Integrative Oncology Consults
Cancer patients are increasingly turning to complementary and alternative medicine, seeking relief from physical and psychological symptoms such as pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and depression. An integrative approach combines conventional medicine with safe, effective, evidence-based complementary therapies.
Who can benefit?
- Patients with pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, or anxiety
- Patients using or interested in using supplements
- Patients with problems sleeping
- Patients who are using cultural or traditional medicines as well as other complementary and alternative medicines
Services provided:
- Counseling on safety and effectiveness of complementary or traditional practices
- Counseling on lifestyle including diet, exercise, and stress management
- Counseling on the use or avoidance of herbs, vitamins, and traditional remedies
- Mind-body techniques (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), relaxation response, hypnosis, guided imagery, and yoga)
- Referral to onsite services such as massage therapy and acupuncture
Dr. Paula Gardiner provides integrative oncology consults in the Family Medicine Clinic on the 3rd floor of Yawkey Ambulatory Care Center, 850 Harrison Ave. Dr. Gardiner is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of Integrative Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine. She completed a three-year NIH funded research fellowship in CAM research at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Gardiner has had over seven years of training and practice in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and other mind-body techniques such as yoga, relaxation response, hypnosis, and guided imagery. She is a professional member and registered herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild. Dr. Gardner is a diplomat of both the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Holistic Medicine.
