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Table 4 Type of CAM use and perceived helpfulness by CAM users during chemotherapy

From: Prayer-for-health and complementary alternative medicine use among Malaysian breast cancer patients during chemotherapy

Type of CAM

N

Perceived helpfulness

  

Not helpful

Neither

Helpful

  

n (%)

Prayer-for-health

310

1 (0.3)

12 (3.9)

297 (95.9)

Mind-Body Practices N = 183

    

Relaxation exercise

67

-

10 (14.9)

57 (85.1)

Massage

60

-

7 (11.7)

53 (88.3)

Meditation

52

2 (3.8)

6 (11.5)

44 (84.6)

Tai Chi

33

-

-

33 (100)

Yoga

29

-

3 (10.3)

26 (89.6)

Therapeutic/healing touch

24

2 (8.3)

8 (33.3)

14 (58.3)

Aromatherapy

17

-

1 (5.9)

16 (94.1)

Reiki

15

-

5 (33.3)

10 (66.7)

Cupping/bekam

4

-

-

4 (100)

Acupuncture

4

-

2 (50.0)

2 (50)

Natural Products N = 299

    

Vitamin & mineral supplement

168

4 (2.4)

32 (19.0)

132 (78.6)

Cleansing detoxifying diet

68

6 (8.8)

13 (19.1)

49 (72.0)

Antioxidant capsule/tablet

61

4 (6.6)

20 (32.8)

37 (60.6)

Cactus juice†

47

-

15 (31.9)

32 (68.1)

Spirulina

43

3 (7.0)

10 (23.3)

30 (69.7)

Protein powder†

28

-

6 (21.4)

22 (78.6)

Herb

25

2 (8.0)

4 (16.0)

19 (76.0)

Royal jelly

20

4 (20.0)

5 (25.0)

11 (55.0)

Chlorella

17

-

9 (52.9)

8 (47.0)

Immune Booster†

17

-

6 (35.3)

11 (64.7)

Lingzhi

16

-

2 (12.5)

14 (88.0)

Bird nest

16

6 (37.5)

9 (56.2)

1 (6.2)

Ginseng

14

-

-

14 (88.0)

Grape seed extract†

14

-

2 (14.3)

12 (85.7)

Mangosteen juice†

13

-

6 (46.2)

7 (53.8)

Porcupine date†

11

-

8 (72.7)

3 (27.3)

Noni juice†

10

-

4 (40.0)

6 (60.6)

Aloe vera†

10

-

4 (40.0)

6 (60.0)

Shark cartilage

7

-

-

7 (100.0)

Enzyme†

6

-

2 (33.3)

4 (66.7)

Jamu

1

-

-

1 (100.0)

Traditional Medicine N = 129

    

Traditional Malay/indigenous medicine

96

8 (8.3)

12 (12.5)

76 (79.2)

Traditional Chinese medicine

24

-

5 (20.8)

19 (79.1)

Homeopathy

11

-

4

7 (63.6)

  1. †Additional NPs via open-ended questions.