Effect of pranayama and mindfulness meditation on emotional distress and fatigue in adult hematological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
Yoga-Mimamsa April 3, 2024 Anjali Mangesh Joshi, Suchitra Ajay Mehta, Nishad Gajanan Dhakate et al.
A combination of slow-paced pranayama and mindfulness meditation, practiced daily for 15 minutes each over six weeks, reduced emotional distress and fatigue in adults with hematological cancers undergoing chemotherapy. In a randomized trial with 27 participants, those in the intervention group showed significant decreases in distress, anxiety, anger, depression, and need for help, as well as in total, physical, and mental fatigue, compared to a control group that received no such intervention. The control group showed no significant improvements. The authors suggest these practices may help manage chemotherapy-related symptoms but call for larger studies to confirm the findings.