Chinese Mind-Body Practice Helps Relieve Fatigue in Cancer Therapy

For many postmenopausal women battling hormone receptor–positive breast cancer, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are lifesaving yet life-altering drugs. They stop estrogen production — but often bring on painful joint aches, hot flashes, and chronic fatigue that make daily life difficult (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Baduanjin exercise for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors: a randomized controlled pilot study

Go to source). Now, a new randomized controlled pilot study from Guangzhou Sport University and Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital suggests that an ancient Chinese practice, Baduanjin, may offer much-needed relief.

The findings, published in Translational Exercise Biomedicine, reveal that 12 weeks of Baduanjin training reduced menopausal symptoms and fatigue in women undergoing AI therapy — showing how ancient movement can complement modern medicine.

When Slow Movements Heal Faster Than Medicine

Unlike high-intensity workouts, Baduanjin (literally “Eight Pieces of Brocade”) is a low-impact, mindful exercise blending fluid postures, deep breathing, and meditative awareness. Its goal: to restore the flow of vital energy or “Qi” while calming the mind and strengthening the body.

The trial recruited 70 breast cancer patients who had been on AIs for at least six months and were struggling with significant menopausal-like symptoms. Participants were divided into two groups: one practiced supervised Baduanjin thrice weekly for 12 weeks, while the control group received routine care.

According to Prof. Min Hu, President of Guangzhou Sport University and study co-author, the research aimed “to verify the feasibility of a 12-week Baduanjin program and to explore its potential biological effects on menopausal symptoms and inflammation.”

Relief Beyond the Physical: Mind, Mood, and Motivation

Of the 70 women enrolled, 39 completed the program. The exercise group showed higher adherence (69% vs 43% in controls), suggesting Baduanjin was both safe and enjoyable.

Patients who practiced Baduanjin reported reduced joint pain (arthralgia) and improved emotional well-being. Fatigue — assessed using the Piper Fatigue Scale — significantly improved in both the affective and cognitive domains, suggesting that Baduanjin may ease not just physical tiredness but also the emotional heaviness of long-term cancer treatment.

Although the reduction in hot flash frequency did not reach statistical significance, many participants described feeling “lighter,” “more balanced,” and “mentally calmer” after completing the sessions.

The IL-6 Paradox: When Inflammation Turns into Healing

One of the most fascinating findings was the change in inflammatory markers. Blood samples showed a significant rise in IL-6 levels in the Baduanjin group — a result that might sound alarming but actually signals a healthy adaptive response.

Exercise-induced IL-6 acts differently from chronic inflammatory IL-6; it can trigger anti-inflammatory and metabolic repair pathways, supporting muscle recovery and immune balance.

As Prof. Xiaohui Hou, Vice President of Guangzhou Sport University and the study’s first author, noted: “Baduanjin may serve as a feasible, low-intensity adjunctive therapy for alleviating AI-induced menopausal symptoms and fatigue, with distinct immunomodulatory effects on IL-6.”

She added that larger and longer-term studies are needed to confirm these promising results.

Harmony, Healing, and Hope

For women navigating the emotional and physical turmoil of breast cancer therapy, Baduanjin offers a gentle, empowering path to healing. It blends movement, mindfulness, and meaning — reminding survivors that wellness can come from stillness and strength can rise from softness.

As modern oncology embraces integrative approaches, practices like Baduanjin may become a bridge between ancient healing wisdom and evidence-based care — a union where science meets spirit, and recovery becomes a dance of balance and hope.

Reference:

1. Baduanjin exercise for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors: a randomized controlled pilot study - (https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/teb-2025-0015/html)

Source-Medindia