Massage and Accupuncture Relieve Pain after Cancer Surgery
Studies show that practices such as meditation or guided imagery and visualization can be calming. Yoga and tai chi also may be helpful. Acupuncture has been shown to provide relief for some kinds of pain. Herbs, such as peppermint and ginger, may help ease the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.
According to a recent study reported in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management , massage and acupuncture relieved pain and depression in surgery patients more than traditional postoperative care alone. In the study, both massage and acupuncture were given for 10-30 minutes at the bedsides of 138 people who underwent surgery for intestinal and other cancers. Swedish massage was used along with an acupressure foot massage. Acupuncture was given at points related to the patients' symptoms, which included pain and nausea.
On a scale of 1–10, pain scores in the massage/acupuncture group declined by 1.4 points compared with 0.6 points in the usual-care group. Among people who reported pain of at least level 3 on the scale, pain scores declined by nearly 2 points compared with 0.3 points for those who received usual care. Therapy with massage and acupuncture was similarly effective in alleviating depressed moods.
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