Cancer and the Hidden Tradition: Is There a Role for Acupuncture Beyond Adjunctive?

Abstract

Conventional cancer treatment generally focuses on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, while holistic therapies such as acupuncture are considered adjunctive or even nonessential. Yet, a consideration of the energetic ramifications of cancer might suggest a more central role for such alternatives. This article explores some of the issues surrounding the use of acupuncture in cancer and discusses some possible protocols.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Lee

, Done

. The use of nonpharmacological techniques to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysis. Anaesth Analg., 1999; 88:1362–1369.

Thomas

, MacPherson

, Thorpe

et al. Randomised controlled trial of a short course of traditional acupuncture compared with usual care for persistent non-specific low back pain. BMJ., 2006; 333,7569:623.

Berman

, Lao

, Langenberg

, Lee

, Gilpin

, Hochberg

. Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee. Ann Intern Med., 2004; 141,12:901–910.

Crew

, Capodice

, Greenlee

et al. Randomized, blinded, sham-controlled trial of acupuncture for the management of aromatase inhibitor–associated joint symptoms in women with early-stage [sic] breast cancer. J Clin Oncol., 2010; 28,7:1154–1160.

National Cancer Institute. Acupuncture PDQ. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture/healthprofessional/allpages. 2011 March 3.

Mak

. Acupuncture in Cancer Treatment. www.medicalacupuncture.org/acu_info/articles/cancertreatment.html. 2011 March 3.

Moss

. The Cancer Industry. New York: Equinox Press, 1996.

Cutler

. Are we finally winning the war on cancer? J Econ Perspect., 2008Fall22,4:3–26.

Welch

. Should I be Tested for Cancer: Maybe Not and Here's Why. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004.

10.

Holland

, Stewart

. Screening in Disease Prevention: What Works. Oxford: Radcliffe, 2005.

11.

Greenwood

. Acupuncture and intention: needling without needles. Med Acupunct., 1999; 11,1:17–23.

12.

Greenwood

. Splits in Western consciousness from an acupuncture perspective. Med Acupunct., 1999–2000; 11,2:11–16.

13.

Litsey

. Acupuncture vs. Cancer: Re-Engaging the Body's Immune System. Acupuncture Today, October 2003;4(10) www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=28310. 2011 March 3.

14.

Jarrett

. Nourishing Destiny: The Inner Tradition of Chinese Medicine. Stockbridge, MA: Spirit Path Press, 1999.

15.

Hamer

. The Eliptoid Crisis. http://germannewmedicine.ca/documents/secondlaw.html#EpileptoidCrisis. 2011 March 3.

16.

Hoption

CSA

, van Netten

, Van Netten

. Dr William Coley and tumour regression: a place in history or in the future. Postgrad Med J., 2003; 79,938:672–680.

17.

Jones

, Oleson

, Prosnitz

et al. Randomized trial of hyperthermia and radiation for superficial tumours. J Clin Oncol., 2005; 23,13:3079–3085.

18.

Richardson

, Sanders

, Palmer

, Greisinger

, Singletary

. Complementary/alternative medicine use in a comprehensive cancer center and the implications for oncology. J Clin Oncol., 2000; 18,13:2505–2514.

19.

Wellness Directory of Minnesota. Royal Raymond Rife. http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/cancer1/rife.htm. 2011 March 3.

20.

Dr. Reg. Ryke Geerd Hamer—a Short Biography. www.germannewmedicine.com/documents/Biography%20-%20Dr.%20Hamer%20English.pdf. 2011 March 3.

21.

The Gerson Institute. www.gerson.org. 2011 March 3.

22.

Lawrence

Burton

Ph.D

www.mnwelldir.org/docs/history/biographies/burton.htm. 2011 March 3.

23.

The Hoxsey Clinic. www.cancure.org/hoxsey_clinic.htm. 2011 March 3.

24.

Hoffer

, Pauling

. Healing Cancer: Complementary Vitamins and Drug Treatments. Toronto: CCNM Press Inc., 2007.

