Climate Grief Forum

On December 1, 2019, a small group met at Camden Whole Health for our first forum on Climate Grief. Climate Grief, also known as “eco-anxiety” or “climate anxiety” is a term used to describe the uncomfortable emotions people are having in response to the climate crisis. I prefer the term Climate Grief because I think it better represents the full spectrum of emotions that people are experiencing in relation to the changing climate. While strong emotions about the climate crisis are normal and quite understandable, like any strong emotions they can interfere with our ability to live our lives and take appropriate action. Just think about a time when you have grieved the loss of a loved one. During the acute grieving phase you may have felt like all you could do was survive. But as your grief shifted you experienced a new sense of purpose and direction.

The US Global Change Research Program* has published research about the health effects of climate change. While most of us know about the changes, and anticipated changes to our oceans in the form of temperature change and sea-level rise, the greenhouse gas effect, and the dying off of other species, many of us have not heard about the direct health effects-both physical and psychological (and in some cases spiritual) to humans. And, yet many of us are already experiencing some health-related consequences of climate change. The dramatic increase in tick-borne illness is one very present and real consequence in the midcoast. Environmental allergies, heat-related illness, waterborne illness, and premature births are also on the rise. In addition, there are changes in our mental health. More and more people are reporting chronic stress, symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression related to climate change. Immigration is often driven by climate-related environmental and social strains leading to mass displacement and trauma. And for others, decreasing resources will lead to social instability and even violence. No wonder we’re stressed!

When considering the climate crisis emotions range from despair and depression to anger and anxiety, to disappointment and sadness and finally to numbness or the lack of emotion. If we think of grief as a process that encompasses all of these feelings, then the term climate grief fits. One remarkable quality of grief is the ever-changing emotions that arise and fall within an individual. People generally move back and forth through numbness, anxiety, anger, and sadness finally finding acceptance and resolve to continue living. Therefore while painful and confusing, grief also offers hope. Grief offers the possibility of something new and different on the other side. People generally experience a sense of renewal and rebirth as their grief resolves.

When it comes to the climate crisis I believe we all need to move through grief into the renewal phase so as to free up our energy to take action on behalf of ourselves and our community, the planet and other species, and all of humanity. My goals for the forum are to provide education about the process of climate grieving, create a supportive environment in which participants can share their feelings about the crisis, help build resilience and a community of people who are ready to take action. There will be a didactic presentation, discussion and opportunities for personal expression through talking, writing, and creative arts expression.

If any of this resonates with you, please come check out what we’re doing! The forum is free and open to the public. The next forum is scheduled for Sunday, January 12th, 5-6:30 pm at Camden Whole Health. If you have questions or would like more information please contact me at BarbaraDavisLCSW@gmail.com.

Check the CWH January newsletter for details!

*For the full report go to https://health2016.globalchange.gov/

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Cannabinoids Support Many Aspects of Health

This is Part 1 of a 2-part series on Cannabinoids, which are naturally found in plants to support many aspects of health.

Now that laws have evolved whereby the cannabis plant is freed from its legal constraints (on a state by state basis), research that was once plentiful during the ’50s and early ’60s is now in the process of being revived. Not only is research on this plant blooming, but the current setting of what we understand about how our brain and bodies work in 21st-century science is also opening whole new applications for this medicinal plant.

First off, it is important to know that all cannabis plants (both industrial hemp as well as medicinal marijuana) contain cannabinoids, with the primary difference being the content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the primary cannabinoid associated with the neurological sensation of being “high” (also colloquially termed “stoned”, “baked”, etc.). The primary difference between “marijuana” (Cannabis strains high in THC, like C. Indica) and “industrial hemp” (Cannabis strains low in THC, like C. Sativa) is predominantly that THC level, with hemp containing less than 0.3% THC with relation to total cannabinoids (as set forth by the 2018 Farm Bill) being allowed to be sold without a prescription (on a state-by-state basis). In order to purchase high-THC products, patients require a “medical marijuana card” by being prescribed it by an MD, DO, or NP. Unfortunately, when passing this law Maine failed to include the only doctors with training in herbal medicine – naturopathic doctors.

The second important consideration is that there are hundreds of various cannabinoids in cannabis plants, with few cannabinoids being rigorously studied. One such cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), in contrast, is well studied to the extent that we see significant qualified health responses. Here in Maine, we have the ability to purchase low THC products from various locals – from gas stations to pet shops and everything in-between. But laws surrounding the sale of these products make it hard to compare value, dose, and efficacy between products. This is concerning, especially when it is often expensive and if a sub-optimal product is tried without benefit, one might not try CBD again, even if they might benefit from a product with a known and validated CBD level.

