H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Acupuncture

Overview

• Acupuncture applies needles, heat, pressure, and other treatments to one or more places on the skin known as acupuncture points (see Question 1).
• Acupuncture has been used in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years as part of traditional Chinese medicine (see Question 2).
• Acupuncture has been used in the United States for about 200 years (see Question 2).
• Acupuncture is used to treat many illnesses and ailments; however, it is mainly used to control pain, including cancer pain (see Question 2).
• Acupuncture may work by causing physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain (see Question 3).
• Laboratory and animal studies of acupuncture for cancer treatment suggest acupuncture can reduce vomiting caused by chemotherapy and may help a person's immune system work better (see Question 5).
• The most acupuncture research on cancer has been done in China (see Question 6).
• Most acupuncture research with cancer patients studies the use of acupuncture to relieve symptoms caused by cancer treatment (see Question 6).
• There is strong evidence from clinical trials that acupuncture relieves nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy (see Question 6).
• It is important that acupuncture treatment be given by a qualified practitioner who uses a new set of disposable (single-use) needles for each patient (see Question 7).