Acupuncture shows promise in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) causes pain and mobility problems and may be a contributing factor for patients to terminate or suspend chemotherapy treatment. CIPN may also contribute to discomfort and debilitation for months to years after completing chemotherapy.
Most medical practitioners agree that there is not an effective medical cure for CIPN (Schroder S. Meyer-Hamm G., et. al., Acupuncture in Medicine (2011), p. 1). However, a promising pilot study conducted at the University Medical Center in Hamburg Germany suggests that “Acupuncture has a positive effect on CIPN,” (Schroder S. Meyer-Hamm, Acupuncture in Medicine (2011), p. 1). The study cited here concludes that nerve conduction studies as well as the patient reports of symptoms showed positive responses in the patients who completed a 10-week course of acupuncture treatment for CIPN. “These findings are of special significance since PN [peripheral neuropathy] is otherwise almost untreatable but seems to respond to treatment by acupuncture” (Schroder S., Meyer-Hamm G., et al., Acupuncture in Medicine (2011), p. 3).
References:
Schroeder, s., Meyer-Hamme, G., Epplee “Acupuncture for Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN): A Pilot Study Using Neurography, Acupuncture in Medicine (2011). acupuncture today.