American Pain Society's 27th Annual Scientific Meeting (May 8 – 10, 2008): Incorporating Integrative Medicine in Pain Management

A substantial majority of patients with cancer and other serious illnesses use complementary therapies, often for pain relief. Complementary therapies deal with both the physical and emotional components of pain. The inclusion of such modalities in patient care enables the encompassing approach that today’s patients require. These approaches--evidence-based, non-invasive and absent side effects-- include mind-body therapies such as meditation, self-hypnosis and other relaxation techniques, massage and other gentle touch therapies, acupuncture, yoga, tai chi and other group and individual therapies. A large literature documents their value in patient management. These therapies and the data behind their application form the basis of this session.