Acupuncture

Some research reviews have shown positive results for acupuncture in controlling pain.

Several small studies showed that acupuncture can help with joint pain and stiffness. Joint pain is a common side effect of aromatase inhibitors. These are a type of hormone treatment for breast cancer.

In 2015, researchers looked at trials using acupuncture for cancer pain. They found that it was not possible to tell if acupuncture had helped. This was because of problems with the trial designs.

Another recent review in 2021 found that acupuncture and painkillers helped to reduce pain. This was compared to using painkillers alone.

Acupressure uses fingers to press on pressure points around the body. This is supposed to relieve pain in muscles. Some research has been done into acupressure and pain control for cancer pain. These studies were unreliable as they only had small numbers.

A systematic review in 2017 looked at the use of complementary therapies. This means that a group of experts gather all the evidence about a particular subject. They then go through it to work out whether there is any evidence to support it. The review was in people with breast cancer. It showed that acupuncture had a small benefit in treating pain.

Several studies looked at how acupuncture could help with nausea and vomiting when it was due to chemotherapy. In the studies, many people wore acupressure wrist bands (acubands). The wrist bands apply pressure to acupuncture points on the wrist. Most of these studies showed that acupressure might help with nausea and vomiting. But more good quality evidence was needed.

Another form of acupuncture is called auricular therapy. This is also called ear acupuncture. This uses needles in the ear to help with different symptoms. One of these is nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. A study showed that more evidence is needed before saying it works.

A systematic review in 2017 looked at acupuncture in people with breast cancer. It showed that doctors could use acupuncture with other anti-sickness medication. And that it could have a real benefit in helping with nausea and vomiting.

A small study has looked at using acupuncture to reduce symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms may include:

• numbness

• tingling

• sensation changes in the hands and feet

The study had a positive result, but it only had 47 patients take part.

The ACUFOCIN trial is looking at acupuncture for people with peripheral neuropathy. This is for people who have had chemotherapy for:

• a type of blood cancer called myeloma

• breast cancer 

• gastro intestinal cancer such as stomach cancer 

• ovarian cancer

The team found in this small trial, that adding a 10 week course of acupuncture to usual treatment helped. It improved the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy that chemotherapy can cause. 

Find out more about the ACUFOCIN trial

Hot flushes and sweats are a common side effect of treatment. This is in people having treatment for breast, prostate or womb cancers.

Several studies have had varying results on the use of acupuncture for hot flushes.

A 2013 review of acupuncture trials with 281 people found that there was not enough evidence to say that it can help with hot flushes. It concluded that we need more research.

The AcCliMaT study in 2016 was with people with breast cancer. They had hot flushes. It found that people who had acupuncture, had fewer symptoms.  

A review study in 2017 said that acupuncture had a small effect on improving hot flushes. This study was also in people with breast cancer.

Lymphoedema is swelling caused by a build-up of lymph fluid. It can be a side effect of surgery or radiotherapy treatment. During surgery the surgeon may remove the lymph nodes which usually drain the fluid. Radiotherapy can cause scarring to the lymph nodes.

Lymphoedema can cause discomfort, pain and difficulty moving. There is no cure for lymphoedema, but treatments can relieve symptoms.

Korean researchers did a systematic review in 2018. This means that a group of experts gather all the evidence about a particular subject. They then go through it to work out whether there is any evidence to support it. The review looked at the benefits of acupuncture in traditional Korean medicine for people with lymphoedema. People in all the studies had breast cancer. They found that they need more research to see if acupuncture works.

Tiredness (fatigue) after chemotherapy is hard to manage and can have a big effect on your life. It sometimes lasts for years.

A ​meta analysis​ in 2018 found acupuncture to be an effective treatment for cancer related fatigue. The analysis looked into a total of 1327 patients across 10 trials. And concluded that acupuncture should be recommended as an alternative therapy for fatigue in cancer patients. This was particularly for breast cancer patients and those currently undergoing anti cancer treatment. However, several of the trials in the meta analysis were at high risk of bias. And the methods were unreliable.

However, another meta analysis in 2017 found acupuncture and acupressure did not reduce fatigue in cancer patients. This analysis looked into 12 trials for acupuncture and acupressure.

Researchers did another review study in 2017. It was looking at people with breast cancer. The study found that acupuncture might have a small effect on tiredness.

Acupuncture is used for a dry mouth (xerostomia). This is in people having radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Some people have it for pain and dry mouth after neck surgery or a dry mouth in advanced cancer.

A review study in 2021 said that acupuncture was a safe treatment. It suggested that doctors could use it as a complementary therapy in palliative care. This is if the usual treatments didn’t work. Palliative care means having treatment that helps to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

In 2013, a small trial looked at how 145 patients felt after having a course of acupuncture to help with dry mouth. These patients had had radiotherapy to their head and neck. They found it made a difference. And gave patients relief from their dry mouth.

 A systematic review study in 2018 looked at how well acupuncture worked for a dry mouth caused by different conditions. It included a dry mouth caused by radiotherapy treatment for cancer. The researchers found that there was not enough evidence to say that acupuncture is a treatment for a dry mouth.

Several small studies have looked into acupuncture or acupressure for cancer related breathlessness.

A 2020 review found some evidence that acupuncture might help relieve breathlessness. This was when it was due to advanced cancer. We need bigger, good quality trials before we can know for sure.

Researchers looked at acupuncture and morphine as a treatment for breathlessness. They compared:

• acupuncture

• morphine

• a combination of the two

They found that acupuncture, morphine and the combination helped to relieve breathlessness. Acupuncture also relieved anxiety. They suggested that it was a good alternative to morphine.

Several studies have looked at how acupuncture can help to reduce anxiety or mood changes. A review of studies in 2013 found no evidence that it can help. It suggested that we need better-designed studies to find out.

A review study in 2017 found that acupuncture could have a small benefit in helping with anxiety.

Several studies have looked at whether acupuncture can help people with cancer sleep better. A review of studies in 2017 found that at the moment there is not enough evidence. It suggested that we need more research.

Some people think that acupuncture works because of a placebo effect. The placebo effect means that people feel the treatment helps, even though it makes no difference. This is because they believe that it will work.

The benefits might just be due to having the therapist's full attention. Or it could be from the chance to lie down and relax and knowing that the therapist is listening.

Some studies have compared true acupuncture with sham acupuncture to look into this. Sham acupuncture uses a special needle that does not penetrate the skin.

Some studies showed that the real acupuncture works better than the sham acupuncture. This was for some symptoms. Others showed no difference.

This organisation is for physiotherapists who use acupuncture as part of their treatment. The website has some general information about acupuncture and you can search for a practitioner in your local area.

AACP Limited Sefton House Adam Court Newark Road Peterborough PE1 5PP

Phone: 01733 390007 Email: sec@aacp.uk.com

Visit the AACP website

The ATCM is a professional body for practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the UK. Members are qualified, fully insured and follow a strict code of ethics and professional conduct. They have an online database to search for registered practitioners in your area.

ATCM Unit 15 Siddeley House 50 Canbury Park Road Kingston  KT2 6LX

Phone: 0204 547 6560 Email: info@atcm.co.uk

Visit the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture UK website

The BAcC is the UK's largest, member-led, professional body for traditional acupuncturists. The register is regulated and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care. You can search on the website for an acupuncturist in your area.

63 Jeddo Road London W12 9HQ

Phone: 020 8735 0400 Email: info@acupuncture.org.uk

Visit the BacC website

BMAS is a registered charity. It wants to promote acupuncture within medicine for the public benefit. You can find information about acupuncture on the website and search for a practitioner in your area.

BMAS House 2/3 Winnington Court Northwich Cheshire CW8 1AQ

Phone: 01606 786 782 Email: admin@thebmas.com

Visit the BMAS website

The FHT is the largest professional association for therapists, including acupuncturists. They have a register of therapists who are qualified, insured, and who follow the FHT strict Code of Conduct and Professional Practice.

Aspire House 10 Annealing Close Eastleigh SO50 9PX

Phone: 02380 624 350 Email: info@fht.org.uk

FHT website - find a therapist

The RCHM maintains a register of practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine. This includes acupuncturists. All RCHM members are also members of the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (EHTPA). All the acupuncturists listed with the RCHM are at least degree level trained in acupuncture.

RCHM 21-27 Lambs Conduit Street London WC1N 3GS

Phone: 03 333 707945 Email: office@rchm.co.uk

Visit the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine website