Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese system of healing, dating back thousands of years. It is founded on the notion that a type of life-force, or energy, known as qi (pronounced "chee") flows through channels in the body that connect groups of organs that govern particular bodily functions. Illness results when the body has too little or too much qi or when the qi stagnates or is blocked. To unblock or rebalance the flow of qi the acupuncturist inserts thin stainless-steel needles at specific points on the body. In China acupuncture is used to treat the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in patients with lung, esophageal, or stomach cancer. Although studies conducted in China do not generally follow the methodology used in Western medical research, nevertheless, the Chinese studies point to the efficacy of acupuncture for relief of the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. Similar conclusions were reached by the Naval Medical center Pain Clinic in San Diego, in relation to acupuncture's benefits for nausea and vomiting associated with both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Acupuncture has also been shown to improve immune function.

Both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health have come to recognize that acupuncture can be a helpful part of a treatment plan for many illnesses. Acupuncture is rapidly gaining a reputation in the United States for being economical, effective, and safe. According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, which held its annual symposium in April, there are currently 3,000 to 4,000 physician acupuncturists. While this number is small in comparison with Germany, where there are 40,000 physician acupuncturists in Germany, they are growing. An increasing number of insurance providers and HMOs now cover all or part of the cost of acupuncture treatments, but these providers may have restrictions on the types of illnesses they cover. Check with your insurance company to see what your policy offers.

Although there are no known or reported side effects from combining acupuncture with prescription drugs or other conventional treatments, it is still important for your primary care physician to be aware of you decision to try acupuncture, and to monitor your acupuncture treatment.

For a list of certified practitioners, you may wish to contact

• The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, 11 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314. There may be a fee for obtaining a published list of acupuncturist.
• You might also download information from the Internet at www.nccaom.org 
• The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture can provide a list of licensed physicians in your area who are also trained to perform acupuncture (call 800-521-2262).

Conklin K. Acupuncture in the Oncology Clinic. The Integrative Medicine Consult. December 2000.