Natural Health Articles

The Complementary Effect of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture in Cancer Treatment

by Wendy Zhang, Lac. Dipl. C. H.

Over 1.2 million new cases of invasive cancers and 1.5 million new cases of non-invasive cancers are diagnosed every year in the United States. More than 500,000 people die from cancer each year, which makes Cancer the second leading cause of death1. The warnings are clear: Cancer is on the rise. Therefore, prevention and treatment of invasive cancers as well as improving the quality of cancer patients’ lives have become major issues in the medical field.

As recent studies on prevention and treatment of invasive cancers progress, it has been discovered that the combined approach of western methods - surgery, radiation, chemo, and biological therapies- with eastern therapies such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, not only complement but also significantly enhance the western treatments’ efficacy. This integrative eastern-western method has in fact been practiced widely for many years in many Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, China, etc. In the United States, it is estimated that about 70% of cancer patients use alternative and/or complementary therapies2.

The application of herbal medicine and acupuncture has a history of more than two thousand years. Recent studies found that of the thousands of categorized and classified herbs, 500 of them, based on their therapeutic principles, are useful in treating cancer or complementing cancer treatment. Anti-cancer herbs, such as Astragalus, Reishi, Bai-zhu, Chinese Licorice, and Lycium, can boost the immune system, improve the reproduction of bone marrow and facilitate body secretion balance, hence reducing the side effects of conventional cancer treatments. Some herbs, such as Oldenlandiae, Andrograhidis, and Taraxaci have a direct inhibitive effect on tumor cells. Other herbs such as Tangerine, Ginger, and Bai-zhu are known to promote stomach muscle movement and strengthen enterogastric peristalsis function. They are often used for maintaining normal digestion and absorption, bowel movement, gas expulsion, and excellent for alleviating or suppressing nausea, vomiting, constipation, and poor appetite caused by radiation and chemo therapies. Jujube, when combined with Astragalus, has been proven to have a sedative effect on the nervous system. Both were traditionally used to treat anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia. In fact, the usage of herbal medicine complementing conventional cancer treatment has been well documented and proven to be more powerful than when the conventional western method was used alone.

Acupuncture is a part of health care systems of Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, etc. The general theory is that pattern energy/vital force (chi or qi) exists in the body and it is essential for health. Acupuncture plays an essential role in cancer treatment when used appropriately. There are three main functions of acupuncture.

• Reduce pain
• Consolidate the body’s defense mechanism
• Activate various organ functions

According to a review by a panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acupuncture has also been shown to be effective for relieving adult postoperative nausea and vomiting as well as chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.

In essence, using herbal medicine and acupuncture alongside of conventional therapies – surgery, radiation, chemo, and biological therapies – will complement, reinforce, and improve the treatments’ effectiveness by alleviating the toxic effects.  For more information speak with your practitioner or call LIFEnhance Center at 1.888.777.9631 (you can also visit their website at www.LIFEnhance.net).

Reference:

Dr. Murray M, et al. How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine. Riverhead Books. New York 2002