Acupuncture (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version

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Changes to This Summary (05/31/2018)

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

General Information

Added Chokshi et al. as reference 12.

Added text to state that cancer patients are receptive to receiving acupuncture for symptom control. Also added text to state that a 2018 cross-sectional study of breast cancer survivors showed that an equal percentage of patients preferred acupuncture versus medication for pain management (cited Bao et al. [Acupunct Med 2018] as reference 13). Further added text about the most common barriers to these patients using acupuncture (cited Bao et al. [Integr Cancer Ther 2018] as reference 14).

Added text to state that in addition, studies showed that acupuncture needle manipulation stimulated surrounding connective tissues and sensory nerves (cited Langevin et al. as reference 46) and affected adenosine-mediated peripheral sensory modulation (cited Goldman et al. as reference 47).

Human/Clinical Studies

Added text to state that acupressure has been shown to be efficacious in reducing procedural pain. Also added text to state that two randomized control trials (RCTs) showed that acupressure at LI 4 and HT 7 significantly reduced patients’ pain and anxiety (cited Bao et al. as reference 21 and Sharifi et al. as reference 22).

Revised Table 2 to include the Bao et al. and Sharifi et al. studies in the summary of RCTs of acupuncture for cancer treatment–related pain relief.

Added text about a study of auricular acupressure for the treatment of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting breast cancer patients (cited Eghbali et al. as reference 45).

Added text to state that fewer studies have been done on acupuncture effects on pediatric oncology patients. Also added text about a study of the effects of acupressure on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric patients (cited Dupuis et al. as reference 46).

Added text about a study of the effects of infrared laser moxibustion on cancer-related fatigue in cancer survivors (cited Mao et al. as reference 80).

Revised Table 6 to include the Mao et al. study in the summary of pilot studies of acupuncture for cancer fatigue.

Added text to state that a 2016 qualitative study of 23 breast and head and neck cancer patients with lymphedema who completed acupuncture and moxibustion treatments showed that patients viewed acupuncture and moxibustion as a valuable whole-person approach that helped them improve their energy and decrease pain (cited de Valois as reference 102).

Added text about the effects of warm acupuncture on breast cancer–related chronic lymphedema (cited Yao et al as reference 104).

Added text about a study of the effectiveness of acupuncture for early recovery of bowel function in cancer patients (cited Liu et al. as reference 108).

Added text about a study of acupuncture for reduction of symptom burden in multiple myeloma patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (cited Deng et al. as reference 110).

Revised Table 8 to include Yao et al. and Deng et al. studies in the clinical studies of acupuncture for other cancer-related symptoms or cancer treatment–related side effects.

Adverse Effects

Added Enblom et al. as reference 6.

This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® - NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Database pages.

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