Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, metal needles to stimulate specific points of the body that reach meridians throughout the body. Stimulation of these points can have varied effects on the human body, and it has been shown to be beneficial in reducing cancer related health concerns and discomfort. Acupuncture is a regulated health profession in the province of Ontario, the regulating body is the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario.
Cancer and cancer treatments often cause many unpleasant symptoms including pain, loss of appetite, high stress levels, fatigue, and more. Traditional methods of minimizing these often include pharmacological interventions, but there are many scientific studies that attribute improvement in these symptoms to acupuncture.
A study completed in 2020 that conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of nine randomized control trial studies reported that acupuncture has therapeutic potential for reducing cancer related fatigue in cancer survivors. It also suggested that acupuncture can help increase quality of life for cancer survivors.
Another study conducted in 2020 analyzing the use of acupuncture for cancer related pain recommends that acupuncture should be started early in the cancer journey to help reduce cancer related pain. The research also suggests that acupuncture can be used to reduce the use of analgesic medications and provide long lasting pain relief for cancer patients and survivors.
These are just a few examples of the many studies that highlight the therapeutic effects and potential for acupuncture treatment for cancer patients and survivors.
Jang, A., Brown, C., Lamoury, G., Morgia, M., Boyle, F., Marr, I., Clarke, S., Back, M., & Oh, B. (2020). The Effects of Acupuncture on Cancer-Related Fatigue: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Integrative Cancer Therapies. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735420949679
Xu, L., Yang, S., Su, S., Huang, B., Lan, X., & Yao, R. (2020). Effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture therapy combined with auricular acupuncture on cancer pain: A four-parallel arm randomized controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101170