Natural remedies at end of life???

[dancingdaisy]

I have a breast cancer patient, with mets basically throughout, who is refusing traditional medications for pain relief. She is still alert, confused at times, ambulates with a walker, and has a fair appetite. I think she may still have 1-3 months left. I don't want her to suffer, and don't know what we can do to help. She is often found hunched over in pain. She is very adamant about using natural remedies despite my teaching about the dying process and need for MSIR, Lorazepam, etc. She also has refused Dexamethasone, Senna, and others. Does anyone out there know of anything natural that can be used, especially for pain control? Thanks for your help!!

[SoCalRN1970]

You must let the patient choose her course. It's her choice to be in pain and use alternative treatements. THe best thing you do is offer treatment.. and docuement everything.

I had a very sweet hispanic family who absolutely was adamant about nothing but natural methods of treatment. ( guess who was on the 24 hour line constantly. ) If there is a barrier to effective treatment this is it, in my opinion. THe family insisted on the regime of unmarked herbs. In the end, the patient died in pain, and extreme shortness of breath. I could only support them emotionally and suggest other methods of pain relief. Hot compresses or cold. QUiet peaceful room...that kind of option.

DOcuement patient observation. Document offering and education of medications. Then you have done all you can do. the choice is theirs.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Have you suggested senna tea or warm prune juice?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

What natural remedies do they want to use? If they have preferences, I'd research those and do my best to support their use.

[tencat]

I had a patient who was exactly like that, and he told me that morphine is actually a relatively 'pure and natural' drug. Did he take it? No. But that was his choice. He had a pretty bad death, but it was HIS choice all along. He was a homeopathic practitioner, and according to him there is no good homeopathic remedy for pain control.

All you can do is document and teach. Remember, it's her choice as to how she wants to manage her last days, and there is very little you can do if she's set on not using any pain meds. But maybe if you point out to her how 'natural' morphine is, she might come around.....