Cancer Treatments
Acupuncture for Cancer Health and Wellness
Western cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are powerful tools for eradicating the physical manifestations of cancer. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) including acupuncture, is a dynamic system that integrates mind and body, is a wonderful complement to western treatments. Recent clinical trials conducted in the United States and China show that acupuncture improves patients’ ability to complete treatment and reduces many common side effects of treatment including nausea, fatigue, pain, and anxiety. Common cancer therapies include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and hormonal therapy. While surgery involves the physical removal of tumours, other treatments such as chemotherapy work on inhibiting cell growth and multiplication. All these therapies can be very effective and are often critical components to helping a patient survive. Removing tumors through surgery and radiation can prevent further metastases (cancer spread to other areas of the body) and complications. Unfortunately, these and other treatments can be very difficult for the body to process and recover from. Several of the drugs used in chemotherapy are not only toxic to cancer cells but to healthy cells as well and can cause mild to severe bouts of nausea. By depleting the bone marrow and thus inhibiting the production of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelet cells, chemo therapies can increase a person’s risk of infection, cause fatigue and dizziness, and impair wound healing respectively. Furthermore, chemotherapeutic agents can cause hair loss and skin rashes from damage to the cells of the hair follicles and skin.
Acupuncture’s use in cancer patients has been recommended by the American Cancer Society (ACS) for the treatment of cancer and conventional treatment-related symptoms. It helps to manage or prevent symptoms, can reduce or eliminate the need for additional pharmaceuticals, and provides an overall sense of well-being.
The Practitioner at Holistic Healing Acupuncture understand the special needs of patients undergoing or recovering from chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
Acupuncture is proven effective as supportive care for cancer patients to treat or prevent the side effects from chemotherapy and radiation such as:
• Anxiety/Depression
• Constipation/Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue/Weakness
• Hot flashes/Sweating
• Insomnia
• Nausea/Poor Appetite
• Joint or General Pain
• Hair Loss
• Neuropathy
Patients should continue conventional Western treatment under the supervision of their regular physician. Acupuncture is used to support optimal health and healing – it is a complementary treatment used in conjunction with Western Medicine.
Acupuncture is a safe, natural and effective treatment to:
• Boost your immune system
• Stimulate Natural Killer Cells
• Strengthen your Digestive System
• Relieve Pain
• Restore Energy
• Promote an overall sense of well-being
• Improve Quality of life
At Holistic Healing, we provide supportive care with compassionate, comprehensive treatments. For more information on the benefits of acupuncture for cancer patients go to http://www.cancer.gov