Qigong is a mind-body integrative exercise or intervention from
traditional Chinese medicine used to prevent and cure ailments, to improve health and energy levels through regular practice. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize and critically evaluate the effectiveness of
qigong used as a stand-alone or additional
therapy in
cancer care. We have searched the literature using the following databases from their respective inceptions through November 2006: MEDLINE, AMED, British Nursing Index, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycInfo, The Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 4, four Korean Medical Databases,
Qigong and Energy Medicine Database from
Qigong Institute and four Chinese Databases. Randomised and non-randomised clinical trials including patients with
cancer or past experience of
cancer receiving single or combined
qigong interventions were included. All clinical endpoints were considered. The methodological quality of the trials was assessed using the Jadad score. Nine studies met our inclusion criteria (four were randomised trials and five were non-randomised studies). Eight of these trials tested internal
qigong and one trial did not reported details. The methodological quality of these studies varies greatly and was generally poor. All trials related to palliative/supportive
cancer care and none to
qigong as a curative treatment. Two trials suggested effectiveness in prolonging life of
cancer patients and one failed to do so. We conclude that the effectiveness of
qigong in
cancer care is not yet supported by the evidence from rigorous clinical trials.