which persisted for the rest of her life. Daughter-in-law of Ms. Campbell, Laura Gladstone, comments that, She did not have the typical problems of nausea and feeling tired from the chemo, due to the fact she was taking supplements. However, the neuropathy was the worst thing. And she hated the hair loss. She went to chemo once a week for three hours. She hated being around the other cancer patients, the people who were dying. It was so depressing (Gladstone). Though homeopathy does not have the same risks as chemotherapy, it is still not acknowledged as a viable method of healing in the medical world. Many believe that homeopathic treatments are unreliable, as it is simply the guesswork of the doctors, and should not be considered as a method of healing. Homeopathy is often considered to a placebo; if the patients believe that the medicines they are taking will cure them, then the body will respond to this belief. This goes hand in hand with the optimism of those who believe in homeopathic treatments. Many believe there is a lack of evidence in general testing. Professor Anisur Khuda-Bukhsh addresses the question of whether homeopathic treatments in homeopathy are a placebo. Could then the beneficial effects of homeopathy be entirely

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attributable to the placebo effect? No--numerous double-blind placebo-controlled experiments convincingly show that effects produced by the homeopathic remedies are greater than those of placebo alone (Jonas). Homeopathy is not a placebo; it is the result of natural, individualized treatments. However, the individualization of the treatments makes it hard to test. Homeopathy has been examined, but could widely benefit from being tested more thoroughly, as it is not as widely accepted as it should be in the medical world. Homeopathy is attributed to optimism, for many believe that the optimism is a part of the placebo effect. While it is not true that it is a placebo effect, those who use homeopathy still have a sense of optimism. This natural medicine can give hope to those who have none; hope for a cure and to be well again. When Ms. Campbell was originally diagnosed, the cancer was in a small lump and would need a simple surgery. However, two weeks later, it was discovered that the cancer had metastasized, taking over threequarters of her liver, and was deemed stage 4. The oncologists told her that the cancer was too widely spread, the cancer could not be cured and she would not have much more time to live. Ms. Campbell did not believe that there wasnt another option, so she found a naturopath doctor. Her doctor told her differently; that things could get better, she could overcome the cancer. Unlike what the oncologist told her, Colleen went into remission July of 2009, seven months after being diagnosed. Colleen attributed this to the work of homeopathic medicines and changes in her lifestyle. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy puts patients lives at risk with the powerful drugs and radiation being administered into their bodies. Homeopathy works with the body, allowing it to heal itself so it may function normally and become healthy again. Homeopathic methods should be more widely accepted by doctors and health care officials worldwide, for they offer an alternative to mainstream medicines that does not impose the same risks, give patients a better quality of life,

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and a hope for a cure.

Work Cited Bartsch, Hans. Guenther, Lars. Guethlin, Corina. Rostock, Matthias. Naumann, Johannes. Walach, Harald. Classical homeopathy in the treatment of cancer patients - a prospective observational study of two independent cohorts. BMC Cancer. 11:19. (2001)

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Web. 31 October 2011. Belliveau, Ellen. Phone interview. 1 December 2011. Buckman, Robert. What You Really Need to Know About Cancer. The United States of America: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997. Print. National Cancer Institute. National Institutes of Health. Web. 27 November 2011. Cancer Loves Sugar. Mnwelldir.org. Minnasota Wellness Publications Inc. 2009. Web. 26 November 2011. Fagut, Guy. The War on Cancer: An Anatomy of Failure, a Blueprint for the Future. The Netherlands: Springer, 2005. Print. Gladstone, Laurie. Personal interview. 25 November 2011. Homeopathy: An Introduction. Niccam.gov. The Nation Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. August 2010. Web. 28 November 2011. Jonas, Wayne B. Healing with Homeopathy: The Complete Guide United States of America: Warner Books Inc., 1996. Print. Kassab, S. Thompson, E. Homeopathy in Cancer Care. British Homeopathic Journal. 89. 61-62. Web. 4 November 2011 Khuda-Bukhsh, Anisur R. Laboratory Research in Homeopathy: Pro. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 5.4 (Dec. 2006): 320. Web. 7 November 2011 Klotter, Jule. Homeopathic treatment helps some cancers. Townsend Letter. 325-326 (August-September 2010): 22. Web. 6 November 2011. Ramakrishnan, A. A Homeopathic Approach to Cancer. West Virginia, Ninth House Publishing Berkeley Spring. Print. Ullman, Judyth. Ullman, Robert. Homeopathic Treatment of Cancer: General (2000):

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Considerations. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. (Aug. 2001): 163. 6 November 2011.