There are some common side effects to chemo and radiation that can be treated naturally, generally without interfering with your conventional protocol. Our doctors hope that the following information will be useful to you. Please keep in mind that it is for informational purposes and is no substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking medical treatment due to information obtained on clarajean.org.

Menopause: Often women are thrown in to menopause with the start of chemotherapy.  Even if a woman was already well into menopause, chemotherapy can aggravate or suddenly restart some of the symptoms.  Most common issues that women report are hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia.  There are other complaints with the sudden decrease in estrogen, such as vaginal thinning, vaginal dryness, skin changes, and problems with memory.

There are lots of natural therapies that can help with these symptoms, in fact entire books have been written on this topic alone.  If you are struggling with menopausal symptoms, see a natural health practitioner to get a treatment plan tailored for your symptoms.  You can also try some of the suggestions below.

• Black Cohosh: 40 – 80 mg daily.  This is very effective in some women, to help reduce hot flashes, night sweats and improve anxiety and depression.
• Magnesium: 200-400 mg.  This essential muscle relaxant can help to decrease muscle cramps and other spasms.
• Acupuncture: This therapy can help to reduce hot flashes and night sweats, increase energy, and improve sleep.
• Exercise: Regular physical movement can help with anxiety, problems with memory, energy, depression, and hot flashes.
• Alcohol, Spicy Foods, and food intolerances: These can aggravate hot flashes.  If you are having a hard time with hot flashes, try eliminating alcohol and spicy foods and see whether these are contributing. You may want to work with a qualified practitioner to address dietary choices and investigate food intolerances. While food intolerances aren’t responsible for hot flashes during cancer treatment they can aggravate them.
• Ginkgo: 40 mg.  Can help with memory issues, as well as circulation to the hands and feet.
• Manuka honey vaginal suppositories a few times a week can help alleviate vaginal dryness. Freeze small ‘drops’ of honey on wax paper and insert vaginally as needed.