How do experts use tai chi or qigong? - CancerChoices



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

How do experts use tai chi or qigong?

Both medical groups and integrative experts provide recommendations for tai chi or qigong in treating people with cancer. Learn more about the approaches and meanings of recommendations: Integrative Oncology Programs and Expert Guidelines ›

Clinical practice guidelines

Society for Integrative Oncology

Two guidelines evaluate tai chi, qigong, and other similar therapies among people with cancer.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: complementary therapies and botanicals ›

2009 evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology conclude that therapies based on a philosophy of bioenergy fields are safe and may provide some benefit for reducing stress and enhancing quality of life. Only limited evidence is available regarding their efficacy for symptom management, including reducing pain and fatigue.

The Society for Integrative Oncology recommends use of tai chi, qigong, and other similar therapies for these symptoms:

  • For reducing anxiety: grade 1B (strong recommendation, moderate-quality evidence)
  • For pain, fatigue, and other symptom management: grade 1C (strong recommendation, low- or very low-quality evidence)

Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment › This set of guidelines has been endorsed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).1Lyman GH, Greenlee H et al. Integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment: ASCO endorsement of the SIO clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2018 Sep 1;36(25):2647-2655.

SIO concludes that qigong can be considered for improving quality of life. Based on evidence, the use of qigong is rated Grade C (at least moderate certainty that the net benefit is small).

American Society of Clinical Oncology and Society for Integrative Oncology

Two guidelines evaluate tai chi and qigong among people with cancer.

Integrative oncology care of symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology–ASCO Guideline ›

After cancer treatment: weak recommendation for tai chi and/or qigong for women with breast cancer to improve anxiety or depression symptoms 

Management of Fatigue in Adult Survivors of Cancer: ASCO–Society for Integrative Oncology Guideline Update ›

During cancer treatment: strong recommendation for tai chi or qigong, practiced at a low to moderate intensity, to reduce the severity of cancer-related fatigue 

After cancer treatment: no recommendation for or against tai chi and qigong to reduce the severity of cancer-related fatigue

Published programs and approaches

Tai chi and/or qigong is used in programs, approaches, and protocolsa package of therapies combining and preferably integrating various therapies and practices into a cohesive design for care from these integrative oncologists, drawing from both scientific research and observations from years or even decades of treating people with cancer:

Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, and Karolyn Gazella (tai chi)

Lorenzo Cohen, PhD, and Alison Jefferies, MEd (tai chi and qigong)

Cohen L, Jefferies A. Anticancer Living: Transform Your Life and Health with the Mix of Six. New York: Viking. 2018.

This book introduces the concept of the Mix of Six, which is identical to six of our 7 Healing Practices ›

Dr. Cohen and Ms. Jefferies explain that while each plays an inde­pendent role, the synergy created by all six factors can radically transform health, delay or prevent many cancers, support conventional treatments, and significantly improve quality of life.

 

Gerald Lemole, MD; Pallav Mehta, MD; and Dwight McKee, MD (tai chi)

Lemole GM, Mehta PK, McKee DL. After Cancer Care: The Definitive Self-Care Guide to Getting and Staying Well for Patients with Cancer. New York, New York: Rodale, Inc. 2015.

These doctors present easy-to-incorporate lifestyle changes to help you “turn on” hundreds of genes that fight cancer, and “turn off” the ones that encourage cancer, while recommending lifestyle approaches to address each type.

Gurdev Parmar, ND, FABNO, and Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO (qigong for non-Hodgkins lymphoma)

Parmar G, Kaczor T. Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology: A Desktop Guide of Integrative Cancer Care. 1st edition. Medicatrix Holdings Ltd. 2020.

This book provides information on the treatment of 24 cancers, plus the most effective treatments of the most common symptoms affecting cancer patients while they undergo chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery.

Traditional medicine

Qigong is one of the four main branches of traditional Chinese medicine, along with acupuncture, massage, and herbal medicine.2Chinese Medicine Living. Qi Gong. Viewed May 18, 2021. 

Learn more about traditional medicine and how to find practitioners: Finding Integrative Oncologists and Other Professionals ›

Other expert assessments

Current Oncology Reports

An expert review of evidence suggests that tai chi and qigong “might have a potential role in alleviating cancer-related fatigue.”3David A, Hausner D, Frenkel M. Cancer-related fatigue-is there a role for complementary and integrative medicine? Current Oncology Reports. 2021 Nov 7;23(12):145.

Dosing

Regular practice may be important to achieve and maintain medical benefits. One small study found that after 8 sessions of practicing qigong, people saw benefits in attention, brain processing speed, blood pressure and maximal workload. However, by 12 weeks after stopping qigong practice, these measures had all returned to their pre-qigong levels.4Ladawan S, Klarod K et al. Effect of qigong exercise on cognitive function, blood pressure and cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy middle-aged subjects. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2017 Aug;33:39-45. The study authors concluded that performing qigong regularly is important to maintain related health effects.

Keep reading about tai chi or qigong

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: August 28, 2024

Last full literature review: June 2024

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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