It can never be overstated how devastating a cancer diagnosis is for an individual and their loved ones. All medical efforts whirl into effect and procedures, medications and treatment become an important new part of life and begins a path returning to balance. To get the most out of desired outcomes and effective treatments, traditional acupuncture can be added as supplemental care to reduce unwanted side effects, diminish pain and much, much more.

In my experience, after treating thousands of people with Traditional Chinese Medicine, the diagnosis of cancer naturally increases the Fight or Flight response. This natural defense mechanism is necessary and helpful in times of immediate threat when the solutions are to fight or run away. Cancer recovery is not an immediate fight. Treatment is a long and very difficult journey that, I think, is best traveled without elevated stress responses which detract from important systems of the body. Acupuncture, aside from reducing pain and nausea from treatment, can reduce that understandable stress response.

Michael Hollifield collaborates research from The Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest, Albuquerque, NM, The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, The Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM and The Institute for Stress Medicine at Sage Neurosciences, Albuquerque, NM. His research is funded by the NIH and looks for solutions to stress response issues. A cancer diagnosis is traumatic and stressful. A growing body of evidence supports acupuncture as a good part of the solution to keep hope alive and care moving forward.

John A. Charlebois, licensed acupuncturist, is co-owner of Jade Integrated Health in Portland and Brunswick Maine. He can also be seen clinically at The Dempsey Center in South Portland.