Our comprehensive cancer care approach addresses a wide range of treatment-related challenges, including but not limited to:
Acupuncture is widely recognized for its ability to manage the side effects of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. It is a vital part of our integrative cancer care approach to help alleviate symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. It is also effective in improving sleep quality, reducing anxiety, and enhancing overall well-being.
Research from major cancer centers highlights acupuncture's benefits in managing other common side effects of cancer therapies, such as dry mouth, lymphedema, and hot flashes. Acupuncture not only supports pain management—helping to reduce reliance on opioid medications—but also improves patients' overall quality of life by enhancing treatment tolerance. Some studies are even exploring its potential role in modulating gene expression to slow tumor growth.
Our approach focuses on supporting immune function and helping patients navigate their cancer experience with greater ease and resilience.
Herbal medicine is an important part of our approach, designed to work alongside conventional treatments like acupuncture. Personalized herbal formulas enhance treatment effectiveness, reduce toxic side effects, and support immune function. Herbs such as Radix Astragali (Huang Qi) and Turmeric (Jiang Huang) provide immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory benefits, helping mitigate chemotherapy and radiation side effects.
When integrated with conventional treatments, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) improves patient outcomes by reducing pain, fatigue, digestive issues, and lowering the risk of cancer recurrence. These formulas strengthen the immune system, fortifying the body’s defenses and enhancing its ability to fight cancer.
Proper nutrition plays a dual role in supporting both cancer treatment and recovery, as well as reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. Our nutritional counseling focuses on a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet rich in antioxidants and essential nutrients to support patients during and after treatment. This approach helps manage treatment-related side effects, such as weight loss, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues, while also aiding in overall cancer prevention.
We prioritize high-calorie, high-protein foods like eggs, dairy products, and soups to help patients maintain energy and strength throughout treatment. Customized nutritional plans address common challenges such as malnutrition and loss of appetite, which are frequently experienced during cancer treatment and palliative care. These plans are tailored to improve energy levels, support immune function, and promote healing.
By focusing on both prevention and symptom management, our dietary approach ensures that we provide tangible support throughout the entire experience with cancer, enhancing well-being and improving the body’s ability to tolerate treatments like chemotherapy and cancer medications and radiation therapy. Proper nutrition also plays a crucial role in recovery, helping to reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and potentially lower the risk of cancer recurrence.
At Better Together Acupuncture & Wellness, our approach to cancer care integrates the time-tested principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) within an evidence-based framework creating a holistic treatment approach. Our methodology is designed to enhance conventional cancer therapies while focusing on improving the overall health and resilience of our patients. By blending modern research with ancient wisdom, we provide a comprehensive, patient-centered model of care that addresses both the physical and emotional challenges of cancer treatment.
One of the key areas where acupuncture contributes to cancer care is through its influence on the immune system. Research has demonstrated that acupuncture stimulates the body's natural killer (NK) cells, which play a crucial role in identifying and eliminating cancer cells. Additionally, acupuncture helps regulate the production of cytokines, the proteins responsible for inflammation, reducing chronic inflammation that can accelerate cancer progression. This dual function of boosting immune defenses and controlling inflammation enhances the body’s ability to tolerate conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation while minimizing side effects such as fatigue, nausea, and neuropathy.
Our integrative cancer care also places a strong emphasis on nutrition. Clinical studies have shown that a carefully planned diet can play a significant role in improving cancer outcomes. Nutrition helps maintain energy, supports immune function, and mitigates treatment-related complications such as weight loss and malnutrition. We’ve craft personalized nutrition plans tailored to the metabolic needs of each patient, helping them navigate the dietary challenges posed by chemotherapy and other treatments. By incorporating antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory foods, we reduce oxidative stress and promote cellular repair, helping patients to better withstand treatments and recover more effectively.
In addition to acupuncture and nutritional counseling, we utilize the power of herbal medicine as a complement to conventional cancer treatments. Scientific evidence supports the efficacy of certain herbs, such as Radix Astragali (Haung Qi; Astragalus species) and Ganoderma lucidum(Ling Zhi, Reishi Mushroom), in enhancing chemotherapy’s effectiveness while reducing its toxic side effects. These herbs bolster the immune system and protect healthy cells from damage during treatment. Furthermore, herbs like turmeric contain compounds with anti-cancer properties that inhibit tumor growth and promote cancer cell death. Integrating herbal medicine into cancer care not only helps manage symptoms but also supports long-term recovery and improves patients' quality of life.
By combining acupuncture, TCM, herbal remedies, and personalized nutrition strategies, we provide a comprehensive approach that treats the whole person—not just the disease. This integrative model of care, grounded in both scientific research and the principles of TCM, empowers patients with a pathway to recovery that supports their body’s innate healing processes while working in tandem with their medical treatments.
