FATIGUE (© JCM Ltd)

QIGONG IMPROVES CHRONIC FATIGUE SYMPTOMS
A British pilot study suggests that qigong can be used to manage the symptoms of chronic fatigue. Eighteen female participants were recruited, taught a qigong routine during weekly classes over six months, and asked to practise it daily for 15 minutes. Participants completed a questionnaire measuring health-related quality of life and a sleep diary during a two-week baseline control period, and at three and six months following the start of the trial. The qigong intervention resulted in significant changes in sleep rate score and in the subscales of the questionnaire related to vitality, sleep problems, social activity, health distress and psychological well-being; and the improvements were maintained at three and six months. (Qigong Ameliorates Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue: A Pilot Uncontrolled Study. eCAM. 2008 Jul 15; doi:10.1093/ecam/nem088).

ACUPUNCTURE FOR CANCER-RELATED FATIGUE
A randomised controlled pilot study has assessed the effects of acupuncture and acupressure in managing cancer-related fatigue. Forty-seven patients with cancer who experienced moderate to severe fatigue were randomised either to an acupuncture group, an acupressure group, or a sham acupressure group. The acupuncture group received six 20 minute sessions over two weeks, while the patients in the two acupressure groups were taught to press the points themselves and did so daily thereafter for two weeks. At the end of the intervention, there was a 36% improvement in fatigue levels in the acupuncture group, while the acupressure group improved by 19% and the sham acupressure by 0.6%. (The management of cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy with acupuncture and acupressure: a randomised controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2007 Dec;15(4):228-37).

GINSENG RELIEVES CANCER FATIGUE
A pilot study suggests that ginseng can relieve fatigue and boost energy levels in people with cancer. The US based trial tested three doses (750 mg, 1000 mg and 2000 mg) of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) against placebo in 282 patients suffering from a variety of types of cancer, about half of whom were receiving chemotherapy. After eight weeks, 25% of patients taking 1000 mg of ginseng and 27% of patients taking 2000 mg reported feeling "moderately better" or "much better," compared with only 10% of patients in both the placebo and the lowest dose ginseng groups. (American Society of Clinical Oncology 43rd Annual Meeting: Abstract 9001).