Multiple Myeloma Treatment – Naturopathic Medicine
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Naturopathic Medicine for Multiple Myeloma
The side effects of multiple myeloma can make it difficult to get through treatment. Every multiple myeloma patient who comes to Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) has the opportunity to meet with a naturopathic clinician, who will use natural therapies to support the immune system and reduce side effects throughout your multiple myeloma treatment.
When you arrive at CTCA and meet with your naturopathic clinician, you’ll discuss your health history, previous treatments, and any symptoms you’re experiencing. Using this information, along with the results of your diagnostic tests, you’ll receive an individualized plan that supports your conventional multiple myeloma treatments.
Your plan may include any of the following natural therapies:
- Nutritional supplements (e.g., vitamins)
- Botanical medicine (e.g., herbs)
- Homeopathic medicines
- Acupuncture
- Auricular acupressure
- Hydrotherapy
- Detoxification therapies
- Essential oils (e.g., aromatherapy inhalers or topical products)
Throughout your treatment, your naturopath will work with your oncologists and the rest of your CTCA care team to monitor your supplement and vitamin intake to ensure safety from potential drug-herb and drug-nutrient interactions.
Managing Side Effects with Naturopathic Therapies
Multiple myeloma and its treatments can affect the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, bladder, and nervous system in different ways, causing a variety of symptoms that can interfere with your treatment regime.
The following are examples of how naturopathic therapies can help ease side effects:
- Low blood cell counts: Your naturopath may suggest various dietary supplements, homeopathics, and sometimes acupuncture to help raise blood counts.
- Neuropathy: Some multiple myeloma treatments may cause peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet). Your naturopath may use amino acids, essential fatty acids, herbs, or vitamin complexes to help protect your nervous system.
- Cardiotoxicity: Your naturopath may use antioxidants, herbal medicines, or amino acids to support the heart muscle, since some multiple myeloma treatments can damage it.
- Mucositis: Certain multiple myeloma treatments may damage the cells lining the mouth, resulting in mouth sores. Your naturopath may recommend dietary supplements and/or a baking soda/sea salt mouth rinses to improve the healing mechanisms of the mouth.
- Fatigue: Your naturopath may recommend a variety of vitamin and nutrient combinations, herbs, and homeopathic remedies to help combat fatigue.
- Nausea: Your naturopath may recommend herbs like ginger, acupuncture treatments, acupressure, wrist bands, homeopathics, and aromatherapy to ease nausea.
- Diarrhea: Your naturopath may recommend certain amino acids, dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies, or herbs to minimize diarrhea.
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Constipation: Your naturopath may recommend fiber supplements, herbal laxatives, essential fatty acids, stool softeners, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, or acupuncture to ease constipation.
- Skin Rash: Your naturopath may recommend topical creams or ointments to relieve skin irritation caused by some multiple myeloma treatments, such as radiation therapy.
Care Under One Roof
Throughout your multiple myeloma treatment, your naturopath communicates regularly with your oncologists, hematologists, and the other members of your multiple myeloma care team. Being able to work together in close proximity allows us to share specific challenges and find solutions to meet your individual needs.
After your treatment is complete and you return home, the naturopathic team will continue to be available through phone consultations to address any underlying health issues and help prevent recurrence.
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