Complementary therapist Alicia Ferguson uses her skills in aromatherapy massage and reflexology to help patients diagnosed with cancer. Alicia works for a cancer agency and believes the treatment can relax patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.
She said: "The patients I work with are on the cancer journey and many of them will suffer from symptoms, especially with the drugs they are on, many of them are going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy. So the aromatherapy oils I use and the gentle massage helps alleviate problems with sickness and it also helps to relieve anxiety and tension so that they are able to get sleep. It helps to deal with many of the emotional things that come up for them while they are going through treatments".
Aromatherapy massage uses rubbing and kneading of the skin with plant oils that give off strong, pleasant aromas to promote relaxation, a sense of well-being, and healing. Reflexology is the practice of massaging, squeezing, or pushing on parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health. "I think aromatherapy massage and reflexology helps people to relax and it gives them the space and time to think", said Maeve. "It also helps because it can combat insomnia and helps to elevate some of the symptoms that can come from many conditions that people will have".
But Alicia feels all patients should have the option to choose complementary therapies if traditional medicine isn't working for them. "I think patients want to have a choice", she said. “I feel it is important if they want to use complementary therapies that it is made available to patients on the NHS because most people have to pay for the treatments and they can be beyond ordinary people’s budget, not everyone can afford to do that. So it is easier for them to access it. Many of them do want to access it but can’t because of the funds".