Cancer Pain Acupuncture Research

A 2019 study concluded that acupuncture not only reduced cancer pan, but also decreased the need for pain medicine. This cancer pain acupuncture research study was entitled, “Clinical Evidence for Association of Acupuncture and Acupressure With Improved Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”.

Research Study

The study, published in JAMA Oncology, noted that acupuncture was associated with significantly reduced cancer pain and decreased need for pain meds. More than 70% of patients with cancer have to deal with pain related to their disease. This, coupled with the growing problem of the overuse of prescription opioid drugs, has motivated doctors to seek out non-pharmacological pain management options such as acupuncture. But does it work?

To address this question, this cancer pain acupuncture research study reviewed 17 randomized clinical trials that included 1,111 patients and a meta-analysis of 14 additional trials with 920 patients. The studies were conducted in the United States, Australia, France, China, Brazil and Korea.

Cancer Pain Acupuncture Research

Of the 1,111 participants, 46% were in the test group while 52% were in the control group. Nine of the 17 studies were sham-controlled, meaning that those participants received placebo (fake) acupuncture. Six studies compared real acupuncture to fake acupuncture while seven compared acupuncture with pain medicine.

Results

Real acupuncture, compared with sham acupuncture, was superior in reducing pain intensity. Furthermore, combining acupuncture with pain relief therapy also reduced the intensity of pain, leading to a reduction in opioid use.

Acupuncture was found to have either no side effects or only minor side effects. Six studies reported no side effects with no patients dropping out. In other studies, minor side effects were limited to slight bruising on some points or minor pinching with the insertion of some needles.

Moving Forward With Acupuncture

While the significant connection between acupuncture and reduced cancer pain is promising, the researchers explained that incorporating acupuncture into mainstream pain management plans for patients with cancer would take work. Patients often lack information to make informed decisions or access to quality acupuncture.

However, the benefits seen in this cancer pain acupuncture research suggest that acupuncture should be encouraged in addressing cancer pain as a viable option for patients in search of non-pharmacological pain management therapies.

Acupuncture Reduces Need For Pain Meds

This cancer pain acupuncture research, as well as our own clinical experience since 2005, point to the benefit of acupuncture for pain management. As opposed to medications, acupuncture has no negative side effects, and results last much longer. Many times acupuncture can resolve pain completely.

In addition, acupuncture resolves the unwanted side effects of many cancer treatments, including hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, insomnia and depression.

Next Steps

At Raleigh Acupuncture we have been helping cancer patients resolve pain and discomfort associated with their condition and treatment. Acupuncture is effective for most cancer treatments. There are no negative side effects and results are long lasting.

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References

He Y, Guo X, May BH, et al. Clinical Evidence for Association of Acupuncture and Acupressure With Improved Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Oncol. 2020;6(2):271–278. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.5233