Berkeley Acupuncture Since 1987: Shen Acupuncture Clinic in Berkeley

ACUPUNCTURE FOR BREAST CANCER

Many treatments for breast cancer come with side effects such as hot flashes, fatigue, night sweats and others.

Now research suggests that acupuncture may help ease some of these side effects.

A study by Dr. Eleanor M. Walker, director of breast radiation oncology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit compared the effectiveness of acupuncture to drug therapy. "We found acupuncture was just as effective and had no side effects," said Dr. Walker.

"We were also able to show that the effect of acupuncture was longer lasting. After about two weeks of stopping drug therapy, women started having symptoms. With acupuncture, it was 15 weeks,"

Walker compared acupuncture with the antidepressant Effexor in 47 women with breast cancer. Each woman was randomly assigned to receive a 12-week course of Effexor or acupuncture. Before to the study, the women reported having at least 14 hot flashes per week.

After the study, both groups reported similar improvements in hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. However, there were no side effects reported in the acupuncture group, whereas some women in the antidepressant group had nausea, dry mouth, headache, trouble sleeping, constipation and other side effects.

Walker also said that many of those receiving acupuncture reported having more energy, a greater sense of well-being, and an improved sex drive.