Chinese Medicine Improves Blood Cell Counts for Cancer Patients

[Julieanne]

Kath Bartlett (http://www.allthingshealing.com/abeditor.php?uID=1645), MS, LAc, All Things Healing (http://www.allthingshealing.com/) Co-Editor Of Acupuncture/TCM (http://www.allthingshealing.com/acupuncture-tcm-traditional-chinese-medicine.php)
Jul 14, 2011

Editor’s Note from Kath Bartlett: Chinese medicine is becoming more accepted as adjunctive treatment for cancer patients. Sloan Kettering now has a certification program for acupuncturists. One of the problems cancer patients face is the detriment to their bodies from aggressive chemo and radiation treatment. Among other problems, chemo patients blood cell counts drop, often at alarming rates during therapy. The western answer is more drugs, including Procrit to treat anemia. Recently the FDA has warned against using this drug, due to associated heart problems and that they actually speed the growth of malignant tumors. Fortunately Chinese medicine effectively raises blood cell counts for these patients.

The FDA issued a strong warning that will go on labels for three widely used drugs that treat anemia for cancer and dialysis patients: Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen, saying the drugs cause stokes and cardiac problems and speed the growth of malignant tumors. Fortunately for these patients there is a safer therapy available that effectively increases blood cell production: Chinese medicine

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/chinese-medicine-improves-blood-cell-counts-for-cancer-patients.html#ixzz1SG4XowRj

[Reesacat]

My husband was on and off chemotherapy for 6 years fighting stage 4 prostate cancer until he passed away. We used acupuncture for that time to deal with the side effects of chemo-I don't have any direct correlation to blood counts however. But just not having the nausea and being able to eat was a blessing not only in quality of life but in avoiding a transfusion. In the 6 years he had chemo he never had a transfusion-which is almost unheard of. He also ate venison and red meat and eggs, I used iron skillets to cook in and tried to use wine with the meat in a slow braise. We juiced and did other nutritional support-which I think with the acupuncture gave his body the tools to rebuild and fight the effects of the chemo.

Thanks for a great article, Julieanne!