Revitalizing Energy: Embracing Integrative Medicine in Conquering Cancer-Related Fatigue
Dealing with cancer is a challenging journey that requires immense strength and resilience. It’s often accompanied by a pervasive and often underestimated symptom known as cancer-related fatigue (CRF). If you're a cancer patient or have a loved one going through a cancer journey, you're likely familiar with the overwhelming tiredness and lack of energy that can overshadow daily life.
In this blog, we'll explore how integrative medicine combines conventional treatments with complementary therapies like traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), dietary therapy, and exercise to address CRF.
We understand that fatigue can significantly impact your quality of life and hinder your ability to engage in activities that bring you joy. Join us as we delve into the realm of integrative medicine and uncover its potential in combating CRF, guiding you with tailored strategies (and a delicious recipe!) to reclaim vitality and strengthen resilience in the face of cancer.
What is Cancer-Related Fatigue?
Cancer-related fatigue is a complex and frequently underestimated side effect that profoundly impacts the lives of individuals undergoing cancer treatment, living with cancer, or recovering from a cancer experience. In Chinese medicine, CRF is a result of imbalances in the body’s energetic systems, including the Qi (vital energy) and blood in the body. The cumulative nature of conventional cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation, impacts the healthy balance of energetic organs and vital fluids, causing depletion. Cofactors include chronic pain and inflammation, emotional stress, compromised organs, and underlying conditions. These imbalances can impair the production, circulation, and utilization of Qi and blood, leading to a sense of extreme tiredness, lack of energy, listlessness, and inability to exercise. The most common sign of CRF is not feeling better even after a nap or a good night’s sleep!
Unlike ordinary tiredness, CRF goes beyond normal exhaustion and can persist even after ample rest and sleep. Understanding the root causes of CRF is essential in navigating its challenges and seeking effective strategies for managing it. Holistic modalities like acupuncture and herbal medicine are treatments that can promote recovery, which may take months or years to resolve on its own.
Cancer-Related Fatigue is the Result of Circadian Disruption & Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Circadian disruption:
Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that are part of the body’s internal clock, running in the background to carry out essential functions and processes. One of the most critical and well-known circadian rhythms is the sleep-wake cycle. A common consequence of cancer is circadian disruption where the genes that regulate sleep don’t function properly. This is partially due to cancer cells secreting chemicals that create a chronic inflammatory state that disrupts rhythm and somewhat because chemotherapy can trigger disruption. It’s well known that good quality sleep is paramount to good health so, naturally, aggressive cancers will have a poor prognosis if there are poor circadian rhythms.
Mitochondrial dysfunction:
Mitochondria are like the batteries in our cells. They generate most of the chemical energy needed to power a cell's biochemical reactions. Mitochondria play a role in chronic disease prevention and management by providing the energy needed for cells to reverse cellular damage, reduce oxidative stress, and de-accelerate aging. Unfortunately, cancer chemicals and treatments are toxic to mitochondria making them unable to produce energy. In order for cells to have the energy they need to battle cancer and chronic disease, mitochondria need to be resuscitated.
Now that we know the how and why of cancer-related fatigue, here are options to resurrect your mitochondria, restore circadian rhythm, and nourish your body from the inside out.
Rebuild by Exercise: The #1 Treatment For Cancer-Related Fatigue
In Chinese medicine, exercise is considered an essential component in treating CRF. TCM recognizes that physical activity, when tailored to individual capabilities, can help disperse stagnant Qi, invigorate blood circulation, and replenish Qi and blood, thus alleviating fatigue. From a Western standpoint, mitochondria rebuild in response to exercise. This is why it’s important to start with small, regular activities. You may feel more tired at first but you will notice your energy increases as your mitochondria rebuild with regular exercise. For a complete list of cancer-appropriate exercises and benefits, visit our blog on TCM Exercises for Cancer Treatment Support.
In addition, exercise in nature, such as walking in a park or practicing tai chi outdoors, allows for a deeper connection with the natural elements, which is believed to enhance the body's ability to recover and rejuvenate. This is also helpful to keep in mind for resetting circadian rhythm.
