Acupuncture is one of a range of natural therapies that are used to treat illness and disease, including prostate cancer. This is part of a growing trend that has seen many natural therapies practised alongside, and complementing, conventional medical treatments.
What is the Prostate Gland?
The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive organs, and is situated between the penis and bladder, surrounding the urethra. It is responsible for producing the fluid that is excreted as semen together with the sperm - which it is designed to protect and nourish. Cancer of the prostate gland is one of the most common forms of the disease in men, and together with an enlarged prostate is associated with ageing in men.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an element of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and involves the insertion of microscopic needles into specific points in the skin. These points are aimed at targeting the points in the body where the energy or chi is blocked, and are prescribed by TCM tradition.
Acupuncture for Prostate Cancer
TCM considers deficiencies in the kidney to be the root cause of problems associated with the prostate gland. Regular acupuncture treatments are utilised to stimulate the energy and improve the circulation in the prostate. In cases where the cancer has established itself and spread to adjacent organs acupuncture can also be an effective form of pain relief. Other recommendations may involve stress relief techniques such as regular exercise and massage.
Ensure you advise your doctor if you are considering using acupuncture to complement your treatment. If you do decide on it, you can find a qualified acupuncturist near you. Or you can also learn about other effective natural treatments for acupuncture.
Originally published on Jul 22, 2010
