The Rise of Acupuncture in Cancer Care

The rise of acupuncture trials in the field of oncology is attributed to the 1997 NIH consensus conference and increased federal funding for research since 1999. In a 2008 systematic review, advancements in acupuncture clinical research suggested that acupuncture is a safe and effective therapy used to manage cancer and treatment related symptoms. Research suggests that acupuncture offers clinical benefits for:

• nausea and vomiting

• post-operative pain

• cancer related pain

• chemotherapy-induced leukopenia

• post-chemotherapy fatigue

• xerostomia

• insomnia

• depression and anxiety

• hot flashes

• neuropathy

• quality of life

References:

Lu, W., Dean-Clower, E., Doherty-Gilman, A., & Rosenthal, D. S. (2008). The value of acupuncture in cancer care. Hematology/oncology clinics of North America, 22(4), 631–viii. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hoc.2008.04.005