Acupuncture Can Help Cancer

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Acupuncture Can Help Cancer

Acupuncture Can Help Cancer

Acupuncture has been practiced in traditional Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years and is often used to promote healing from conditions like low back pain, migraine, sciatica, arthritis, and fibromyalgia, as well as to help people striving to quit smoking or conceive.   Although scientists have yet to determine how acupuncture works, it’s suggested that the therapy may help…

  • Trigger the release of pain-relieving brain chemicals
  • Influence the autonomic nervous system
  • Stimulate circulation.

Acupuncture and Cancer

While acupuncture can’t treat cancer itself, the therapy may help patients overcome cancer-related pain and fatigue (as well as certain side effects of standard cancer treatments). Here’s a look at how acupuncture might benefit people coping with cancer:

Relief of Cancer Pain

In a study, researchers found that undergoing acupuncture helped reduce the intensity of cancer pain among 90 patients for whom the pain-reducing medication was not sufficient.

Easing Post-Chemotherapy Fatigue

Acupuncture shows great potential in the management of post-chemotherapy fatigue, according to a study of 47 patients. After receiving six 20-minute acupuncture sessions over the course of two weeks, study participants experienced significant improvement in general fatigue, physical fatigue, activity, and motivation. Study results also indicated that participants performing acupressure on their own had improvement in fatigue as well.

Treating Chemotherapy-Related Nausea and Vomiting

In a recent report, researchers reviewed 11 clinical trials and found that acupuncture reduced post-chemotherapy vomiting. The review also found that acupressure helped lessen the severity of post-chemotherapy nausea.

Reducing Radiation Side Effects

In a pilot study, acupuncture was found to be effective for radiation-induced xerostomia (dry mouth). Previous research suggests that acupuncture may also help relieve radiation-induced insomnia and anxiety.

Safety Precautions for Acupuncture

Although acupuncture is generally considered safe, it may cause dizziness, local internal bleeding, dermatitis, nerve damage, and/or increased pain (especially when the acupuncturist is not well-trained).   If you’re considering acupuncture for relief of cancer-related health problems, talk to your doctor about finding a practitioner with experience working with cancer patients.

To learn more about natural treatments and acupuncture or to schedule an appointment, call our office today to speak with Dr. Michael Chillemi at (973) 759-3020.

Resources
Sources: Alimi D, Rubino C, Pichard-Léandri E, Fermand-Brulé S, Dubreuil-Lemaire ML, Hill C. “Analgesic effect of auricular acupuncture for cancer pain: a randomized, blinded, controlled trial.” J Clin Oncol. 2003 15;21(22):4120-6. Ezzo J, Vickers A, Richardson MA, Allen C, Dibble SL, Issell B, Lao L, Pearl M, Ramirez G, Roscoe JA, Shen J, Shivnan J, Streitberger K, Treish I, Zhang G. “Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.” J Clin Oncol. 2005 1;23(28):7188-98. Garcia MK, Chiang JS, Cohen L, Liu M, Palmer JL, Rosenthal DI, Wei Q, Tung S, Wang C, Rahlfs T, Chambers MS. “Acupuncture for radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with cancer: a pilot study.” Head Neck. 2009 31(10):1360-8. Lu W. “Acupuncture for side effects of chemoradiation therapy in cancer patients.” Semin Oncol Nurs. 2005 21(3):190-5. Molassiotis A, Sylt P, Diggins H. “The management of cancer-related fatigue after chemotherapy with acupuncture and acupressure: a randomized controlled trial.” Complement Ther Med. 2007 15(4):228-37.
Herbal Guide Staff

schillemi@thecompleteherbalguide.com

Stacey Chillemi is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, speaker & coach. She is the founder of The Complete Herbal Guide. She has empowered hundreds of thousands worldwide through her books, websites, e-courses, educational videos, and live events. You can Twitter me at @The_HerbalGuide.

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