Acupuncture

As a result of both their disease and the treatments recommended for their disease, mesothelioma patients tend to endure a lot of pain. It's natural for anyone to look for ways to relieve such pain. When over-the-counter and prescribed medicines fail, many patients search for less traditional ways to combat the disease. Acupuncture is one of those ways.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); a recognized medical system that has been used for literally thousands of years to prevent, diagnose, and treat a variety of diseases.

Acupuncture involves the placing of needles in certain places on the body, called acupoints, prompting a change in physical functions. The Chinese believe that that qi (vital energy) flows through the body along a network of paths, called meridians. The Chinese note that Qi affects a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical condition. Qi has two forces, yin and yang. Yin and yang are opposite forces that work together to form a whole. Many of the major organs of the body are believed to be yin-yang pairs that must be in balance to be healthy. When a person's yin and yang are not in balance, Qi can become blocked, causing pain, illness, or other health problems. TCM uses acupuncture to restore health by unblocking Qi and correcting the balance of yin and yang within the person's body.

In the U.S., the advantages of acupuncture have been recognized for at least 200 years. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been studying the use of acupuncture since 1976, and in 1996, the FDA deemed the acupuncture needle to be "a medical device."

Does it Work?

A wealth of studies conducted in America and abroad has proven that acupuncture works well in reducing the pain associated with cancers like mesothelioma and with cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Other studies also show that acupuncture can reduce the vomiting often connected with a variety of chemotherapy agents. Still, more studies suggest that acupuncture can help improve the body's overall immune system.

Happily, many participants in these studies were able to stop taking pain medication when using acupuncture or were able to significantly reduce the amount of pain medication consumed.

Currently, clinical trials are also studying the effects that acupuncture may have on other symptoms of cancer or side effects of cancer treatment, including weight loss, cough, chest pain, fever, anxiety, depression, night sweats, hot flashes, dry mouth, speech problems, and fluid in the arms or legs. So far, results suggest that acupuncture relieves some of these symptoms or prevents them from worsening.

Is It Safe?

Overall, acupuncture is safe. Some acupuncture patients do report some pain or soreness during the treatments, while others have complained of sleepiness or light-headedness after this mesothelioma treatment. In general, however, few side effects are associated with acupuncture, though some patients suffer anxiety associated with a fear of the needles used in the procedure.

The most important thing to remember, however, when considering acupuncture treatment, is to find a qualified acupuncture practitioner to administer the therapy. It is VERY IMPORTANT for cancer patients who have reduced-functioning immune systems to be treated with single-use needles that are sterile. If the needles are dirty, the chance of infection is great.

Many oncologists and hospitals now promote the use of acupuncture for their cancer patients, so do not hesitate to ask for a referral from them or from other cancer patients who've used the treatment successfully. Some hospitals, such as UCLA Medical Center, routinely offer medical acupuncture before, during, and after chemotherapy treatments.

Last modified: December 09 2009.