In the United States, acupuncture is used to treat a variety of symptoms and conditions associated with cancer and the side effects of cancer treatments. Acupuncture has received much attention as an adjunctive therapy in cancer treatments for its use in pain relief, reducing side effects such as weight loss, anxiety, vomiting, constipation, nausea, dry mouth, and accelerating recovery and improving quality of life.
How acupuncture works for cancer treatment:
According to the National Cancer Institute, acupuncture may cause physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, by these actions, acupuncture affects blood pressure and body temperature, boosts immune system activity, and causes the body's natural painkillers, such as endorphins, to be released.
Studies have shown that, for many patients, treatment with acupuncture either relieves symptoms or keeps them from getting worse.
More and more patients with numerous medical problems resort to alternative therapies and acupuncture.
Many cancer patients seek the beneficial effects of acupuncture to optimize their health and quality of life after chemo - and radio -therapy.
