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| Jill McKee Contributor |
Many cancer patients in recovery do not know that there are simple ways to alleviate the side effects they may have due to radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. However, many doctors know that yoga is great for therapeutic relief and offer yoga programs in their clinic for cancer patients.
Patients with rare or aggressive cancer, such as mesothelioma, may feel the effects of treatment more than patients with common types of cancer. In fact, mesothelioma treatment itself is very intense and requires a more considerable amount of time to complete. As a result, many cancer patients' bodies have to work very hard to repair tissues, cells and other healthy functions that were affected by treatment.
Experts from the National Health Institute reported that clinical tests conducted on patients who practice yoga showed that the patients felt healthier after weeks of starting yoga. The study further reports that Yoga promotes anti-
cancer immune cells.
Hatha yoga is a meditation yoga that helps the body relax and cultivate prana, which is similar to life force or qi. Almost every asana is designed to stretch the body and evenly distribute energy to the areas that need it the most, which is really important for cancer patients who have had intense surgery and radiation treatment.
Some experts suggest that the meditation sessions associated with hatha yoga help cancer patients to clear their thoughts, eliminating worry and depression. It allows them focus their minds on the positive aspects of their life, helping them to achieve a sort of out-of-body spiritual experience.
Additionally, the asanas help cancer patients eliminate toxic waste and poisons from their body, improving immune functions of the body and other functions, as well. Of course, any type of detoxification can greatly benefit cancer patients.
This news article from ABC news reports other studies from the American Society of Clinical Oncology on yoga and cancer. Essentially, yoga benefits cancer patients in terms of sleep quality, fatigue, aches and pains, and mental conditions, such as depression and anxiety. These results are achieved by the physical aspect of yoga, the mental aspects of yoga and the spiritual aspects of yoga.
As more studies are conducted, other cancer clinics across the nation may adopt yoga as a part of their therapy programs for patients.