The last piece of information that is critical for our understanding is that humans and many mammals have an endogenous “endocannabinoid system”, which means that our biochemistry not only has systems in place to utilize cannabinoids, including specialized receptors, it also has the capacity to make its own substances, like anandamide, that can bind to existing cannabinoid receptors in our brain and have a cannabinoid effect – Think “runner’s high” which is a manifestation of anandamide release secondary to exercise that makes us feel good.

With these cannabinoids and our endocannabinoid system now better understood, a plethora of research is coming out about the benefits of CBD in particular. Early research demonstrates benefits for sleep, anxiety, neurological pain, digestion, seizures, and immune system modulation, among others. Additionally, CBD has a very low incidence of adverse events, supporting its safe and effective use in a broad swath of patients.

Stay tuned for Part 2 when we will explore these benefits in more depth.

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In-House Lab Changes

The naturopathic clinic lab services at Camden Whole Health, previously run and owned by Mercy Diagnostics, was sold to another company, MedLab in mid-April. MedLab alerted us on April 15th they would not maintain Mercy’s services in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont or Rhode Island, closing approximately 108 phlebotomy sites in New England. In order to service the phlebotomy and lab needs of our patients we are delighted to announce we have hired Mercy’s former phlebotomist, Rose Harper. Rose will be performing a number of roles in the clinic, including phlebotomy and reception services.

After interviewing over a half dozen laboratory service companies, we have selected Quest Diagnostics in Marlborough, MA to process the majority of our standard labs. We felt Quest Diagnostics offered the best combination of price, comprehensive testing, and service. Quest Diagnostics is in-network with all major insurance companies and can bill your insurance directly. In addition, we have negotiated very competitive cash prices for our patients who do not have insurance and for those whom it is financially beneficial to pay cash. Patients will be able to select cash pay or insurance options with greater price transparency.

We will continue to utilize our specialty test kits for non-standard labs, including Boston Heart, US Biotek, Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Vibrant America, Genova, Ceres Biosciences, IGenX, Labrix, and many others to accommodate the diagnostic needs of our providers and patients.

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Cancer Care: Conventional, Complementary, Alternative?

Dr. Barbara MacDonald has twenty-years-experience as a licensed naturopathic physician working in the field of complementary cancer care.  She treats patients using a combination of naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, CranioSacral therapy and Qi Gong describing herself as comfortable in both conventional, research-based sciences and the most esoteric healing arts.  She practices in Camden, Maine and is the author of The Breast Cancer Companion: A Complementary Care Manual (3rd ed. 2016).  Dr. MacDonald was invited to share how she counsels cancer patients faced with the dilemma of choosing to combine or replace conventional treatment with natural medicine.  These are her opinions, to date, and are not intended as medical advice.  She is open to learning from those with different experiences even if they kindly disagree with her.  “By having integrity with oneself, we make choices that are aligned with our higher purpose.”

Putting things in context

In 2017, there were approximately 1.7 million Americans diagnosed with cancer[i].  In the last decade, it is estimated that between 40-90% of them utilized some form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM).[ii],[iii],[iv]  This is a significant increase from the 90’s when it was estimated that only 18% of cancer patients used CAM.[v]  The term CAM is broad and includes many therapies (massage, acupuncture, etc.), natural products (vitamins, minerals, herbs, nutraceuticals) and practices (meditation, yoga, etc.) that are either added to conventional treatment (complementary or integrative) or done in lieu of them (alternative).

Some cancer patients use CAM during treatment but most afterward.[vi]  One concern about relying on research studies is that one person’s CAM is doing breathing exercises while another’s is following a comprehensive integrative protocol.  The category of CAM that represents the greatest number of users was those who reported having taken “natural products and herbs.”  Even though 17% of cancer patients used this type of CAM[vii] those who simply took Echinacea to prevent a cold were lumped in with those who had comprehensive integrative treatment plan prescribed by a licensed CAM healthcare provider.  Because the term CAM is so broad, the reliance on research studies to determine its success and failures is flawed.  Not all CAM is the same.

There is a decent body of evidence regarding the safety of herbal and nutraceutical medicines and their interactions with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and oral medication.  I feel confident that licensed naturopathic physicians and many of our medical colleagues trained in functional and integrative medicine are versed in guiding patients to avoid things that may be unsafe and encourage them to complement their allopathic treatments with natural therapies that may improve their experience and clinical outcomes.  This is very different than patients taking products they read about online without sufficient training to know how to determine quality, safety or optimal dosing.

What is less known is if natural medicine can replace some or all conventional medical treatment for cancer.  Our patients, especially those who are ‘naturally minded,’ rightly ask us if we can offer them a natural-only cure.  There are holistic practitioners who I would characterize as perhaps radical and certainly the most risk-tolerant among us, comfortably answer that question with a yes.  I, and most of the naturopathic oncology colleagues I consulted for this article, rarely do.  I generally discourage the alternative-medicine-only option around 85% of the time.

