Yoga As An Alternative Treatment
Few studies exist to support the theory that yoga heals cancer patients. However, many cancer patients report better quality of life if they perform yoga during treatment.
Instead of thinking of yoga as a replacement for cancer treatment, consider it an enhancement to whatever you and your healthcare professional decision as to the best course of action.
Yoga as an alternative treatment
All of these considerations may make it easier for some people to tolerate cancer pain.
Whether or not yoga helps with cancer pain depends on many factors:
- The individual
- The type and stage of treatment
- The location, type, and progression of the cancer
The general physical improvements that many practitioners report include:
- Healthier appetite
- More quality sleep
- Improved energy to make it through the day
- Quicker recovery time from chemotherapy treatment
The centering relaxation that yoga provides may also help many cancer patients achieve peace, as well as an acceptance that this is the journey their bodies are experiencing now, and circumstances will change. For this reason, people who practice yoga also incorporate some methods of meditation into their daily routines.
Preliminary studies
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center conducted a pilot study with 61 women recovering from breast cancer surgery and undergoing radiation treatment.
The study was primarily a psychological evaluation, but the initial results also revealed that the control group performing yoga experienced less fatigue and an enhanced ability to do daily tasks and walk a mile.
The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute conducted nine different yoga studies involving cancer patients and survivors. General results included better sleep, improvements in mood, reduced stress, and enhanced day-to-day capabilities. There is reason to believe that yoga will help cancer patients recover more quickly, but more study is necessary.
These studies focusing on alternative cancer treatment facts for yoga practice are pilot programs, but it’s clear practicing yoga while undergoing cancer treatment improves your quality of life.
