3 myths you shouldn’t believe about integrative medicine

You might think that the terms “integrative medicine” and “alternative medicine” are interchangeable, or that they mean the same thing. But these phrases describe very different concepts. In fact, they are almost polar opposites.

• Alternative medicine refers to herbal supplements, detox diets, “healing” crystals and other unproven methods that are meant to replace conventional health treatments.
• Integrative medicine, meanwhile, refers to the practice of using techniques such as massage, yoga, music therapy, acupressure and acupuncture to enhance or complement conventional health treatments.

“Understanding that distinction is incredibly important,” notes Gabriel Lopez, M.D., a supportive care specialist and medical oncologist who serves as medical director of our Integrative Medicine Center. “Because when patients are considering less-conventional approaches to health care — especially cancer treatment — it’s critical that they be safe and evidence-based.” 

Here are two other myths you shouldn’t believe about integrative medicine.

Myth #2: Alternative medicine is just as good as integrative medicine

Fact: Many alternative “therapies” remain unproven and are not supported by scientific evidence. They may also interfere with how well cancer treatment works. 

“Alternative therapies could make your chemotherapy or radiation therapy less effective,” notes Lopez. “They could even increase your side effects or cause organ damage.”

But various integrative medicine options at MD Anderson have already demonstrated their value through clinical trials.

• Acupuncture for dry mouth: One study, published by Integrative Medicine Director Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., in 2019, found that patients who received acupuncture during radiation treatments for head and neck cancers experienced significantly less dry mouth. 
• Yoga for insomnia and fatigue: Another study, published in 2017, documented yoga’s effectiveness in reducing insomnia among women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. A third study, published in 2011, explored how yoga eased fatigue and improved the overall quality of life among breast cancer patients receiving treatment.

“We don’t offer these therapies just because we like them,” adds Lopez. “We offer them because there’s strong evidence that they work.”

Myth #3: Integrative medicine is just one kind of treatment

Fact: Integrative medicine does not refer to just one specific type of treatment, such as acupuncture.

“It’s actually much more than that,” Lopez says. “Integrative medicine is an entire philosophy: a way of approaching patient care that addresses a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social health. Depending on what a patient is looking for, we can use some combination of these interventions before, during or after their cancer treatments to:

• reduce symptoms and side effects
• improve quality of life and treatment outcomes 
• reduce the risk of recurrence

Patients who visit MD Anderson’s Integrative Medicine Center may also receive physical therapy from licensed physical therapists, nutritional counseling from registered dietitians, or tips from behavioral psychologists on how to stay active or end unhealthy habits.

“Cancer allows patients to pause and really examine their lifestyles,” Lopez says. “They can revisit some areas that maybe haven’t gotten much attention before and make positive changes. That’s how some of our patients actually end up healthier after completing treatment than they were before their cancer diagnosis.”

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.