Breast cancer: 5 complementary approaches to promote healing and improve quality of life

Integrative medicine pairs conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation with holistic ones like acupuncture and hypnosis to care for a patient’s mind, body, and spirit. Developed in the U.S. in the 1990s, it aims to speed up recovery. Here are five clinically proven complementary approaches and their benefits:

1. Acupuncture limits chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting plus reduce pain.

2. Massage therapy helps reduce fatigue, anxiety, nausea, and pain.

3. Physical activity improves strength and endurance, helps manage stress, and reduces pain and fatigue.

4. Nutritional counseling helps manage weight changes, controls nausea, and improves overall health.

5. Hypnosis reduces pain, fatigue, and nausea after surgery.

In short, integrative medicine helps cancer patients better manage their symptoms and the unpleasant side effects of treatment. For more information, visit nationalbreastcancer.org.