Only recently have outcome studies compared the use of alternative medicines to allopathic.  In a case-control, retrospective study published in August, 2017 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, it was found that those who did alternative-treatment-methods-only were more than twice as likely to die compared to those who chose conventional treatments.[viii]  Conducted at Yale University School of Medicine, 281 cases were identified where patients with colon, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers responded that they had chosen “other-unproven cancer treatments” instead of allopathic medicine.  Their outcomes were compared to those with similar cancers, stages, etc.  In one article about this study they stated “Overall, 78% of people having conventional treatment for cancer survived at least five years, compared to only 55% of people having alternative treatment alone. The difference was biggest for breast cancer, where people who chose alternative therapies were more than five times as likely to die within five years as those who chose conventional treatments.”[ix]  This is concerning.  Yet again, the study doesn’t discern between those who had a comprehensive, practitioner prescribed treatment plan from those who directed their own care.  The patients could have taken one capsules of curcumin or they could have engaged in a long-term, individualized, holistic approach including diet, fitness, meditation, acupuncture, hyperbaric, intravenous medicine, herbal therapy, etc.  Not all CAM is the same and well-designed alternative medicine studies are non-existent. It is also fair to mention that conventional treatment is not curative for most advanced cancers and that its primary benefit in these cancers is in extending disease-free survival. Thus, it is conceivable that someone with advanced cancer who does not want to risk the toxicity of conventional treatments would opt for an alternative approach.

In 1997, I graduated with a 4-year doctoral degree in naturopathic medicine and in 2003, a master’s degree in Classical Chinese medicine.  I then had the privilege of practicing for thirteen years mentored by women’s natural health expert, Dr. Tori Hudson and Chinese herbalist Dr. Menge Kou.  In the early years, I believed that by eating well, taking natural medicines and addressing mental, emotional and energetic imbalances, one could cure their cancer.  I believed in the theory that our body, restored to balance, would recognize unhealthy mutations and direct the immune system to do what it knows to do – stop cancer cells from replicating and bring them back from the ‘dark side’ to being productive members of the community of cells working toward the greater good within each of us.

I still believe this in theory.  I was raised by a now-retired osteopathic physician, who instilled in me a belief in the healing power of our inner physician.  However, through my own failures and those of my most respected colleagues, I have learned that theory isn’t enough.  The practice of knowing which combination of natural therapeutics, lifestyle changes and mental-emotional shifts to recommend for each person’s unique situation, at a pace to turn the tides of cancer has, so far, been like using a sailboat to chase a speed boat.  I have met individuals who had all the factors in alignment to achieve this.  Unfortunately, they are not the norm.  They are the miracles.  I say this not to squelch the faith of those who believe that natural-only can work.  I realize that, for some, it will, and I have the deepest respect for patient choice.  I, and my dedicated colleagues have, however, attended too many funerals held in honor of beloved patients who were clinging to the faith that the natural-only option would save them while denying potentially life-prolonging and quality of life-improving conventional medical treatments.  Therapies, that might have even given the natural options more time to work.  On the other hand, the opposite is equally true – patients have suffered, and some have died due to side effects from conventional cancer treatments.  It is all about timing and balance.

I am however, very confident in the use of well-designed complementary or integrative approaches that pair the best of both worlds.  These would include properly timed, natural medicines used in therapeutic dosages along with individually chosen diet therapies, mental-emotional healing, stress management and energetic balancing to work in tandem toward a cure with carefully chosen and safely dosed conventional allopathic procedures and medicines.  The success at facilitating remission is with this integrative approach is, in my observations, higher under the care of our medical colleagues who use methods that reach beyond what is possible in our country today.  In Europe, some oncologists are individualizing treatments using a host of conventional and natural methods combined.  Most of these methods are not, however, yet approved by the FDA to be used in this country.

After all these years, I am not confident in the success rates among those who forgo all forms of conventional medicine.  What I feel deflated by is that we do not yet have reproducible natural treatment protocols to offer as an alternative to conventional medical treatment.  This is due, in part, to the limitations placed on medical and naturopathic physicians in our county.  We don’t have a body of research that proves our methods work as an alternative to the conventional standard of care, nor do we know when to use which form of natural medicine instead of conventional care.  Reading about those who claim to have better success than the MD-only options, I react with a blend of healthy skepticism and hope.  I realize I may be scorned by my own people here.  Colleagues who may have a patient or perhaps several, who, under their care, found a cure or extension of life with a natural-only approach.  I pray that you succeed, and can reliably reproduce those outcomes in other patients, but to date, this is where I believe we are.  Without repeatable and trainable methods, we are left to advise patients to find the balance between conventional and natural. Perhaps the burgeoning science of immunotherapy is what we’ve been waiting for – using the healing power of our own immune system with help from sophisticated science, and yes, the capitalist driven machine of conventional medicine, to bring about a much-needed cure for cancer that works with our body’s wisdom.  I could get on board with that.  But, then again, I was raised by folks who believe in unicorns and I won’t give up looking for the holistic approach that works.