How to Reset Your Circadian Rhythm
One of the tools used to test for circadian dysfunction is a measurement of the stress hormone cortisol. Activities such as exercise outdoors, meditation, and journaling can help reset the nervous system, decreasing cortisol levels. Additionally, if you avoid being overly stressed you can prevent circadian dysfunction. Testing cortisol levels with saliva analysis is also a direct line to understanding your current baseline cortisol. Curious about this option? Email Dr. Bianca for more information.
Utilizing the power of the sun is another natural and effective way to reset your circadian rhythm. Exposure to natural sunlight, especially in the morning, helps regulate your body’s internal clock and promotes a healthy sleep-wake cycle. This works through the regulation of two hormones: cortisol (stress/awake hormone) and melatonin (sleepy hormone/master circadian regulator). The sun’s blue light spectrum in the morning suppresses the production of melatonin and then production increases at night in the dark. This is why you always hear the recommendation to shut off blue lights and electronics in the evening.
During a proper sleep-wake cycle, cortisol is naturally higher in the morning and lower in the evening as melatonin levels rise. Therefore, exercise in the morning should be more vigorous to take advantage of naturally higher cortisol levels. Engaging in physical activity early in the day can promote increased energy, focus and a greater sense of wakefulness throughout the day. On the other hand, any exercise in the evening should be gentle, such as yoga or tai Qi, to help unwind and decrease cortisol levels to support better quality sleep.
TCM Dietary Therapy and Targeted Supplementation
In Chinese medicine, diet is considered a fundamental aspect of health and well-being, particularly in addressing fatigue. TCM views food as more than just sustenance; it’s seen as a form of medicine that can nourish and balance the body. To combat fatigue, TCM emphasizes consuming foods that boost Qi (vital energy) and nourish the blood. These include nutrient rich, anti-inflammatory foods high in B vitamins and essential fatty acids, which become depleted over time. A good rule of thumb is to eat a wide variety of colorful, plant-based foods and focus on getting the most nutrients per bite to restore cells. Some examples are:
whole grains
nuts
seeds
good quality oils like coconut, olive, and avocado oil
warming herbs like ginger and cinnamon
These foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that support cellular function and combat inflammation, which can contribute to fatigue. For a complete list of dietary phytochemicals sign up for our Insight Primer newsletter and we’ll send it over!
Additionally, targeted supplementation can address specific nutrient deficiencies that may arise during cancer treatment. Integrative practitioners may recommend supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, coenzyme Q10, and adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms to support energy production by the mitochondria, reduce oxidative stress, and decrease inflammation. However, it is crucial to work closely with a qualified healthcare provider to develop an individualized plan that considers your unique nutritional needs, potential interactions with medications, and any specific dietary restrictions. At Insight Cancer Care, a specific dietary plan with targeted supplements and nutraceuticals is curated for each individual as part of our 4-Week Formula.
By embracing a holistic approach through dietary therapy and precise supplementation as well as restoring circadian rhythm and optimizing cellular health at the mitochondrial level, individuals can support their bodies' healing processes, and alleviate cancer-related fatigue. For a deeper dive into the role Chinese medicine can play in cancer management and CRF, check out Dr. Bianca’s book, “Bridging the Gap” available here.
If you or a loved one is going through cancer treatment, consider signing up for the 1:1 cancer wellness program with Dr. Bianca. It includes customized nutrition and exercise plans along with supportive and restorative TCM treatments such as acupuncture, herbal therapy, moxibustion–and so much more!
Contact our office for more information or to book a free consultation with Dr. Bianca!
Note: Adjust the spice quantities according to your taste preferences. You can also experiment with other adaptogenic herbs like holy basil (tulsi), Ginseng, or licorice root. It's important to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered herbalist before incorporating adaptogens into your routine, especially if you are undergoing cancer treatment, as some herbs may interact with certain medications or treatments.