cancer management
and traditional chinese medicine

By Ban B. Wong, L.Ac Dipl. Ac and Hb, Ph.D.

Chinese Medicine has been used to treat cancer for hundreds of years in China. Recent research in China and in the West are gradually confirming that acupuncture and herbal medicine can help cancer patients with their nausea, mouth sores, fatigue, dizziness, and low white or red blood cell count . As more and more people are finding relief with Traditional Chinese Medicine for their side effects after chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, today one of the best hospitals in the U.S., John Hopkins hospital, is incorporating acupuncture in the treatment to help its cancer patients.

As we work with our cancer patients, our experience tell us that patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy should concurrently receive acupuncture and herbal therapy to reduce their side effects as well as to support their immune system. Patients do not have to worry about acupuncture and herbal therapy because they do not interfere with conventional cancer treatments and they also do not have much side effects.

Although there are cancer patients who have successfully managed their cancer conditions with Chinese medicine in China, Chinese Medicine should be used as a adjunctive therapy to conventional cancer treatments. The integrative approach of Eastern and Western medicine is the best way to combat cancer and to achieve higher success of managing the disease.