Common Alternative Treatments

Given the rarity of mesothelioma, scientific research on the effects of alternative treatments, specifically for this type of cancer, is limited. However, the most common alternative treatments used by mesothelioma patients include:

Body-based Therapies: This type of treatment involves the manipulation or movement of one or more body parts to help relieve pain of the bones and joints, the circulatory and lymphatic systems of the body and the soft tissues.

Acupuncture. This is one of the most widely accepted alternative therapies for the treatment of asbestos-related cancers. A 2006 analysis of 11 studies reports that acupuncture can reduce vomiting in patients who have undergone chemotherapy. Evidence also supports that acupuncture can relieve chest pain — a symptom felt by 64 percent of pleural mesothelioma patients.

Chiropractic Care. Mesothelioma patients have reported that chiropractic care has relieved pain from headaches, tension and stress . It also relieves shortness of breath, the most common symptom of asbestos-related cancers.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Therapy. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, this treatment involves low-voltage electrical current to relieve pain, a common symptom of asbestos-related cancers, especially around the tumor area.

Natural Medicines: There are different types of natural medicines that aim to relieve pain and other symptoms associated with a mesothelioma diagnosis. Some of the top natural medicines used by mesothelioma patients which have undergone at least some level of scientific study include:

Celandine. Celandine can be used as an extract, tincture or tea to boost the immune system and inhibit tumor growth. A 1993 report from the Institute of Oncology in Ljubljana, Slovenia, explains how a women suffering from multiple metastases in the lungs, similar to pleural mesothelioma, underwent chemotherapy and celandine, resulting in complete remission.

Marshmallow Root. This is often prescribed for a persistent cough, a symptom reported by 36 percent of pleural mesothelioma patients.

Arsenicum Album. This is a homeopathic solution prepared from multiple dilutions of arsenic trioxide that is effective for soothing tight chest muscles and relaxing the bronchioles, beneficial for those suffering from chest pain.