What is Naturopathic Oncology?

Naturopathic oncology refers to the application of Naturopathic Medicine within the field of cancer care.  It seeks to improve quality and quantity of life for people diagnosed with cancer through the evidence-based integration natural medicine into and alongside conventional cancer treatment.

Cancer is a challenging if not devastating diagnosis, one that presents a daunting challenge to mind, body, and spirit.  Conventional oncology, while irreplaceable for rising to this challenge, is also incomplete insofar as it neglects the use many important and supportive natural medicines.  The methods and modalities of naturopathic oncology can effectively round out your cancer care and help you stay stronger and be healthier throughout your cancer journey.

 

 

Naturopathic doctors work to support the body’s ability to heal itself.  In naturopathic oncology, this manifests as a focus on the internal terrain of the body, which encompasses the totality of our biochemical, cellular, and physiologic milieu.  The internal terrain includes properties like inflammation and oxidative stress, blood sugar regulation, immune function, nutritional status, hormonal balance (including stress hormones), blood coagulation, and detoxification.  A major goal of naturopathic oncology is to support, boost, and balance these systems in the face of both cancer and its treatment.

In the end, the goal of naturopathic oncology is to improve the internal terrain for the purposes of:

• improving your energy, sense of well-being, and optimism
• improving the outcome of your primary treatment(s)
• reducing the side effects of your primary treatment(s)
• reducing the risk of a cancer recurrence
• reducing the risk for the development of a secondary cancer