25.

Ausubel

. When Healing Becomes a Crime: The Amazing Story of the Hoxsey Cancer Clinics and the Return of Alternative Therapies. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2000.

26.

Quackwatch. Unconventional Cancer Treatments. www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/OTA/ota11.html. 2011 March 3.

27.

Elias

. The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment … and the Government's Campaign to Squelch It. Nevada City: CA Lexicos, 1997.

28.

Moss

. Questioning Chemotherapy. Brooklyn, NY: Equinox Press, 1995.

29.

Greenwood

. Acupuncture and the chakras. Med Acupunct., 2006; 17,3:27–32.

30.

Brennan

. Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field. New York: Bantam Books, 1988.

31.

Sheldrake

. A New Science of Life. London: Grafton Books, 1981.

32.

Burr

. The Fields of Life. New York: Ballantine Books, 1973.

33.

Frölich

. National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists. www.bath.ac.uk/ncuacs/AHRC%20pdf/FrolichH.pdf. 2011 March 3.

34.

Oschman

. Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier Ltd., 2000; 20.

35.

Fröhlich

. Coherent electric vibrations in biological systems and the cancer problem. IEEE Trans Microwave Theory Techniques MTT, 1978; 26,8:613–618.

36.

Lahans

. Integrating Conventional and Chinese Medicine in Cancer Care. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier Ltd., 2007.

37.

Greenwood

. Acupuncture and the Heart–Mind split. Med Acupunct., 2003; 14,2:22–27.

38.

Jarrett

. The Clinical Practice of Chinese Medicine. Stockbridge, MA: Spirit Path Press, 2003.

39.

The First Criterion. www.germannewmedicine.com/documents/firstlaw.html. 2011 March 3.

40.

Maciocia

. The secondary channels: warp and woof [lecture presentation] Canadian Oriental Medical Symposium (COMS), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, March 5–6, 2008.

41.

Cunningham

. Can the Mind Heal Cancer: A Clinician–Scientist Examines the Evidence. Toronto: Alistair J. Cunningham, 2005.

42.

Jarrett

. The loss and return of original nature: the law of Husband/Wife. Am J Acupunct., 1994; 22,1:29–45.

43.

Walsh

, King

, Simpson

. Pulse diagnosis: an introductory guide for the experienced practitioner. J Chin Med., 2009; 89:5–12.

44.

Hammer

. Towards a Unified Field Theory of Chronic Disease with Regard to the Separation of Yin and Yang and “The Qi is Wild.” Oriental Med J, 1998; 6,2&3 www.dragonrises.org/articles.hammer-qiwild.pdf. 2011 March 3.

45.

Helms

. Acupuncture Energetics—a Clinical Approach for Physicians. Berkeley: Medical Acupuncture Publishers, 1997.

46.

Frost

. A Servant to servants. North of Boston. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1915.

47.

Greenwood

. The Unbroken Field: The Power of Intention in Healing. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Paradox Publishing, 2004.

48.

Sebestyen

. Electrical acupuncture in the treatment of advanced cancer patients. Presented at Pan Pacific Medical Acupuncture Forum (PPMAF), Toronto, Canada, October 20–24, 2008.

49.

Thoresen

. Acupuncture treatment for cancer. Presented at Canadian Oriental Medical Symposium (COMS), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, March 6–9, 2008.

50.

Thoresen

. Interim Clinical Results of Acupuncture in Cancer Treatment. http://med-vetacupuncture.org/english/articles/apcancer.html. 2011 March 3.

51.

Zhang

. The Institute of ECIWO Biology. Shandong University. www.eciwo.sdu.edu.cn/index.htm. 2011 March 3.

52.

Nogier

PFM

. From Auriculotherapy to Auriculomedicine. Moulins les Metz, France: Maisonneuve, 1983.

53.

Simoncini

. 75% of Doctors Refuse Chemotherapy for Themselves. www.curenaturalicancro.com/2-physicians-refuse-chemo.html. 2011 March 3.