Relaxation Techniques - CancerChoices



Relaxation techniques refocus your attention on something calming and increase awareness of your body, often bringing your attention to your breathing, muscles, or other body functions to relax and calm them.

Relaxation techniques at a glance

Relaxation techniques of several types are available, from simply focusing on your breathing to slow and calm it, to more complex and guided techniques. Sometimes relaxation techniques are combined with other mind-body therapies such as guided imagery or meditation.

Relaxation techniques can promote better quality of life and reduce or relieve several common side effects of cancer and treatments, such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and pain. Relaxation can also benefit your immune function.

In this review, we look at relaxation techniques as a whole. Relaxation is often part of or used in combination with one or more other therapies as listed here. We report which therapies are included in each study and each summary.

  • Breathing exercises
  • Guided imagery ›
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Laughter therapy
  • Meditation and mindfulness-based interventions

CancerChoices ratings for relaxation techniques

We rate relaxation techniques on seven attributes, with 0 the lowest rating and 5 the highest. We rate the strength of the evidence supporting the use of relaxation techniques for a medical benefit, such as improving treatment outcomes or managing side effects.

See how we evaluate and rate complementary therapies ›

0

Improving treatment outcomes

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3

Optimizing your body terrain

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3

Managing side effects and promoting wellness

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0

Reducing cancer risk

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5

Use by integrative oncology experts

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4

Safety

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5

Affordability and access

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Relaxation techniques are often combined with other mind-body therapies and sometimes other types of therapies. The evidence regarding combined therapies is summarized on How can relaxation techniques help you? What the research says › in sections titled “Relaxation combined with other therapies.”

Keep reading about relaxation techniques

Author

Nancy Hepp, MS

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 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: May 29, 2024

Last full literature review: October 2021

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.

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