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Acupuncture/ pressureAromatherapyArt, Music, DanceBleeding DisordersCancerGingerGuided ImageryHypnosisMassageMultiple SclerosisRelaxation

Evaluating CAM to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer patients

JR

The Oncology Nursing Society has posted a table that summarizes CAM studies on the treatment of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. The studies were published between 1988 and 2005.

Here’s a summary of their findings.

  • Acupuncture and Acupressure: Likely to be effective
  • Guided Imagery, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Music Therapy: Likely to be effective
  • Psychoeducational (support and education): Likely to be effective
  • Virtual Reality: Benefits balanced with harms
  • Exercise: Effectiveness not established
  • Hypnosis: Effectiveness not established
  • Massage/Aromatherapy: Effectiveness not established
  • Acustimulation (electroacupuncture): Effectiveness not established
  • Ginger: Effectiveness not established

Don’t be put off by the tabular presentation of the data. Start by reading across the headers to see what each column contains. Then find the CAM and read about it.

It might be more helpful to have organized the table by cancer type, but it’s not that hard to get this info from the table.

2/10/07 21:21 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

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