Other names for Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)

Adjunctive Therapy for Chemotherapy
Chemo Side Effect Management
Chemotherapy Support
Supportive Care during Chemotherapy

Synopsis of Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)

Chemotherapy is a common cancer treatment that uses powerful drugs to kill or inhibit the growth of rapidly dividing cancer cells. While effective, chemotherapy also affects healthy cells, particularly those that divide quickly, such as cells in the gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, and hair follicles. This leads to a range of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, hair loss, anemia, immune suppression, and neuropathy.

Reducing the side effects of chemotherapy focuses on supporting the body’s natural defenses, enhancing recovery, and alleviating specific symptoms. Nutritional interventions, herbal supplements, and lifestyle modifications can help minimize these side effects, improve quality of life, and allow patients to better tolerate their treatments. However, all supportive measures should be coordinated with a healthcare provider to avoid interactions with chemotherapy drugs.

Types of Side Effects:

• Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite

• Hematological: Anemia, low white blood cell count, increased infection risk

• Neurological: Peripheral neuropathy (numbness, tingling), cognitive impairment (“chemo brain”)

• Dermatological: Hair loss, skin irritation, nail changes

• Systemic: Fatigue, weakness, weight loss

Common Causes of Side Effects:

• Damage to healthy rapidly dividing cells

• Immune suppression (due to bone marrow suppression)

• Inflammation and oxidative stress

• Gastrointestinal mucosal irritation

• Neurotoxicity from certain chemotherapy agents

Severity Factors:

• Type and dose of chemotherapy drugs

• Duration and frequency of treatment

• Individual factors (age, overall health, nutritional status, pre-existing conditions)

• Co-administered medications or therapies

When to See a Doctor:

• Persistent or severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

• Signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat)

• Unexplained bruising or bleeding

• Severe fatigue or shortness of breath

• Peripheral neuropathy symptoms (numbness, tingling, burning pain)

• Cognitive changes affecting daily activities

Natural remedies for Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)

Ginger tea or capsules: Helps reduce nausea and vomiting.

Small, frequent meals: Light, easy-to-digest foods to prevent nausea and maintain nutrition.

Hydration: Drink water, herbal teas, or electrolyte solutions to prevent dehydration.

Gentle exercise: Walking or yoga may help reduce fatigue and improve mood.

Relaxation techniques: Meditation, deep breathing, or mindfulness to reduce stress and anxiety.

Acupressure or acupuncture: May relieve nausea, pain, or neuropathy.

Mouth rinses (saltwater or baking soda): Prevent mouth sores.

Avoid strong smells and spicy foods: Helps minimize nausea triggers.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)

3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Acemannan
AHCC
Alkylglycerols
Aloe vera
Alpha Glucans
Alpha lactalbumin
alpha-glycosyl isoquercitrin
alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG)
alpha-lipoic acid
amino acids
anthocyanins
Antrodia camphorata
astaxanthin
astragalus
Baikal Skullcap
BCAA
benzyl isothiocyanate
beta caryophyllene
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
black cumin
black currant
blueberry
Boswellic Acid
branched-chain amino acids
bromelain
C-phycocyanin
cannabidiol
cannabigerol
Cannabis sativa oil
caryophyllene
chamomile
chlorella
Clostridium butyricum
Codonopsis
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
coix
colostrum
curcumin
Curcuminoid
cyclodextrin
d-alpha tocopherol
dithiolthiones
ergothioneine
fish oil
folinic acid
fucoidan
ginger
Glutamine
Glutathione
grape
green tea
Haematococcus pluvialis
hemp
hemp oil
herbal blend (proprietary)
hericium mushroom
HMB hydroxymethylbutyrate
Honokiol
hydroxymethylbutyrate
Hyphomycetes
L-alanyl-L-glutamine
L-carnosine
L-cysteine
L-glutamine
L-glutathione
L-glycine
L-taurine
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactobacillus lactis
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactoferrin
lactoglobulin
Lentinan
Lentinula edodes mycelia
licorice root
lion's mane
luteolin
Marine lipid
Matcha
Melatonin
Mesima
Methylselenocysteine
Milk Protein
Milk thistle
Mistletoe
Mushroom
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Oldenlandia diffusa
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Peptides
Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC)
phytocannabinoids
polysaccharides
pomegranate
probiotics
protein
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P)
quercetin
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
Saccharomyces boulardii
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
selenium
Selenomethionine
shiitake mushroom
Silychristin
soy isoflavones
spirulina
streptococcus thermophilus
Sulforaphane
Thymidine
Thymoquinone
tributyrin
Turkey tail mushroom
turmeric
Typhonium flagelliforme
Verbascoside
vitamin B6
vitamin C
vitamin E
Whey protein
Zinc