Balancing the Body’s Energy: TCM Exercises for Cancer Treatment Support

“Wellness is the freedom to move fluidly through the cycles of being human. Wellness is thus not a stage of being; it is a state of action.”

-Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelisa Nagoski, DMA

The most basic elements of health correlate to a multitude of things, from how we nourish our body with food, to how we balance emotional health, and of course, how we engage in physical movement practices. It is within these basic elements a framework of wellness develops in order to maintain optimal vitality. This blog post is part one of this cancer wellness series, beginning with therapeutic exercise and its role as an integral part of maintaining health during, or after, a cancer journey. 

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), cancer may result from energetic or physical imbalances. These diagnoses are referred to as qi and blood stagnation, damp or phlegm accumulation, or toxic heat. From a Western standpoint, it's perhaps better understood as systemic micro-inflammation in the body. These are signs of excess pathologies that manifest as tumors, for example. So, when energy is compromised and not moving in the body, circulation is inhibited and energy ceases to flow smoothly. The outcome can yield anything from chronic shoulder pain to malignancies. Regardless, the body requires regular exercise and movement to promote circulation, reduce inflammation, and detoxify, among many other benefits we’ll discuss below. 

Of course, the best exercises during cancer treatment may vary depending on the type of cancer, its stage, and an individual’s medical condition. Some may already have a routine that just needs modification while others may have no routine at all. No matter where you lie on the exercise spectrum, it’s agreed upon by Eastern and Western medicine that exercise during cancer treatment is essential for maintaining physical function, reducing side effects, boosting immunity, and improving quality of life. Exercise has even been shown to improve treatment outcomes for some types of cancer, reducing the risk of recurrence and improving survival rates. 

This blog will discuss some do’s and don’ts of exercising during cancer treatment and safe, low-impact exercise options to improve treatment outcomes and enhance quality of life. 

The Risks of Over-Exercising

Yes, over-exercising is a thing that happens even in cancer care. Individuals who are very active, whether marathon runners or mountain climbers, tend to insist on maintaining the same degree of activity during or after treatment. It’s, after all, a sign of one’s health and often correlates to one’s identity and maintaining a normal routine. So, while it’s definitely important to remain or even become active with a cancer diagnosis, it’s equally important that the body isn’t over-exercised. Here’s why. 

It’s all about energy. We need qi to move our bodies; it’s as simple as that. The problem is when cancer is doing its dance in the body, it’s redirecting energy at a cellular level. The body’s energy is focused on mitigating malignant chaos while assimilating and processing the Western interventions included in your treatment regimen. The danger isn’t just that there won’t be enough energy left over to exercise.  Exercising when you have no energy can actually cause oxidative stress, lower blood cell counts, deepen cancer-related fatigue, and compromise the immune system. 

These concerns can postpone or delay scheduled treatment and we don’t want that! This is why we choose the low-impact, sometimes cardio-free options that traditional Chinese medicine suggests for exercise. This way, we can get all the benefits of breathing, moving, and bringing the body into balance without the risk of expending too much of our precious energy.  And don’t worry, when the active phase of treatment is over, we can pivot slowly and carefully back toward previous adventures and activities. 

Seven Integrative Exercises To Do During Cancer Treatment

Walking

Walking is a low-impact exercise that can be done almost anywhere, making it an easy and accessible exercise for cancer patients. A brisk 15-30 minute walk can help strengthen the heart and lungs and has been shown to improve energy levels during and after chemotherapy treatment. It also helps the body detoxify from chemo. In TCM, walking is considered a gentle form of exercise that helps move qi throughout the body and promote healing.  

Swimming and Water Aerobics

These low-intensity water workouts have similar benefits to walking, with the added bonus of being easier on the joints. They can help soothe sore muscles, reduce joint pain, and improve circulation and cardiovascular health. In TCM, the water element is associated with the Kidney organ, so being in water can benefit the Kidneys and adrenal glands and boost vitality. 

Strength Training

The use of light weights or resistance bands can help maintain and build muscle mass, prevent bone loss commonly associated with chemotherapy, and improve mood. It can also help with stability and balance to reduce the risk of falls. Research has shown links between strength training and reduced cancer mortality. Weights and bands can be used on both the upper and lower body, so try to keep your workouts centered around your healthy muscles and away from areas being treated with radiation. 

Qigong

Qigong is a gentle form of exercise that focuses on breathing techniques and slow movements. It’s designed to increase the flow of qi throughout the body, which can promote healing and reduce stress. Qigong is unique in its ability to regulate the spirit, breath, and body all at once. 

When these three elements are incorporated into exercise, the whole person, mind, body and spirit is nourished. As an added bonus, it can be done sitting, standing, or even lying down! So if you’re really feeling those side effects and fatigue from cancer or its treatment, this may be the exercise of choice for you. For a 1:1 consultation on optimal Qigong movements contact Dr. James Munson, L.Ac.-our Certified Qigong Practitioner.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a form of martial art that uses slow, flowing movements to promote balance, flexibility, and strength. Like Qigong, it’s designed to improve the flow of qi throughout the body and is a low-impact exercise that can be done sitting or standing. It is an excellent way to reduce stress, improve sleep, and increase energy levels. You may even break a sweat!

Stretching 

Stretching is often one of the most overlooked aspects of one’s health, yet it’s arguably one of the most important. Stretching helps bring blood and oxygen to the muscles and helps the body repair. It can also help break down scar tissue after surgery and elongate stiff muscles and tissues often seen after radiation. 

Exercises like Hatha yoga, restorative or yin yoga, and Tai Chi have elements to improve balance and flexibility, but they can’t hold a candle to the benefits of a really good session of targeted stretching for major muscle groups and problem areas in the body. 

Mindfulness and Meditation

Last, but most certainly not least, is meditation. Yes, it calms the mind and reduces stress and anxiety. It also has a long list of scientifically proven physical benefits. It can improve heart rate, reduce blood pressure, balance brain waves, soften muscle tension, and lower your body’s stress hormones. 

In TCM, there is the concept of yin and yang. You cannot have one without the other. As the body expends energy (yang) to combat disease, the stillness and quiet (yin) of the body is injured. We need a proper balance of yin and yang for optimal health and one of the best ways to nourish our yin is through meditation practice. 

Meditation and mindfulness are about having awareness and appreciation for all moments—good and bad. It can provide a perspective that shifts us away from the ordinary consciousness and allows us to be present and at peace even in the most seemingly mundane moments. This is a true gift for those going through cancer treatment who are stuck in fight-or-flight mode. 

Conclusion

Cancer treatment can cause physical, spiritual, and emotional disruption, but learning WHY and HOW to address these imbalances is within reach. These integrative exercise approaches are an excellent way to promote health and healing during cancer treatment. They are all low-impact, can be modified to meet individual needs and provide a wide array of physical benefits without expending too much energy. 

Incorporating one or all of these exercises into your cancer wellness plan can support the body’s natural healing processes–mind, body and spirit. 

If you or a loved one is going through cancer treatment and would like a personalized and detailed mindbody exercise plan, sign up for the personalized 1:1 cancer wellness program with Dr. Bianca. It includes customized nutrition approaches and exercise plans along with supportive and restorative TCM treatments such as acupuncture, herbal therapy, and moxibustion–and so much more!

Contact our office for more information and in the meantime, find movements and exercise that you most enjoy and do a little bit every day.

Happy Exercising!