Archive for March, 2013

Rethinking how we confront cancer Part III

Published by under Chinese Medicine vs. Western Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine in Cancer Treatment

Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years in the Eastern hemisphere, but is now commonly used to manage cancer-related symptoms, including pain, weight loss, anxiety, depression, insomnia, poor appetite, fatigue and gastrointestinal distress.

In 1997, the National Cancer Institute evaluated the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture as a complimentary cancer treatment, concluding that “there is clear evidence that needle acupuncture treatment is effective for postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting.” The panel also stated in their report, “there are a number of other pain-related conditions for which acupuncture may be effective as an adjunct therapy, an acceptable alternative or as part of a comprehensive treatment program.” According to the NCI, acupuncture has also been found to boost blood cell count and enhance lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity in some cancer patients and is well tolerated by most patients.

This supports the theory that the greatest benefit of Chinese Medicine as a compliment to chemotherapy and radiation is in its ability to improve immune system function to  support the body’s ability to defend itself from the spread of cancer while alleviating the side effects of cancer treatments.
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Rethinking how we confront cancer Part II

Published by under Chinese Medicine vs. Western Medicine

Cancer Death Rate has Declined Minimally

Cancer Death Rate 2003 vs. 1950

During the period from 1950 to 2003, we have seen an overall reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease of 60.53%, and a reduction in deaths from cerebrovascular disease of 70.5%, while deaths from cancer were reduced by only 1.96% for the same period. According to a report issued by the American Cancer Society in January 2012, cancer incidence rates from 2004 to 2008 declined by 0.6% per year in men and were stable in women, while cancer death rates decreased by 1.8% per year in men and by 1.6% per year in women. Death rates continue to decline for the four major cancer sites — lung, colorectal, breast and prostate, while incidence rates of cancers of the pancreas, liver, thyroid, kidney and skin are increasing.
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