Acupuncture - National Cancer Institute
Acupuncture - National Cancer Institute
NCI Public Inquiries Office
6116 Executive Boulevard
Room 3036A
Bethesda, MD 20892-8322
1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
TTY: 1-800-332-8615
cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov
Overview
Acupuncture applies needles, heat, pressure, and other treatments to one or more places on the skin known as acupuncture points (see Question 1).
Acupuncture has been used in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years as part of traditional Chinese medicine (see Question 2).
Acupuncture has been used in the United States for about 200 years (see Question 2).
Acupuncture is used to treat many illnesses and ailments; however, it is mainly used to control pain, including cancer pain (see Question 2).
Acupuncture may work by causing physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain (see Question 3).
Laboratory and animal studies of acupuncture for cancer treatment suggest acupuncture can reduce vomiting caused by chemotherapy and may help a person's immune system work better (see Question 5).
The most acupuncture research on cancer has been done in China (see Question 6).
Most acupuncture research with cancer patients studies the use of acupuncture to relieve symptoms caused by cancer treatment (see Question 6).
There is strong evidence from clinical trials that acupuncture relieves nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy (see Question 6).
It is important that acupuncture treatment be given by a qualified practitioner who uses a new set of disposable (single-use) needles for each patient (see Question 7).
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