How supportive care helps, because feeling better is part of the plan

Key takeaways

• Two cancer guidelines from SIO and ASCO name acupuncture, massage, hypnosis, yoga, music therapy and mindfulness for pain, worry or low mood²³.
• Mindfulness programs earned the strongest backing for anxiety and depression, both during and after cancer treatment³⁹.
• A half hour of aerobic exercise three times a week helped cancer survivors with fatigue, mood and quality of life¹⁰.
• Palliative care adds an extra layer of support that can start at diagnosis, right alongside treatment¹³.
• The National Cancer Institute mentions ginger for nausea and American ginseng for fatigue, and your care team can fit both into your plan¹¹¹².

More than a third of adults with cancer in the United States use some kind of complementary product¹. Dietary supplements, herbal products and special teas are among them¹. Many people also turn to yoga classes, meditation apps, massage and music. For a long time, those choices lived mostly outside the clinic.

That has changed. In 2022 and 2023, two leading cancer groups published joint guidelines on these therapies²³. They are the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Acupuncture, massage, hypnosis, yoga, music therapy and mindfulness all made their lists.

The same whole-person thinking shows up in care for heart failure, COPD and kidney disease. Rehab programs, mind-body practices and palliative care help people feel stronger and steadier. Meanwhile, their doctors keep treating the illness itself. Here is what the guidelines say, and how to bring these approaches into your own plan.

Integrative care adds comfort to medical treatment

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a clear definition of integrative medicine. It combines standard medical care with complementary practices that science has shown to be safe and effective⁴. It often puts your preferences first. It also looks after mind, body and spirit together⁴.

People with cancer choose these approaches for many reasons. Some want to ease side effects or stress. Others simply want to feel more involved in their own care⁴. NCI sorts the options into five families⁴. Two of them are mind-body therapies and biologically based practices, such as herbs and supplements. The others are hands-on body practices such as massage, energy practices and whole medical systems.

NCI even has an office devoted to this field. The Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM) works to improve care for people with cancer and those recovering from treatment⁵. NCI also publishes evidence-based summaries, called PDQ summaries, on specific therapies for patients and health professionals⁵.

Many leading cancer centers now run integrative medicine units. Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, Dana-Farber and Mayo Clinic all appear on one national list of centers that offer them⁶. At Memorial Sloan Kettering, a program called IM@Home offers more than 20 live online classes⁷. Choices include yoga, tai chi, dance, music therapy and mindfulness⁷.

Acupuncture has some of the deepest research behind it. NCI’s summary says studies have shown that acupuncture either relieves symptoms or keeps them from getting worse⁸. The strongest evidence is for nausea and vomiting linked to chemotherapy, surgery and radiation⁸. Several trials also found less fatigue⁸. Studies in people getting radiation for head and neck cancer found better saliva flow⁸. Acupuncture and massage each have their own articles in this library, so this guide covers them briefly.

Open conversation makes all of this work better. NCI encourages people to talk with their doctor or nurse about any complementary approach, even something as simple as massage⁴. “Always tell your doctor about what complementary health approaches you’re using,” NCI advises⁴.

Cancer pain guidelines now include acupuncture, massage and hypnosis

The 2022 SIO-ASCO pain guideline gave clinicians 13 recommendations for adults with cancer². Its firmest call was for acupuncture. Clinicians should offer it to people with breast cancer who develop joint pain while taking aromatase inhibitors, a type of hormone therapy².

The guideline lists many more approaches that may be offered². Acupuncture made the list again, this time for general cancer pain and for muscle and joint pain. Reflexology or acupressure may help with pain during chemotherapy and other drug treatment. Acupuncture, reflexology and acupressure also appear for the nerve pain and tingling (peripheral neuropathy) that chemotherapy can cause².

Massage may be offered for lasting pain after breast cancer treatment². It may also be offered for pain during palliative and hospice care². Hatha yoga may help with pain after breast cancer or head and neck cancer treatment. Guided imagery, paired with a technique called progressive muscle relaxation, may help with general pain from treatment².

Two mind-based tools can help around procedures and surgery. Hypnosis may be offered for pain during procedures and diagnostic tests². Music therapy may be offered for pain after cancer surgery².

