Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 2, 2016

9

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 2, 2016 


THE JOY OF YOGA

STUDY: ACUPUNCTURE HELPS WITH CANCER 
FATIGUE

Acupuncture can zap the fatigue from breast 
cancer patients, according to a new study 
published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

 The study published in October has been 
highlighted by many media outlets for showing 
promising results for women suffering with the 
chronic fatigue that comes with breast cancer 
and treatments. As many as 40 percent of breast 
cancer patients experience significant fatigue 
from moderate to severe during and after their 
cancer treatments.

 In the published study, the authors focused on 
more than 300 women with breast cancer who 
were being cared for as outpatients at one of nine 
health care facilities across the United Kingdom.

 At the time of the study, participants had been 
diagnosed with either stage 1, 2 or 3 breast cancer, 
and all had been experiencing at least moderate 
levels of fatigue for an average of 18 months. Most 
were white, and their average age was 53.

 For a six-week period, all patients continued 
to receive the same care they had been receiving 
before the study, and all were additionally given 
an information booklet that tackled the issue of 
fatigue management.

 However, more than 200 of the patients 
also were randomly chosen to undergo weekly 
20-minute acupuncture sessions that involved 
needle placement at three different entry points. 
By the end of the six-week period, those who had 
received acupuncture appeared to fare better on 
every measure of fatigue that the team assessed.

 Specifically, those in the acupuncture group 
reported feeling notably better than the “usual-
care” group in terms of overall fatigue, physical 
and mental fatigue, anxiety and depression levels, 
functional well-being, emotional well-being, social 
functioning, and overall quality of life.

 Although the study found an association 
between acupuncture and reduced fatigue in breast 
cancer patients, it did not prove a cause-and-effect 
relationship.

 For more information about this study visit jco.
ascopubs.org.

 References : http://www.acupuncturetoday.
com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32698

TIPS FOR MEDITATION


The benefits of 
meditation are 
immense and 
indisputable. It 
has many fruits many of which include emotional 
balance, improved physical health and a strong 
spiritual connection. There are studies out that connect 
meditation to positive changes in our brain function. 
It’s never too late to start a meditation practice 
or begin again or re-up your current practice. 
Things get in the way and life happens. What’s 
important is that we go back to the practice. New or 
not new, don’t make it complicated. As Yogarupa 
Rod Stryker says, 10 minutes a day is better than 1 
hour once a week. It’s the consistency that’s going 
to pay off and help us in our daily life each day. 
Always make sure to find a comfortable seat for 
meditation. There’s nothing like having your leg fall 
asleep or having an uncomfortable hip bothering you 
while you’re trying to be still. The seated postion should 
allow the spine to be tall with the natural curve in the 
lower back. If seated on the floor is uncomfortable, 
sit in a chair or against a wall. Set aside enough time 
to sit for meditation and make sure you have a space 
where you won’t fear interruption or distraction. 
Meditation is usually best in the morning just after 
waking up. If you can avoid looking at your phone 
or other electronic device, please do. It’s best to have 
all of your focus and awareness moving toward an 
internal point of view. Once there, begin to breathe 
and relax the body. If you use a guided meditation 
to begin, that’s ok for a while. Eventually, you’ll 
want to move into just sitting while maintaining 
breath, internal awareness and visualization. 
Happy Meditating! Again, don’t make it 
complex, even if your head is busy, you are still 
meditating. Learning to focus is part of the process.


Namaste, 

Keely Totten


FOOD AND DRINK