2021 Frontiers in Oncology
ST36 acupoint injections with dexamethasone outperforms conventional western medicine in treating chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression, significantly improving clinical efficacy and recovery.
Acupuncture for Cancer Treatment & Chemotherapy Support
Acupuncture is increasingly used to treat a variety of symptoms and conditions associated with cancer and the side effects of cancer treatments.
This parallels a broader trend of the world's top-ranked cancer centres integrating acupuncture into their cancer care, and an increase in acupuncture research in the field of oncology in the past twenty years.
Our clinic strictly advises that Chinese medicine and acupuncture should never be used alone for the treatment of cancer itself, but may be used to support certain symptoms associated with cancer and side effects of cancer treatment.
What does the research say?
The following insights are obtained from systematic reviews and analysis of clinical trials investigating the efficacy of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for cancer treatment & chemotherapy support.
2020 Integrative Cancer Therapies
Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan can potentially alleviate symptoms of cancer-related insomnia similarly to cognitive-behavioral therapy.
2020 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine when combined with Western methods, could improve survival rates in patients with colorectal cancer.
2019 Acupuncture in Medicine
Acupuncture has been presented as an effective intervention for reducing limb oedema in women post breast cancer surgery.
2019 Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research
Acupuncture intervention could significantly improve the treatment outcomes for breast cancer-related lymphedema, regardless of the control treatments used.
2019 The Oncologist
Acupuncture treatment significantly improves neuropathic symptoms in women suffering from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy after breast cancer therapy.
2019 JAMA Oncology
Acupuncture and/or acupressure was significantly associated with reduced cancer pain and decreased use of analgesics.
2017 Supportive Care in Cancer
Acupuncture significantly reduces cancer-related fatigue, especially in breast cancer patients and those undergoing anti-cancer treatment.
2016 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics
Acupuncture appears to be a potentially effective treatment for reducing hot flashes in women diagnosed with breast cancer.
2016 Medicine
Acupuncture and related therapies are effective in reducing pain, fatigue, and in improving quality of life when compared with conventional intervention alone among cancer patients.
2014 Oncology Nursing Forum
Although results are inconclusive, acupuncture and acupressure tend to be effective in relieving cancer related fatigue, with the former producing a greater improvement.
2013 Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine
Acupuncture shows promising evidence in cancer palliative care, particularly in reducing therapy-induced side effects and cancer pain.
Seek personalised healthcare and advice
Although well-conducted clinical research can help members of the public to make better-informed decisions about their healthcare, we cannot claim that any particular treatment may be effective for any individual person.
When you consult with our Chinese medicine practitioners, you’ll receive personalised advice and treatment based on your symptoms and Chinese medicine diagnosis.
Research papers
Browse our collection of scientific clinical research on acupuncture for cancer treatment & chemotherapy support.
It includes recent and reputable papers published by peer-reviewed journals within the last 10 years.
2021, Jul 06
Zusanli (ST36) Acupoint Injection With Dexamethasone for Chemotherapy-Induced Myelosuppression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Frontiers in Oncology
This study found that ST36 acupoint injection with dexamethasone had a positive effect on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (CIM).
Chen J, Lin Z, Ding J Full Article
2020, Jan
Comparative Effectiveness of Cheonwangbosimdan (Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan) Versus Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Controlled, Open-Label, Parallel-Group, Pilot Trial
Integrative Cancer Therapies
There is no difference between treatment and control groups, but both groups showed tendency to alleviate cancer insomnia symptoms. However, treatment group score was highly lowered than control group score. The study can contribute to more attentive care for insomnia in cancer patients.
Moon SY, Jerng UM, Kwon OJ, Jung SY, Lee JY, Yoon SW, Shin WC, Byun JI, Lee JH Full Article
2020, Jan 13
Integrated Chinese Herbal Medicine and Western Medicine on the Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study of Medical Records
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Findings from this retrospective cohort study indicated that integrated CHM and Western medicine could improve survival in patients with colorectal cancer.
