Acupuncture for Integrative Cancer Treatment in Albany, CA
The American Cancer Society reported that in the United States alone, over half of the men and a third of women will at some point in their lifetime develop cancer. Cancer takes on many forms. However, it all starts with abnormal cells that go out of control.
Unlike common illnesses like a cold, chicken pox or flu, managing cancer requires powerful treatments. The body cannot eradicate cancer using its natural defenses. However, most cancer treatments can have serious side effects.
Recently, Oriental medicine and acupuncture have gained attention for addressing the side effects and symptoms many people have during their cancer treatments. Many patients experience unpleasant side effects during and after, surgery, chemotherapy, biological therapy and radiation.
Oriental medicine and acupuncture can actually help, patients currently undergoing cancer treatment. It helps by lessening the side effects linked to the traditional cancer treatments.
Some of the symptoms acupuncture helps with are:
· Stress
· Depression and anxiety
· Fatigue
· Night sweats and hot flashes
· Pain Management
· Weight management
· Nausea
· Fluid retention
· And dry mouth
Taking a more holistic approach acupuncture is very useful when it comes to pain relief, accelerating recovery, reducing side effects and improving a person’s quality of life.
Acupuncture can cause a physical response in the nerve cells as well as part of the brain and pituitary glands, according to the National Cancer Institute. Doing this can positively affect the body temperature, cause endorphins and the body’s other natural painkillers to be released, it can improve blood pressure and boost activity in the immune system.
If you’d like to learn more about acupuncture, call for a consultation. Learn how acupuncture can be safely be incorporated into any oncology treatment plan.
Even science shows that Acupuncture can play a very helpful part in cancer therapy.
Clinical trials examined both the effects acupuncture has on cancer as a disease and the symptoms caused by the treatments. For many patients, the results show that with acupuncture keeps them from getting even worse, as well as relieves their symptoms.
Nausea and Vomiting relief:
Clinical trials investigated using many different kinds of acupuncture methods that showed it reduced nausea and vomiting caused by surgery and chemotherapy treatment. This is the strongest evidence to support the claim that acupuncture can benefit patients.
Improved pain Management: In a clinical study, patients found that acupuncture did reduce their pain levels. In one study, the patients treated with acupuncture reduced their dosage or stopped taking their pain medication altogether.
Minimizes Dry Mouth:
The medical journal Head and Neck reported the results of a pilot study done at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2009. All of the subjects were suffering from head and neck cancer, the study focused on how acupuncture improved the subject’s symptoms of radiation-induced dry mouth. They found that the treatment can work as early as 2 weeks after starting cancer treatment and last for about a month after the treatment ends.
A study published in the medical journal Oral Diseases in January 2000, states that Oriental medicine and acupuncture were effective in treating xerostomia. Out of 70 patients, suffering from dry mouth due to Sjogren’s disease, radiation therapy or other causes, researchers discovered that the ones treated with 24 acupuncture treatments saw a bigger improvement in their salivary flow rate 6 months after treatment. The report also stated that if continued the treatment can increase the flow rate for up to 3 years.
Boosts the Immune System:
Human studies of the effects acupuncture have on the body’s immune system showed that it improved the immune systems response, as well as an increased the number of white blood cells.
Relieves Pain and Stiffness:
The Journal of Clinical Oncology conducted a small study in 2010, the result showed acupuncture helps relieve stiffness and pain in patients suffering from breast cancer who were treated with hormone therapy.
Reduces Pain and Shoulder Dysfunction:
Dr. David Pfister, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology service in New York City reported, in 2008, that patients experienced a significant reduction in pain and shoulder dysfunction after neck dissection and the reduction in dry mouth after receiving acupuncture treatments.
Reduces Hot Flashes:
A Yale University/University of Pittsburg, 2011 study of women experiencing hot flashes brought about by breast cancer treatments found that there was a 30 percent reduction in the number of hot flashes amongst the women who received acupuncture.
Acupuncture for The Relief of Nausea
Nausea is a common indication that something is wrong in the body. The severity and duration of the vomiting may lead to dehydration. In severe cases, vomiting can become a medical emergency. If a patient in vomiting, try to get them to sip small amounts of warm water or suck on ice chips in order to help the patient stay hydrated.
If you feel nauseous here are some common acupressure techniques that can help alleviate your symptoms.
