A diagnosis of cancer is intimidating. We often think of the worst case scenario. Perhaps, stories of a friend or relative that had many side effects from conventional treatment. We have many patients come into the Nardella Clinic in Calgary to understand what a naturopathic integrative cancer therapy approach involves. Some patients may follow through with treatment while others are deterred by family or their oncologist that naturopathic integrative cancer treatments will interfere with the efficacy of conventional treatments. This is not true. The naturopathic cancer therapies provided by our naturopathic doctors complement conventional therapies and decrease their side effects. Critically important is that these therapies sensitize the cancers cells to conventional treatments promoting better outcomes.
Intravenous Vitamin C
A tried-and-true naturopathic cancer therapy is high-dose intravenous vitamin C. There are many studies that demonstrate its synergistic effect with many chemotherapeutic agents. Vitamin C taken orally is an antioxidant. Most chemo therapies work as pro-oxidants. When vitamin C is taken in high does intravenously it works as a pro-oxidant and, therefore, it works synergistically with many chemotherapies. In a National Institute of Health funded study, intravenous vitamin C was shown to decrease many cancer and chemotherapy related symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, cognitive functioning, pain and appetite. Vitamin C is just one example of a naturopathic integrative cancer intravenous therapy. Our clinic naturopathic doctors utilize many different intravenous substances to help with cancer treatment.