I am proud of the state of my profession’s offerings in complementary treatment during conventional cancer therapies.  I strongly recommend that patients seek this form of care and wish patients had more access to holistic care at their cancer clinics.  But, while we are getting closer every year to the alternative, natural-only options that we desperately want to provide, I encourage patients to think carefully before embarking on that journey.

Decision Making –

If you are among those recently diagnosed with cancer, your thoughts and feelings, questions and concerns, your left brain, your right, your logic and your intuition matter.  While this will affect those who love you, it is your experience, no one else’s.  You get to call the shots even if it might not feel that way.

The rest of this article is intended to help you navigate cancer treatment decisions if you are considering the addition of natural medicine along with conventional medical treatment or instead of it.  That defines the difference between complementary (a.k.a. integrative) vs. alternative medicine.  Even though you are likely mentally and emotionally overwhelmed by your recent diagnosis and conventional treatment options, the goal is to feel confident about the forms of natural medicines their dosage, timing and sources you choose.  So, how do you find confidence in your plan when you are new at this and the stakes are high?

Finding answers to the following questions, may help you organize your thoughts.

  • First, how much time do you have to make an informed decision?
  • Second, what choices do you have- both conventional and natural?
  • Third, if you choose a complementary or alternative path, where will you get the expertise you need to guide you?
  • Fourth, if you choose a complementary path, what type of natural medicine is best for you?
  • Fifth, if you are leaning toward an alternative path, what should you be thinking about?
  • Lastly, how can you comfortably work within the conventional medical system even if you choose CAM?

First, how much time do I have before I have to do something?

After a diagnosis of cancer, the conventional treatment ‘system’ efficiently whisks patients into a well-meaning river of action that requires that you trust, not in yourself, but in the experience of others.  For many, this may be your first time having to use conventional medicine.  Patients are often paddled along by supportive loved-ones who fear losing them.  Many patients, however, especially those who think of themselves as ‘natural,’ are compelled to swim against the establishment current as fast as they can or at least tread water a while.

I advise you to take your time making your treatment choices.  While waiting too long may be a risk, only in dire cases can a recently diagnosed person not wait a few weeks to feel ‘right’ about their treatment decisions.  If you are not sure, ask the surgeon or oncologist, “how many days or weeks do you think I have to safely make an informed decision about your recommendations?”

With that in mind, the next step is to organize the decisions that must be made now, and the ones that can wait a while.  As the Tao de Jing advises: there are times to move forward, times to pause and times to retreat.

How do you know how much time you have to pause or retreat and try natural methods?  This depends on the type of cancer, stage, location, how aggressive it is, and how successful conventional treatments are at leading to remission or cure.  These criteria are also the same ones that may lead you to choose the amount of conventional medicine you find necessary.  An oncologist can help you answer these questions and give you some insight into what you are facing.  Often the surgeon is the first person you will meet, however.  You are encouraged to consider speaking to an oncologist (doctor who specializes in cancer) before deciding on surgery, if there is time to do so.  This conversation is especially important these days as new forms of cancer treatment and clinical trials may offer pre-surgical options that were not available even a few years ago.  Don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion from a surgeon or oncologist at an unaffiliated hospital too.

To get the most out of your oncology visit, you may want to ask the difficult questions such as:

  • How common is this form of cancer?
  • Is my situation quite typical of those with this form of cancer or are there factors that make my situation unique?
  • How aggressive is this form of cancer?
  • Help me understand what stage it is.
  • If untreated, will the tumor soon inhibit organ function?
  • What are the five and ten-year survival rates for people who have been studied with this specific type of cancer using your suggested treatment method?
  • If I did no conventional treatment at all, how long do you think I’d have to live?
  • If I only do part of what you recommend, how does that affect long-term survival outcomes?
  • Be honest, if you were me, and you were in my exact shoes, would you do the treatment that you are recommending to me?
  • If you were discussing my case with other physicians, what would you describe as my biggest challenge?

Knowing what’s next is also dependent on knowing yourself.  Are you a person who needs to list all the pro’s and con’s?  Are you one to listen to your gut?  Do you usually play it safe and do what doctors recommend?  Do you run screaming at the thought of doing anything an allopathic doctor recommends?  Think about how you have successfully thought your way through other challenging decisions and start there.  Also, be honest with yourself about when your blinders might be on.  Don’t confuse wishful or magical thinking for truly discerned inner wisdom.

