Health e Times

Benefits of Mind-Body Techniques

Posted on 01. Feb, 2010 by healthetimes in In the News

Women who have been treated for breast cancer often experience severe hot flashes, yet have limited treatment options—hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of cancer occurrence, and pharmaceutical treatments for cancer recurrence tend to induce or exacerbate menopausal symptoms. In a small group of breast cancer survivors, researchers found that a yoga program helped relieve hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.

Women who participated in an eight-week yoga program based on traditional practices including postures and breathing plus meditation, stress-management techniques, and an emphasis on acceptance experienced greater declines in the frequency and severity of hot flashes than a control group and also experienced less fatigue, sleep disturbance, joint pain, and symptom-related distress. In addition, the women still experienced these improvements three months after the yoga sessions ended.

“While this is a specific pilot program, women seeking similar results could consult with an experienced yoga instructor to learn some of the same techniques,” says study co-author Laura Porter, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University Medical Center. “In addition to the traditional yoga postures, a well-trained yoga instructor or other mind-body practitioner may be able to provide instruction in breathing and meditation techniques to help manage stress and alleviate bothersome menopausal symptoms.”

Topics: Breast cancer, Hot flashes, Joint Pain, Menopause, Mind-Body, Sleep, Stress, Yoga