Acupuncture-related therapies and herbal medicines may safely relieve treatment-related pain and improve daily functioning and quality of life for people with breast cancer.
The review searched major medical and complementary medicine databases for clinical studies published over the previous decade examining acupuncture-related therapies or herbal medicines for side effects of breast cancer treatment. Included studies evaluated symptoms such as joint pain linked to hormone treatment, arm swelling, and nerve damage caused by chemotherapy, using approaches including needle acupuncture, electrical acupuncture, heat-based stimulation, and herbal preparations. Pain and quality of life were commonly assessed with standardized patient-reported questionnaires.
Across the included studies, acupuncture-related therapies and herbal medicines generally appeared to reduce pain, improve daily functioning, and enhance quality of life for people experiencing treatment-related joint pain, nerve symptoms, or swelling. Reported adverse effects were usually mild, suggesting these approaches may offer supportive symptom management where conventional alternatives are limited.
