Integrative medicine combines conventional Western medicine with complementary and alternative treatments that have been researched and proven to be safe and effective in healing. Integrative oncology uses integrative medicine as part of standard cancer care.

"Integrative oncology is a practice where we use lifestyle medicine like dietary modifications, stress reduction, exercise, supplements and mind-body practices," says Stacy D'Andre, M.D., a Mayo Clinic medical and integrative oncologist. "We combine all of these practices to help our cancer patients improve quality of life and hopefully improve treatment outcomes, as well."

Integrative oncology can help people with cancer feel better by reducing the fatigue, nausea, pain, anxiety and other symptoms that can come with cancer and cancer treatment.

If you are living with cancer or caring for someone who is, here's an overview of how integrative oncology can ease the burden of cancer.

Read the rest of the article on the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center blog.

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Other Mayo Clinic medical research websites: 

• Research at Mayo Clinic
• Discovery’s Edge
• Advancing the Science
• Mayo Clinic Laboratories
• Forefront
• Center for Individualized Medicine
• Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics
• Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery

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Mood swings, hot flashes and difficulty sleeping are common symptoms that can be effectively managed with hormone therapy. Lifestyle changes also can help relieve these temporary symptoms, says Dr. Denise Millstine, a physician from Mayo Clinic's Women's Health Center.

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Hormone therapy may help women who struggle with hot flashes, sleep disruptions and other menopausal symptoms. However, this treatment comes with side effects, and it is not for everybody.

"Many women are not candidates to take hormone therapy, like women who have a diagnosis of breast cancer. But in a woman who's taking hormone therapy and still having symptoms, lifestyle management can also be effective," Dr. Millstine says.

"Hit the golf course, for instance. Regular exercise, along with a healthy diet, may help.

Women who exercise regularly are healthier overall, and they might be reducing their hot flash burden, as well."

If you smoke, Dr. Millstine says quit. "Women who smoke have more frequent hot flashes, and they also have more severe hot flashes."

Consider yoga, deep-breathing exercises and massage to relieve stress.

"I will often refer women for a trial of acupuncture to see if that can reduce their hot flash burden, in addition to simple practices like paced breathing or breathing exercises."

Menopause is a natural stage of aging. See your health care provider if you need help managing your symptoms.

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For many cancer patients, the treatments can be hard on the body.

"They can cause nausea. They can cause pain. They can hurt your sleep pattern," says Dr. Brent Bauer, a Mayo Clinic integrative medicine specialist.

Dr. Bauer says there are options that don't require taking a pill to help those with cancer and the side effects of treatment.

"It's having a bigger toolkit, but the toolkit has to be filled with things that have good clinical science behind them," he says.

Acupuncture or aromatherapy to treat nausea, or tai chi or massage for pain are just a few of the integrative medicine options.

"We try it, and if it works, we continue it — always in collaboration with the primary team," Dr. Bauer says.

He says integrative medicine is meant to complement conventional medical care. And it's best to start with the basics of good nutrition and getting the proper amount of exercise to remain healthy.

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When you're sick, medication or even surgery, may be just what the doctor orders. Dr. Adam Perlman, an integrative health specialist at Mayo Clinic, asks an additional question.

"What else can we do to really improve our sense of well-being?"

That's where acupuncture, yoga or tai chi may be integrated into an overall plan of care. Dr. Perlman describes it as "helping people to go beyond the treatment of disease and pathophysiology, to a place where they are optimizing their vitality."

Evidence shows, for instance, acupuncture can help with chronic pain and may be recommended to those with cancer, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

Tai chi helps with balance and reduces falls in older adults. And yoga may reduce stress, lower blood pressure and lower your heart rate.

But, Dr. Perlman says, it's not just what you do with your body that's important.

"Other things that tend to impact our health and well-being are things like gratitude and relationships and how we address those, [and] a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives."

See your health care provider to find out if an integrative health plan is right for you.

