In recent years acupuncture has started playing a significant role in Integrative Oncology Care by offering a non-invasive and holistic approach to managing cancer-related symptoms and conventional cancer treatments side effects.
I am very proud and privileged to take a part in this process by providing Acupuncture to both private and NHS patients (Guys Hospital, Dimbleby Cancer Care). According to latest scientific research (list of published research papers below) the following most common side effects could potentially be partly or greatly reduces by acupuncture:
Cancer- induced fatigue
Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting and leukopenia
Cancer related pain
Hot flushes (breast or prostate cancer)
Management of xerostomia
Lymphedema
Dyspnoea (difficult or laborious breathing)
Improving patients’ quality of life
Improvement of psychological well-being
Here is the list of the latest research on which acupuncture protocols are based in managing above mentioned symptoms:
Overview of systematic reviews:
Wu, X., Chung, V., Hui, E. et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies for palliative care of cancer: overview of systematic reviews. Sci Rep 5, 16776 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep16776
Safety:
Adverse events following acupuncture: prospective survey of 32 000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists. Adrian White, Simon Hayhoe, Anna Hart, Edzard Ernst BMJ 2001;323:485
The York acupuncture safety study: prospective survey of 34 000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists, Hugh MacPherson, Kate Thomas, Stephen Walters, Mike Fitter BMJ 2001;323:486
Systemic Review:
Garcia MK, McQuade J, Haddad R, et al. Systematic review of acupuncture in cancer care: a synthesis of the evidence. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(7):952–960. doi:10.1200/JCO.2012.43.5818
Clinical Trials (find at https://clinicaltrials.gov/):
S1200: Acupuncture, Sham Acupuncture, or Wait List for Joint Symptoms Related to Aromatase Inhibitors in Pts W/Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Acupuncture and Gabapentin for Hot Flashes Among Breast Cancer Survivors
Specific Research:
Deng, G., Hou, B.L., Holodny, A.I. et al. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) changes and saliva production associated with acupuncture at LI-2 acupuncture point: a randomized controlled study. BMC Complement Altern Med 8, 37 (2008).https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6882-8-37
Johnstone PA, Peng YP, May BC, Inouye WS, Niemtzow RC: Acupuncture for pilocarpine-resistant xerostomia following radiotherapy for head and neck malignancies. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2001, 50(2):353-7.
Wong RK, Jones GW, Sagar SM, Babjak AF, Whelan T: A Phase I-II study in the use of acupuncture-like transcutaneous nerve stimulation in the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia in head-and-neck cancer patients treated with radical radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2003, 57(2):472-80
Acupuncture for pilocarpine-resistant xerostomia following radiotherapy for head and neck malignancies. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2001, 50(2):353-7.
A Phase I-II study in the use of acupuncture-like transcutaneous nerve stimulation in the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia in head-and-neck cancer patients treated with radical radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2003, 57(2):472-80.
Acupuncture for xerostomia: clinical update. Cancer 2002, 94(4):1151-6.
A randomised trial of acupuncture v oral care sessions in patients with chronic xerostomia following treatment of head and neck cancer. Ann Oncol. 2013 Mar;24(3):776-83
The Preventive and Therapeutic Effect of Acupuncture for Radiation-Induced Xerostomia in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review. Integr Cancer Ther. 2012 Jul 16
Sham-controlled, randomized, feasibility trial of acupuncture for prevention of radiation-induced xerostomia among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Eur J Cancer. 2012
Phase 2 results from Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Study 0537: a phase 2/3 study comparing acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation versus pilocarpine in treating early radiation-induced xerostomia. Cancer. 2012 Sep 1; 118(17):4244-52.
Randomized controlled trial of acupuncture for prevention of radiation-induced xerostomia among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer. 2012 Jul 1; 118(13):3337-44.
Acupuncture for the prevention of radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer. Braz Oral Res. 2011 Mar-Apr; 25(2):180-5.
Relief of radiation-induced xerostomia with acupuncture treatment: a case presentation. PM R. 2011 Jan; 3(1):85-7.
Acupuncture and xerostomia. Acupunct Med. 2010 Dec;28(4):167-8
Clinical effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of irradiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review. Acupunct Med. 2010 Dec;28(4):191-9.
Acupuncture for dysphagia after chemoradiation therapy in head and neck cancer: a case series report. Integr Cancer Ther. 2010 Sep;9(3):284-90. doi:
Phase II Randomized Trial of Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation to Prevent Radiation-Induced Xerostomia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2010 Spring;8(2):35-42
Group acupuncture to relieve radiation induced xerostomia: a feasibility study. Acupunct Med. 2009 Sep;27(3):109-13.
Acupuncture as an optional treatment for hospice patients with xerostomia: an intervention study. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2009 Jan;15(1):12-20.
The effect of acupuncture on salivary flow rates in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia. 2008 Jul-Aug;57(7-8):343-8.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) changes and saliva production associated with acupuncture at LI-2 acupuncture point: a randomized controlled study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2008 Jul 7;8:37.
Manual acupuncture improved quality of life in cancer patients with radiation-induced xerostomia. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Jun;14(5):523-6.
Acupuncture: integration into cancer care. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2006 Spring;4(2):86-92. Review
Acupuncture in the treatment of xerostomia: clinical report. WM.Gen Dent. 2005 May-Jun;53(3):223-6; quiz 227
Treatment of xerostomia in prosthetic patients using local acupuncture points on the face. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2004 Nov 15;5(4):133-8.
Acupressure for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting: a randomized clinical trial. Dibble SL at el. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2007 Jul;34(4):81320.
Acupuncture for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial. Alexander Molassiotis, Joy Bardy, Jennifer Finnegan-John, Peter Mackereth, David W. Ryder, Jacqueline Filshie, Emma Ream, and Alison Richardson Journal of Clinical Oncology 2012 30:36, 4470-4476
Johnston MF, Ortiz Sánchez E, Vujanovic NL, Li W. Acupuncture May Stimulate Anticancer Immunity via Activation of Natural Killer Cells. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:481625. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep236