Mesothelioma Yoga Alternative Practice

A disease is basically a dis-ease of the body owing to certain conditions that arise from an imbalance in the body. Battling or counteracting a disease requires a healthy body and mind. This becomes an impossible situation for patients of terminal illnesses like mesothelioma who are not only fighting the malady but also the debilitating side effects of treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. So any mesothelioma alternative therapy that helps to boost the immune system and supports a positive frame of mind could lead to an enhanced receptivity to treatment. Yoga is one mesothelioma palliative measure that has found acceptance worldwide.

Yoga history and benefits

Yoga is a set of mind and body exercises that goes back more than 5,000 years. The word ‘Yog’ is translated loosely as "control," "unity" and "method." Different physical postures, mesothelioma meditation , breathing techniques and  or visualization help to restore and maintain a sense of well-being and have been found useful in treating mesothelioma and other kinds of cancer.

Yoga used in mesothelioma has no harmful side effects; it is also a non-invasive process that simply requires regularity and dedication and a mat to practice on!!

Some general benefits from Yoga:

• Calms the central nervous system
• Lowers blood pressure, reduces stress
• Improves coordination and flexibility and quality of sleep
• Excellent for those with back problems, as well as those who need to exercise
• Prevents the loss of bone mass and muscle mass
• Maintains healthy cholesterol
• Promotes well being and energizes people suffering with chronic illness, such as cancer, arthritis or diabetes
• Increases the range of motion in affected joints
• Reduces pain and discomfort in terminal cases
• Induces relaxation in patients battling anxiety and stress

Yoga effects for mesothelioma

The effects of practicing yoga as listed above are particularly important for those undergoing traditional treatment for mesothelioma and other types of cancer. Deadly toxins are introduced in the human body through chemotherapy and radiation treatments. These cause negative effects on the patient’s overall health such as nausea, fatigue, and general physical weakness. Yogic exercises can go a long way in mitigating or minimizing these. Yoga cannot cure a disease, but can be extremely beneficial for patients experiencing discomfort or pain.

Specific studies to measure the effects of yoga on malignant mesothelioma patients are needed to establish scientifically that interventions based on relaxation techniques are effective in cancer treatment. In 2006, a group of 61 breast cancer patients undergoing radiation treatments were given twice-weekly yoga classes. The University of Texas study reported an increased level of physical abilities and higher energy levels in this group than the one that did not participate.

Precautions like taking the treating physician’s permission for yoga practice and sharing information on the condition with the yoga instructor are very necessary. Like many alternative therapies, results from Yoga as an alternative practice for mesothelioma vary from patient to patient.