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Acupuncture Enhances Immune Function
Can acupuncture enhance immune functions? Yes, according to the meta analysis linked below. I am a long-term MM surivivor living with different types of therapy-induced long-term side effects. I have a weekly acupuncture appointment that I believe incorporates many of the health issues listed below.
Is acupuncture evidence-based? Both the meta-analysis as well as the video point to a solid base of studies.
Is acupuncture legitimate?
What are the health benefits of acupuncture?
1. Pain Relief
- Chronic Pain: Acupuncture is widely used for managing chronic pain conditions such as back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, and migraines.
- Postoperative Pain: It can reduce pain after surgery or dental procedures.
- Fibromyalgia: May help alleviate widespread pain and discomfort.
2. Stress Reduction
- Acupuncture is known to lower stress hormones like cortisol and promote relaxation by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system.
3. Improved Sleep
- By addressing underlying conditions and promoting relaxation, acupuncture can enhance sleep quality and help with insomnia.
4. Digestive Health
- Effective in alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, and nausea (e.g., chemotherapy-induced nausea or morning sickness).
5. Mental Health Support
- Acupuncture can complement treatments for anxiety, depression, and PTSD by promoting a sense of calm and improving mood.
6. Headache and Migraine Management
- Regular sessions can reduce the frequency and severity of tension headaches and migraines.
7. Improved Immune Function
- Some studies suggest acupuncture can boost immune response and reduce the frequency of colds and infections.
8. Women’s Health
- Acupuncture is used for menstrual pain, regulating menstrual cycles, managing menopause symptoms, and as a complementary therapy for fertility treatments.
9. Enhanced Recovery
- Helps improve recovery after stroke, injuries, or surgery by enhancing circulation and reducing inflammation.
10. Allergy Relief
- It can help reduce symptoms of seasonal allergies and strengthen the immune system against allergens.
11. Neurological Benefits
- Acupuncture may assist in managing conditions like Parkinson’s disease, neuropathy, and certain types of neuralgia.
Mechanisms of Action (Modern Perspective)
While traditional explanations focus on energy flow (Qi), modern science attributes its effects to:
- Endorphin Release: Stimulates the release of natural painkillers.
- Blood Flow: Enhances circulation and reduces inflammation.
- Nervous System Modulation: Regulates nerve signals, reducing pain and stress.
Acupuncture is not a cure-all. But when combined with diet, exercise, nutritional supplementation, and other non-conventional therapies, it is a therapy that all cancer survivors should understand.
Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com to ask me any/all questions about complementary therapies such as acupuncture.
Thank you,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Acupuncture for Modulation of Immune and Inflammatory Markers in Cancer Patients
“Introduction: Inflammation is associated with tumor initiation, and existing tumors are associated with immune suppression locally and systemically. Cancer treatment is also associated with immune suppression. This review evaluates evidence related to the use of acupuncture for modulation of inflammation and the immune system in cancer patients.
Methods: Nine databases were searched for prospective, randomized, controlled trials evaluating the use of acupuncture for modulation of the immune system in cancer patients through March 2024. Only studies involving needle insertion into acupuncture points were included. No language limitations were applied. Studies were assessed for risk of bias (ROB) according to Cochrane criteria. The primary outcomes were levels of immune and inflammatory markers.
Results: Of 3607 articles identified, 1526 duplicates were omitted, and 2261 articles were screened. Sixty-four (58 Chinese, 6 English) publications met all inclusion criteria and were evaluated for ROB. Forty-seven studies were rated as unclear ROB, and nine studies were rated as high ROB.
However, when the blinding and allocation concealment criteria were removed, 12 studies had low ROB. Fifty-six studies were included in the meta-analysis, which found that acupuncture significantly increased
- interferon gamma (IFN-γ; P < .01),
- natural killer (NK) cells (P < .01),
- immunoglobulin G (IgG; P = .04),
- immunoglobulin M (IgM; P = .04),
- CD3 cells (P < .01),
- CD4 cells (P < .01),
- and the CD4/CD8 cell ratio (P < .01),
- and significantly lowered interleukin (IL)-1 (P = .01), IL-4 (P < .01),
- IL-6 (P < .01),
- and C-reactive protein (P < .01).
Yet except for IFN-γ, there was high heterogeneity of results between studies. No significant differences were found in white blood cells, CD-8, neutrophil levels, IL-2, IL-10, or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).
Conclusion: The current evidence is insufficient to either support or refute the immunomodulatory effects of acupuncture in cancer patients due to no studies fully meeting the low ROB criterion. The preliminary data, however, are promising. Future studies that are higher powered, with low ROB designs, are warranted…
Meta-analysis
Fifty-six (83%) of the studies were included in the meta-analysis. The study outcome variables explored were as follows:
- WBC,21,22,26,28,29,32,34,37,41,43,44,46,50,53,57,58,60,62,64,66,76,78,81
- CD3,18,23,27,31,40,46,47,49,53–55,61,62,65,67,68,75,76,78
- CD4,18,22, 23,27,31, 37,38,40,45–47,49,53–55,62,67– 70,75,76, 78,80
- CD8,18,22,23,27,31,36,38,40,45,49,54, 55,57,62,65,67,68,70,75,76,78,80
- CD4/8 ratio,18,22,23,27,31,38,40,45– 47,49,53,55,61,62,65,67,70,76,78,80
- Neutrophils,21,22,41,43,46,57,58,62,64,66,71
- NK cells,38,46,54,67,68,72,73 IgG,34,52,78
- IgM,34,52,61,68,78
- IL-1,48,56,60
- IL-2,36,38,45,49,54,73,78
- IL-4,22,24,36
- IL-6,22,24,30,33,45,48,56,59,63
- IL-10,23,36,52
- TNF-α,23,30,33,48,49,52,56,60,78
- IFN-γ,22,24,36
- and CRP.22,28,33,45,60,66,69,70,78
Details of the meta-analysis, sample size, and heterogeneity can be found in Table 4 (see Supplemental Tables S1–17 for the meta-analysis forest plots of individual studies and outcomes).”
Acupuncture Enhances Immune Function
Acupuncture Enhances Immune Function
Acupuncture Enhances Immune Function