Yeh MH, Chiu HP, Wu MC, Koo M, Lin NW, Liao KK, Yeh CC, Li TM Full Article
2019, Mar 8
Effects of acupuncture on breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Acupuncture in Medicine British Medical Acupuncture Society
The present meta-analysis and systematic review suggests that acupuncture is effective at reducing breast cancer-related lymphoedema in patients after breast cancer treatment.
Zhang X, Wang X, Zhang B, Yang S, Liu D. Full Article
2019, Oct 13
Acupuncture therapy for breast cancer‐related lymphedema: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research The Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Recent studies suggest that acupuncture therapy can alleviate the upper limb swelling and improve the subjective pain and discomfort in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema, regardless of the control intervention used.
Hou W, Pei L, Song Y, Wu J, Geng H, Chen L, Wang Y, Hu Y, Zhou J, Sun J Full Article
2019, Oct 14
Acupuncture for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
The Oncologist
In a randomized pilot trial of 40 breast cancer survivors with CIPN, an 8‐week acupuncture intervention (vs. usual care) led to a statistically and clinically significant improvement in subjective sensory symptoms including neuropathic pain and paresthesia. Given the lack of effective therapies and established safety profile of acupuncture, clinicians may consider acupuncture as a treatment option for mild to moderate CIPN in practice.
Lu W, Giobbie-Hurder A, Freedman RA, Shin IH, Lin NU, Partridge AH, Rosenthal DS, Ligibel JA Full Article
2019, Dec
Clinical Evidence for Association of Acupuncture and Acupressure With Improved Cancer Pain A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
JAMA Oncology American Medical Association
This study found a moderate level of evidence that acupuncture and/or acupressure was significantly associated with lower pain intensity in patients with cancer compared with a sham control, which suggests a potential for a combination of acupuncture and acupressure to help reduce opioid doses in patients with cancer.
He Y, Guo X, May BH, et al. Full Article
2017, Nov 11
Effects of acupuncture on cancer-related fatigue: a meta-analysis
Supportive Care in Cancer Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
Acupuncture effectively manages cancer-related fatigue, especially when the treatment is consistent and frequent. It should be recommended as a beneficial alternative therapy, especially for breast cancer patients and those currently undergoing anti-cancer treatment.
Zhang, Y., Lin, L., Li, H., Hu, Y., & Tian, L. Full Article
2016, Jul 25
Acupuncture for hot flashes in women with breast cancer: A systematic review
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics Association of Radiation Oncologists of India
Acupuncture seems to be an effective therapy for HFs in women with BC; however, there was insufficient evidence to support the efficacy of acupuncture. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously, because of the poor quality and small number of included studies.
Chen YP, Liu T, Peng YY, Wang YP, Chen H, Fan YF, Zhang L Full Article
2016, May 20
Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Symptom Management in Palliative Cancer Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Medicine
Acupuncture and related therapies are effective in reducing pain, fatigue, and in improving quality of life when compared with conventional intervention alone among cancer patients. Limitations on current evidence body imply that they should be used as a complement, rather than an alternative, to conventional care.
Lau CH, Wu X, Chung VC, Liu X, Hui EP, Cramer H, Lauche R, Wong SY, Lau AY, Sit RS, Ziea ET, Ng BF, Wu JC. Full Article
2014, Jan 1
Effects of acupuncture and acupressure on cancer-related fatigue: a systematic review
Oncology Nursing Forum Oncology Nursing Society
Although results are inconclusive, acupuncture and acupressure tend to be effective in relieving cancer-related fatigue, with the former producing a greater improvement.
Ling WM, Lui LY, So WK, Chan K. Full Article
2013, Dec 13
Effectiveness of acupuncture for palliative care in cancer patients: A systematic review
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine
The result of our systematic review suggested that the effectiveness of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients is promising, especially in reducing chemotherapy or radiotherapy-induced side effects and cancer pain. Acupuncture may be an appropriate adjunctive treatment for palliative care.
Lian, WL., Pan, Mq., Zhou, Dh. & Zhang, ZJ. Full Article
It is by virtue of the twelve channels that human life exists, that disease arises, that human beings can be treated and illness cured. The twelve channels are where beginners start and masters end.