Acupuncture is an alternative healing technique that uses thin needles inserted at specific points on the body to stimulate healing and restore proper energy flows throughout the body. It is an Asian technique that has gained popularity in Western countries, especially as a complementary alternative cancer treatment.
While acupuncture will not actually cure cancer, it is a commonly used complementary cancer treatment. Specific acupuncture treatments are known to reduce nausea and vomiting, help patients deal with the stress related to fighting cancer, decrease pain levels and relieve symptoms of fatigue in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. This can be very helpful, especially if you are experiencing adverse reactions to your chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
Acupuncture is also used immediately post-surgery to reduce swelling of tissues, relieve the patient of pain and reduce the chances of the development of hematomas. A specific form of acupuncture, called energetic acupuncture, is also used to impart a sense of calm and well-being in the patient. This is done using fine, slender needles, electricity and herbal moxibustion.
In some alternative circles, acupuncture is used as a direct cancer treatment, but these efforts are met with skepticism from most Western doctors. Most approved acupuncture cancer treatments are complementary treatments, not meant as an actual treatment for a specific kind of cancer, such as breast cancer or lung cancer. Instead, acupuncture is used to ease the pain and symptoms of fighting cancer.
When seeking acupunctural cancer treatment, it is important that you find an acupuncturist who is certified and uses sterile, single-use needles. Ask your doctor for help finding a licensed acupuncturist near you.
 | Chinese acupuncture's purpose is to help restore the balance and flow Qi throughout the body by applying pressure to specific points using a variety of techniques, including needles, massage and suction. |
 | Ear acupuncture, as its name implies, is a form of acupuncture performed solely on specific parts of the ear as a way to treat ailments of the whole body. |
 | Acupuncture body points are chosen along meridians to open up blocked life energy forces (chi) throughout the body, stimulating healing and the balance of energy in the body. |
Although acupuncture, the process of inserting thin needles into the skin in order to relieve certain ailments, developed in China more than 2,000 years ago, it certainly has relevance today, considering that it has been known to treat many different illnesses that modern medicine has been unsuccessful at treating. |
Acupuncture is a Chinese medical practice in which specific body areas are pierced with fine needles for therapeutic purposes or to relieve pain. It is an imported practice that goes against the American way of practicing medicine which includes pharmaceuticals and surgery. |