In some cases, having a conventional treatment now, while debating the other decisions, is necessary.  A few examples include: a) there is a narrow window of time that surgery is an option b) a tumor is invading an essential organ that can’t function without its removal c) starting chemotherapy before other treatments is advised to shrink a large tumor d) the cancer is so aggressive and rapidly replicating that no form of natural medicine could possibly outpace it.

For example, if a patient has been told that they have an aggressive cancer (for example small -cell lung cancer) that has been diagnosed after a biopsy, and it is currently operable, my advice would be to have the surgery ASAP and then consider natural options later because they are lucky to have found it at an operable stage.  However, if a person was diagnosed with a common small, stage I breast cancer which has good outcomes with conventional treatment, but she is riddled with anxiety having never even taken antibiotics in her life, perhaps she can pause for a week or so while gathering information.  Lastly, and most challenging, perhaps, is the person told that they have six months to live with metastatic cancer.  Some might choose to fight with all forms of medicine, others to pause a while to decide and some to do nothing and enjoy the time they have without enduring side effects of treatment in what is likely their last months of life.  In that case, it is more about how you make decisions because whether natural or conventional or a mix, no one can promise a cure, but some find one.

What are my choices?

The next step is formulating the right questions which means knowing your options.

  • Should I follow the conventionally advised course of treatment only? (A: Conventional Medical Only Option)
  • Should I follow only part of it? (B: Individualized Medical Option)
  • Should I follow part or all of it and add natural medicine to it? (C: Conventional and Complementary Medicine Option = Integrative Option)
  • Should I do the course of advised medical treatment and then try to prevent recurrence with natural medicine? (D: Conventional Then Natural Medicine Option)
  • Should I forgo conventional advice and do only natural medicine? (E: Alternative Medicine Option)

If you choose C, D or E, then there are even more questions to answer.  If I do any natural therapies, which ones do I choose?  Do I stay local or travel to a comprehensive integrative cancer clinic or a natural only one in the U.S. or abroad?  Do I work with a licensed naturopathic oncologist, licensed ND with cancer treatment experience, a holistic DO/MD, other natural practitioner or create my own treatment plan from my online reading?

As you are likely gathering from this long list of important questions, you could spend years trying to figure these things out. Chances are you are mentally and emotionally doe-eyed by now and are feeling pressured by others and are rightly confused and overwhelmed.  While you may have more time than you were led to believe to make treatment decisions, don’t let your need to have all the answers right now get in your way of taking one wise action step.

Who are reliable experts in complementary and alternative medicine?

Without a licensed Naturopathic physician in most oncology clinics, it is up to the individual to find a well-trained, licensed, natural medicine provider with extensive cancer care experience whose practice philosophy is up your alley.

My recommendation is to choose a licensed naturopathic physician/doctor (ND), including a naturopathic oncologist (a naturopathic physicians with board certification in naturopathic oncology).  Unlike unlicensed naturopaths with an on-line certificate, a licensed ND is trained in four-year graduate level naturopathic medical schools.  We are primary care physicians in many states and specialists in others and are not licensed in some.  Licensed NDs are uniquely trained in both conventional science-based medicine and the art and science of healing by treating the whole person, using the healing power of nature and avoiding the obstacles to a cure. We all must pass national basic science and clinical licensing exams that include competency in pharmaceutical and naturopathic medicines.  In many states we have DEA licenses and prescriptive rights similar to MDs and DOs where even intravenous vitamins and botanicals are administered.  In other states the drug formulary is limited or nonexistent.  Most are members of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP.org).  A licensed naturopath who focuses their practice in oncology is not bound by a standard of care like medical oncologists are.  While the OncANP has recently developed Principals of Care to guide the safe, comprehensive delivery of care, there are no protocols that we must follow.  This is great for individualized care, but it also puts the onus on patients to discern which ND is the best fit for them.

Just like you might consider getting more than one medical oncologist or surgeon opinion, I recommend that you interview a few licensed ND’s before choosing one to guide you.  Some of us are more classical in our approach and use ‘nature-cure’ methods while others use a more science-based approach or both.  Many offer a free 15-minute meet-and-greet visit to see if you are compatible.  Good questions to ask would be how much of your practice is oncology?  How long have you practiced?  What forms of natural medicine do you most often use?  What are your opinions about complementary vs. alternative medicine?  What are your opinions about conventional allopathic treatments?  How do you avoid giving things that might negatively interact with conventional therapies?

Some licensed naturopathic physicians have taken a special board exam to become a fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO).  They are referred to as naturopathic oncologists. They are the perfect choice for a person who prefers an evidence-based approach. You can find a list of FABNO’s at http://fabno.org/membership.html.

There are osteopathic and medical doctors with training in complementary cancer care who learned from integrative or functional medicine courses.  Some have cancer clinics that offer simply relaxation techniques.  Others direct comprehensive clinics offering everything from intravenous vitamins to hyperthermia and hyperbaric medicine.  There is now board certification in integrative medicine, so look for MDs and DOs who have this. Also, many allopathic physicians practicing integrative oncology are members of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO at integrativeonc.org.)

