The Role of Yoga in the Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Comprehensive Review

Background: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common and distressing side effect of cancer treatment, which significantly affects the quality of life of patients. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary therapy in managing CINV, exploring its potential benefits and the possibility of integrating it into standard cancer care.

Methods: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and systematically searched several databases, including PubMed and Cochrane Library. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) involving yoga interventions compared to non-yoga control groups, with outcomes measured using clinical parameters.

Results: Four RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Although these studies varied in methodology, they consistently demonstrated yoga's potential to reduce CINV symptoms, particularly vomiting, and improve patients' quality of life. The effects of yoga were more significant in patients who were not taking anxiolytic medications.

Conclusion: Yoga is a promising complementary therapy for CINV, with the potential to manage symptoms and improve overall patient well-being. Future research should focus on large-scale randomized controlled trials to generalize findings and explore the integration of yoga into standard cancer care protocols.