Where supportive care fits
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy and immunotherapy are the treatments that work on the cancer itself, and they belong to your oncology team. Many of them come with side effects: nausea, a flattening kind of tiredness, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, broken sleep, a lost appetite, hot flashes on hormone therapy. Those are where we fit. Many hospital cancer programs now include acupuncture as supportive care, and research on it for side effects is ongoing.
When to call your oncology team first
A fever during chemotherapy, signs of infection, new bleeding or bruising, severe vomiting or diarrhea, or sudden breathlessness need your oncology team or emergency care right away, not an acupuncture visit. Chest pain or fainting means call 911.
How we work with it
Visits are short and gentle, with fine needles and few of them. For nausea, points such as Pericardium 6 (nèi guān, 內關) on the inner wrist are a familiar choice, and we can show you how to press it yourself with acupressure. For neuropathy, points on the hands and feet; for fatigue and cold after chemotherapy, moxibustion may help warm what feels depleted. Sessions are timed around your treatment cycle.
Herbs are added only when your oncology team knows and agrees, and then from your pattern: for a weak, nauseated center a practitioner might consider a formula built around Six Gentlemen (liù jūn zǐ tāng, 六君子湯), while heat or dryness after treatment calls for a different approach. Dietary therapy focuses on what you can actually eat right now.
We track what you tell us: nausea after each cycle, energy, sleep, appetite and the tingling in your hands and feet.
Formulas here illustrate how pattern diagnosis shapes treatment. They are not recommendations; a practitioner selects and adjusts formulas for the individual.
Questions people ask
Does acupuncture treat cancer?
No. Cancer is treated by your oncology team. Acupuncture is studied as supportive care for side effects such as nausea, fatigue and neuropathy, and that is the only role we take.
Is acupuncture safe during chemotherapy?
For many people it is, with adjustments. Low blood counts, a port, recent surgery or a limb at risk of lymphedema all change where and how we needle, so we ask what your oncology team has told you before each visit.
Can I take Chinese herbs during chemotherapy or radiation?
Only with your oncology team's knowledge. Some herbs can interact with cancer drugs, and many teams prefer a pause during active treatment. We respect that, and acupuncture and acupressure need no herbs at all.
Can a family member come with me?
Yes. A family member or caregiver is welcome, and we can show them acupressure points to use at home for nausea and sleep.
This is general wellness information, not medical advice.