Several of these calls rest on early research, and researchers are building on these results with larger trials². For almost all of them, the panel judged that the likely benefits outweigh the risks². Pain medicine still has its place, and these therapies work right alongside it. You and your team can combine approaches to find the mix that suits you.

Mindfulness leads the way for anxiety and low mood

A cancer diagnosis can shake anyone’s sense of calm. “Anxiety and depression symptoms have long been associated with lower quality of life in people with cancer,” said Dr. Heather Greenlee⁹. She spoke when the 2023 SIO-ASCO guideline on anxiety and depression was released⁹.

That guideline reviewed 110 studies³. They included 30 systematic reviews and 80 randomized controlled trials³. Mindfulness-based programs earned the strongest recommendation⁹. These include mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation and mindful movement⁹. The panel recommended them for anxiety and depression, both during active treatment and after it ends⁹.

In a typical mindfulness class, you practice paying calm attention to your breath, body and thoughts. Classes are often held in small groups, in person or online. The skills travel well, so you can use them in a waiting room or during an infusion.

Other approaches also made the list³. For anxiety during treatment, the guideline names yoga, relaxation, music therapy, reflexology and inhaled aromatherapy. For anxiety after treatment, it names yoga, acupuncture, tai chi or qigong, and reflexology³. For depression symptoms during treatment, it names yoga, music therapy, relaxation and reflexology. After treatment, yoga and tai chi or qigong made the list³.

Much of the yoga research comes from people with breast cancer. The guideline’s lead author, Dr. Linda E. Carlson, has said yoga’s reach is wider. “We want to clarify that this does not mean yoga can only benefit women with breast cancer,” she said⁹. “There is research that shows yoga can benefit people with various cancer types”⁹.

Greenlee summed up the mood of the field: “Now we know which therapies could have the biggest impact”⁹. Essential oils for relaxation have their own article in this library.

Supportive approaches at a glance

This quick guide shows the approaches with the strongest support. It also shows what each may help with and where it stands in national guidance.

Approach	What it may help with	What guidelines and NCI say
Mindfulness programs	Anxiety, low mood	Strongest SIO-ASCO call
Yoga	Anxiety, low mood, pain, fatigue	Recommended for mood
Music therapy	Anxiety, low mood, pain after surgery	Recommended during treatment
Acupuncture	Joint pain, general pain, nausea	Should be offered for joint pain from aromatase inhibitors
Massage	Pain after treatment, pain in hospice care	May be offered
Hypnosis	Pain during procedures	May be offered
Reflexology or acupressure	Pain, nerve symptoms, anxiety, nausea	May be offered
Tai chi and qigong	Fatigue, mood after treatment	NCI lists them for fatigue
Aerobic and strength exercise	Fatigue, mood, physical function	Strong evidence in survivors
Palliative care	Symptoms, stress, planning	ASCO recommends it in advanced cancer

Sources:^23810111213

Movement helps with fatigue, mood and strength

Rest matters during treatment, and so does gentle activity. NCI says exercise, including walking, may help people with cancer feel better and have more energy¹¹. That holds during treatment and after it¹¹. NCI also notes that qigong, tai chi and yoga have been found to ease fatigue in people with cancer¹¹.

In 2019, the American College of Sports Medicine gathered an international panel to review exercise research in cancer survivors¹⁰. The panel found strong evidence for a half hour of aerobic exercise three times a week¹⁰. That amount helped with anxiety, depression, fatigue, quality of life and physical function¹⁰. Strength training twice a week brought benefits for most of those same outcomes¹⁰.

For overall health, survivors are encouraged to aim for the same activity levels advised for everyone¹⁰. That means 2.5 to 5 hours a week of moderate activity, or 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous activity¹⁰. Long-term studies have also linked staying active after a breast, colon or prostate cancer diagnosis with longer survival¹⁰.

You do not need an intense routine to see a difference. Dr. Kathryn Schmitz of Penn State College of Medicine co-chaired the panel. She said survivors “don’t need to become marathoners to reap the benefits of exercise”¹⁰. Going from no exercise to some exercise helps¹⁰.

Classes can even come to your living room. An early trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering included 200 people in active cancer treatment⁷. All had moderate or worse fatigue. One group joined IM@Home, the live online mind-body program. The other group got usual care plus recorded meditation resources⁷.

Over three months, the IM@Home group reported less fatigue, less depression and fewer physical symptoms⁷. Only 5% of them were hospitalized, compared with 14% of the comparison group⁷. Their hospital stays were also shorter⁷. The researchers presented these results in 2023 and planned a larger study to build on them⁷.

NCI’s fatigue page adds simple daily tips¹¹. Keep naps under an hour, and save your most important tasks for the times you have the most energy. Eat several small meals, drink plenty of water and ask about meeting with a registered dietitian¹¹.

Start slowly, and talk with your care team before you begin a new exercise plan. A physical therapist can help you find a safe starting point. Physical therapy and energy conservation each have their own articles in this library.

Ginger, ginseng and smart supplement use

Two natural products have a place in NCI’s own patient guidance. For nausea, NCI notes that foods and drinks with ginger, such as ginger ale and ginger tea, may ease nausea and vomiting¹². It also points to acupressure used together with anti-nausea medicine, and to Sea-Band wristbands¹². Calming practices such as deep breathing, guided imagery, music and meditation made its list too¹². Acupuncture can also help, as long as a professional acupuncturist does it¹².

In nausea research, people with cancer took about 0.5 to 2 grams of ginger a day, starting before chemotherapy¹⁴. Results vary from study to study, and researchers are still working out the best forms and doses. NCI’s everyday tips pair well with ginger. Sip fluids through the day, eat small meals of bland or cold foods, avoid strong smells and rest sitting up for about 30 minutes after eating¹².

For tiredness, NCI’s fatigue page notes that American ginseng, taken in capsule form, may be used for cancer-related fatigue¹¹.

Natural products work best as part of a coordinated plan. NCI advises talking with your doctor about the complementary products you use before treatment begins¹. A few, such as St. John’s wort, can change how much of certain cancer drugs stays in the blood¹. Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are another example your team may want to time around chemotherapy and radiation¹¹⁵.

That is why a complete list matters so much. When your oncology or specialist team sees everything you take, they can time each product and fit it into your treatment plan. If your cancer center has an integrative medicine service, ask whether a clinician there can review the list with you. Your pharmacist can help too, since pharmacists can look over your products and prescriptions together.

When you choose a practitioner for acupuncture, massage or another therapy, ask about their training⁴. Ask about their experience with your type of cancer, too. NCI also suggests asking whether they are willing to work with your oncologist⁴.

Use these steps before your next visit:

1. Bring every bottle, or a photo of each label, to your oncology or specialist appointment.

2. Keep a written record of each product and medicine you take. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements offers a free form for this, called My Dietary Supplement and Medicine Record¹⁵.

3. Share that record with all your providers, including doctors, pharmacists, dentists and dietitians¹⁵.

4. Ask how to time each product around treatment days and before any surgery or procedure¹⁵.

5. Look for seals from USP, NSF International or ConsumerLab.com¹⁵. A seal shows a product was properly made and contains what the label lists. It also shows the product does not contain harmful levels of contaminants¹⁵.

6. Stay close to the amounts used in research, such as the 0.5 to 2 grams of ginger a day used in nausea studies¹⁴.

Palliative care and rehab programs support people with any serious illness

Palliative care is one of the brightest spots in modern medicine. NCI describes it as care meant to improve quality of life for people with a serious or life-threatening disease¹³. Cancer is one example. Palliative care can be given with or without curative care, and you can keep getting cancer treatment while you receive it¹³. It may start at any point, from diagnosis onward¹³.

A palliative care team looks after the whole person. That includes physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, nausea and trouble sleeping¹³. It also includes feelings such as depression, anxiety and fear¹³. The team helps with spiritual questions and with practical worries about money, insurance and work¹³.

These specialists often work in teams with doctors, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and social workers¹³. They work alongside your oncology team. You can receive this care in a hospital, a clinic, a long-term care facility or at home¹³.

Starting early brings real rewards. A 2010 study in the New England Journal of Medicine followed people with advanced lung cancer¹⁶. Those who began palliative care soon after diagnosis, alongside their usual cancer care, had better quality of life and mood¹³¹⁶. NCI notes that this early approach may even help people live longer¹³.

