Table 2.

Positive themes and notable quotes from the posts.

Positive themes	Quotes
Make symptoms manageable	“(Cannabidiol/medical marijuana) do not kill the pain like opioids but they make it (the pain) manageable.” “Does it (cannabidiol) cure anything? No. But for pain, anxiety, or sleep issues? I am sure the relief some get from it is a miracle to them.” “Acupuncture helped to resolve my back pain, and allowed me to become more mobile. which meant I could walk and exercise more...”
Benefit mind and body	“(Yoga or stretching) it is giving me a real love for my body and mind and spirit I never experienced before.” “Meditation also gets my mind focused when I need to have a clear head for work.”
Reduce the need for prescription medications	“...have had some relief (of insomnia) with time released melatonin, magnesium supplements and valerian-trying to avoid prescription sleep meds." "I already turned down her offer of Effexor to combat hot flashes. This drug will put me into permanent menopause, increases my risks of ovarian and uterine cancers and bone loss. I have been detoxing my environment...and taking supplements supported by the Gerson therapy.”
Provide options when intolerant of conventional treatment	“I was seriously considering going off Arimidex because I increasingly becoming so achy...I read that acupuncture helps with the joint pains. I thought I should give it try.” “I am allergic to most all pain drugs, I finally resorted to acupuncture.” “I really do not want to go on an antidepressant since it is contraindicated with tamoxifen...I read a study on magnesium and depression so I have upped my supplement.”
Reduce the need and side effects from conventional cancer therapies	“Surgery to remove the stomach is imminent though. but hopefully, the acupuncture and the sjw tea will keep chemo and radiation at bay...” “The cannabidiol is the only thing that lessens the painful side effects of his drugs.” “I really believe that all this has helped me manage side effects, reduce tiredness, rebound to feeling “normal” again.”
Nonexclusive nature of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine and conventional therapies	“I believe in natural treatments, too. but, not to the exclusion of a doctor’s...there’s nothing wrong with using both treatments and not excluding one.” “Good for you both for looking into both allopathic and alternative (I call them competitive) medical approaches. They are not mutually exclusive.”
Self-perceived effectiveness	“I'm of the view if you think something is doing you good and working in your situation, then it probably is. So if you think acupuncture will help then it probably does.”