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Acupuncture Treats Chemotherapy Related Side Effects

  • Mar 6
  • 2 min read

Cancer treatment often involves chemotherapy, which, while effective, can produce a range of challenging side effects. To help manage these symptoms, many patients are turning to acupuncture.  A landmark 2026 retrospective analysis conducted by Lasheen et al., examining 2,239 cancer patients receiving acupuncture in a real-world outpatient oncology setting found that acupuncture was associated with broad-based symptom improvement across multiple cancer-related side effects. These cancer related side effects included but were not limited to: 


  • Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) Nausea and vomiting are significant and frequent problems for many patients undergoing chemotherapy. Clinical trials have demonstrated its effectiveness in relieving these specific gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly when conventional anti-nausea medications provide minimal relief, are not well-tolerated, or cause additional unwanted side effects.

  • Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) Chemotherapy agents like taxanes and platinum drugs can cause peripheral neuropathy, a condition that leads to pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling in the hands and feet. Studies suggest that acupuncture can improve sensory and motor nerve conduction, increase blood flow to the limbs, and decrease neuropathic pain.

  • Cancer-Related Fatigue Fatigue is a widespread, debilitating side effect of cancer and its treatments. Randomized studies have shown that oncology patients who receive acupuncture treatments experience significantly less fatigue than those who do not. 

  • Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia The stress of a cancer diagnosis and the physical toll of chemotherapy frequently lead to anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Clinical studies demonstrate that patients receiving acupuncture for anxiety or depression experience notable reductions in symptom severity and steady improvements in their overall quality of life.


Acupuncture is generally considered a safe, non-pharmaceutical intervention with a high safety profile. If you’re interested in learning if acupuncture is right for you, please call us at 301.880.3232 and it would be our pleasure to assist with scheduling a comprehensive virtual evaluation. 

References


Huang CC, Ho TJ, Ho HY, et al. Acupuncture Relieved Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial. J Clin Med. 2021;10(16):3694. Published 2021 Aug 20. doi:10.3390/jcm10163694


Lasheen W, Walsh D, Polsky J, Yaguda SI, York B. Acupuncture for cancer symptoms: Clinical application and longitudinal impact a retrospective observational real-world data study. Support Care Cancer. 2026;34(2):145. Published 2026 Jan 29. doi:10.1007/s00520-026-10372-z


Li, QW., Yu, MW., Wang, XM. et al. Efficacy of acupuncture in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with advanced cancer: a multi-center, single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled clinical research. Chin Med 15, 57 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-020-00333-x


Zhang J, Qin Z, So TH, et al. Acupuncture for chemotherapy-associated insomnia in breast cancer patients: an assessor-participant blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Breast Cancer Res. 2023;25(1):49. Published 2023 Apr 26. doi:10.1186/s13058-023-01645-0

This website provides general information only. Content does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for medical guidance.

 
 
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