Natural Remedies for Side Effects of Chemotherapy Chemo Drugs, Radiation Cancer Treatmen

Chemotherapy and radiation cancer treatments do cause some dreadful side effects.  Because healthy cells recover rapidly, many of your side effects will subside in short order after treatment stops.  How long this takes varies.

Some side effects go away rapidly, some will seem to take forever and a day to completely disappear, while others can last a lifetime.  And occasionally chemotherapy can cause delayed effects, notably a second cancer that shows up years later.

This blurb offers some natural remedies for managing a couple side effects of chemo drugs and radiation.

Nausea and vomiting are two of the most common and distasteful side effects of chemotherapy.  These side effects may commence during treatment and last a couple hours, or less often, be severe and last for a few days.

But have no fear because nausea and vomiting can usually be toned down by taking an anti-emitic and making natural changes to your eating habits.

Generally, if there’s a slight risk that your chemo drugs will cause nausea or vomiting, you’ll likely be prescribed some type of antiemetic. Some natural remedy techniques to help ease your cause and vomiting are:

  • chew food well
  • avoid big meals
  • rest after eating
  • eat & drink slowly
  • wear loose clothes
  • drink cool, clear liquids
  • hot, spicy foods are out
  • suck on ice or popsicles
  • use relaxation techniques
  • no sweet, fried, fatty foods
  • try ginger tea ~ helps some
  • suck on hard candy or chew gum
  • participate in distracting activities
  • refrain from eating in a warm room
  • drink fluids in advance of your meals
  • on treatment days consume bland foods
  • eat your food cold or at room temperature
  • take deep breathes when you feel nauseated
  • don’t lie flat for a couple of hours after meals
  • eat frequent small meals ~ every couple hours
  • acupuncture may help ~ results vary with practitioner
  • avoid odors that bother you ~ cooking smells, smoke, perfume

If your nausea and vomiting are severe, this can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, leading to:

An intravenous saline solution may be necessary.  Drinking something like Pedialyte is a natural remedy for keeping you hydrated and your body chemistry in balance.

Sense of taste and smell can change due to cancer chemo and radiation treatments.  You may even experience a bitter or metallic taste during food consumption.  Try some of these natural remedies for your lacking taste side effects of cancer’s treatment:

  • blend fresh fruits into shakes
  • prepare food different from your usual
  • use fresh or frozen rather than canned
  • marinate meats to improve tenderness
  • use plastic flatwear & glass cups, plates
  • experiment with new flavorings & spices
  • keep your mouth rinsed and brushed clean to improve taste
  • swish with baking soda/salt mouthwash before eating ~ helps improve taste
  • season foods with tart flavors  ~  lemon wedges, lemonade, citrus fruits, vinegar, pickled foods unless you have sore mouth or throat

Loss of appetite caused by cancer treatment leads to weight loss, weakness and fatigue. Eating is an important part of maintaining your health during chemo cycle or radiation.

Natural ways you can get more food down involve:

  • eat smaller meals more often
  • stay physically active as possible
  • drink liquids well in advance of meals
  • eat your favorite foods without regard for time of the day
  • keep high calorie & protein snacks handy ~ hard boiled eggs, peanut butter, cheese, ice cream, nuts, granola bars, trail mix, ready made tuna & chicken

Mouth sores and sore throat are usually caused by certain chemotherapy drugs and head or neck radiation therapy.  Natural remedy ideas for these soreness side effects include:

  • suck on fruit pops, ice
  • soothe with cold foods
  • moisten coarse, hard, dry food
  • consume soft, bland, puree foods
  • refrain from alcohol, caffeine, tobacco
  • season foods with basil, oregano, and thyme
  • rinse mouth regularly with baking soda, salt & water mixture
  • avoid chili powder, cloves, curry, hot sauces, nutmeg, pepper
  • dispense with irritating foods ~ tart, salty, acidic fruits, juices, pickled, vinegary, tomato based
  • try soft, creamy foods ~ cream soup, cheeses, mashed potatoes, yogurt, custards, puddings, cooked cereals, ice cream, casseroles, milkshakes

If you’re experiencing swallowing difficulty, then soft and thick liquid foods may be the easiest to get down. Drinking liquid nutritional supplements can also assist in meeting your body’s health needs.

Fatigue can be a problem for some during cancer treatment. Natural remedy tips for your fatigue:

  • avoid dehydration
  • maintain short moderate activity
  • protein, fat, fiber help stabilize blood sugar
  • take appropriate steps to combat your stress
  • get enough rest ~ take frequent naps or rest breaks
  • discuss taking a 100% RDA multivitamin with your health care person

These are just some of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation that may come into play during your course of treatment.  You may also suffer with side effects like:

For further information on these and others, as well as a very useful resource, go to the National Cancer Institute’s page on chemo’s side effects!

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