Acupuncture: Breast Cancer and Other Benefits

A new study has found that acupuncture can help ease some of the side effects of breast cancer treatments.

Read on to find out what are other benefits of acupuncture. What is it mostly used for? And more...






Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is certainly gaining wider popularity with the passing of time and more research done on it. It is a "collection of procedures involving penetrating the skin with needles to stimulate certain points on the body" (2) done by a specialist.

Acupuncture works as a complementary health approach to the main stream medicine. It works by stimulating specific acupuncture points and correcting the imbalance in the flow of what is called "qi" points through channels known as "meredians".

The procedure is used for so many purposes. It is mostly used for:

1- Pain
2- Nausea and vomiting
3- Fertility and childbirth
4- Other uses with less or no scientific evidence such as: autism, epilepsy, depression, drug detoxification, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and insomnia (1).

As to breast cancer there is new related research to the uses of acupuncture. A study done by researchers from the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center in Baltimore found out that acupuncture can alleviate the side effects that accompany common breast cancer medications. What is surprising is that these results were true for both patients who received proper acupuncture and those whose acupuncture experience has been a sham (1).

According to Sun News, the researchers recruited 47 survivors and had half of them go for real weekly acupuncture while the other half received weekly fake retractable needles that do not go on acupuncture points. All women were taking aeomatase inhibitor which stops the enzyme that produces estrogen in postmenopausal women. The study lasted for eight weeks (1).  

All of them reported experiencing less symptoms especially hot flashes (1).

Consult your doctor to see if acupuncture is a safe procedure for you to go for. Here is a funny caricature about the discovery of acupuncture.

Sources:
1- Sun News: http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/lifestyle/archives/2013/12/20131223-095736.html
2- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture

Images: 
- http://restorativehealth.ca/general/understanding-acupuncture-in-ontario
- http://www.ssrehab.com/fibromyalgia-treatment-using-acupuncture/
- http://www.pthealth.ca/therapy_services.php?services=3
- http://www.thblack.com/links/RSD/acupuncture.htm