ASCO now recommends palliative care for all patients with advanced cancer¹³. Private insurance usually covers it, and Medicare and Medicaid pay for some types¹³. Medicare Part B also covers some services for managing symptoms¹³.

The same whole-person idea runs through care for other serious illnesses. People with heart failure can take part in cardiac rehab¹⁷. It combines exercise training, heart health education, nutrition counseling and emotional support¹⁷. Cleveland Clinic notes that it can improve daily quality of life, and that the program “stresses the importance of mental health and quality of life”¹⁷. Most insurers and Medicare cover a 12-week program of 36 sessions¹⁷.

For COPD, pulmonary rehabilitation offers exercise therapy and breathing retraining¹⁸. It also includes nutrition counseling, energy-saving strategies and psychological support for living with the condition¹⁸. Harvard Health notes that it can improve quality of life and the ability to exercise¹⁸. A typical outpatient program lasts about six weeks, with two or three sessions a week¹⁸.

People living with kidney disease can draw on the same toolkit. Because palliative care is meant for anyone facing a serious illness, it can be part of kidney care too¹³. Ask your kidney care team which exercise, counseling and palliative care services fit around your dialysis or treatment schedule.

The bottom line

Feeling better counts as a real goal of care. National cancer guidelines now support mindfulness, yoga, music therapy, acupuncture, massage and hypnosis²³. Regular movement has strong support too¹⁰. Rehab programs and palliative care bring the same whole-person approach to heart failure, COPD and other serious illnesses¹³¹⁷¹⁸.

Start with whatever appeals to you most. A mindfulness class, a short walk or a cup of ginger tea can fit into a busy treatment week. So can a favorite playlist. Each one is a small, hopeful step you can take today.

Bring your full supplement list to your oncology or specialist team so they can time and fit everything into your plan. With your medical care and these supportive tools working together, you give yourself every chance to feel your best.

Sources

1. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Therapy Interactions With Foods and Dietary Supplements (PDQ), Patient Version. cancer.gov. 2024. cancer.gov

2. Mao JJ, Ismaila N, Bao T, et al. Integrative Medicine for Pain Management in Oncology: Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

3. Carlson LE, Ismaila N, Addington EL, et al. Integrative Oncology Care of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

4. National Cancer Institute. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). cancer.gov. 2024. cancer.gov

5. National Cancer Institute. Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM). NCI Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis. 2025. dctd.cancer.gov

6. Breastcancer.org. Complementary Medicine Resource Guide. Breastcancer.org. 2022. breastcancer.org

7. Winstead E. Virtual Mind-Body Fitness Classes Show Unexpected Benefit in People with Cancer. NCI Cancer Currents Blog. 2023. cancer.gov

8. National Cancer Institute. Acupuncture (PDQ), Patient Version. cancer.gov. 2024. cancer.gov

9. Society for Integrative Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology. Cancer Organizations Recommend Mindfulness-Based Interventions to Treat Anxiety and Depression in Patients. EurekAlert! news release. 2023. eurekalert.org

10. NCI Staff. Prescribing Exercise as Cancer Treatment: A Conversation with Dr. Kathryn Schmitz. NCI Cancer Currents Blog. 2019. cancer.gov

11. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Fatigue. cancer.gov. 2024. cancer.gov

12. National Cancer Institute. Nausea and Vomiting and Cancer Treatment. cancer.gov. 2025. cancer.gov

13. National Cancer Institute. Palliative Care in Cancer. cancer.gov. 2021. cancer.gov

14. National Cancer Institute. Nausea and Vomiting Related to Cancer Treatment (PDQ), Health Professional Version. cancer.gov. 2025. cancer.gov

15. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. ods.od.nih.gov. 2023. ods.od.nih.gov

16. Temel JS, Greer JA, Muzikansky A, et al. Early Palliative Care for Patients with Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. 2010. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

17. Cleveland Clinic. Cardiac Rehab. Cleveland Clinic Health Library. 2023. my.clevelandclinic.org

18. Harvard Health Publishing. COPD. Harvard Medical School. 2024. health.harvard.edu

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare professional about your own health, especially before starting a new supplement if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medicine, or managing a health condition. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Reviewed October 2026.