Medical Acupuncture, VOL. 27, NO.

3 | Reviews  normal    
Figures References Related Details

The Role of Acupuncture in the

Management of Prostate Cancer
Andrew Jan

Published Online: 17 Jun 2015 https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2015.1095

Abstract
Background: Among all the major developments in prostate-cancer management during the last 100 years,
the ancient art of acupuncture may have a role.
VOLUME 27, ISSUE 3
Objective: This article sets out to delineate this role by answering the following questions: Are there any JUN 2015
identi able causes and consequent preventive measures for prostate cancer that have merit? Do these Information
correlate with mechanisms of causality from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective? What is the Copyright 2015, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
evidence for acupuncture for managing hot ashes, pain, nausea and vomiting, and lethargy? What
acupuncture points should be used? How can acupuncture be integrated with allopathic medicine in the
Keywords
overall management of prostate cancer?

Method: Seven major bibliographic databases were searched from January 1990 to December 2014; in Acupuncture Prostate Cancer
addition, relevant journals, books, and documents were searched manually.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Pain
Results: Studies showed that the risk associations of prostate cancer do appear to overlap with the TCM
understanding of this disease. Based on an overview of systematic reviews, acupuncture is a useful adjuvant Nausea Vomiting Hot Flushes
to standard pharmacologic analgesia to control cancer-related pain (which is not con ned to prostate
cancer); acupuncture is useful with conventional antiemetics for reducing frequency of vomiting and Fatigue
attenuating side-effects from chemotherapy, in general; and nally, the role of acupuncture for addressing
hot ashes and lethargy in prostate cancer is uncertain, but the trend appears to be positive. Acupuncturists
should communicate with coordinating specialists and play a supportive role in symptom management and
its TCM connections by the creating meaning for patients, along with a positive approach to their dietary,
physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Conclusions: Acupuncture is justi ed in playing a supportive role together with allopathic medicine for
treating prostate cancer.

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