Pain is a common and often debilitating symptom in both oncology and non-cancer settings, with conventional medical treatments often limited by adverse effects. Integrative medicine provides non-conventional therapies in a conventional setting, offering an additional option for the treatment of symptoms, including pain. Clinical research supports modalities such as acupuncture, touch therapies, and mind–body medicine (yoga, meditation, music therapy, hypnosis, etc.) in the treatment of pain, most significantly when provided as an ‘add-on’ to conventional palliative and supportive care. The Society for Integrative Oncology’s evidence-based guidelines on the use of integrative medicine in patients with breast cancer include the treatment of pain and exacerbating factors such as anxiety and stress. These guidelines have been endorsed by the American Society for Clinical Oncology and are in keeping with those recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. This chapter examines the effectiveness of integrative medicine in the treatment of pain in both oncology and non-cancer settings. An open and effective collaboration is needed among integrative physicians, who understand both paradigms of care, and palliative care professionals. Ways in which this collaboration can be advanced and future directions for research in the treatment of pain in palliative care are discussed.
Retraction of: “Music Therapy: A Core Service in Integrative Palliative Care” (doi: 10.1089/acm.2020.0025)
