Study: Acupuncture May Help Chemo Pain

Chemotherapy, though often necessary, nearly always involves a number of unpleasant side effects. These can include nausea, pain, fatigue, weakness, and hair loss.

Few researchers have looked into ways to ease some of this unpleasantness, but a new study published in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine may provide hope for those who suffer from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, a painful condition that affects the nerves in the lower legs and feet.

Though small (only 11 participants), the study seems to suggest that acupuncture could make significant improvements in patients with this condition. Five of the six patients who received acupuncture showed significant increases in both signaling speed and intensity in damaged nerves, and all of those reported reduction of pain and improved walking ability.

Those in the group who did not receive acupuncture, on average, showed no improvement at all, indicating that this could very well be a valid treatment for peripheral neuropathy.

According to other research in the field, the success is likely due to the ability of acupuncture to increase blood flow to the legs and feet, which may help to correct nerve damage.

Regardless of the cause, the success of this study certainly indicates that more research should follow, perhaps with a large-scale clinical trial.