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Top questions

What are mind-body therapies?

Mind-body therapies enhance your mind’s capacity to influence your body’s function and symptoms. Some interventions focus on calming your mind, improving focus, enhancing decision-making capacity, managing stress, or resolving conflict. Other interventions have a goal of relaxing both your mind and your body. Spiritual practices and consciousness-changing (psychedelic) therapies are part of this group, as well as practices such as meditation, psychotherapy, and mindful movement therapies such as yoga or qigong. 

Mind-body interventions are often used in combination, such as guided imagery with progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation with breathing techniques. 

What are the benefits of using these therapies?

Many mind-body therapies are linked to lower levels of symptoms and side effects common in cancer, such as pain, fatigue, stress, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, depression, and sleep disruption. Many people with cancer engage in mind-body therapies to support well-being and quality of life.

Managing Symptoms and Side Effects ›

Some mind-body therapies may help optimize your body terrainthe internal conditions of your body, including nutritional status, fitness, blood sugar balance, hormone balance, inflammation and more, creating an environment within your body less supportive of cancer development, growth, or spread.

Optimizing Your Body Terrain ›

Are they safe?

While most mind-body approaches are inherently health-promoting, we encourage you to consult your healthcare team before starting a therapy. Some therapies may not be appropriate for your situation, and many are more effective with professional instruction, guidance, and supervision. You may also ask your physician for a referral to a class or practitioner for many mind-body approaches.

Explore our reviews of mind-body therapies

Therapies

Guided Imagery

An evidence-based review of the use of guided imagery for cancer and safety. It may help manage side effects and promote wellness.
Therapies

Psilocybin

Psilocybin, produced by many species of mushrooms, is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound which has shown substantial effects for managing anxiety and depression among people with cancer.
Therapies

Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques may promote better quality of life and reduce or relieve several common side effects.
Therapies

Support Groups and Interventions

Support groups and interventions may help manage distress and side effects of cancer treatments.
Therapies

Tai Chi or Qigong

Tai chi and qigong are forms of mind-body exercise and meditation that may help with symptoms of cancer and side effects of treatments.
Therapies

Yoga

Yoga may manage symptoms and side effects and body terrain imbalances common in cancer.

Learn more

Blog post
Video

Symington Cancer Conference Spotlight: Dr. Jen Green, Oncology Naturopath and Cancer Thriver on Managing Mindsets with Cancer

Blog post
Podcast

Meet the Practitioner: Dr. Linda E. Carlson, Psychosocial Oncology

Blog post

Guided Imagery in Cancer Care

Authors

Maria Williams

Research and Communications Consultant
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Maria Williams is a research and communications consultant who brings over 15 years’ experience in research, consumer education, and science communication to CancerChoices. She has worked primarily in public health and environmental health.

Maria Williams Research and Communications Consultant

Nancy Hepp, MS

past Lead Researcher
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Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher and writer for CancerChoices and also served as the first program manager. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.

Nancy Hepp, MS past Lead Researcher

Reviewer

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS

Senior Clinical Consultant
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Laura Pole is senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices. Laura is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation, and education services for over 40 years. She is the co-creator and co-coordinator of the Integrative Oncology Navigation Training at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv for Smith Center/Commonweal. In her role as a palliative care educator and consultant, Laura has served as statewide Respecting Choices Faculty for the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) Collaborative as well as provided statewide professional education on palliative and end-of-life care for the Virginia Association for Hospices and Palliative Care.

For CancerChoices, Laura curates content and research, networks with clinical and organizational partners, brings awareness and education of integrative oncology at professional and patient conferences and programs, and translates research into information relevant to the patient experience as well as clinical practice.

Laura sees her work with CancerChoices as a perfect alignment of all her passions, knowledge and skills in integrative oncology care. She is honored to serve you.

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS Senior Clinical Consultant

Last update: February 27, 2023

CancerChoices provides information about integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-care lifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.

Our staff have no financial conflicts of interest to declare. We receive no funds from any manufacturers or retailers gaining financial profit by promoting or discouraging therapies mentioned on this site.