With Acupuncture @ (NAPS)—Cancercaregivers are increasingly integrating medical acupuncture with traditional can- cer therapies to relieve patients of pain, lack of appetite, sleep disorders, and nausea and vomiting often caused by the disease and its common treatments. Because it has no adverse effects, medical acupunctureoffers relief without interfering with chemotherapy or other drug interactions. “Manypeople suffering from all stages of cancer have difficulty tolerating intense chemotherapy treatments,” said Gene George Hong, M.D., of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA). “The goal of medical acupunctureis to reduce the negative effects of the traditional treatments that kill the cancerouscells to better enable the body to heal itself and improve the patient’s quality of life,” he added. During a medical acupuncture session, Dr. Hong inserts very thin, stainless steel acupuncture needles to precise points on the body in order to trigger the release of the body’s natural hormones and chemicals. Patients usually experience diminished pain and nausea within five or six sessions over a two to four week period. As with all medical treatments, anyone considering medical acu- puncture should consult with their primary physician. To find a trained, licensed med- ical acupuncturist in your area, call the AAMA’s referral service at (800) 521-2262, or visit www.med icalacupuncture.org.
