How Acupuncture Benefits for Cancer Patients.
With the proper needle insertion at acupoints along meridians that Qi and blood flow in, acupuncture helps to treat particular conditions by realigning Qi. Qi is regarded as one’s vital energy and a disruption to its flow is said to cause illness.
The goal of acupuncture is to let healthy energy-Qi flow freely in the body by controlling pain and other symptoms of a particular illness, to make a balance in the organic system of body, mind and emotion by realigning Qi and to restore the vital energy that increases immunity for prevention from diseases.
With many proven reports of health benefits of Acupuncture from WHO(World Health Organization), acupuncture is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as an excellent complementary therapy for cancer patients undergoing conventional therapy (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation).
Acupuncture effectively relieves several side effects experienced by cancer patients and there are six major side effects that acupuncture immediately controls and benefits for.
However, acupuncture works best in combination of regulated diet and herbal medicine.
1. Pain Relief: Since ancient times, acupuncture has been used to alleviate pain, which is one of the worst symptoms of cancer. Studies have shown that when fine needles are inserted in the right acupoints, endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers – are released. The endorphins then travel to the spinal cord and brain to relieve pain. Serotonin, another natural chemical in the body that makes you feel more relaxed and encourages a heightened sense of well-being, is also released during treatment.
Most patients being treated for cancer report a deep aching or burning pain induced by their medical treatments. Since this ancient technique stimulates the body to release natural painkillers, cancer patients are often able to decrease their intake of prescribed pain medication.
Some studies have shown that acupuncture reduced migraine symptoms and tension headaches, and could be as effective as taking headache medications. Other studies have revealed that acupuncture is an effective complementary alternative medicine for relieving the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, low back pain, menstrual cramps, myofascial pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, postoperative dental pain, and even tennis elbow.
2. Ease Nausea and Vomiting: While undergoing chemotherapy, cancer patients usually experience nausea and vomiting. Studies have shown that acupuncture helps reduce these symptoms.
Based on a 2006 trial, electro-acupuncture (a form of acupuncture that sends small electric currents to the nerves through the inserted needles) reduced symptoms of vomiting on day one of chemotherapy. A United Kingdom study showed that wearing acupressure bands significantly reduced the episodes of nausea, retching, and distress in cancer patients.
By placing a fine needle into the P6 acupoint (also known as the Neiguan point), the urge to vomit is relieved. Most acupuncturists and doctors of TCM prefer to use the P6 acupoint (located below the distal wrist crease on a patient’s lower arm) to relieve nausea and vomiting in patients.
3. Reduce Inflammation: Increased inflammation is part of the cancer patient’s physiology. Chemotherapy and other traditional cancer treatments will contribute to even more inflammation throughout the body.
Acupuncture reduces swelling by improving the flow of cytokines within the body. Cytokines are chemical messengers that affect blood vessel permeability, vasoconstriction, and vasodilation. The IL-10 type of cytokine helps decrease inflammation and studies have shown that acupuncture effectively raises IL-10 levels in the body.
4. Better Sleep: Cancer patients experience a lot of pain and discomfort. As a result, they find it difficult to sleep. Acupuncture induces sleep by calming the body and relaxing the muscles. The inserted needles target muscles to send impulses to the brain causing them to relax. This process helps the patient to sleep through the night.
5. Increased Appetite: Diminished appetite is a common side effect of cancer therapy because it causes xerostomia (painfully dry mouth and throat) by diminishing saliva production. Acupuncture helps to reduce these side effects and improve appetite. It also improves the health of their teeth and gums.
Based on research published in Annals Oncology, scientists investigated 145 patients suffering from radiation-induced xerostomia who participated in acupuncture and oral care education. They discovered that “patients who received nine weeks of acupuncture were twice as likely to report improved dry mouth than patients receiving oral care. Individual symptoms were also significantly improved among the group receiving acupuncture.”
6. Lower Intensity of Hot Flashes: Breast and prostate cancer patients often exhibit hot flashes (sudden feverish heat from the inside out) when they undergo hormonal treatment. Hot flashes disrupt sleep patterns and daily activities.
Based on a study published in the Journal of Oncology, acupuncture “has longer-lasting effects on the reduction of hot flashes and night sweats for women receiving hormone therapy for breast cancer compared to drug therapy.”
With understanding the concept of Acupuncture treatment that considers human body as a holistic and organic system and integrates the body with mind, emotion and spirit, psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression in cancer patients can also be treated by acupuncture as it regulates and controls hormones in balance through specific acupoints.