Finally, there are cancer clinics that patients travel to for treatment.  It is vital to discern sham clinics from those with well-trained oncologists who had to leave the U.S. to provide a combination of conventional and natural treatments without waiting for FDA approval.  The only resource that I am aware of when considering foreign clinics is Ralph Moss, PhD’s Cancerdecisions.com.  Many providers and CAM clinics around the world provide often life-saving methods.  While others advertise much more than they deliver at great financial expense to people who are most vulnerable with little time to research whom to trust.  So, my next piece of advice is to thoroughly consider who you will work with to guide your CAM plan.

Fourth, if you choose a complementary path, what type of natural medicine is best for you?

Once you have decided what conventional therapies you will or will not choose to do and you have decided to take a complementary or integrative route and found a practitioner you trust, next you need to decide which natural therapies are best for you.  This is often based on your personal situation and the prescribing CAM physician.  In most therapeutic settings, you will likely be offered complementary treatment plans that help you avoid side effects and optimize conventional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, oral medications and immunotherapy.  In some cases, if the cancer you are working to heal from is aggressive or later stage, you may be adding natural therapies that have independent anti-cancer benefits.

CAM or Integrative medicines include so many things that this article cannot cover them all.  A new book may shed more light on this subject, however: Outside the Box Cancer Therapies by Stengler & Anderson (Hay House Publishing, 2018).  Some therapies that are reputable include combinations of botanical medicine from various traditions or standardized extracts of single plants such as curcumin, artemisinin, berberine and mushroom extracts.  Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, homeopathic remedies are often included.  There are treatments that holistic practitioners may offer such as acupuncture, mind-body therapies or you may be referred to classes in meditation, yoga, Qi Gong or invited to join a fitness program for those with cancer such as the YMCA’s free Livestrong program.  Most practitioners will likely discuss what you eat, drink, your fitness and stress management regimens.  Some, with additional training might recommend intravenous vitamins, amino acids and a few are trained in administering IV botanicals.  Low dose medicinal cannabis may treat side effects while higher dosages, with an aim to treat cancer, need the guidance of an experienced practitioner.  In addition, European therapies are coming to the United States such as mistletoe injections, hyperthermia and hyperbaric.  I encourage you avoid doing therapies that are recommended online until you have found a practitioner with expertise to help you discriminate the ones that have merit from those that will cost you hundreds of dollars a month and do you no good at all.

Fifth, if you are leaning toward an alternative path, what should you be thinking about?

“Do I go against everything I believe about living a healthy life and do what these doctors, who don’t even know me, tell me are my only choices: surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation?”   Many patients have shared this inner struggle with their naturopath.  It makes sense to most of us and it is likely how we’d feel in your shoes (and many ND’s have been cancer patients as well.)  You might be thinking, I’ll eat even healthier, do cleansing and detoxification, take herbs and mushroom extracts, medical marijuana, cottage cheese and flax seeds. Maybe even do hyperbaric and IV-vitamins, supplements, acupuncture and herbal medicines or the other dozens of possible natural therapies.

How can you discern between fear of conventional treatment and your inner-wisdom that says I know this isn’t right for me?  Is now the time to do what feels right and forgo convention?  Each situation is unique.  Consider the risks and the benefits of both, what you know about yourself, perhaps get the opinions of experts in natural medicine for your personal situation and then ask yourself: “Will I ever be willing to do any form of conventional medicine?”  Often patients want to try natural medicine first, saving chemotherapy or surgery if that fails.  And, that brings up the important point that you need to keep yourself informed of when your current efforts are working and when they are not. Conventional imaging and, in some cases, tumor markers are the only reliable means to determine if treatments are working. Don’t be fooled by claims by alternative practitioners that things are getting better based on alternative diagnostics without confirmatory imaging (or validated tumor markers in those situations where imaging is not applicable, such as leukemia or myeloma). My experience tells me that most often, if you said you’d ever be willing, and it is logical to those who know the details of your case, do the conventional medicine sooner rather than later.  It is an issue of timing.  If you knew you’d have the perfect combination of natural factors for that sailboat to catch up to the speedboat, you’d do it.  But, if you have a form of cancer that ‘can’t wait’ to try natural-only methods, you will likely be encouraged to compromise your health-related beliefs in the short term, undergo a medical treatment your dread, and follow that up with the best of natural medicine.

If you do use complementary natural medicine during conventional medical cancer treatment, it is strongly advised that you a) use a licensed naturopathic physician or other integrative doctor who has expertise in the type of CAM you are choosing b) inform your oncologist about what you are taking c) use high quality products that can provide a certificate of analysis proving that they are tested for purity and contamination d) take therapeutic doses of well-researched natural medicines instead of a smattering of a lot of things you read about online e) make sure that you and your natural practitioner are watching out for negative interactions with other medications or conditions f) if you are using alternative methods, choose a treatment facility or practitioner that is well-vetted by an objective source such as cancerdecisions.com to avoid shams.