Related posts:

• Home Remedies: Treating pain with integrative approaches
• Whole-person care at Integrative Medicine and Health practice
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Integrative medicine and pain

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ANSWER: Traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, dates back more than 2,500 years. Acupuncture involves inserting thin, single-use, sterile needles through the skin to identify and correct imbalances within the body’s “energy” flow, called “qi” or “chi”. Acupuncture as a form of medical treatment has become more popular in the U.S. in recent decades, particularly as an adjunct to Western treatments or as part of an integrative system of care.

Evidence suggests that acupuncture may provide a range of health benefits. It may be useful as a stand-alone treatment for some conditions, but, as in your case, it’s increasingly used as part of an integrative medicine approach in conjunction with conventional medical treatments.

In the U.S., acupuncture most often is used to treat acute and chronic pain disorders; emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression; digestive complaints; and neurological conditions, such as migraine or stroke. It also has been used to treat respiratory conditions, gynecological disorders and infertility. There is also evidence to support its use to treat fatigue and addictions. A general sense of well-being often is promoted through the balancing of the energy of the body. Thus, treatment can maintain that state of well-being.

There are multiple scientific theories about how acupuncture works. It may work at the site of application or at a distance, with the help of sensory neurons that signal changes within the peripheral and central nervous system. One theory is that acupuncture may promote the release of the body’s own natural painkillers (endogenous opioids), alleviating or easing pain. Insertion of acupuncture needles also may block the transmission of pain signals through the nerves to the brain. In addition, acupuncture may stimulate the release of certain brain and nerve chemicals that can ease symptoms of depression.

Acupuncture is generally safe when performed properly by an experienced practitioner. It has few side effects, especially compared to many drugs. The most common side effects of acupuncture are soreness and minor bleeding or bruising at the needle sites. Less common risks or complications are infection or, rarely, puncture of the lung.

Certain conditions may increase your risk of complications. Your chances of bleeding or bruising from the needles increase if you have a bleeding disorder or you take anti-clotting drugs, such as warfarin (Coumadin). So let your acupuncturist know if you are on any of these medications. Also, tell your acupuncturist if you have a pacemaker. Acupuncture that involves applying mild electrical pulses to the needles may interfere with a pacemaker’s operation. If your white blood cell count is low, such as after certain types of chemotherapy, your health care provider may recommend against any disruption of your skin to prevent infection.

Each practitioner of acupuncture has a unique style. Your practitioner may ask you about your symptoms, behaviors and lifestyle. The practitioner may closely examine the parts of your body that are painful, or the strength, rhythm and quality of the pulse in your wrist. This history gathering and physical exam will help your practitioner determine the type of acupuncture treatment that will help you the most.

This initial evaluation may take up to one hour. Subsequent appointments usually take about 30 to 60 minutes. A common treatment plan typically involves one or two treatments a week to start. The total number of treatments will depend on the condition being treated and its severity, but six to eight treatments are common. There’s evidence that acupuncture works best in people who expect it to work.

Acupuncture needles are thin, so insertion usually causes little discomfort. However, you may feel a slight aching sensation that usually lasts less than 30 seconds. Between five and 20 needles are used in a typical treatment. Your practitioner may gently move or twirl the needles after placement, or apply heat or mild electrical pulses to them. If at any time you have discomfort, let your practitioner know.

In most cases, the needles remain in place for 15 to 30 minutes while you lie still. There’s usually no discomfort when the needles are removed.

Some people feel relaxed and others feel energized after a treatment. However, not everyone responds to acupuncture. If your symptoms don’t improve within a few weeks, acupuncture may not be right for you.

