Can Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs Treat
Cancer?
by Kath
Bartlett, LAc
Kath Bartlett, LAc practices
at the Asheville Center for Chinese Medicine, located in
downtown Asheville. Kath is a nationally certified Diplomate
of Acupuncture and Herbology. She received a Master's of
Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from the prestigious,
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. She has completed
advanced studies in the classic Chinese medical texts of
Herbology and Oriental medical theory with Dr. Min Fan,
formally of Beijing University. Kath can be contacted for
acupuncture treatments or herbal and dietary consultations
at Asheville Center for Chinese Medicine at 828/258-2777
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Kath,
A friend of mine, diagnosed with colon
cancer, has done both chemo and radiation but this has not
contained it. The cancer has not spread to the liver or
lungs yet, so there is still some hope for treatment. Do
you have knowledge of herbal or Chinese medicine that might
help her? It would be wonderful if you have something to
recommend. I am devastated at the thought of losing this
friend.
Helen Ross
San Jose, California
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Dear Helen,
To answer you question, yes, we do treat patients with cancer
using acupuncture and Chinese herbs. However, when treating these
patients, acupuncture generally takes a supportive role to western
treatment. Acupuncture and herbs can reduce the side effects of
chemo and radiation, such as nausea and diarrhea, and increase
energy. Between rounds of chemo, Chinese medicine can rebuild
the body from the damage done by the radiation. Recently I had
an exceptional case that shows how effective acupuncture and Chinese
herbs can be for cancer patients.
In early January, a patient came to me with a type of cancer
called a lymphoma. In fact, this was his forth recurrence since
1994. In the past, his doctors have treated the cancer with standard
methods of chemo and radiation. His doctors urged him to take
an early retirement from his very busy chiropractic practice,
as they felt the work stress contributed to the recurrence of
the cancer. Unfortunately last fall the cancer recurred, and the
doctors found that the lymph nodes were growing yet again. They
decided to take a watchful waiting approach, and re-scan in the
spring. If the nodes continued to grow, they would begin treatment.
At this point my patient called me to start a series of acupuncture
treatments in order to build his body's ability to fight the cancer.
I had recently taken a seminar on cancer treatment from a Chinese
doctor in Florida who is getting phenomenal results in reducing
the size and getting rid of tumors. We began a series of acupuncture
treatments and herbal therapy that lasted three months. As part
of this holistic approach, he made dietary changes, such as stopping
caffeine and reducing dairy products. In April, my patient returned
to his doctors to be scanned. He wrote to me to say,
"Well, your treatments helped quite a
bit. The latest scan shows that the nodes are almost completely
gone! My oncologist was so happily surprised that he has requested
information about the treatment protocols that you used. This
is a huge relief to my family and me. Thanks so much for doing
a great job."
Sincerely, Don Sinclair, Chiropractic Physician
It is considered unusual to use acupuncture and Chinese herbs
as the primary treatment method for cancer. In this particular
case, the patient was in a waiting period. It made sense to treat
the cancer with acupuncture and herbs, since it would not interfere
with standard, western medical treatment.
Many people are looking for effective treatment for cancer, and
other conditions that do not respond well to standard western
medicine. As with any type of treatment, holistic or standard
western medicine, no one can promise effective results one hundred
percent of the time. Integrating Chinese medicine with western
treatment can increase the effectiveness of medical care so that
the patient has a better chance of overcoming difficult to treat
conditions.
- Kath Bartlett, L. Ac.
If you have a question you would like answered about acupuncture
or Chinese herbal medicine, please e-mail Kath Bartlett, L. Ac.
at kath (at) UCLAlumni (dot) net, or call Asheville Center of
Chinese Medicine at (828) 258-2777.
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