Summary

In conclusion, nearly 1.1 million Americans will use complementary and/or alternative medicine during or after going through conventional medical cancer treatment.  We don’t know how many patients choose to forgo these allopathic treatments and instead seek natural cures.  The types of complementary natural medicine chosen during conventional cancer treatment vary greatly from taking a yoga class to travelling to comprehensive integrative cancer clinics in Europe or Mexico.  While the body of research on the safety of complementary cancer care is growing rapidly, there are little data on success and failure rates of alternative protocols.  This dearth of research leaves patients who are instinctively drawn to natural medicine to create their own plan of action with insufficient confidence in either system.  Some gather all their financial resources to go abroad to be treated by those with excellent training in both conventional and alternatives.  Some find the cure they were hoping for.  For some, the timing, training or resources have failed them.  Those without financial resources or who are more comfortable being treated near home, may seek guidance from local licensed holistic health providers with enough experience in oncology to give them great advice.

It is my belief that we, as practitioners of natural medicine, are obliged to counsel cancer patients in an individualized manner based on their goals, the type and stage of their cancer, the success rates of conventional therapies and potential conventional clinical trials for which they may meet the criteria.  We owe patients the truth about our current limitations balanced with the hopes of our powerful medicines and proper counsel to help them make an informed decision about when, how much, and what type of natural medicines create a plan that they will feel confident in.

There is a time to move forward, a time to pause and a time to retreat.  Knowing oneself and being educated in your choices will help you to know what is next for you.  In the long run, this is your experience to direct in any way that you feel is right for you.  If you aren’t sure what to do next, take one step and perhaps you will discover more options than you could see before.  This is an incredible time in the field of oncology.  While I wish no one had cancer, I have more hope than I ever did before – in both conventional and natural treatments used hand-in-hand.

What Could Be Next?

My wish list includes a survey of natural oncology practitioners to identify who has had success and with what methods.  Next, a case conference to share experiences combined with roundtable discussions. Finally, a privately or institutionally funded not-for-profit research institute to explore the possibilities of both alternative and complementary natural approaches dedicated to individualized cancer treatment and transparency.

Dr. Barb MacDonald, ND, LAc can be reached by emailing drbarbmacdonald@yahoo.com.

 

Click here for printer friendly version of this article.

 

[i] American Cancer Society online: Cancer Facts and Figures.  https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/cancer-facts-figures-2017.html.  Accessed 12/29/17.

[ii] Molassiotis A, Scott JA, Kearney N, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use in breast cancer patients in Europe. Support Care Cancer. 2006;14(3):260–267.

[iii] Yates JS, Mustian KM, Morrow GR, et al. Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use in cancer patients during treatment. Support Care Cancer. 2005;13(10):806–811.

[iv] Sikorskii A, Wyatt GK, Siddiqi A, et al. Recruitment and early retention of women with advanced breast cancer in a complementary and alternative medicine trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.

[v] Downer SM, Cody MM, McCluskey P, et al. Pursuit and practice of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment. BMJ. 1994;309(6947):86–89.

[vi] Perlman, A, Lontok, O, Huhmann, M, et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Postdiagnosis Initiation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Patients at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Journal of Oncology Practice. January 2013;Vol.9, no.1, p34-41.

[vii] Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin R. Centers for Disease Control. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. National Health Statistics Reports. 2008(12):1–24.

[viii] Johnson SB, Park HS, Gross CP, Yu JB. Use of Alternative Medicine for Cancer and Its Impact on Survival. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Published online August 10 2017.

[ix] PubMed Health. Behind the headlines: health news from NHS.  Accessed on 3/11/18 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/behindtheheadlines/news/2017-08-16-alternative-cancer-therapies-may-increase-your-risk-of-death/.

 

 

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Pharmacy Now Open To Public & Summer Hours

Please join us on Saturday, June 16, 2018 for our Camden Natural Pharmacy Open House!

This event is to kick off our pharmacy now being open to the public and new Saturday hours for the summer.

Guests will receive supplement samples and a 10% discount on all supplements purchased that day from 9am-3pm.

Dr. Deb will be also be giving a talk about how to read supplement labels and how the industry monitors supplement quality control at 11am.

The pharmacy hours will be Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-3pm for the rest of the summer following this event.

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Midcoast Art Hive – 5/24, 6/24

Midcoast Art Hive welcomes everyone as an artist and believes art making is a human behavior. Art Hives celebrate the strengths and creative capacities of individuals and communities and foster self-directed creativity.  

