Anyone can be affected by mouth cancer. It is now claiming more lives than cervical and testicular cancers combined. This is one of the few cancer variations on the rise – mouth cancer cases have increased by almost 50 per cent over the last decade. More than 6,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with mouth cancer each year – that is 18 people every day. The number of new cases of mouth cancer is on the increase making it the fastest growing type of cancer.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Mouth Cancer Patients
According to the World Health Organisation, acupuncture has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on cancer pain* and according to Chinese medical theory, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can enhance the body’s own resistance against cancer cells. We have seen Chinese medicine improve the quality of life of many patients undergoing Western cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.
In Chinese medicine, where mouth cancer is affecting the tongue – and thus the patient’s ability to eat and speak – acupuncture can boost the tongue’s blood supply and help it to regain more flexibility and movement. By aiding the tongue’s local blood circulation, the patient can regain their ability to eat normal food and speak which in turn can boost their health as they undergo cancer treatment and work towards a recovery.
Learn About Best Combinations of Western and Chinese Treatment
From the Chinese medical view, a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can also be used to help cancer patients cope with the side effects of chemotherapy treatment such as physical and mental exhaustion and hair loss. Here acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help by strengthening the patient’s immune system, reinvigorating the body’s blood circulation and tonifying the key organs (Kidneys, Spleen, Stomach and Liver) involved in the production and circulation of blood and body fluids.
The toxins in the chemotherapy drugs induce heat in the patient’s body and cause dryness which can lead to hair loss as well as severe thirst. Chinese medicine recommends alleviating this dryness by taking Chinese herbs with cooling and moistening properties which can ultimately help reverse hair loss. Acupuncture should also be used to support the effect of the prescribed herbs.
In China, medical centres are already established where Chinese and Western medicines are provided to cancer patients as part of integrated, holistic treatment. In the UK many cancer patients have recognised the need for integrative treatment and visit AcuMedic for acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to complement their Western treatments.
Be #Mouthaware
It is extremely important to have regular dental check-ups to ensure that any signs of mouth cancer are detected by your dentist early enough. It is highly recommended that you have acupuncture and take Chinese herbal prescriptions as early as possible and especially during your Western cancer treatment programme to ensure that you can recover as quickly as possible.
Further Information
*CLINICAL TRIALS
Dang W et al. [Clinical study on acupuncture treatment of pain caused by stomach cancer.] Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1995, 36(5):277-280 [in Chinese].
Dan Y et al. [Clinical study on analgesic effect of acupuncture on carcinomatous pain.] Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1998, 18(1):17-18 [in Chinese].
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