Acupuncture

Acupuncture

Data

Domain: Complementary therapy

Element title: Acupuncture

PlanBe endorsement level: 4 stars

Personal Goals: compliance / completion

Headline

Acupuncture involves inserting very fine needles, or applying heat or pressure, to specific points of the body.   It comes from traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese doctors believe that it works through balancing energy flow in the body and claim that it can help patients with many different health conditions.  While it’s general effect on health may be controversial in western medicine, clinical trials have shown benefit in relieving some symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, uncomfortable numbness, pins & needles and certain types of pain.

It is unlikely to do harm and many people report a feeling of wellbeing after a treatment.

A course of acupuncture might involve a number of appointments lasting about 1 hour spaced a week apart

Detail

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment which may relieve symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and tiredness.

Overview

Acupuncture has been used in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years as part of traditional Chinese medicine.  It involves the application of needles, heat and pressure to specific points of the body.

Approval score:

We gave this our maximum approval score of 4 stars because we found published clinical trials showing benefit for certain symptoms.  However, this does not necessarily mean that acupuncture has a general effect on improving health and we were not able to find any published clinical trial evidence showing a definite anti-cancer effect. 

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture applies needles, heat, pressure, and other treatments to one or more places on the skin known as acupuncture points.  These are left in place for a short time and then removed.  Acupuncture is used to treat many illnesses and ailments and in cancer patients.

Chinese traditional doctors believe that acupuncture works by balancing energy flow through the body.  This idea has not been validated by modern scientific research and the effects that are seen in patients who have had acupuncture may be due to other mechanisms that we do not fully understand. 

What are the benefits of acupuncture?

Patients use acupuncture to control pain and to relieve nausea and vomiting, fatigue, sweats and hot flushes, dry mouth, nerve damage (from drugs or injury), anxiety, depression, and sleeping problems.

What is the evidence for acupuncture ?

There is no evidence to show that acupuncture helps in any way with treating or curing cancer. But research suggests that it is helpful in relieving some symptoms of cancer or the side effects of cancer treatment. The main areas of research into acupuncture for cancer are chemotherapy related sickness, tiredness and cancer pain.
The strongest evidence of the effect of acupuncture has come from clinical trials on the use of acupuncture to relieve nausea and vomiting, but acupuncture appears to be more effective in preventing vomiting than in reducing nausea.
You can read more about the evidence at the National Cancer Institute or Cancer Research UK.  You can also take a look at this review of the evidence for acupuncture and cancer pain in adults.

Who would acupuncture be good for?

Anyone who would like help with nausea, vomiting, tiredness and pain.

Who should be careful?

Always check with your doctor before you start using any type of complementary or alternative treatment. Always make sure your acupuncture practitioner knows your full medical and drug history at every visit, especially if anything has changed.

What do I need to do?

It is important that acupuncture treatment be given by a qualified practitioner who uses a new set of disposable (single-use) needles for each patient.  See Cancer Research UK for advice on finding a qualified practitioner.

Once you have found a qualified therapist, book yourself an introductory session.  Consider contacting your hospital, local hospice or clinic as they may be able to refer you to a preferred practitioner through the NHS.

Setting goals and monitoring your progress

Set yourself a small goal of having an introductory session, and maybe a follow up session.  Record your progress in your PlanBe diary.

Record your weekly progress in your PlanBe diary.

Summary

·      Acupuncture may be helpful in the relief of some symptoms such as tiredness, pain and nausea.

·      If you wish to try acupuncture, it is important to use a qualified therapist.

·      Make sure you record your progress in your PlanBe diary.

Local resources

Acupuncture is widely available in hospitals, hospices and clinics. People are often referred because they have pain or other symptoms such as tiredness, dry mouth, breathlessness, hot flushes.  Contact your local centre to see if they can direct you to a therapist.