HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Alternative therapies for cancer
Rongoā anō mō te mate pukupuku
"Complementary" and "alternative" are words used for a wide range of healthcare therapies and products outside of mainstream conventional medicine. People who have cancer often look at these options for a variety of reasons. They can help you deal with the emotional and physical impacts of the disease and the side effects of its treatments.
When making decisions about these options, it is important to be fully informed and seek the advice of your doctor.
If you are already taking complementary products, tell your medical team. This is because your treatment may suppress your immune system. This can make some complementary medicines, such as raw or powdered products, unsafe. Some complementary products may also affect how your treatment works.
Examples of complementary therapies include Rongoā Māori, relaxation therapy, yoga and meditation. Also, aromatherapy, reiki, music therapy, tai chi and massage therapy.
Advice on nutrition
Eating nutritious food will help keep you as well as possible during treatment. There are no special foods, diets or vitamin supplements that have been proven to cure cancer or stop it from coming back.
Many alternative diets may not give you the nutrition (especially protein) that you need. Especially those that cut out food groups such as meat or dairy products. As a result, you might lose weight and become very tired. These diets could also damage your immunity.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Cancer Society – Complementary, traditional and alternative therapies
An overview of alternative therapies and links to more detailed information.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed May 2025.
SourcesReview key: HICCR-38555
