Use of Acupuncture to Alleviate Side Effects in Radiation Oncology: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Overview

Journal Adv Radiat Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2017 Jul 26

PMID 28740905

Citations 9

Authors

Rebecca Asadpour

Zhiqiang Meng

Kerstin A Kessel

Stephanie E Combs

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Several reports have shown that acupuncture is an effective method of complementary medicine; however, only a few of these reports have focused on oncological patients treated with radiation therapy. Most of these studies discuss a benefit of acupuncture for side-effect reduction; however, not all could demonstrate significant improvements. Thus, innovative trial designs are necessary to confirm that acupuncture can alleviate side effects related to radiation therapy. In the present manuscript, we perform a broad review and discuss pitfalls and limitations of acupuncture in parallel with standard radiation therapy, which lead the way to novel treatment concepts.

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