Many of those who experience symptoms such as pain, stress, and anxiety try to find relief by means of alternative and complementary treatments. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment that has become more widely respected in recent years, even to the extent that many insurance companies now cover acupuncture treatment.
Studies have shown that cancer patients who incorporated acupuncture into their treatment strengthened their immune systems and also experienced a decrease in the uncomfortable effects of chemotherapy. These patients felt less fatigued, maintained a healthy weight, and experienced less nausea during the chemotherapy sessions.
When it comes to the treatment of asbestos-related cancers, acupuncture is one of the most widely accepted alternative therapies. Those coping with asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, can use acupuncture to treat symptoms of pain, stress, and anxiety. Many patients with asbestosis who have tried acupuncture say the treatment helps relieve pain and makes breathing much easier.
During an acupuncture consultation, an acupuncturist asks their patient a number of questions relating to their health and symptoms. They also inspect certain points of the body, such as the face, mouth, and specific acupuncture points, to determine the best course of treatment. This initial examination allows the acupuncturist to determine which pressure points must be manipulated for the patient to experience relief from their symptoms.
During the actual treatment, very thin, sterilized needles are inserted into each pressure point. Once all needles are inserted, the patient may be left to rest for several minutes, or up to half an hour, before the needles are removed.
Acupuncture treatments are particularly desirable because when practiced by a skilled acupuncturist, there are virtually no harmful side effects in most cases. Around 3 percent of patients may experience some minor bleeding at points where needles were inserted. Around 2 percent of patients may experience some bruising at the site, while approximately 1 percent may experience some dizziness (usually as a result of anxiety relating to the treatment). It has been advised that people with bleeding disorders and those taking blood thinners should avoid acupuncture. In addition, those with infusion pumps, cardiac pacemakers, or any other electrical device are advised to avoid electroacupuncture.
In general, acupuncture is safe for the majority of people. Common side effects associated with acupuncture include soreness at the insertion site or a feeling of lightheadedness after an acupuncture session, but these symptoms were quite minimal. The vast majority of cancer patients who experienced acupuncture believe that they benefited greatly
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese remedy used for curing many ailments. Sterile acupuncture needles are placed on specific energy points on the skin to release positive energy to diseased parts of the body, helping restore a perfect balance in the body. It is a technique that is very helpful in relieving pain associated with mesothelioma.
Acupuncture itself can be an effective palliative treatment for pain as well as the nausea and other side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but have no effect on tumors and malignant tissues themselves.
That said, it is worth mentioning that acupuncture is often administered in conjunction with various medicinal plants that have been studied by Chinese doctors for 3,000 years. Of the some 140 biologically active substances isolated from these plants, several have been shown to have anti-cancer properties
