Integrated Cancer Care

Maureen Horne-Paul N.D.

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Kingston Naturopathic Center

Naturopathic Medicine

• Primary health care profession

• Focus on prevention of disease, health maintenance

• Uses natural methods to promote healing

• Works in co-operation with other systems of medicine (i.e. not “either/or”)

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

• First Do No Harm (primum non nocere)

• Identify and Treat the Cause (tolle causam)

• Healing Power of Nature (vis medicatrix naturae)

• Physician as Teacher (docere)

• Treat the Whole Person

Education of Naturopathic Doctors

• Bachelor of Science degree is prerequisite

• 4 years at an accredited Naturopathic medical school (4 in North America)– human biological sciences, biochemistry, etc.– medical sciences– naturopathic therapeutics– clinical training

Licensing of Naturopathic Doctors

• In Ontario, licensed by the Board of Drugless Therapy/Naturopathy

• After graduation, must pass board examinations standardized across North America to be licensed

• In Canada, naturopathic practice regulated under provincial law in BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, (Alberta pending)

A Naturopathic Office Visit

• Medical history-taking and physical exam

• Diet/nutritional analysis

• Laboratory testing as required

• Patient’s goals for their health

• Formulation of an INDIVIDUALIZED treatment plan

• Appropriate referrals when necessary

• Follow-up assessments as needed

“Natural” Doesn’t Mean Safe

• No “magic bullets”

• Herbs, homeopathics, nutritional supplements are drugs with biological actions in the body

• Interactions:– herb:herb– herb:drug

• Contraindications for herbs and supplements

• “Goodfer Syndrome”

Evidence-Based Medicine

• Huge volume of well-documented, peer-reviewed information available

• Available for wide range of modalities and therapeutic substances

• Naturopathic practice based on the best evidence available

• More research needed in many areas of complementary medicine

Types of Therapies Used

• Clinical Nutrition

• Intravenous and injection therapy

• First Line Therapy

• Botanical medicine

• Acupuncture

• Homeopathic Medicine

• Lifestyle management, mind-body techniques, bodywork, hydrotherapy

Naturopathic Medicine can...

• Optimize nutritional status

• Relieve from side effects of chemotherapy and radiation

• Enhance healing after surgery

• Improve response to conventional therapy

• Decrease possibility of metastasis and reoccurrence

• Long-term health maintenance, QOL issues

Naturopathic Medicine can..

Support the immune system

• Stimulate the immune system

• Attack tumor cells

• Reduce the total workload of the immune system

• Deal with health problems not a result of the cancer or cancer treatments

Naturopathic Medicine

• Wholistic

• A mind-body approach

• Able to offer may different types of treatments and modalities

• Well combined with conventional treatments

• Treatments can be synergistic in effect

Optimizing Nutritional Status

• Pre-treatment, during treatment, post-treatment rebuilding

• Caloric intake

• Food “bang for your buck”

• Quality of food

• Medicinal value of foods

• IV therapy

Managing Treatment Side Effects

Strategies to minimize/support:

• Nausea and vomiting

• Weight loss, appetite

• Mucositis

• Hormonal effects

• Support digestion and elimination

• Organ/tissue support

• Liver support and immune system modulation

Enhance Healing

• After surgery/radiation

• Improved wound healing with nutrients

• Decrease short and long-term radiation effects

• IV therapy, homeopathy, botanicals, bodywork, relaxation techniques, guided imagery

Improved Response to Conventional Therapy

• Reducing toxicity of chemotherapy and radiation treatments

• Enhance activity of some drugs

• Mitigate side effects

• AVOID Negative interactions with Chemo!!

• Botanicals, homeopathic medicines, vitamin, minerals, biological response modifiers, diet

Metastasis/Recurrence Prevention

• Anti-angiogenesis

• Extracellular matrix and connective tissue modifiers/detoxifiers

• Cell membrane modifiers

• Apoptosis inducers

• Immune modulators

• Anti-mutagenics

MucositisTraumeel:• Double-blind placebo studies-2 completed,

1 ongoing• Very positive results in most patients,

especially in children• Typical dosing: start 2 days before chemo, 1

ampule bid/tid in water, swish and swallow, continue until at least day 10, or longer prn

• Clinically one of the best therapeutics-may be enhanced by probiotics, other substances

Chemo-Induced Menopause

• Diet

• Bioflavonoids-hesperidin

• Isoflavones-soy ??? Not always indicated

• Cimicifuga and other botanicals

• Liver support-metabolic pathways

• Gut support-hormone breakdown

• Homeopathics

Long-Term Health

• After conventional therapy is over… What now?

• Other health issues

• Maintenance

• Quality of Life

• Palliative Care

Cancer Prevention Diet Keys• “Rainbow” assortment of fruits and veggies• Reduce intake of red meats and other animal foods• Reduce exposure to chemicals, pesticides,

cleaners, etc.• Eat good fats especially Omega-3• Avoid high-calorie, low nutrient foods• Keep salt intake low and potassium intake high• Choose foods that help elimination and

detoxification

Saraswati Wellness Spa

• Full service naturopathic clinic including IV therapy,acupuncture, botanical med, lifestyle mgt

• In-house wellness programs

• Wellness based spa therapies

• Accommodations

Thank you for your attention!!

Any Questions???

Maureen Horne-Paul N.D.Kingston Naturopathic Center

Reddendale Plaza732A Front Road

Kingston, ON K7M4L5634-9991