​Pain Management During Cancer Therapy

Acupuncture can help with pain management by modulating the sensory pain center in the brain, producing an analgesic effect. It helps release the following neurotransmitters:

  • Serotonin (5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine)
  • Norepinephrine
  • Dopamine


Acupuncture for Pre-surgical Patients

The optimum time for treatment: 2 days before surgery

  • Promotes relaxation
  • Prevents infection
  • Prevents side effects
  • Alleviates symptoms


Acupuncture on Post-Surgical Patients

The optimum time for treatment:

  • 2 days post-surgery: daily treatment is advised to help control pain, improve urination and bowel habit
  • 1-week post-surgery: help decrease swelling, pain control, alleviate symptoms from surgery and medication
  • 2 weeks post-surgery: prevent scar tissue contraction, decrease swelling, improve mental alertness, improve intestinal motility and urination, shorten recovery time, promote incision healing


Acupuncture for Toxic Side Effects of Chemotherapy

The optimum time for treatment: 24 hours before and/or after chemotherapy

  • Enhance the effects of chemotherapy and decrease tumor resistance
  • Alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy


Acupuncture to Improve Immune Function

The optimum time for treatment: 1-2 hours before chemotherapy

  • Help with the following side effects:  fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, vertigo, sensitivity to cold, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, bleeding, infection, low blood counts, toxicity, diarrhea, sexual dysfunction, neuropathy, hepatic dysfunction


Acupuncture for Post-Radiation Therapy

  • Helps with the following side effects:  fatigue, low white blood cell count, anemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin burns, hair loss, infertility


Acupuncture for Bone Marrow Transplant

The optimum time for treatment: few weeks before and after transplant

  • Acupuncture should be started a few weeks before the bone marrow transplant to prepare the body for the transplant. Helps with jaundice, ascites, hepatomegaly, bacterial infections, fungal infections, viral infections
  • Acupuncture should be done for 1-4 weeks after transplant to reduce toxicity, alleviate symptoms and improve bodily functions.  ​

Yes absolutely, acupuncture can help cancer patients manage symptoms and side effects from anticancer treatments. The National Health Institute first started studying the medical benefits of acupuncture for complementary treatment in cancer patients back in 1997. Other countries, including China, have been conducting the same kind of research since the early 1950s.


The National Cancer Institute reports that Acupuncture relieves nausea and vomiting from anticancer therapies. Additionally, the use of acupuncture as a complementary treatment has been shown to relieve symptoms such as fatigue, dry mouth, and hot flashes.


Acupuncture studies conducted on both humans and animals suggest that acupuncture may also strengthen the immune system for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Other studies have examined the role of acupuncture in stimulating immune function, showing it can increase blood cell count and enhance lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity. This is beneficial in cancer patients especially as keeping their bloodwork numbers in a good range is necessary to continue through anticancer treatments. Some other reported benefits of Acupuncture that are important for cancer patients are pain relief, anxiety relief, and reduction in sleep problems.

How to Treat with Acupuncture for Cancer Patients

Can Acupuncture Help Cancer Patients?

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