Yoga as a Complementary Therapy for Cancer Patients: From Clinical Observations to Biochemical Mechanisms.

Yoga therapy, as a complementary treatment for cancer patients, improves quality of life by reducing stress, enhancing heart rate variability, and altering hormonal regulation (e.g., lowering cortisol), oxidative stress, and inflammation. However, direct evidence for yoga's effect on tumor response or overall survival is lacking. This narrative review details findings from randomized clinical trials on yoga's biochemical mechanisms, but concludes that the biochemical effects on the cancer disease itself remain unknown, calling for more research.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Integrative oncology combines conventional and complementary, or integrative, therapies for a holistic treatment of cancer patients. Yoga is increasingly used as a complementary therapy for cancer patients, but there is no direct evidence for its effect on cancer pathophysiology like tumor response, or patient outcome like overall survival. In this narrative review, we present in detail published studies from randomized clinical trials on complementary yoga therapy for cancer patients, including details about the biochemical mechanisms involved. Medicinal hatha yoga with breathing, postures, meditation, and relaxation enhances the quality of life of cancer patients by providing both psychological and physiological health benefits, highlighting the interconnectedness of mind and body. Yoga therapy reduces stress levels improving heart rate variability, leading to changes in hormonal regulation (e.g., cortisol), reduced oxidative stress, and improved immune function with reduced inflammation. Still, the biochemical effects of yoga on the cancer disease itself are unrevealed. More clinical and basic research is needed for further establishment of yoga as complementary therapy in oncology.