What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture uses needles, pressure, heat, and other therapies to support health and healing. A component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture prevents, diagnoses, and treats disease with improved quality of life in cancer patients.
Acupuncture is rooted in qi, or vital energy, networked through the body in paths called meridians. Qi affects physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
Blocked qi can be treated with acupuncture applied to certain areas on the body, called acupoints, which are specific points where meridians are located on the surface. Over 2,000 acupoints on the human body are linked to health.
Two forces of qi are yin and yang. They are opposite forces functionally united to create a whole. Yin and yang depend on each other and together cultivate an unending cycle. Nothing is completely yin or yang. Both exist in every aspect of each human being. Major body organs are seen as yin-yang pairs that must be balanced for health. When yin and yang are imbalanced, qi becomes blocked causing health problems.
TCM uses acupuncture, along with herbs, diet, meditation, exercise, movement, and massage, to restore health by unblocking qi and correcting the balance of yin and yang within the person.
What are the potential benefits of acupuncture for people affected by cancer?
The following benefits are some of the many types of support from acupuncture for quality of life in cancer patients.
Immune System
Human studies evaluating acupuncture on the immune system of cancer patients showed that it improved immune system function.
Pain
Studies suggest that acupuncture reduces pain in people with cancer. This has resulted in stopping pain drugs or lowering the dose.
Nausea and Vomiting Caused by Chemotherapy
Acupuncture clinical trials demonstrated with strong evidence reduced nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, cancer surgery, and even morning sickness. Studies indicate that treatments with acupuncture have more efficacy in preventing vomiting compared to reducing nausea.
Cancer and Other Symptoms Caused by Cancer Treatments
Clinical trials are evaluating acupuncture on cancer and side effects of cancer treatments such as night sweats, dry mouth, hot flashes, chest pain, cough, weight loss, fever, depression, anxiety, speech problems, and legs or arms fluid. Studies indicate that acupuncture treatments either reduce symptoms or stabilize them.
The World Health Organization published Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials in 2003 that classifies diseases or disorders for which acupuncture therapy has been tested in published controlled clinical trials. Although this resource does not refer to research conducted since its publication, the review provides a snapshot about earlier studies.
What is the history of acupuncture?
Practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, acupuncture is one of the key components of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
What credentials are necessary to practice acupuncture?
To practice acupuncture in the United States, a practitioner must earn a degree as a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) from an accredited school.
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