Acupuncture helps cancer survivors with lymphoedema

An exploratory study from the UK suggests that acupuncture and moxibustion can help improve quality of life for cancer survivors with lymphoedema. The single-arm observational clinical study recruited 35 breast (BC) and head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors who had experienced mild-to-moderate lymphoedema for three or more months, following cancer treatment. Participants received seven individualised acupuncture treatments (S1), and six optional additional treatments (S2). Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP) scores for BC participants improved by an average of 1.28 points (on a 7-point scale) for S1, and 1.41 for S2. MYMOP scores for HNC participants improved by 2.29 points for S1 and 0.94 for S2. In addition, improvements in scores for pain and vitality were significant to four weeks after treatment. (Assessing the feasibility of using acupuncture and moxibustion to improve quality of life for cancer survivors with upper body lymphoedema. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2011 Sep 12. [Epub ahead of print]).

Categories: Cancer

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Comments

  1. Hello!
    What is S1 and S2? Australian acupuncture has slightly different terminology. I am a student of Acupuncture, also a Lymphoedema Therapist (Dr. Vodder School trained) and would be interested to know the points you used in this study for Acupuncture and moxibustion. Perhaps when I am finished my studies (end this Year) I will be able to further assist my lymphoedema/cancer patients by including acu and moxi in my treatments.

    I look forward to your reply,

    Regards

    Michelle Starr

Moxibustion

moxibustion at essex acupuncture

Warming points through Moxibustion is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It utilises a substance called Moxa, which is made from the aged leaves of a herb called mugwort. Like the sun, moxa produces a comforting dry heat helping to eliminate dampness and cold in the body, alleviating Aches and Pains and supporting Aging Joints.

Pain Relief

pain-relief

If you are one of those people who has exhausted the chemical pills and potions of Western Medicine, then Acupuncture could be for you.
There are many patients who have been sent home to grin and bear it and, after many months of putting up with discomfort, the discovery of natural pain relief in the form of an acupuncture treatment can be the most wonderful experience.

Battlefield

battlefield-acupuncture

Originally developed to treat pain in US Air Force pilots who were unable to take medication while flying, this ear acupuncture technique has proved so effective in the relief of pain that many soldiers across the american forces have been trained so they can treat each other on the battlefield.