Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a complication that decreases patients' quality of life. It occurs in approximately 50% of patients treated with paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, docetaxel and bortezomib.
This type of peripheral neuropathy primarily affects the sensory nerves of the hands and feet.
In some patients neuropathy symptoms occur when the first doses are administered, in others, however, at later stages of treatment.
In some patients peripheral neuropathy does not disappear when treatment ends, experiencing symptoms such as lack of sensation in the feet, pain in the feet and hands, numbness and tingling.
Acupuncture and Chinese plants for chemotherapy neuropathy
Many clinical studies have been conducted in recent years to demonstrate the efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
It is important to perform these treatments as early as possible, as soon as the first symptoms are detected, to avoid their progression and so that chemotherapy cycles can be completed.
A study conducted at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a world-leading cancer treatment hospital in the United States, has shown that acupuncture treatment enabled patients treated with chemotherapy who presented with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy to complete their chemotherapy cycles without progression of the neuropathy.
Another study conducted at the oncology service of Hammersmith Hospital in London, has shown that Chinese medicinal plant formulations used in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy improve sensory nerve conductivity velocity.
Scientific studies on acupuncture and Chinese medicinal plants for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
- Friedemann T, Kark E et al. (2022) Acupuncture improves chemotherapy-induced neuropathy explored by neurophysiological and clinical outcomes - The randomized, controlled, cross-over ACUCIN trial. Phytomedicine. 2022 Sep;104:154294. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154294. Epub 2022 Jun 26. PMID: 35785559.
- Bao, Ting et al. (2018) A phase IIA trial of acupuncture to reduce chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy severity during neoadjuvant or adjuvant weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. European Journal of Cancer, Volume 101, 12 - 19
- Weidong Lu Anita Giobbie-Hurder et al. (2019). Acupuncture for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0489
- Zhaoyi Li,1 Huimin Jin et al. (2019). The Method of Activating Blood and Dredging Collaterals for Reducing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Hindawi. doi.org/10.1155/2019/1029626
