Integrative Care for Breast Cancer: Oncologists Approve
Acupuncture Today Staff
| DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), representing an estimated 40,000 oncology physicians from all subspecialties, has endorsed the Society for Integrative Oncology's 2017 evidence-based guideline on the use of acupuncture and related integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment.
An ASCO expert panel reviewed the guideline contents and recommendations, determining "that the recommendations in the SIO guideline ... are clear, thorough, and based on the most relevant scientific evidence."
Key recommendations in the guideline as endorsed by the ASCO include the following, published in the society's online guideline section and the Journal of Clinical Oncology, an ASCO publication:
"Music therapy, meditation, stress management, and yoga are recommended for anxiety/stress reduction.
"Meditation, relaxation, yoga, massage, and music therapy are recommended for depression/mood disorders.
"Meditation and yoga are recommended to improve quality of life.
"Acupressure and acupuncture are recommended for reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
"Acetyl-L-carnitine is not recommended to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy because of a possibility of harm.
"No strong evidence supports the use of ingested dietary supplements to manage breast cancer treatment–related adverse effects."
Click here to review the ASCO endorsement as published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Click here to access the SIO 2017 guideline. (Note that the ASCO did not endorse the SIO guideline in totality and added several discussion points.)
Acupuncture can provide constipation relief while maintaining a healthy pregnancy. A combination of San Jiao 6 (Zhi Gou) and Stomach 36 (Zu San Li) is excellent for treating constipation during pregnancy. San Jiao 6 is the shu-stream and fire point of the San Jiao channel. It can regulate the qi of the three jiaos, unblock the qi of the fu organs, descend counterflow fire, open the orifices, activate the collaterals to disperse stagnation, and eliminate distention to stop pain.
One of the longest nerves in the body is known as the vagus nerve (VN). The VN is the 10th pair of cranial nerves that originates at the brain stem in the medulla oblongata. This nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a part of the ANS. Research suggests ear acupuncture can activate the VN.
Mitochondria, the cell’s “powerhouses,” generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), regulate oxidative stress, and coordinate vital cellular functions. When mitochondrial health declines, patients may experience widespread effects, from impaired muscle recovery to cognitive decline. The mitochondrial theory of aging even suggests progressive mitochondrial deterioration is a central mechanism in chronic disease and systemic frailty. Photobiomodulation (PBM), the therapeutic use of red and near-infrared light, directly targets mitochondria to restore energy metabolism.
