How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine

This encyclopedic compendium of ""natural"" medicinal strategies offers encouragement and much sound advice to cancer patients and those seeking to ward off the disease. The authors, doctors of naturopathy, advocate complementing, not replacing, standard therapies with alternative therapies to prevent cancer, slow its progress and cope with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Their emphasis is on nutrition and diet, including vitamin and mineral supplements rich in antioxidants and heavy doses of herbal teas and fish oil, but they also cover acupuncture, hydrotherapy and massage. Their sober approach cites numerous medical studies, including those with conflicting results, to back up their claims, and warns readers when natural medicines are contraindicated or might interfere with standard medications. The sometimes bewildering amount of information is clearly summarized in bullet-pointed regimens tailored to specific kinds of cancer and treatment protocols, and accompanied with sample menus and recipes to make a low-fat, low-sodium, hot-dog-free (studies link the consumption of cured meats to childhood cancers such as leukemia) diet more palatable. While the scientific jury is still out on the efficacy of some of the authors' recommendations, their basic program-stop smoking and drinking, exercise, eat lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables-is uncontroversial.