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:
- overall fatigue
- physical and mental fatigue
- anxiety and depression
- functional emotional and social wellbeing
- 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].
