Acupuncture and Cancer Research |
The effect of acupuncture was assessed in 183 patients attending the Pain Clinic in a cancer hospital. Early results were promising with 82% of patients obtaining benefit for hours or days. However, only 52% of patients obtained significant help and multiple treatments were often necessary. Acupuncture was most helpful for vascular problems, muscle spasm and dyaesthetic problems. Acupuncture was significantly helpful for a number of patients with malignant pain problems.
Upper limb oedema (bloating from retention of water) occurs following surgery for breast cancer in approximately 8-30% of the cases. Existing means have relatively limited efficiency. This study presents a treatment method with electroacupuncture (acupuncture in which weak electrical currents are sent through the needles) on a group of 21 patients with upper limb oedema. Treatment response was based on objective criteria including clinical and thermoelectric measurements. Complete recovery from oedemas was obtained in 33% of the cases, while partial recovery was seen in 43% of the cases. No response was seen in 24%.
Fifty-nine cases with cancer (diagnosed through tissue biopsy) were observed in this group. It was found that the potentiality of cell immunity was lower than in normal persons. Radiation treatment had certain inhibitory functions on body immunity. It was seen at the same time that acupuncture not only raised body immunity and regulated ERFC close to the normal level, but it could also control the falling of body immunity caused by radiation treatments.
Forty-four cases of rectitis (inflammation, pain and bleeding of the rectum) caused by radiation therapy for cancer were treated by acupuncture. Results: 72.3% cases were cured, 9% cases were markedly effective, and 18% cases were improved. Through this patient group it was also observed that acupuncture produces the effects of analgesia and antipyresis, and the reduction of inflammation.
Chinese herbs served to improve symptoms of chemotherapy and prolong life. Characteristics include reduction of side effects caused by chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation therapy (i.e., increases in leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes), improvement of digestive functions (i.e. improvement of hepatic function) improvement of renal function, reduction of pain, enhancement of immunofunctions, and especially, decreased pain in the terminal stage.
Treatment of advanced gastric cancer with combined chemotherapy and anticancer herbs which "support the righteous Qi" (righteous Qi is often translated to Immune System in Western medicine) resulted in a 41.2% survival rate at 3 years and 30.4% at 5 years. The curative effect was significantly higher than for those patients receiving only chemotherapy (26.1% and 15.0%, respectively).
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