A pilot study carried out in China suggests that acupuncture may be effective for reducing cancer pain. In a randomised trial, 42 patients with moderate to severe cancer pain were randomly assigned to three different groups. Those in group one were needled at the ‘Four Gates’ (Si Guan – bilateral Hegu L.I.4 and Taichong LIV-3), group two received needling at the Four Gates combined with bilateral Neiguan P-6, Zusanli ST-36 and Sanyinjiao SP-6, and group three received needling at bilateral Neiguan P-6, Zusanli ST-36 and Sanyinjiao SP-6 only. All received seven sessions of treatment over a two-week period. Patients in all three arms experienced a decrease in their pain symptoms, but those in treatment arm 2 reported significantly greater pain reduction than the other two groups.
A pilot randomized controlled trial of acupuncture at the Si Guan Xue for cancer pain. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 Jun 26;17(1):335.
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