Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Jessica Guerra, L. Ac, AP
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of very thin needles through the skin at strategic points on the body. The technique is believed to balance the flow of energy, known as chi. Most Western practitioners view acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. It is believed to boost the body’s natural painkillers.
Acupuncture is widely used as a method to relieve or control pain, but it has also been shown to be effective in relieving nausea and vomiting, stress, anxiety, and insomnia, among other things. This is good news for patients undergoing cancer treatments since these are common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. In fact, many cancer treatment centers in the US are now offering acupuncture as a complimentary treatment, meaning it is used in conjunction with traditional treatments, not in place of them.
Acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting
Any oncologist will tell you that one of the most common side effects that their patients experience is nausea and vomiting. While most patients experience it as a side effect after their treatments, there are some who even start vomiting as their next appointment draws near. And many have even said that the side effects are worse than the actual disease.
So, what can acupuncture do to help? At the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine there was a study done several years ago in which the majority of patients who were treated with acupuncture before and/or after chemotherapy reported a significant reduction in nausea and vomiting. In many treatment centers acupuncture is now administered before, after, or in-between chemotherapy sessions as a means of controlling nausea or emesis. (1) Its effectiveness helps to minimize the cost of anti-nausea medications and the side effects they themselves can produce.
Acupuncture helps manage the feeling of sickness that results from chemo and radiation by restoring the natural energy flow of the body. This is done by inserting needles at specific points. The needles stimulate the nerves that send signals to the brain. These signals stimulate the brain to increase the production of the hormones that can reduce nausea.
Acupuncture for pain
Acupuncture is possibly best known for its use as a pain reliever. In cancer patients, it has been shown to reduce the need for the use of narcotics to control pain. These medications come with their own set of side effects as well. These include confusion, nausea, and constipation, so minimizing or even eliminating their use is always a goal.
The pain that cancer patients experience can come from a variety of places. Many patients will need to go through surgery to remove tumors. Acupuncture can help alleviate that pain as well as the pain associated with chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Though it does not replace traditional pain medications, it can used in conjunction with them to reduce their use significantly.
Acupuncture for neuropathy
Neuropathy is another side effect from chemotherapy. Many patients experience a numbness or tingling sensation in the hands or feet that can gradually spread into the arms and legs. It can also be experienced as sharp pains or hypersensitivity to touch. As many as a third of all patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments experience neuropathy. It is an especially annoying side effect due to its effect on a patient’s quality of life. Acupuncture has been shown to help with neuropathy as well.
Acupuncture for other cancer side effects
There are many other side effects that come along with a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments. Many patients experience stress and anxiety, which is understandable when you’re fighting for your life. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce both effectively.
If left uncontrolled, stress, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and pain can all add up and result in sleeplessness as well. By relieving these symptoms with acupuncture, the patient is also able to get better rest from a good night’s sleep.
And as if this list of benefits wasn’t enough, acupuncture has also been shown to boost the immune system. Fighting cancer and undergoing its harsh treatments can leave your body unable to fight off other illnesses. Some tests have shown that acupuncture can have a positive effect on immune function. This is great news since so many cancer patients die from unrelated illnesses that their body was unable to ward off.
If you or a loved one is undergoing cancer treatment and would like more information about the benefits of acupuncture, contact the highly trained professionals at Center for Acupuncture and Holistic Healing in Port Charlotte. The goal at CAHH is to help you achieve optimum health and wellness. You can contact them at 941.626.1992 or visit their website at https://acupunctureholistichealing.com. They are located at 4456 Tamiami Trail unit B16 in Port Charlotte, FL.
Source:
Mak, Eugene MD. “Acupuncture in Cancer Treatment.” American Academy
of Medical Acupuncture, 11 Aug. 2020, medicalacupuncture.org/
acupuncture-in-cancer-treatment/
Jessica Guerra, L. Ac, AP
Jessica Guerra is a licensed acupuncture physician. She is licensed by the state of Florida and recognized by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She earned a master’s degree in oriental medicine and a bachelor’s degree in professional health sciences at East West College of Natural Medicine. Driven by her passion for Chinese medicine, she completed an internship in Huangzhou, China in 2012. Jessica has additional certifications in Acupuncture Point Injection therapy and Cosmetic Acupuncture.
Center for Acupuncture & Holistic Healing
4456 Tamiami Trail unit B-16
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
941-626-1992
www.acupunctureholistichealing.com