If you’re considering acupuncture, take the same steps you would to choose any health care provider. Ask people you trust for recommendations. Check the practitioner’s training and credentials. Most states require that nonphysician acupuncturists pass an exam conducted by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

In addition, talk to the practitioner and ask what’s involved in the treatment, how likely it is to help your condition and how much it will cost. In some cases, insurance covers treatment. A growing number of health care providers use acupuncture as part of their clinical practice, including specialists at Mayo Clinic. — Dr. Kirsten Paynter, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix

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A massage therapist's ability to have hands-on contact with a patient and potential for seeing patients for multiple sessions not only can relieve symptoms, but also aid diagnostic detection. Such was the case in a study where Mayo Clinic researchers observed a patient who underwent a partial small bowel resection and was being followed up with massage for persistent pain. The massage therapist detected tenderness upon palpating an area and alerted the patient’s care team. Subsequently, the team found an intestinal leak and infection in the abdominal cavity.

“We have done over two dozen studies on massage and acupuncture showing the benefits that both treatments have on patients. Skilled practitioners of integrative medicine are able to be a member of the care team and contribute their expertise, while also delivering care directly to patients,” says Brent Bauer, M.D., director of research for Mayo Clinic's Integrative Medicine Program, who is the lead author.

Acupuncture is another treatment that has been widely noted for its role in helping with chronic pain management. “Our experience with patients at Mayo Clinic confirms that we see a tremendous number of patients for which acupuncture is a central part in their pain management strategy,” says Dr. Bauer.

Along with pain relief, acupuncture also can play an important role in assessing underlying health issues. Another case study focusing on acupuncture treatment at Mayo Clinic revealed that a mass was identified on a patient who initially was referred for acute upper-back pain. The acupuncturist noted a small mass in the muscle and brought it to the attention of the primary doctor. Subsequently, an ultrasound of the area was ordered, which showed that the mass was positive for sarcoma.

As these case studies show, bringing acupuncture and massage into the clinical setting can have benefits that extend beyond therapeutic wellness. Acupuncturists and massage therapists can bring another level of healing and a second set of eyes to a patient’s overall treatment plan. As Dr. Bauer notes, “That is the definition of integrative medicine in a nutshell – combining the best of both worlds to optimize health and healing for our patients.”

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On the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast, Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, discusses how complementary techniques can enhance conventional medicine and shares the new Mayo Clinic book, Mayo Clinic: The Integrative Guide to Good Health. Also on the podcast, Dr. Michael Camilleri, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic, discusses a new study that found a prescription medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity is also an effective weight-loss therapy. And Dr. Adam Kase, a resident at Mayo Clinic, shares how his training in the Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Simulation Center helped him save a life during jury duty.

The post #MayoClinicRadio podcast: 11/18/17 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program and one of the authors of the book, will discuss how complementary techniques can enhance conventional medicine. Also on the program, Dr. Michael Camilleri, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic, discusses a new study that found a prescription medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity is also an effective weight-loss therapy. And Dr. Adam Kase, a resident at Mayo Clinic, will share how his training in the Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Simulation Center helped him save a life during jury duty.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Integrative medicine and health appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program and one of the authors of the book, will discuss how complementary techniques can enhance conventional medicine. Also on the program, Dr. Michael Camilleri, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic, discusses a new study that found a prescription medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity is also an effective weight-loss therapy. And Dr. Adam Kase, a resident at Mayo Clinic, will share how his training in the Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Simulation Center helped him save a life during jury duty.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Integrative health / stomach emptying and weight loss / jury duty lifesaver appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Listen: Mayo Clinic Radio 11/26/16

On this special Thanksgiving edition of Mayo Clinic Radio, you’ll hear from three patients who have reason to give thanks. First, we revisit an unusual transplant story. Gastroenterologist Dr. Sahil Khanna and patient Stephanie Bennett explain how fecal transplant was used to treat her Clostridium difficile infection. Also on the program, licensed acupuncturist Sara Bublitz and her patient, Heather Spaniol, share how alternative therapies, including cupping, helped manage the pain after a battle with flesh-eating bacteria. And, hear a repeat of the story of Jimmy Dunbar, a transplant patient waiting for a heart transplant.

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