Acupuncture is a versatile medicine with many benefits to cancer patients, a recent article in the Epoch Times asserts. By influencing several biological functions “including activating neural, endocrine and immunological regulation,” acupuncture helps alleviate pain, reduces inflammation, and can improve the quality of life and immunity for patients debilitated by cancer and its allopathic treatments. While no complementary or alternative medicine can boast a cure for cancer, helping patients manage their pain effectively, treat the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation are common uses for acupuncture in modern integrative cancer treatment.
Other aspects of Oriental Medicine are effective means to aid cancer patients in finding relief from their symptoms, and may also positively influence important biological markers. A study on Qi Gong and its influence on participants showed that “medical Qigong can improve cancer patients’ overall quality of life and mood status and reduce specific side-effects of treatment. It may also produce physical benefits in the long term through reduced inflammation.”
Chinese herbs may often be used for the undesirable side effects of chemotherapy such as dry mouth and night sweats as well as fatigue and depression. Herbalist Z’ev Rosenberg states, “In Chinese cancer hospitals, the use of chemotherapy and radiation are often combined with the use of herbal medicine to protect the body/mind from damage as much as possible. Dosages of chemotherapeutic drugs also tends to be lower than in western countries.” While the US is a ways off from truly integrative medicine in oncology, increasingly acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and mindful movement are getting the recognition they deserve in the broader medical community.