It’s true that acupuncture for cancer and its effects on the body won’t actually be able to cure the dreaded disease. However, it can make things easier and make the road to recovery a lot less bumpy. In a nutshell, acupuncture can make you feel better and perhaps even help give you the morale boost to keep fighting.

 

 

The effects of cancer and cancer treatments

Cancer can be a deadly disease, and fighting it can be harrowing and difficult. The disease develops when the body fails to recognize and correct genetic mistakes in the body’s cells. These mistakes can give rise to mutations that develop into cancer.

 

These cancer cells themselves can affect the body in different ways, but even the process of fighting the disease can take its toll. Cancer treatments are also notorious for being difficult to go through, with side effects that can weaken a person and affect their day-to-day life.

 

How cancer impacts the body and mind

When cancer cells spread, they begin to affect the body’s different systems. Cancer can alter the way that the body works and influence the effectiveness of the circulatory system, lymphatic system, immune system, and hormone system.

 

Other than these, cancer can also make the body lose both fat and muscle mass, resulting in unhealthy weight loss. Because some types of cancer compromise the immune system, you’re also more prone to infections borne by pathogens like bacteria and viruses. The skin and the lungs are particularly vulnerable, with pneumonia being a possible and sometimes fatal infection.

 

However, cancer doesn’t just affect patients physically. It also has a significant emotional and mental impact. Getting diagnosed with cancer, even when it’s in still in its early stages, can be a terrifying experience. This can lead to stress, which can affect sleep, which can also worsen your health.

 

Side effects of cancer treatments

While cancer treatments can and have saved lives, they are definitely not a walk in the park. There are a lot of adverse reactions associated with various cancer treatments, and it’s best to be fully up to speed about how each treatment suggested by your oncologist can affect you.

 

Hair and weight loss are perhaps the best known effects of cancer treatments, but there several more. Treatments can cause anemia, changes in eating habits and appetite, and pain. Fatigue is also perhaps the most common side effect, and it can result from anemia or the emotional toll of coping with treatments.

 

Patients may also notice many other changes in their body. Sores may appear on the skin, cuticles may turn red, and nails may crack or turn a dark yellow. Patients may also experience nausea and vomiting, urinary issues, constipation, diarrhea, and fertility issues in both men and women. There are other issues that can also occur, like lymphedema, nerve problems, delirium, and neutropenia.

 

Learn more about the effects of cancer treatments and how acupuncture can help patients.

 

Acupuncture for cancer

 

It’s important to reiterate that acupuncture is not a cure. It’s not an alternative to chemotherapy or to any other treatments for cancer. If you choose to undergo acupuncture, it cannot replace cancer treatments planned by your oncologist. Acupuncture can help make you feel better and healthier, but that doesn’t mean that you actually are getting better. However, acupuncture can help make beating the disease easier on you.

 

Acupuncture for cancer has also been found to function well as a complement to Western medicine. Before you book an appointment with an acupuncturist, however, make sure to discuss your options with your doctors first. That way, you and your medical team are all up to speed.

 

The basics of acupuncture

Acupuncture is an important component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The principles of TCM state that a life force called qi (pronounced “chee”) circulates through the body along markers called meridians. Qi is believed to regulate a person’s well-being, and when it goes out of balance, it can result in illness.The simulation of meridians of acupoints through various methods, like acupuncture, can restore the balance and the normal flow of qi.

 

At the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic, you can experience the different modalities of TCM and get help restoring your qi to its normal flow. The clinic’s owner and resident Licensed Acupuncturist, Tram Pham, can help patients with a wide variety of issues. She has a Master’s Degree in Chinese Medicine from Yo San University, as well as years of experience dispensing all-natural and holistic health care to numerous clients.

 

How acupuncture can help

Acupuncture for cancer can help support you during your treatment and recovery. Cancer and cancer treatments have a variety of negative impacts on your body, which can not only weaken you and make you susceptible to other diseases, but can also affect you emotionally and mentally.

 

An important benefit of acupuncture is pain relief. Studies have found that acupuncture can be effective in helping reduce and relieve pain caused by a variety of issues. This means that acupuncture can help reduce the amount of pain medication you take, which means there are fewer side effects that you’ll have to watch out for.

 

Cancer treatments can also cause vomiting and nausea, which acupuncture has also been found to be able to reduce nausea and incidents of vomiting among cancer patients. The treatments can affect digestion in various ways as well, including making eating difficult due to swelling and reducing appetite.

 

Other than that, acupuncture can also lift your mood and improve your outlook. It can help relieve stress and make you feel happier and more relaxed, thus making you more emotionally stable.

 

 

Acupuncture at the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic

Dr. Jean Yu founded the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic in 1986, then sold it to Dr. Henry Han some years later. After Dr. Han’s tragic demise in 2016, the clinic was closed for a few months. However, in the same year, Tram Pham re-opened the clinic and continued its tradition of providing the people Santa Barbara holistic and all-natural healthcare.

 

If you would like to experience acupuncture for cancer treatments or other health issues, you can book an appointment by calling us at 805-563-0222 or emailing us at info@santabarbaraherbclinic.com. Tram also offers consultations over the phone or via video call. Contact us today to begin your journey to better health!

 

 

 

References

https://www.livestrong.com/article/116808-characteristics-breast-cancer-lumps/

 

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/body-systems-and-cancer

 

https://www.cancervic.org.au/living-with-cancer/emotions/physical-effects

 

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects

 

https://www.uwhealth.org/alternative-medicine/top-5-benefits-of-acupuncture-in-cancer-care/38546

 

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/acupuncture-pdq#link/_57

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2642987/