Mesothelioma patients can use natural treatments for relief from painful symptoms. These treatments include dietary supplements, meditation, aromatherapy, and acupuncture. They do not treat cancer. However, they can help tremendously with symptoms and ease pain.
Natural treatments can help mesothelioma patients manage symptoms, reduce stress, and promote healing. Natural treatments are not intended to replace standard mesothelioma treatments like surgery, but to accompany them.
Some examples of natural treatments include:
- Dietary supplements
- Meditation
- Aromatherapy
- Acupuncture
Learn more about natural mesothelioma treatments below.
Dietary Supplements
“Dietary supplements” is a broad term that covers edible products that may help a person’s health.
Dietary supplements can include:
- Herbs
- Minerals
- Planted-based or animal-based products
- Vitamins
Supplements are delivered in a variety of ways, including:
- Energy bars
- Enzymes
- Liquid food supplements
- Powdered amino acids
Dietary supplements may be used to replace or increase nutrients. For example, someone with frequent vomiting due to chemotherapy might use a multivitamin to replenish what they’re missing from food. Supplements can also help the body naturally repair itself.
Not all dietary supplements are safe. Some manufacturers use filler substances and even harmful drugs to make their dietary supplements. In addition, supplements may interfere with chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Meditation
Meditation helps you calm your mind, which in turn can relax your body. Meditation can ease many cancer symptoms including:
- Difficulty sleeping
- High blood pressure
- Pain
- Tiredness
Meditation is a very accessible form of natural treatment for mesothelioma patients, requiring little preparation or equipment. For best results, you can work with psychologists or certified meditation instructors.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy promotes healing and calmness through the use of essential oils. The oils come from multiple plants to create different fragrances, including ginger, cedarwood, and lavender.
There are several methods to enjoy aromatherapy:
- Direct inhalation can be done by placing a few drops of oil into hot water
- The benefits of aromatherapy vary between patients, according to the NCI.
- Diluted essential oils can be massaged into the skin
- Patients can inhale aromas with a diffuser that spreads the oils as a fine mist
Mesothelioma symptoms eased by aromatherapy may include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Nausea and vomiting
- Insomnia
Generally, there are no negatives to aromatherapy, but you should check with a specialist before trying it. Applying oils to the skin can cause an allergic reaction in some patients.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the application of fine needles to chosen points across the body. Traditionally, this is believed to restore the flow of life force energy, called “chi.” Modern medical science suggests acupuncture works by releasing neurotransmitters like endorphins and serotonin.
Once the needles are in place, they can be moved by hand, stimulated with an electrical current, or warmed using infrared heat sources. Small clinical trials have shown that acupuncture can help with multiple symptoms of cancer, although more trials are required to confirm these results.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), acupuncture can relieve:
- Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation therapy
- Pain caused by cancerous tumors
Acupuncture is generally considered a safe natural treatment for mesothelioma patients. However, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) states that some patients should avoid acupuncture.
Acupuncture should not be used if patients:
- Suffer bleeding related to low blood platelet counts or the use of blood thinners
- Have a higher risk of infection due to low white blood cell counts
Mesothelioma natural treatments: other options
The natural treatments listed above are some of the most popular among cancer patients, but there are many more available.
Other natural mesothelioma treatment options include:
- Massage
- Music therapy
- Yoga
The American Cancer Society urges patients to speak with their health care team before starting any of the above support options. These are not cancer treatments. Rather, they address the symptoms that can come with mesothelioma, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Finally, patients should never substitute natural mesothelioma support for surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Those treatments are the only way for patients to live longer as they directly kill or remove cancerous tumors.