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.

Nausea: Nausea from chemo is one of the most common side effects. Your oncologist will have medication to try and combat this unpleasant repercussion but you may need additional support.

• Castor oil packs can really help with nausea in the long run. When chemo is administered it not only kills cancer cells but many of your healthy cells as well. It’s common for the body to be quite burdened by the cellular debris that is created. Castor oil packs help your body eliminate dead cells and debris. Drizzle castor oil on your abdomen. Apply a piece of cotton flannel over the oil. Wrap up in a towel and rest for 30-60 minutes each day. The flannel will soon become saturated and you won’t need to add additional oil until it starts to dry out. Supplies can be found at your local health food stores. Many people like to use a heating pad over the flannel and this will help with absorption. No heat should be used directly over a cancer process, so forego the heating pad if you have tumors in the abdominal region.
• Ginger is a great remedy that has a long tradition of helping with nausea. Most ginger ales no longer contain real ginger, but it is how this drink became such a standby for an upset stomach.  You can still find real ginger ales that are brewed in small batches with real ginger root- like Reed's Premium ginger ale.  You can also make a ginger tea with hot water and fresh grated ginger and sip through out the day as needed. You can also take 2 capsules of root powder 3-4 times a day as needed.
• Eat small amounts at a time and drink plenty of water throughout the day to help flush out the cellular debris of dead cells.
• The following homeopathics can be purchased at your local health food store. All of them have been found to be helpful in different situations. You may need to experiment to find the right remedy for you. None of these remedies are toxic or have side effects and all are safe to try. Dissolve 3–5 pellets under your tongue up to every 15 minutes until nausea subsides.
  • Aresenicum album 12 C or 30C
  • Nux vomica 12C or 30C
  • Ipecac 12C or 30C
  • Tabacum 12C or 30C

*If you are unable to keep down food or find that the nausea is not improving, be sure to see your physician.