EFFECTS OF YOGA ON CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY INDUCED NAUSEA AND VOMITING

Abstract

Chemotherapy results in severe nausea and vomiting (CCINV) along with newlineaccompanying symptoms and can cause severe distress amongst cancer patients. These newlineclusters of symptoms are not given importance due to their subtle and subjective nature newlineof presentation. CCINV needs to be addressed through a holistic understanding, as there newlineis a disparity in the treating and the practicing guidelines for efficient management and newlinecomplete control of nausea and vomiting. Traditional systems of healing like Yoga and newlineÄyurveda, are holistic in their approach and prescribe specific practices for GI newlinedisturbances based on the concept of Jäöarägni (Jathara-gastric, Agni-fire), defined as, newline the collective subtle energy that encompasses the entire digestion process. According newlineto Äyurveda, CCINV is a manifestation of Impaired Jäöarägni.The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of an integrated yoga program on newlineJäöarägni, autonomic, psychological and psychosocial factors in cancer patients with newlinesolid malignancies and lymphomas, receiving highly or moderately emetogenic newlinechemotherapy.The objectives of the study were: (i) to develop and standardize a checklist to assess newlinecancer chemotherapy induced JäöarägniImpairment that relies on gastrointestinal (GI) newlinesymptoms described by Äyurveda, (ii)to conduct a controlled study to assess the effect newlineof yoga therapy for CCINVin patients undergoing chemotherapy on Jäöarägni newlineimpairement, (iii) to look at the effect of integrated yoga on autonomic variables (HRV newlineand gastric autonomic function) and (iv) to study the effect of integrated yoga onpsychological distress(appetite reduction, cardiac and, stress, anxiety, depression, and newlinequality of life).This was athree arm randomized control trial on patients undergoing newlineconventional treatment for cancer. newline