Cancer treatments can cause a variety of other side effects that also need to be addressed. More and more research is showing acupuncture as a viable option for additional pain management for those receiving chemotherapy or surgery and for the common side effects those treatments can bring. These side effects can include neuropathy, dry mouth, constipation, anxiety, and nausea.

How it Works

It is commonly taught that acupuncture works by regulating and balancing qi, the energy that flows through the body along channels called meridians. By inserting needles into points along these channels, or meridians, the nervous system is modified through the stimulation of these points along the body. Neurotransmitters, like endorphins and serotonin, are released, thus relieving pain and restoring the balance of qi in the body.

What Cancer Research Says

Recent medical research demonstrates that acupuncture does appear to be a safe and effective treatment option for people experiencing some symptoms that come from various types of cancer treatment protocols. It can help manage the side effects from chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy. 

The 2009 study, The Value of Acupuncture in Cancer Care, ultimately found that, “Clinical research on acupuncture in cancer care is a new and challenging field in oncology. The results of clinical research will continue to provide us with clinically relevant answers for patients and oncologists. The evidence currently available has suggested that acupuncture is a safe and effective therapy to manage cancer and treatment related symptoms, while giving patients the ability to actively participate in their own care plan. Future research requires the involvement of clinical researchers, clinicians, and patients. Development of innovative research methods is also crucial. It is expected that as more evidence continues to emerge, oncology acupuncture eventually will be integrated into standard oncology practice. The successful integration of acupuncture at major academic medical and research facilities, such as DFCI and other major cancer centers, underscores the need for and value of acupuncture in cancer care.”

Symptoms Impacted by Acupuncture

A 2018 review of studies found that acupuncture had a positive impact on cancer-related fatigue, a common side effect of cancer treatment. Chemotherapy-induced nausea is perhaps one of the most common side effects of treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, evidence shows acupuncture relieves the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.

Additional studies examining pain control with acupuncture show it can help with reducing the pain associated with surgery and some cancer treatments. Other studies show acupuncture helping to alleviate depression and anxiety that can come from treatment. Other symptoms positively impacted by acupuncture are sleep issues associated with treatment, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. People undergoing cancer treatment also have compromised immune function. Even more studies have shown that it may have a positive influence on immune function in cancer patients. 

If you or a family member are going through cancer treatments and are looking for drug-free alternatives to the side effects that can come with common cancer treatments, talk to an acupuncturist to determine your options. Adding acupuncture to your treatment regimen can provide you with relief from uncomfortable side effects. 

Your acupuncturist will do a complete health history in order to develop a plan that compliments your current treatment protocols. Make an appointment today to find relief from your symptoms.

Prostate health might not be at the top of every guy’s health checklist but it’s important for men to get checked and get checked early if they have a family history of issues or cancer. And while it isn’t talked about very much, there is some promising research showing acupuncture is an effective treatment option for prostate health issues. 

What the Research Says

A 2018 review of three published studies found that acupuncture has the potential to reduce prostatitis symptoms without the side effects associated with pharmaceutical drugs. Prostatitis might not sound familiar but it is actually a common inflammatory condition. According to Harvard Health, “more than 90% of the time, prostatitis symptoms (which can include painful urination and ejaculation, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction) have no obvious cause.” Treatment options vary and most doctors start with antibiotics or anti-inflammatory painkillers. 

A clinical trial published in August of 2021 in the Annals of Internal Medicine actually shows acupuncture was successful at reducing symptoms and the results were long-lasting. The study assigned 440 men with prostatitis to receive 20 sessions across eight weeks of either real acupuncture or a control sham procedure. Results showed that by week eight, approximately 60% of men in the acupuncture group were reporting significant symptom improvements compared to 37% of the sham control group. And perhaps most encouraging, by week 32 these differences were little changed, suggesting the benefits of the acupuncture treatments were holding steady months later. 

Another common prostate issue for men is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Men can begin to show signs of this in their 40’s and it is estimated that by the age of 80, as many as 80% of men report some type of issue related to their prostate. 

A 2017 study involving 661 men with BPH compared acupuncture with a sham-acupuncture treatment and found that in the short term (4-6 weeks), acupuncture significantly improved symptoms, concluding “Statistically significant changes were observed in favor of acupuncture in moderate to severe BPH with respect to short-term follow-up endpoints.”

Acupuncture is known to treat and improve prostate function as well as energy flow throughout the body. As men age, kidney function can decrease which can then lead to other issues including diminishing prostate health. Acupuncture focuses on the kidney meridian to help improve the body’s circulation. 

If you or someone you love is having prostate issues, don’t just write it off as a sign of getting older. Make sure you get yourself checked so an issue doesn’t lead to something more serious like prostate cancer. Your acupuncturist will take a detailed health history and answer any questions you might have about how acupuncture can work to improve your prostate health, as well as your overall health and wellness. The body is connected and if one area isn’t functioning optimally, it will begin to impact other areas as well. 

Don’t wait, call and make an appointment today if you suffer from any of the symptoms mentioned above.