Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine and is an energy therapy. It uses very thin needles inserted through the skin at certain points on the body to help restore the flow of energy. Problems with energy flow in the body are believed to cause disease. Acupuncture is used to treat a variety of health conditions.
History
Acupuncture began in China and has been used there for over 2000 years. It is one of the oldest medical procedures in the world that is still being practised. Acupuncture has been used in North America for a few hundred years but has become more popular in the past few decades.
Use and claims
It is believed that acupuncture restores the flow of qi (pronounced chee), restores balance to the body and stimulates the body to heal itself. Acupuncture is based on the belief that qi, the vital energy (life force), flows through the body along a network of channels called meridians. Qi is said to affect a person's spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health. Qi has two life forces, called yin and yang.
- Yin and yang are opposite forces that work together to form a whole.
- Yin and yang are both present in all living things.
Acupuncture has been used in the treatment of many illnesses and health problems. In people with cancer, it is mainly used to control pain and relieve symptoms such as nausea.
Studies have found that acupuncture may be helpful in:
- treating nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy drugs, anesthesia and pregnancy
- relieving pain from headaches, menstrual cramps and dental surgery
- Recent studies show that acupuncture may be useful for some types of cancer-related pain, reducing the need for narcotics and narcotic-related side effects.
- treating a number of musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and low back pain
- treating asthma
- rehabilitating stroke victims
Acupuncture may also help some people stop smoking or lose weight.
How it is given
Many of the major organs of the body are thought to be yin and yang pairs that must be in balance to be healthy. Qi can become blocked when a person's yin and yang are not in balance. Blocked qi causes pain, illness or other health problems.
Acupuncture unblocks qi at certain places called acupoints and corrects the balance of yin and yang to restore health and balance in the body. There are more than 2000 acupoints on the body, with specific acupoints corresponding to each condition being treated. Studies indicate that acupuncture affects the body's nervous system, including the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system and parts of the brain. These parts of the nervous system control certain chemicals in the body that affect a number of functions. An example of these chemicals is the body's natural pain relievers, called endorphins. Acupuncture may also affect the body's immune system.
The most common acupuncture method uses thin, disposable stainless steel needles inserted into the skin at acupoints. The acupuncturist determines the correct acupoints and the number of needles to use for the problem being treated. Once inserted, the acupuncturist may twirl or move the needles up and down. The needles are left in place for a time, often for several minutes. Several treatments may be needed before an improvement is noticed.
Heat, weak electrical currents, pressure and other treatments may also be used on acupuncture points. Some acupuncture techniques include:
- acupressure
- During acupressure, the therapist uses their fingers instead of needles to press on an acupoint.
- Sea-Bands are special wrist bands that use acupressure on points inside the wrist to reduce nausea.
- electroacupuncture
- Electroacupuncture uses a weak electrical current sent through acupuncture needles at acupoints.
- Electroacupuncture can also be done without needles.
- laser acupuncture
- Laser acupuncture uses a weak laser beam instead of an acupuncture needle to stimulate an acupoint.
- microwave acupuncture
- Microwave acupuncture uses a microwave device attached to an acupuncture needle to deliver microwave radiation to an acupoint.
- sonopuncture
- Sonopuncture does not use needles.
- An ultrasound device is used to transmit sound waves at acupoints.
Acupuncture is sometimes used along with other traditional Chinese medicine healing techniques like moxibustion and cupping.
- moxibustion
- Moxibustion is a type of heat therapy in which certain herbs are burned above the body to warm a meridian at an acupoint and increase the flow of blood and qi.
- The herb may be placed on the tip of an acupuncture needle, placed directly on the skin or held close to the skin.
- cupping
- Cupping is used to increase the flow of blood and qi and open up the pores and allow toxins to leave the body.
- A small, round, glass cup is warmed and placed upside down over a spot on the body, making a vacuum that holds the cup to the skin.
Summary of the evidence
There is no scientific evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for cancer. However, it does appear to be a useful complementary therapy for relieving some of the symptoms related to cancer and other conditions.
Nausea and vomiting
The strongest scientific evidence of the effect of acupuncture has come from clinical trials that used acupuncture to relieve nausea and vomiting. Several clinical trials have shown that acupuncture reduces nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, surgery and morning sickness. Acupuncture appears to be more effective in preventing vomiting than in reducing nausea.
Pain
Acupuncture has reduced the amount of pain in people with cancer in some small studies. In one study, most of the people treated with acupuncture were able to stop taking pain-relieving drugs or took smaller doses. Another study has shown that acupuncture may be beneficial for reducing pain after surgery. Some scientists believe that acupuncture releases endorphins in the body, natural chemicals that can increase feelings of well-being and relieve pain. These findings are not considered strong, and more studies are needed to determine if acupuncture relieves cancer pain.
Immune system
Studies that have used acupuncture in people with cancer have shown that it may improve immune system function.
Cancer and related symptoms
Clinical trials are studying the effects of acupuncture on cancer and symptoms caused by cancer treatment, such as weight loss, difficulty breathing, cough, fatigue, anxiety and hot flashes. Some studies have shown that acupuncture may relieve symptoms or keeps symptoms from getting worse. Fatigue in people with chronic diseases such as cancer may be eased in some situations by acupuncture, potentially increasing a person's well-being and decreasing malaise. Acupuncture may also help reduce the symptoms of dry mouth (xerostomia) after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. More research is needed in these areas before any conclusions can be drawn.
Potential side effects and risks
Few problems have been reported with acupuncture, and few are expected when it is done by a trained healthcare professional. Problems can occur if the needles are not sterile or if the needle is put in the wrong place. Side effects include:
- soreness or pain during treatment
- bleeding or bruising at the needle site
- feeling tired
- dizziness
- light-headedness
- sleepiness
- infection
- hepatitis B infection
- nerve damage
Sterile needles are especially important for people with cancer because chemotherapy and radiation therapy can weaken the body's immune system. Check with your doctor before having acupuncture treatments because it may not be recommended for people with low white blood cell or platelet counts or for people with lymphedema.
It is important to have acupuncture done by a well-trained, qualified acupuncture practitioner.