By: American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

Acupuncture is as effective and longer-lasting in managing the common debilitating side effects of hot flashes, night sweats, and excessive sweating (vasomotor symptoms) associated with breast cancer treatment and has no treatment side effects compared to conventional drug therapy, according to a first-of-its-kind study presented September 24, 2008, at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s 50th Annual Meeting in Boston.

Findings also show there were additional benefits to acupuncture treatment for breast cancer patients, such as an increased sense of well being, more energy, and in some cases, a higher sex drive, that were not experienced in those patients who underwent drug treatment for their hot flashes.

“Our study shows that physicians and patients have an additional therapy for something that affects the majority of breast cancer survivors and actually has benefits, as opposed to more side effects. The effect is more durable than a drug commonly used to treat these vasomotor symptoms and, ultimately, is more cost-effective for insurance companies,” Eleanor Walker, M.D., lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at the Henry Ford Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology in Detroit, said.

The reduction in hot flashes lasted longer for those breast cancer patients after completing their acupuncture treatment, compared to patients after stopping their drug therapy plan.

Eighty percent of women treated for breast cancer suffer from hot flashes after being treated with chemotherapy and/or anti-estrogen hormones, such as Tamoxifen and Arimidex. Although hormone replacement therapy is typically used to relieve these symptoms, breast cancer patients cannot use this therapy because it may increase the risk of the cancer coming back. As a treatment alternative, patients are generally treated with steroids and/or antidepressant drugs. These drugs, however, have additional side effects, such as weight gain, nausea, constipation and fatigue. The antidepressant, venlafaxine (Effexor), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is one of the most common drugs used to treat these hot flashes. However, many women decide against this treatment choice because of potential side effects, including decreased libido, insomnia, dizziness and nausea, or because they simply do not want to take any more medications.

The randomized clinical trial compared acupuncture treatment to venlafixine for 12 weeks to find out if acupuncture reduced vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer patients receiving hormonal therapy and produced fewer side effects than venlafaxine. The study involved 47 breast cancer patients who received either Tamoxifen or Arimidex and had at least 14 hot flashes per week. Results show that acupuncture reduces hot flashes as effectively as venlafaxine, with no side effects, and also provides additional health benefits to patients.

For more information on radiation therapy for breast cancer, visit www.rtanswers.org

Are you or your kids sniffling and wheezing this week? If you are, you are part of a huge worldwide trend. 

The second half of September is the worst possible time of year for allergies and asthma. 

“Every year on the 17th or 18th day of school, there is a peak in the number of kids hospitalized by asthma,” says Dr. Mark Greenwald, a Toronto allergist and chair of scientific and medical advisory committee of the Asthma Society of Canada.

Babies given the drug in their first year of life more likely to have allergy symptoms later, study says

Babies who receive acetaminophen in the first year of life are significantly more likely to have symptoms of asthma and other allergies when they're a few years older.

A massive, worldwide study of more than 200,000 children also found that six- and seven-year- olds who get acetaminophen frequently -- at least once a month -- are three times as likely to suffer wheezing and whistling in their chests compared to children who never take the drug.

The Summer 2008 Olympics are held in Beijing, China, in the country where acupuncture originated thousands of years ago. Perhaps it is no surprise then that this ancient practice is gaining further interest and media attention now that China is the host of a world-class athletic event. The Olympic Village in Beijing is offering free acupuncture to athletes and officials of the games - making it the first Olympic Village in history to do so. With the presence of the Olympics in China, acupuncture is finally gaining the recognition it deserves as a remedy for sports ailments.

Especially when combined with Western therapy, there is little that acupuncture cannot do to help improve sports injuries. Acupuncture can quickly lessen inflammation, as well as to release pressure and improve blood circulation. Long used for the relief of chronic pain, acupuncture not only provides instant relief from painful injuries, but can also accelerate the healing process by reducing swelling, boosting the immune system, and providing energy and serenity to the patient. Acupuncture has been found to be especially effective in treating tendon and ligament sprains, which are common injuries for athletes.

One of the differences between Chinese medicine and its Western counterpart is that an Oriental medicine diagnosis always focuses on the root of the problem, rather than merely symptoms of the problem. Chinese medicine focuses on the athlete and the injury; in the West, treatment is usually more geared towards just the injury. By centering on the problem's origins, more complex issues can be resolved and a complete sense of well-being can be achieved through acupuncture. A traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis will include taking the athlete's history of past injuries into account as well as other health issues, sleeping and eating patterns, and the strength of various systems throughout his or her body.

Another important draw that acupuncture holds for athletes is the fact that it goes above and beyond merely alleviating an injury. Consistent acupuncture treatments can improve performance and provide more energy. Treatments can support the body during training, help to build muscle mass, promote liver glycogen storage, and to lend the body those bursts of energy that are so integral to a great performance.

Did you know that the British Columbia Medical Services Plan has added Acupuncture as a Supplementary Benefit?
Premium assistance benefits are available to eligible B.C. residents with a combined family income of $28,000 or less. MSP reimburses premium assistance recipients $23 for each supplementary benefit visit, to a combined maximum of 10 visits in each calendar year. Patients are covered for acupuncture treatments for a diagnosed condition through visits with practitioners registered by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA). For more information, please see the BC Medical Services Plan website: www.health.gov.bc.ca/cpa/mediasite/headlines.html#mar30 or contact your local BC Acupuncturist.

Asthma is a serious chronic lung disease affecting 21 per cent of children 2 to 15 years of age. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. This disorder is typically episodic and remittent in nature.

Along with Chinese herbal medicine, certain dietary and lifestyle modifications can increase the immune systems ability to fight off colds, the flu and other illnesses.