Acupuncture Eases Side Effects of Cancer Drug, New York Times Reports

Acupuncture, Real or Not, Eases Side Effects of Cancer Drugs

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR

 

Both acupuncture and sham acupuncture were effective in reducing menopausal symptoms in women being treated with aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer, a small randomized trial found. Joint and muscle pain, hot flashes and night sweats are common side effects of those estrogen-lowering drugs.

The trial, published online in Cancer, randomized 47 breast cancer patients to eight weekly sessions of either real or sham acupuncture. Those assigned to real acupuncture received treatment with needles in recognized acupoints believed to be helpful in relieving menopausal symptoms. The controls got non-penetrating needles placed in sham acupuncture points. Patients and researchers did not know which patients had received which treatment.

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http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/acupuncture-real-or-not-eases-side-effects-of-cancer-drugs/?ref=health&_r=0