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Complementary and Holistic Medicine for Pain
Some people turn to complementary and holistic medicine for relief from persistent pain. These methods can be used on their own or in combination with pain medications and other therapies. Although scientific evidence of their effectiveness is still somewhat limited, these methods help many people find relief from pain as well as the stress and anxiety that cancer can cause. Examples range from therapies that use touch, such as massage and reiki therapy, to acupuncture, to hypnosis and guided imagery, to movement therapies such as yoga and tai chi. If you’re interested in these techniques, talk to your doctor or nurse about finding a licensed practitioner or instructor with special expertise in helping people with cancer.
For more information about each method, visit our section on Complementary and Holistic Medicine.
