How to Use Integrative (Holistic) Therapies Safely
Like any treatment, certain integrative (holistic) therapies may pose risks. The American Cancer Society recommends discussing any type of integrative therapy you are considering with your cancer care team before you try it.
Possible risks of integrative therapies
Finding reliable information can be a challenge.
Controlled human studies (clinical trials) are the best way to find out if a treatment is safe and effective. But integrative therapies that do not make claims to treat specific diseases or side effects can be sold without being studied. This can lead to a lack of data about whether the treatment is safe and effective. In this case, it can be hard to tell if a person's illness is getting better because of the treatment or chance.
They may be harmful.
Certain vitamins and minerals might increase the risk of some cancers or other illnesses, especially if too much is taken.
They may interfere with treatment.
Some studies have shown that some integrative therapies can interfere with standard treatments.
They may not work.
Since they have not been studied carefully, integrative therapies may not work as you hope they do.
Safety tips for integrative therapies and dietary supplements
Some integrative therapies can benefit some people with cancer while others can have dangerous or even life-threatening side effects. This is why you should try to learn as much as you can about each treatment before you use it. Even if some information isn’t available, the limits of what is known can help you make your decision.
The choice to use integrative therapies is yours. You can use them more safely if you:
- Look for reliable, unbiased sources of information whenever possible. Some research has shown that 1 in 3 articles about cancer treatment on social media includes incorrect or even harmful information.
- Know for sure whether you are giving up proven treatment for an unproven one. If you decide to do this, ask your cancer care team what options might still work for you if the alternative treatment doesn't.
- Watch out for signs of fraud or misleading claims. Be aware that many of those offering alternative treatments have a vested financial interest in making them sound appealing.
- Ask your cancer care team what is known about the risks and benefits of the integrative therapy or dietary supplement you’re interested in. Find out about possible interactions with standard treatments.
- Bring a friend or family member with you to your appointment to support you. Your loved one can also help you talk with your cancer care team and relieve some of the stress of having to make decisions alone.
- If you’re already taking dietary supplements, make a complete list of what and how much you’re taking and share it with your cancer care team. Many supplements can interact in harmful ways with cancer medicines (or other medicines). Report any changes in your supplement use to your health care team.
- Never give a supplement or start an integrative therapy in a baby or a child under the age of 18 without talking to the child’s cancer care team. The effects of many products in children are not known.
- Ask your cancer care team to refer you to an integrative medicine practitioner (such as a massage therapist) who is reliable and trusted.
- Consider the name and reputation of dietary supplement manufacturers and check for seals of quality assurance—like United States Pharmacopeia (USP), ConsumerLab.com, and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF International). Dietary supplements made by nationally known food or drug manufacturers are more likely to be high quality.
- Make sure that the product label provides a way to contact the company if you have questions or concerns. Reputable manufacturers will give contact information on the label or packaging of their products.
- Avoid products that claim to be “miracle cures,” “breakthroughs,” “new discoveries,” or are based on a “secret ingredient.” Also, avoid supplements that claim to have benefits but no side effects. Such claims are almost always fraudulent and the product may contain harmful substances, drugs, or contaminants.
- Avoid products that claim to treat a wide variety of unrelated illnesses—for example, a supplement that claims to be a treatment for all types of cancer.
- Do not depend on any non-prescription product to cure cancer or any other serious disease. No matter what the claim, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Avoid products that are advertised through mass emails.
- Try to avoid mixtures of many different supplements. The more ingredients, the greater the chances of harmful effects. Mixtures also make it harder to know which substance is causing any side effects.
- Start only one product at a time. Note any side effects you have while taking the product. If you have any side effects, stop taking the supplement.
- Follow the dosage limits on the label. Taking too much might cause harm or even death. And do not take a dietary supplement for any longer than recommended.
- Most integrative methods and dietary supplements have not been tested for safety in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The possible effects on a fetus or nursing child are mostly unknown.
- If you have any surgery or procedure planned, including dental surgery, talk with your surgeon about whether you need to stop taking supplements. Some supplements need 2 to 3 weeks to completely leave your body and a few can cause serious problems during or after an operation.
Where to find reliable information
Along with the American Cancer Society, the following is a partial list of websites and phone numbers of reputable groups that provide reliable information on integrative therapies*:
*Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Website: https://dctd.cancer.gov/programs/occam
Offers in-depth information about complementary and alternative therapies with a focus on cancer. Includes sections on talking to your health care provider about CAM, information about specific therapies and frequently asked questions.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Toll-free number: 1-888-644-6226 TTY: 1-866-464-3615
Website: https://nccih.nih.gov
Has information on integrative and alternative therapy-related topics and clinical trials.
National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements
Website: https://ods.od.nih.gov
Provides information about wise supplement use and detailed fact sheets about individual vitamins and supplements.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center About Herbs and Botanicals
Website: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs
Offers evidence-based information about herbs, botanicals, supplements, and more.
US Food and Drug Administration – Dietary Supplements
Website: https://www.fda.gov/food/dietary-supplements
Includes information about labels, rules, regulations, and more about dietary supplements.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Information Center
Phone: 1-301-504-5414
Website: https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic
Find out about dietary supplements, vitamins, and minerals. Choose “Dietary Supplements” from the left menu bar.
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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Integrative medicine. Accessed at cancer.net. Content is no longer available.
National Cancer Institute (NCI). Complementary and alternative medicine. Published October 31, 2024. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam on May 22, 2025.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: What’s in a name? Published October 2021. Accessed at https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/complementary-alternative-or-integrative-health-whats-in-a-name on May 22, 2025.
Phutrakool P., Pongpirul K. Acceptance and use of complementary and alternative medicine among medical specialists: a 15-year systematic review and data synthesis. Syst Rev. 2022; 11, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01882-4
Snyder J, Zenone M, Grewal A, et al. Crowdfunding for complementary and alternative cancer treatments in Tijuana, Mexico: Content analysis. JMIR Cancer. 2024;10:e52018. https://cancer.jmir.org/2024/1/e52018. DOI: 10.2196/52018Accessed May 22, 2025.
Wong CH, Sundberg T, Chung VC, et al. Complementary medicine use in US adults with a history of colorectal cancer: a nationally representative survey. Support Care Cancer. 2021;29(1):271-278. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05494-x.
Last Revised: July 11, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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