title: A critical review of complementary therapies for cancer-related fatigue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the available literature on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for cancer-related fatigue with an aim to develop directions for future research.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus were searched for relevant studies. Original clinical trials reporting on the use of CAM treatments for cancer-related fatigue were abstracted and critically reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CAM interventions tested for cancer-related fatigue include acupuncture, aromatherapy, adenosine triphosphate infusions, energy conservation and activity management, healing touch, hypnosis, lectin-standardized mistletoe extract, levocarnitine, massage, mindfulness-based stress reduction, polarity therapy, relaxation, sleep promotion, support group, and Tibetan yoga. Several of these interventions seem promising in initial studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently, insufficient data exist to recommend any specific CAM modality for cancer-related fatigue. Therefore, potentially effective CAM interventions ready for further study in large, randomized clinical trials (eg, acupuncture, massage, levocarnitine, and the use of mistletoe) should be pursued. Other interventions should be tested in well-designed feasibility and phase II trials.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. sood.amit@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Brent A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Loprinzi
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D028182:Viscum album
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002331:Carnitine