Our therapies

The Trust offers a range of complementary therapies, chosen because they have accredited professional standards.

All our therapists are qualified and insured within their relevant field to the highest standard. The Trust is involved with a number of local and national organizations, including the Prince of Wales Foundation of Integrated Medicine.

Acupuncture can be used in all stages of palliative care, where appropriate. Its benefits are pain control, side effects of sickness and fatigue and are one of the most beneficial treatments in the complementary field helping those affected by cancer. Is used as a therapeutic treatment, but not used with any sightings of cancer from the shoulders upwards.

Aromatherapy can be used on all clients except those who are receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as we do not advocate the use of essential oils. We recommend that therapists use only carrier oil for massage, rather than creating a blend with essential oils.

Counselling is offered to all clients on our cancer care programme. Counselling helps people to come to terms with diagnosis, giving them the opportunity to look at practical and emotional issues in a different light, and to accept their illness. It offers an opportunity to view their needs from the whole person's perspective, preventing the diagnosis from becoming an all-consuming negative focus.

Can be used at any stage of palliative care and promotes a feeling of peace, calm and relaxation. It brings equilibrium to the body.

Is offered to clients with Lymphoedema, with the exception of those with heart trouble, deep vein thrombosis or any infection in the body.

Is only given to clients without contraindications and subject to the location of any tumours. Massage can reduce the anxiety and pain associated with cancer, and relieves stiffness and tension in the muscles and joints. It improves circulatory and other bodily systems, restoring appetite and sleep, and producing an enhanced quality of life. In addition, therapeutic touch has the enormous benefit of helping clients overcome the body image issues that so often result from a positive diagnosis.

Surveys have revealed that reflexology is one of the most widely used therapies in holistic palliative care. It is virtually the only touch therapy that maintains face-to-face contact throughout. Trials have shown its effectiveness in improving physical and psychological well-being, enhancing the benefits of medical treatments while reducing the side effects.

Shiatsu, as a touch therapy, is widely used with cancer clients but may not be appropriate for people in late stages of palliative care. Body treatment techniques are suitable for clients and contraindications are adhered absolutely.

No evidence to date has proven that interaction is likely to occur with traditional aromatherapy applications (external use low dose). The interaction of essential oil components within the body are governed by the same processes that apply to synthetic drugs or drugs of natural origin.

In the acknowledgement that essential oils are capable of acting at a pharmacological level and that they share detoxification/metabolic pathways that are common to all xenobiotics, the possibility of drug-essential oil interaction is an area that requires some attention.

By 'interaction' we mean that the co-administration of two or more drugs leads to a response that is different from the expected addition of effects from those drugs themselves.

Potential drug-herb/essential oil interaction might occur at different levels. These include:

·         potentiation of drug effects   

·         interference with drug action   

·         iteration of drug absorption and metabolism   

·         amplification of risk and side effects.

The trust does not use any essential oils on clients prior to confirmation of their medication.