Complementary Therapies

Care for Cancer offer complementary therapies to cancer patients and their carers. They take place in our Information and Resource Centre in Omagh every Thursday. The therapies are carried out by fully trained Reflexologists and Aromatherapists who are also specially trained to work with people living with cancer. They will maintain contact with your medical treatment team to ensure your complementary therapy treatment is part of your overall care.

What are Complementary Therapies?

Complementary therapies work alongside traditional medicine but do not replace it. The aim of complementary therapy is to bring more balance to the body (homeostasis). Each individual is unique and a holistic approach seeks to treat the person as a whole.

Physical, mental, spiritual and emotional aspects of one’s being are all important in the overall approach to each treatment.

Each person is encouraged to take responsibility for their own health by eating a healthy balanced diet, good fluid intake, reducing stress and learning to relax.

The two complementary therapies offered by Care for Cancer are Reflexology and Aromatherapy.

- Reflexology
Reflexology is an ancient holistic healing therapy. It involves the use of pressure and massage to reflex points found on the feet and hands. The word reflex is used in the sense of reflection or mirror image. It is believed that the feet mirror the body and by stimulating the reflex points on the feet the therapist can establish which parts of the body are out of balance and therefore not working satisfactorily. Following illness, stress, injury or disease, the body is in a state of imbalance. Reflexology relieves stress, relaxes the body, releases an unrestricted free flow of vitality and restores balance encouraging the body’s own healing system to take over.

- Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy massage is the use of essential plant oils to treat various physical and physiological problems. It is an excellent way of maintaining overall good health, increasing mental alertness, dealing with everyday stress and tension aiding equilibrium. Massage is the ancient art of touch and the rhythm of movement over the skin allows taut tense muscles to relax and let go. The movement and depth of massage can be varied to suit individual needs.

The benefits of Complementary Therapies:
- It reduces tension and induces deep relaxation.
- It reverses the effects of stress.
- It allows the body to balance itself.
- It increases circulation, aiding the nervous system.
- It cleanses the body of toxins.
- It revitalizes energy.
- It encourages good health.

If you are interested in undertaking a course of complementary therapies or for more information contact us at our Information and Resource Centre in Omagh or by phoning 028 28246599. You will then be referred to a therapist and given an appointment. On your first visit the therapist will discuss and assess your needs with you. A series of appointments will be organised and your GP informed.