Background/Objectives: Head and neck cancer is one of the most common cancers globally, with high mortality and significant treatment-related side effects. Conventional therapies, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have improved survival but often have serious consequences for patients’ quality of life. For this reason, there is growing interest in complementary therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, cannabinoids, traditional Chinese medicine, and mind-body therapies. Methods: This review was conducted through a systematic analysis of the scientific literature available on PubMed and Scopus, selecting studies about the use of alternative therapies in patients with head and neck cancer according to strict criteria. Results: Acupuncture has shown benefits in the management of xerostomia and dysphagia, while some herbal medicines have shown potential anticancer effects, although with limitations related to bioavailability. Vitamins and antioxidants showed mixed results: some studies suggest a protective effect, while others report a possible increased risk of cancer progression. Cannabinoids are a controversial topic, with possible palliative benefits but also a higher risk of head and neck cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine and mind-body therapies, such as yoga, have shown positive effects on patients’ well-being, although their direct impact on cancer progression remains uncertain. Conclusions: Alternative therapies could be a useful support in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life patients with head and neck cancer. However, solid scientific evidence on their effectiveness and safety is still lacking. Rigorous clinical studies are needed to assess their therapeutic potential and define a safe integration into multidisciplinary cancer management.
背景/目的：头颈癌是全球最常见的癌症之一，具有高死亡率及显著的治疗相关副作用。手术、放疗和化疗等常规疗法虽提高了生存率，但常严重影响患者生活质量。因此，针灸、草药、大麻素、中医及身心疗法等补充疗法日益受到关注。方法：本研究通过对PubMed和Scopus数据库中的科学文献进行系统分析，依据严格标准筛选关于头颈癌患者使用替代疗法的相关研究。结果：针灸在改善口干症和吞咽困难方面显示出益处；部分草药虽显示潜在抗癌效应，但存在生物利用度相关的局限性。维生素与抗氧化剂的研究结果不一：部分研究表明其具有保护作用，另一些研究则提示可能增加癌症进展风险。大麻素是一个争议性话题，虽可能具有姑息治疗效益，但也存在增加头颈癌风险的可能。中医及瑜伽等身心疗法对患者身心健康显示出积极影响，但其对癌症进展的直接作用仍不明确。结论：替代疗法可作为头颈癌患者症状管理和生活质量改善的有效辅助手段，但目前仍缺乏关于其疗效和安全性的坚实科学证据。需要通过严谨的临床研究评估其治疗潜力，并明确其在多学科癌症治疗中的安全整合方案。
Beyond Conventional Treatments: The Role of Complementary Therapies in Head and Neck Cancer
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家