Acupuncture Relieves Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathic Pain

A recent study performed at the Hamburg school of medicine in Germany shows that Acupuncture has been proven through Randomized clinical control study to increase nerve conduction in patients with Chemo-Induced Neuropathic Pain (CINP).  Neuropathic pain is described as when the nerve fibers themselves may be damaged, injured or idiopathic in origin. These damaged nerve fibers then send incorrect or wrong signals to other pain centers in the body. Nerve injury includes a change in nerve function not only at the site of injury but in areas around the injury as well.
The study performed by the British Medical Journal and Acupuncture in Medicine found “an improvement in the nerve conduction study after treatment in five of the six patients treated with acupuncture. In the control group, one patient showed improvement, one showed impairment, and three showed no difference in the nerve conduction study. ‘The data suggest that acupuncture has a positive effect on CIPN as measured by objective parameters nerve conduction study” (Lowry 2011). As acupuncture moves further into the medical arena it is becoming clearer how effective and how beneficial it is in many disciplines and specialties in medicine.
People suffering from CINP and other nerve related injuries or diseases can now find clinically proven treatments for their pain through acupuncture. This is a great option as it does not have the negative side effects of many drugs or the potential for addiction or abuse. Many people suffering from nerve related pain also find that they become tolerant to their medication and that they no longer provide relief from their pain any longer. Lowry finalizes the research by stating that "this pilot study shows encouraging results for the application of acupuncture in CIPN.”
One of the researchers in the study Dr. Schroeder reports that "It has been shown that acupuncture may increase the blood flow in the limbs," he said, explaining how acupuncture might work in this condition. "Increased blood flow to the vasa nervorum and dependent capillary beds supplying the neurons may contribute to nerve repair with measurable improvement of axons or myelin sheaths" (Lowry 2011). This potential mechanism of action also explains how acupuncture could help other injuries and problem areas in the human body.  The increase in blood flow will help to allow the body’s own healing mechanisms to reach the injured area more quickly. Like many things in medicine we do not completely know how acupuncture benefits the body, what we do know for fact and through proven medical and clinical studies is that it does work. You can read the article and get more information at this website http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/25131
If you know of any of the one in five Americans that has some type of cancer and is experiencing CINP or anyone who is having nerve pain make sure you make them aware of the acupuncture option in their care, it may just be the best thing that they have tried for their pain.

How Acupuncture can help the effects of Chemotherapy

How Acupuncture can help the effects of Chemotherapy. Most of you all know my philosophy, “Try everything until you find what works best for you.” It is estimated that 11 million people across the country are suffering or diagnosed with one form of cancer or another. The effects of the treatment of cancer can sometimes be far worse than the patient or their family ever thought. Acupuncture has been used for since the invention of chemotherapy to treat the side effects of the chemotherapy. Many hospitals are even adding Acupuncture to their provided services to help those people going through chemotherapy. Here is a great news article about Acupuncturists working in hospitals, http://www.nbc-2.com/story/15696599/health-matters-using-acupuncture-for-side-effects-of-chemotherapy. The most common side effects of chemotherapy as reported by the National Cancer Institute include; Anemia, Appetite Changes, Bleeding Problems, Constipation, Diarrhea, Fatigue (Feeling Weak and Very Tired), Mouth and Throat Changes, Nausea and Vomiting, Nerve Changes, Pain, and Swelling. Many people are affected by these common side effects however, many people do not know that Acupuncture can effectively help those patients manage or resolve the life limiting side effects of chemotherapy. Recent research in the Journal of Complimentary Therapies in Medicine concluded that, “Acupuncture shows great potential in the management of cancer-related fatigue” (Molassiotis). It has also been studied from the department of Oncology in Hamburg Germany that, “Acupuncture as applied here seems to be effective in preventing nausea and vomiting in pediatric cancer patients” (Gottschling). The research is clear that Acupuncture can help those people suffering from the effects of chemotherapy and improve their quality of life as well as to limit their negative effects from the chemotherapy. One of the most common and proven effects of Acupuncture for chemotherapy is the decrease in Nausea reported from chemotherapy patients. In fact this is one of the main reasons health insurance companies cover Acupuncture for the treatment of the side effects of chemotherapy is because of the exhaustive research on the effectiveness of Acupuncture to resolve or manage the nausea caused by chemotherapy. If the evidence supports the use why not use it? If you know of anyone suffering the effects of chemotherapy let them know that there is help out there. Again, our philosophy is that you should try everything until you find what works best for you.