1. Inner Gate or Pericardium 6 (P6)
You can locate this point by first placing your hand with your palm pointed up. Then, starting in the middle of the crease of your wrist, place three fingers below your wrist. Your index finger should be placed in the middle of your two tendons. If you are not able to locate your tendons, flex your wrist and them should prominently be displayed.
Press the Inner Gate lightly with y our thumb pad. Slowly increase the pressure and push deeper into the point. Continue to do this for five minutes if you use heavy pressure. However, some people are able to experience relief from nausea by continuously pressing on this point with moderate pressure. If you only need moderate pressure, you can apply the pressure for a longer period of time. This can also help with motion sickness.
2. San Jiao 5 (SJ5) or Outer Gate
If you did the Inner Gate and still feel nauseous, then you can activate the Inner Gate’s partner point. This is found on the opposite side of the Inner Gate on the forearm. Use your thumb on the Inner Gate and press your middle finger to the Outer Gate. Complete the circuit and squeeze both points together. Use moderate pressure and hold for a few seconds, before releasing. You can do this for up to five minutes. If you need some extra self-care during this technique, place your hands near your heart, close your eyes and do some deep breathing.
3. Abdominal Circular Motions
This exercise will cover a large area, but it’s less exacting. Put your hands on your hips, level with your waistline. Your fingers should be positioned below your ribs and your pinky should be resting in line with your belly button. Line your fingers up with your nipples. Press into your abdomen. Use circular motions, expanding outward a couple of inches. This is a soothing technique that is best performed when you are sitting down. Do this motion for 2 to 3 minutes.
Cancer Prevention
There are many items in the aisles of your local grocery store that can help prevent cancer and protect your health and your family’s health.
Carotenoids are found in produce items like carrots and cantaloupes. These vegetables and fruit contain a chemical that acts as an antioxidant and has been shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer.
Cruciferous vegetables are high in fiber and vitamins. They also contain phytochemicals which are anti-cancer. These vegetables are considered one of the healthiest types of food you can eat.
There is solid evidence that cruciferous vegetables can help protect against cancer, according to the American Institute for Cancer. Studies show that cruciferous vegetables were able to stop cancer cells ability to grow in the lungs, liver, breasts, colon, uterine lining and cervix. After tracking the diet of people over time, it was determined that men who ate a diet high in cruciferous vegetables had lower incidents of prostate cancer.
Ellagic Acid is found in cranberries, raspberries, pomegranates, strawberries, pecans and walnuts. This phytochemical acts as an antioxidant and can help break down and remove cancer-causing substances from the body.
Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in cocoa, blueberries, the skin of red grapes, peanuts, and cranberries. It has a high antioxidant property.
Whole grains are rich in fiber is contains antioxidants. It can help in fighting colon cancer and the phenolic compounds found in whole grains can reduce the risk of some gastrointestinal cancers.
Folate has been linked to a reduced risk of pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers. Folate is found in fruits, nuts, juices, peas, beans, poultry, dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, meat, grains and seafood.
Pomegranate juice is rich in antioxidants which can help prevent prostate and colon cancer.
Dry Mouth Relief
Xerostomia or dry mouth may sound harmless but can create many distressing symptoms. Normally, small glands in a person’s mouth produce saliva which is helpful when eating, tasting, speaking, swallowing.
Your saliva contributes to good oral health, by hindering the formation of cavities. Saliva is needed to reduce the build-up of harmful mouth acids. Xerostomia increases a likelihood of having bad breath, hoarse throat, and dry nasal passages.
Dry mouth can be an indication of an imbalance in a person’s yin and yang. The yin quality is the missing moisture, which may be missing altogether or present in small quantities. The yang quality is the heat that may be overactive and a major contributor to the yin dryness. This requires further examination in order to determine the proper treatment for this imbalance.
In order to start addressing this issue immediately, here are some things you can try at home.
Take small, frequent sips of water with a squeeze of lime or lemon. Drink this throughout the day to help maintain some moisture in your mouth.
Try to sleep with your mouth shut, breathing through your nose.
Avoid substances that cause dryness such as alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. Avoid foods and medications that have a diuretic effect. This will reduce the amount of fluid in your body, and your mouth.
End each meal with a warm, light vegetable broth that will coat your throat and mouth. This will help to retain some of the moisture in your mouth.
Discover the benefits of acupuncture today!
