Study Shows Acupuncture Relieves Hot Flashes from Chemo

[Guest guest]

A new study from the International Journal of Radiation Oncology shows that

acupuncture is as effective as drug therapy for relieving hot flashes due to

chemotherapy in breast cancer patients as drug therapy, but without the side

effects. The effects of acupuncture were found to be longer lasting then

Effexor and had added benefits of increased energy, clarity of thought,

sexual desire, and overall sense of well-being.

 

For a 2 minute video with the studies lead author, Dr. Eleanor Walker click

this link:

 

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASTROMeeting/tb/10990

 

or read the article from med page today, pasted below my signature (scroll

down).

 

I've also attached a patient-friendly article about the study.

 

--

Kath Bartlett, LAc, MS, BA UCLA

Oriental Medicine

Experienced, Dedicated, Effective

 

Flying Dragon Liniment:

Effective pain relief for muscles & joints

Formulated by Kath Bartlett, Traditional Chinese Herbalist

Available at Asheville Center for , or from the following

suppliers:

 

Kamwo Herbal Pharmacy: NY - Chinatown

https://www.kamwo.com/shop/product.php?productid=17442 & cat=0 & page=1

 

Golden Needle Acupuncture, Herbal & Medical Supply - Candler, NC

http://www.goldenneedleonline.com/index.php?page=categories & category=14 & vendor= & \

product=5554 & pg=

 

 

 

Asheville Center For

70 Woodfin Place, Suite West Wing Two

Asheville, NC 28801 828.258.2777

kbartlett

www.AcupunctureAsheville.com <http://www.acupunctureasheville.com/>

 

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ASTRO: Acupuncture Relieves Vasomotor Symptoms in Breast Cancer

Patients By Charles

Bankhead, Staff Writer, MedPage Today

Published: September 22, 2008

Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus,

MD<http://www.medpagetoday.com/reviewer.cfm?reviewerid=30>;

Emeritus Professor

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. BOSTON, Sept. 22 -- For

breast cancer patients with treatment-related vasomotor symptoms,

acupuncture may offer an effective, durable alternative to drug therapy with

fewer side effects, researchers found.

 

Acupuncture and venlafaxine (Effexor) proved equally effective for reducing

hot flashes, night sweats, and other effects of antiestrogen therapy,

Eleanor M. Walker, M.D., of Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, reported

here at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology meeting.

 

However, patients randomized to acupuncture reported no adverse effects,

whereas those treated with venlafaxine reported a number of side effects.

 

Moreover, the therapeutic effects of acupuncture persisted longer after

treatment ended compared with patients on the antidepressant, the

researchers said. Action Points

------------------------------

 

- Explain to patients that this study suggests that acupuncture might

relieve breast cancer patients' treatment-related vasomotor symptoms without

troubling side effects of drug therapy.

 

- Note that the findings were based on a small number of patients and did

not include a placebo control group.

 

- Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented orally

at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be

preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

 

" Women who took the drug therapy started to have an increase in the number

and intensity of hot flashes within two weeks of discontinuing the drug

therapy, whereas women who had acupuncture didn't start to have an increase

in the number or severity of hot flashes for 14 or 15 weeks after

discontinuing therapy. "

 

Vasomotor symptoms are a common consequence of antiestrogen therapy for

breast cancer patients and can be debilitating in some cases. Hormonal

therapy, a standard treatment for menopausal symptoms, are contraindicated

for breast cancer patients, Dr. Walker noted.

 

Antidepressants, particularly the selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors

(SSRIs), effectively relieve adverse effects of antiestrogen therapy, but

side effects, which can include sexual dysfunction, are a problem for some

patients, and others do not want to take additional medication, Dr. Walker

added.

 

Some evidence had suggested that acupuncture can reduce treatment-related

vasomotor symptoms, so the researchers examined the issue in a trial

involving 47 breast cancer patients reporting significant vasomotor symptoms

during treatment with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor.

 

At study entry, every patient reported a minimum of 14 hot flashes a week.

 

Patients randomized to acupuncture had two treatment sessions weekly for the

first four weeks, followed by weekly sessions during the final eight weeks.

 

Patients treated with venlafaxine received standard daily doses used to

manage vasomotor symptoms.

 

Beginning a week before randomized therapy, patients maintained a daily

diary of the number and severity of hot flashes, which they continued during

the study and then at specified intervals for a year after the study ended.

 

The primary endpoint was the change in frequency and severity of hot flashes

during the 12 weeks of treatment.

 

Secondary outcomes included menopause-specific quality of life, general

health status, change in score on the Beck Depression Inventory, and

treatment-related adverse effects.

 

Patients in both groups reported significant improvement in menopausal

symptoms, quality of life, and depressive symptoms, and the extent of

improvement was similar with either treatment, Dr. Walker reported.

 

Patients in the venlafaxine group reported a variety of adverse effects that

included nausea, dry mouth, headache, sleep disturbance, dizziness, vision

disturbance, increased blood pressure, fatigue, and anxiety.

 

The acupuncture group not only reported no treatment-related side effects

but said they had improvement in energy, clarity of thought, sexual desire,

and overall sense of well-being.

 

Future studies will focus on elucidating the mechanisms of action by which

acupuncture relieves vasomotor symptoms, the researchers said. Evaluations

in patients with prostate cancer and peripheral neuropathy also are planned.

 

Dr. Walker and her co-investigators reported no conflicts of interest.

 

*Primary source: *International Journal of Radiation Oncology - Biology -

Physics

Source reference:

Walker EM, et al " Acupuncture for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms in

breast cancer patients receiving hormone suppression treatment " *Int J

Radiat Oncol Biol Phys* 2008; 72(1 Suppl):S103. Abstract 228.

 

 

 

--

Kath Bartlett, LAc, MS, BA UCLA

Oriental Medicine

Experienced, Dedicated, Effective

 

Flying Dragon Liniment:

Effective pain relief for muscles & joints

Formulated by Kath Bartlett, Traditional Chinese Herbalist

Available at Asheville Center for , or from the following

suppliers:

 

Kamwo Herbal Pharmacy: NY - Chinatown

https://www.kamwo.com/shop/product.php?productid=17442 & cat=0 & page=1

 

Golden Needle Acupuncture, Herbal & Medical Supply - Candler, NC

http://www.goldenneedleonline.com/index.php?page=categories & category=14 & vendor= & \

product=5554 & pg=

 

 

 

Asheville Center For

70 Woodfin Place, Suite West Wing Two

Asheville, NC 28801 828.258.2777

kbartlett

www.AcupunctureAsheville.com