There are five principles in providing oncology cancer support with Oriental medicine. These principles guide the practitioner in creating a treatment plan that addresses a patient’s constitution, blood stasis, benign masses and malignant tumors, and qi (life force or energy), as well as jing (which underlies the body’s regenerative ability).
Practitioners of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine don’t purport to cure cancer, but instead, use treatment modalities to help alleviate symptoms and complement a patient’s overall cancer treatment plan.
Chinese medicine is a specialized form of treatment delivered with measurement and combination of holistic therapies.
- Acupuncture and herbs formula specially guided by theoretical modalities.
- Our treatments are hands-on to achieve the best results.
- We take a tailored approach, with individualized treatments.
Focus on maintaining and balancing body, mind and spirit during the cancer treatment:
Specializes
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine treatment therapies can successfully integrate with comprehensive oncology treatment plans.
Pain Management
The efficacy of acupuncture for cancer-related pain depends on the nature of the pain. For example, acupuncture can work effectively for symptoms of dry mouth with painful swallowing, and may help treat post-surgical pain. In addition to the traditional acupuncture points used for patterns of disharmony and root cause, there are over twenty additional points for cancer-specific pain.
Managing and Reducing Side-Effects during Treatment
Many herbal formulas can tonify Qi, blood, and marrow to help a patient during long-term treatment with chemotherapy. Herbal formulas combined with acupuncture have proven especially effective for reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), and other gastrointestinal complaints. Studies have found that acupuncture and Oriental medicine can be as effective as drug therapy for relieving treatment-related depression.
Reducing Side-Effects and Regaining Vitality after Treatment
The side-effects related to chemotherapy and radiation can persist after treatment ends. Common side-effects or complications that can be helped by acupuncture and Oriental medicine include dry mouth, peripheral neuropathy, and cognitive impairments. It can also be effective for relieving some of the symptoms that persist after Hormone Inhibition Therapy for breast cancer in women, and prostate cancer in men
Reducing Cancer Risk and Thriving during Remission
In Oriental medicine, it is believed that environmental toxins should be avoided as much as possible. Cancer prevention is generally rooted in the Eight Taoist Principles to Health and Longevity. These principles are:
Primary care & prevention
Free-flowing spirituality (choice)
Trust (links spirituality and wellness)
Rest
Revitalization (exercise)
Balanced diet
Relationships (belonging, love, sex)
Self-understanding (outlook)
Sun Bing-yan, a modern Chinese medicine oncologist, stressed the root causes of cancer when he wrote that the Shen (spirit) must be balanced and moving freely, and the Spleen must be healthy (and helping the body to efficiently assimilate nutrients to help maintain physical strength), and the Qi strong and balanced. He also stressed the importance of detoxifying the body to improve digestion and elimination, and to clear phlegm.
Tai Chi and Qi Gong
Tai Chi and Qi Gong can also help increase the body’s ability to self-heal, and can help inhibit cancer growth (Chen & Yueng, 2002). Gentle body movements are done without risk for injury or exhaustion, making them appropriate for relieving symptoms through most stages of illness. During all stages of illness, this type of therapy can improve quality of life by enabling a patient to continue activities of daily life. It can also provide psycho-emotional support during life-threatening illness