Acupuncture has a long track record of treating the severe pain associated with cancer. A new study at Memorial Sloan Kettering found that both electroacupuncture and auricular (ear) acupuncture are effective for reducing cancer-related pain.
I completed Memorial Sloan Kettering’s IMPACT training course on acupuncture in cancer care, so this research is especially meaningful to me — it validates an approach I use regularly with my own patients navigating cancer treatment and recovery.
The study is notable for its size: 360 patients, which is large for acupuncture research. Hopefully these results will encourage insurance companies to expand coverage for patients living with cancer.
Table of Contents
Acupuncture Helps with Cancer pain
The study showed that both electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture helped patients manage cancer pain, with electroacupuncture producing stronger relief.
Patients received acupuncture for 12 weeks. One of the most striking findings is that the benefits lasted well beyond treatment — researchers followed up 12 weeks after the study ended and found the pain reduction had held. This mirrors what I see in my own practice: patients often report that relief continues, and even builds, well after a course of treatment ends.
What is ElectroAcupuncture for Pain?
Electroacupuncture applies a small amount of electrical stimulation to specifically chosen acupuncture points. It works through several mechanisms: it enhances the nervous system’s natural pain-relief response and stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain and central nervous system. It also helps regulate how the body processes pain signals, which may explain why relief continues long after treatment ends.
In my experience treating cancer patients, several factors affect how well electroacupuncture works, including choice of acupuncture points, the frequency of stimulation, and treatment length. I personalize each of these based on the nature and type of pain a patient is experiencing, as well as where they are in their treatment or recovery..
What is Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture for Pain?
Auricular acupuncture uses points on the ear that correspond to different parts of the body — the back, stomach, uterus, brain, neck, and legs — functioning almost like a map of the whole body.
There are several ways to stimulate these points. Often I’ll include them in a regular acupuncture or electroacupuncture session to enhance pain relief, ease anxiety, or support digestion. For more severe pain, such as cancer pain, small needles can be taped in place and left in the ear for several days at a time — this is the method used in the study. Many of my patients combine both techniques for the best results.
A Complement to Cancer Care
Cancer pain is just one of several symptoms acupuncture can help manage during treatment and recovery. As someone trained through Memorial Sloan Kettering in acupuncture for cancer care, I bring that specialized background to every patient I treat for cancer-related symptoms. Learn more about acupuncture for cancer care support.
