A study by UK researchers in the university of manchester concluded that acupuncture is an effective intervention at managing cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and improving patients quality of life.

A group of 302 breast cancer patients participated in a randomised controlled trial that compared acupuncture with enhanced usual care (which in this case meant they received a information booklet about how to manage fatigue).

6 Acupuncture treatments were given in total over a period of six weeks with patients attending once a week and receiving acupuncture at 3 commonly used points bilaterally, i.e on both side of the body, in this case on both arms and legs;

  • Zusanli ST-36
  • Sanyinjiao SP-6
  • Hegu L.I.-4

Those who received acupuncture showed significant improvements in a number of physical and psychological aspects such as:

  1. overall fatigue
  2. physical and mental fatigue
  3. anxiety and depression
  4. functional emotional and social wellbeing
  5. quality of life

To find more about this and other studies check out the journal of clinical oncology or pub med.

Reference Study:
Acupuncture for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Oct 29. [Epub ahead of print].