CINCINNATI (WKRC) – New research shows complementary care may help relieve pain and the side effects of certain medications.
When Santorina Fletcher was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few months ago, she made the decision to add complementary care to her treatment plan. She said it’s already making a difference.
“I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in November 2023,” said Fletcher, who works as a nurse. “The medication has medically put me into menopause, so I’m already having symptoms like hot flashes and trouble sleeping. So this has definitely helped with that.”
Dr. Peter Shen is a physician trained in acupuncture.
“Very often, I can help,” Dr. Shen said.
He punctures the skin using small needles at specific pressure points.
“It’s about harnessing your own body’s systems to make your body work,” Dr. Shen said.
The National Institutes of Health analyzed 20 studies involving 6,376 patients and found that it may have an effect on pain, boosting the immune system, and against some side effects of breast cancer drugs, among other things. Reporting.
“It has a variety of benefits beyond just pain management. It helps patients relax, promotes healing, and reduces inflammation without relying on steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs,” Dr. Shen said.
But Fletcher said an hour of acupuncture also sends the message that healing can happen in many ways.
“I believe that healing is more than just taking medicine. I exercise, eat right, drink lots of water, and do acupuncture. I also signed up for a yoga class. Taking care of your health is also important. So, I want to help make sure that we get the message across that we need to treat the whole body and that we need to think outside the box when we want to treat things like cancer and pain. I want to,” Fletcher said.
Acupuncture may be covered by medical insurance. Otherwise, your first session will cost around $75 to $90.
