Phenomenological Exploration of Cancer Patients' Emotional and Psychological Experiences with Herbal Remedies
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Abstract
The use of herbal remedies has long been a key aspect of alternative medicine, particularly in the treatment of chronic conditions like cancer. While the clinical effectiveness of herbal remedies has been studied extensively, less attention has been given to the subjective experiences of individuals using these treatments. Existing research has not adequately explored how patients emotionally and psychologically engage with herbal remedies as part of their cancer care. In this study, we adopt a descriptive phenomenological approach, specifically Moustakas' method, to explore the lived experiences of 15 cancer patients who use herbal remedies, aiming to understand the emotional and psychological impacts of these treatments. Through semi-structured interviews, we identified key themes including emotional relief, skepticism about efficacy, and the significant role of social support in shaping experiences with herbal remedies. These findings indicate that while herbal remedies provide emotional comfort and a sense of control, patients often experience ambivalence towards their effectiveness. The results emphasize the need for a more integrated approach to cancer treatment, which balances both clinical efficacy and emotional well-being, and suggest avenues for future research on the integration of alternative therapies in conventional cancer care.
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