how acupuncture works for nausea and neuropathy

patient review

“When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, a good friend strongly recommended acupuncture. Knowing that cancer treatment would be expensive, but feeling so strongly that this should be part of my wellness plan, she sent me money to cover several months of visits.

For the duration of my chemotherapy, about 6 months worth, I visited Tom/Turning Point twice a week. Though many days were difficult, physically, to get there, every visit was worth the effort. I suppose the only way I could truly know that acupuncture helped would be to go through chemotherapy again without the support of acupuncture. But I can say that on most occasions I went home with immediate relief from the prevailing effect of the day, be it nausea, insomnia, bone pain, or other ailments. That was reason enough for me to keep acupuncture as an adjunct treatment, but I was also encouraged by my oncologist. Not only did he feel acupuncture was worth my time, but my tests and check-ups after each chemo session showed that I was faring better than most others taking the same drugs. Many possible side effects were either nonexistent or mild. Typical side effects that I did experience, such as nerve damage, last long after chemotherapy is done. Even though I’ve cut my acupuncture visits to once a week, I feel certain that the treatments have quickened my recovery significantly. Again, this is supported by the progress seen by my oncologist.

I’m now on a 5-year drug regimen to keep cancer at bay, and new drugs mean new side effects. I will continue with acupuncture to address these. Two recent and extremely beneficial visits come to mind; one for stiff/painful neck strains and one for food cravings. After both visits, my results were immediate.

Although acupuncture is new to me, my sense is that this would be a useful treatment even for the healthy individual. Given the way in which my particular breast cancer developed, it may well have helped me avoid it completely. Regardless, one of the beauties of acupuncture is that a treatment can be specific to one ailment while at the same time benefiting overall balance and wellness. I highly recommend acupuncture.”

To your health,
-Karen Schneider, Eugene, OR