During the Art Hive, everyone is welcome to come and create. This is not a class. There will be supplies available to use and participants are also welcome to bring their own supplies to use and share. Individuals will be encouraged to create what they want. However, participants will also be encouraged to share their knowledge with one another in an egalitarian manner. A facilitator will be present to help guide participants as needed but not to instruct.

 

Cost: The Art Hive is FREE and open to the public

Location: The Art Loft 385 Main Street Suite 9 Rockland, ME 04843

Dates/Time: 5/24 from 4pm-6pm and 6/24 from 1pm-4pm

Drop in for an our or come for the afternoon!

 

For more information email midcoastarthive@gmail.com or visit www.artloftrockland.org

 

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Lyme Support Group – February 10, 2018

Join a monthy meeting group of people dedicated to being both supportive and supported through the stages of lyme disease. Meetings will include group discussion and simple relaxation techniques such as yoga, breathing and meditation that can be easily brought into daily living.

Please bring water and a mat if you have one. There will also be mats and blankets provided. Wear comfortable clothing to move in. Space is limited to 15 people, pre-registration is required.

Please contact Lea Smith at lea.smith1995@gmail.com or (207)975-2082.

When: Saturday, 2/10 from 2pm-3pm

Where: Camden Whole Health Yoga Studio

Cost: $10-$15

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Winter Wellness Fair 2018

Saturday January 27, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Snow date Sunday January 28

Just in time to support your New Year’s resolutions, Camden Whole Health is hosting its second annual “Winter Wellness Fair” on January 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Health and wellness practitioners will be presenting free 30-minute workshops on a variety of topics.

At 3 pm there will be a screening of the movie, “Magic Pills.” Filmmaker and Homeopath Ananda More, explores multiple media campaigns against homeopathy, propelling her to travel the world and uncover whether homeopathy is truly science-based and effective or a mere placebo that endangers lives.

Visitors can tour the facility and enjoy healthy refreshments while meeting the practitioners.  Doors open at 10:00 a.m. at 91 Elm Street in Camden.

Click below for a downloadable schedule of events for the fair:

Winter Wellness Fair 2018 Schedule

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Women’s Wellness Walk

On December 16th, join Dr. Katy Morrison, Dr. Kate Killoran, and Mish Sommers for the final Women’s Wellness Walk of 2017 to hike up Bald Rock.

Please meet at the parking lot at the intersection of Youngstown Road and Rt 173 at 8:30AM.

We hope you can join us!

Walks to be continued in 2018, stay tuned for updates on Dr. Katy’s facebook page https://www.facebook.com/drkatymorrison/

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Pharmacy CLOSED 12/25-1/2

 

The office of Dr. Deb, Dr. Barb, Dr. Katy and the Camden Natural Pharmacy will be CLOSED 12/25/17-1/2/18. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday 1/2/18. If you are coming to see another practitioner in the office, please plan accordingly and note that you will need to use the front door to reach front offices.

Patients of Dr. Deb, Dr. Katy, and Dr. Barb that are looking to buy supplements can do so when we return to the office or by using our online ordering options through www.wellevate.com and www.thorne.com. Information about how to do both is listed below.

 

Emerson Ecologics – Wellevate

Below are the links to Dr. Katy Morrison, Dr. Deb Moskowitz and Dr. Barbara MacDonald’s Wellevate accounts.

Wellevate is a website that allows patients to order supplements from our pharmacy online to be shipped directly to the address of their choosing. Because this cuts out the front desk staff, patients receive a discount. Wellevate offers free shipping on orders of over $49. All products that are ordered through Emerson in our pharmacy will be available on Wellevate. This does not include products that we order through other vendors such as Classical Pearls, Thorne or NeuroScience. If there is a product that you normally special order through us or would like us to check for on the website, we can add the supplement to our online pharmacy.

Links to these pharmacies can also be found on our website www.camdenwholehealth.com under each individual practitioner’s page.

When ordering, please order from the account that is consistent with the doctor who recommended the supplement to you for bookkeeping purposes.

When checking out, if there is a comments section available please write your name, the date, and whether you see Dr. Deb or Dr. Barb.

Dr. Barb’s Link:

https://wellevate.me/barbara-macdonald

Dr. Deb’s Link:

https://wellevate.me/deborah-moskowitz

Dr. Katy’s Link:

https://wellevate.me/katy-morrison

 

Thorne

To utilize the online ordering for Thorne products, go to www.thorne.com and create a patient account. When registering, you will register with the unique code for Dr. Deb or Dr. Barb (provided below). The largest benefit of ordering from Thorne directly is that they will ship directly to your door with free shipping for orders over $30.00.

 

Patients of Dr. Barb use the code HCP1153416

Patients of Dr. Deb Moskowitz use the code HCP1015154

Patients of Dr. Katy Morrison use the code HCP1166622

 

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