Acupuncture Beats Drug Therapy for Treating Hot Flashes

Acupuncture therapy performs as well and lasts longer when compared to drug therapy in treating the hot flashes and sweating that afflicts 80 percent of breast cancer patients. Researchers have found that acupuncture treatment has none of the unpleasant side-effects that result from traditional drug usage. In fact, the benefits derived from the treatment include a greater sense of well-being and a boost in energy.

According to Eleanor Walker, lead author of the study and radiation oncologist, the study indicates that physicians and patients have an additional treatment option for issues that afflict the majority of breast cancer survivors. In addition, this therapy has benefits, as opposed to unwanted side effects. She added that the effect of acupuncture therapy lasts longer than commonly used drugs to treat vasomotor symptoms and it is more cost-effective for insurance companies.

For the study, 47 breast cancer patients participating in a randomized clinical trial were given anti-estrogen hormones Tamoxifen or Arimidex. Each patient experienced at least 14 hot flashes each week. The patients were then split into two groups. One group received acupuncture treatment and the other group received venlafaxine treatments for their hot flashes over the course of 12 weeks. The results revealed that acupuncture worked as well as venlafaxine, its effect lasted longer than the drug’s after treatment was completed, and there were unexpected additional health benefits.

The study outcome is significant because cancer victims are often treated with chemotherapy or anti-estrogen drugs. The results of these treatments leave the patients with an estrogen deficit, which produces life-disrupting night sweats and hot flashes. Hormone replacement therapy is not a treatment option since it has been found to increase the risk of cancer recurrence. The conventional drugs used to counter these hot flashes and related symptoms also have unwanted side effects including weight gain, nausea, constipation, and fatigue.

An additional study also finds that not only is acupuncture as effective as drug therapy at reducing hot flash symptoms in breast cancer patients, there is also the added benefit of increasing a woman’s sex drive and improving her sense of well-being, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.

Since acupuncture has been found to effectively reduce hot flashes in menopausal women, Dr. Eleanor Walker and her research team at Henry Ford Hospital decided to experiment on using acupuncture to deter vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer patients as an alternative to drug therapy.

To compare the two treatment choices, 50 patients were recruited from oncology centers at Henry Ford. Patients were randomly divided into groups receiving acupuncture or venlafaxine treatment for 12 weeks. The drug therapy group received venlafaxine orally each night, 37.5mg during the first week and then 75mg for the following 11 weeks. The other group underwent acupuncture treatments twice per week for the first four weeks, then once a week for the following 8 weeks.

At the conclusion of the 8 week trial, all patients ceased their therapy and were followed by investigators for one year. Patients each recorded the number and severity of hot flash encounters, and took surveys to measure both overall health and mental health. The study discovered that both groups initially experienced a 50 percent decline in hot flashes and depressive symptoms, conclusively indicating that acupuncture is as effective as drug therapy.


Disclaimer

Featured Doctors

Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression

Dr Allan Weisberg
Allan Weisberg

Midtown Total Health
235 E49th Street
New York, NY 10017

Call: 888-453-7121

Spinal Decompression Middlesex County, NJ

Dr. Ronald Spiaggia
Ronald Spiaggia

Performance Rehabilitation & Sports Injury Center
459 Watchung Avenue
Watchung, NJ 07069

Call: 888-897-4870

Spinal Decompression Therapy Hudson County NJ

Dr. Peter Ferraro, D.C.
Peter Ferraro, D.C.

Ferraro Spine & Rehabilitation
224 Midland Ave
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663

Call: 888-895-3840

oncology

RecoverNow

,

Call: 888-798-5181

PET Scan/ Breast Cancer

Dr Alfred Rosenbaum
Alfred Rosenbaum

Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469

Call: (888) 860-7136

Oncologist

Dr. Michael Castro
Michael Castro

Personalized Cancer Medicine, PLLC
1329 Lusitana St. Suite 609
Honolulu, HI 96813

Call: (808) 521-0100

DRX 9000 Norwalk, CT

 Associates in Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Care, P.C.
Associates in Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Care, P.C.

156 East Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06851

Call: (203) 242-0165

Herniated Disc Treatment Clifton, NJ

Dr. Damon Noto, MD
Damon Noto, MD

Spine & Joint Center
777 Terrace Avenue, 4th Floor
Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey 07604

Call: 866-385-8138

Fast Weight Loss Manhattan, NYC

 Columbia University Medical Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Columbia University Medical Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
NYC, NY 10032

Call: 888-838-9148

Back Pain Los Angeles, CA

Dr. Bruce Shannahoff, D.C.
Bruce Shannahoff, D.C.

Valley Spinal Decompression Center
5363 Balboa Blvd. Suite 430
Encino, CA 91316

Call: (888) 870-2099

Axillary Lymph Node Dissection Bronxville, Westchester County, New York

 The Columbia University Comprehensive Breast Center at Lawrence Hospital
The Columbia University Comprehensive Breast Center at Lawrence Hospital

Lawrence Hospital Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708

Call: 888-468-9351

Age Management New York

Dr. George Shapiro, M.D., F.A.A.C.
George Shapiro, M.D., F.A.A.C.

WellnessNow
700 White Plains Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583

Call: 888-904-1676

Regenerative Medicine San Diego

  Regenerative Medicine Institute
Regenerative Medicine Institute

Regenerative Medicine Institute
Av. Paseo de los Héroes #10999-501
Zona Río, Tijuana, C.P. 22010, Mexico

Call: 888-787-2990

Stem Cell Treatment Las Vegas, NV

Dr. Daniel Royal
Daniel Royal

Royal Medical Group
9065 S. Pecos Rd., Ste. 250
Henderson, NV 89074

Call: 888-664-7161

Active Release Technique (ART) White Plains, NY

Dr. Jonathan Donath
Jonathan Donath

Joint Effort Chiropractic
1241 Mamaroneck Ave
White Plains, NY 10605

Call: 888-543-4224

Prostate Cancer Treatment

Dr. Alfred Rosenbaum
Alfred Rosenbaum

Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469

Call: (888) 860-7136

Lymph Cancer Westchester, NY

Dr. Tauseef Ahmed, M.D.
Tauseef Ahmed, M.D.

Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532

Call: 888-370-4284

PET Scan/ Breast Cancer

Dr Alfred Rosenbaum
Alfred Rosenbaum

Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469

Call: (888) 860-7136

Back Pain Treatment Uptown Manhattan, New York City

Dr. Steven S. Moalemi, M.D.
Steven S. Moalemi, M.D.

Empire Physical Medicine & Pain Management
551 5th Avenue Ste. 525
Manhattan, NY 10176

Call: (888) 898-7795

Neck Pain Relief Glen Cove, New York

Dr. Stephen Lembo, DC
Stephen Lembo, DC

Northeast Spine & Rehab
363 Route 111, St 107
Smithtown, New York 11784

Call:

Back Pain Westchester, NY

Dr. Bennie Chiles III
Bennie Chiles III

Westchester Spine and Brain Surgery, PLLC
280 N. Central Ave Suite 235
Hartsdale, NY 10530

Call: 914-332-0396

Prostate Cancer Treatment

Dr. Alfred Rosenbaum
Alfred Rosenbaum

Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469

Call: (888) 860-7136