Acupuncture as a complementary treatment for cancer patients

Acupuncture has been recognized as an effective complementary treatment for cancer patients by the World Health Organization as well as various Cancer Institutes and agencies throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. It is not a replacement for conventional cancer treatment but can nicely complement these treatment methodologies and the side effects that are associated with them.

 It can help cancer patients in the following ways:

• Boosting the immune system
• Overcoming Fatigue
• Stress reduction and relaxation
• Pain control
• Improves quality of life

Acupuncture originates from Traditional Chinese Medicine, where needles are placed on points on specific meridians of the body. These meridians represent the flow of ‘qi’, which is the body’s vital energy. In Chinese medicine, if the flow of Qi is not balanced, or it is blocked along a specific meridian, disease and specific symptoms may occur. Thus, the purpose of acupuncture is to restore any blocked or stagnant qi in the body. Specific symptoms acupuncture may assist with cancer patients¹:

• Fatigue
• Xerostomia
• Lymphedema
• Pain
• Insomnia
• Neuropathy
• Hot Flashes
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Nausea and Vomiting

Additionally, beyond cancer patients, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health outlined that acupuncture may also be useful for seasonal allergies, urinary incontinence, asthma, smoking cessation, infertility, carpal tunnel syndrome., headaches, osteoarthritis, and sciatica.²

Research on acupuncture has grown over the past 50 years, now including an evidence base of more than 10,000 randomized control trials.³ The majority of randomized control trials are comparing acupuncture to sham acupuncture groups. In a systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2021 on breast cancer patients, it showed a significant reduction in pain, fatigue, depression, hot flashes. and neuropathy.¹

A recent 2023 article by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) discusses acupuncture as part of a patient’s treatment plan, for multiple uses in oncology with increasing evidence for effectiveness, but it remains underutilized by patients.⁴ This may be due to cost (lack of insurance coverage), time requirements, poor access to a provider, or the fear of needles. A healthcare provider must have additional training to perform acupuncture. Patients can visit an acupuncturist or a Chinese medicine practitioner as well as other providers with additional training and certification in acupuncture for care.

To learn more about how best to support your patients with a cancer diagnosis, consider the  Advanced Integrative Oncology Palliative Care Course by the Integrative Oncology Institute: