What is Acupuncture?
Chinese medicine is known as one of the original forms of holistic medicine. Its most widely used and effective technique is acupuncture. Acupuncture entails the careful and precise placement of very thin, sterilized, stainless steel, needles (more like pins, really) into various bio-energetic points of the body.
The theory and practice of acupuncture originated in China around 6000 BCE. Acupuncture is a technique by which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body by inserting thin needles through the skin. Traditional Chinese medicine calls these points meridians, a channel through which Qi and the other fundamental substances flow. These meridians are parallel to the circulatory system mapped out by western medicine. Dr. Arnette has finished several work-related study programs in China, undergoing residencies in different hospitals and clinics to better understand the vast system of meridian networks and their functions.
These points are linked together, like a circuit board, within the human body. Electrical currents must flow evenly at all times for the entire board to function properly. Any disruption of the flow of electricity will negatively affect the “circuit board” until it eventually fails. Acupuncture will re-establish connections on the “circuit board” of the body, thereby revitalizing its bio-energetic flow.
How does Acupuncture Treat Chemotherapy Symptoms?
Dr. Arnette uses acupuncture to treat the nausea and “cancer pain” caused by the chemotherapy process. When chemotherapy enters the body, sensors in the digestive system and brain detect its presence as a foreign substance. In a complex series of signals among the brain and the mouth, stomach, small intestine and bloodstream, the medication stimulates the “vomiting center” response.
Cancer patients being treated at ParkView have seen significant reduction in both the severity and the duration of nausea. Acupuncture to relieve nausea starts on the underside of the wrist, at acupuncture point P6. After starting there, Dr. Arnette will needle his way towards areas of the body affected with cancer.
There are a few different types of cancer pain. Most cancer pain is caused by the tumor pressing against bones, nerves, or other organs in the body. Cancer pain can also be caused by your cancer treatment. For example, chemotherapy drugs have been known to cause numbness in your hands and feet, a burning sensation at the point of injection, or skin redness and irritation.
Cancer pain is typically treated with opioids and with interventional anesthetic or neurosurgical procedures. Despite maximal use of pain medications and the application of interventional procedures, a significant portion of cancer patients still suffer from pain. In addition, the undesired effects of long-term use of opioid pain medication are issues of concern. Consequently, cancer patients often turn to acupuncture and other complementary therapies for pain control.
Acupuncture can be used to manage certain levels of inflammation in the body, visceral involvement, bony metastasis, soft-tissue invasion, or infiltration to the nerve or nerve plexus. If previous methods of treatment have not been effective, give ParkView a try.
Remember that some pain might have nothing to do with cancer. You could have the general aches and pains that everyone gets from time to time. Many patients come in to see Dr. Arnette convinced they’ve hit a roadblock in their search for effective healing and healthcare, but soon they realize that there is still strong hope. “My goal has always been to treat patients naturally and holistically.” If you would like to learn more, we offer a 15-minute no-cost consultation to discuss your concerns and any questions you may have. (562) 473-5371
Testimonials
“I started seeing Dr. Arnette after coming off of chemotherapy. At the time I thought, oh I’ll just go see him and see what he could do to cleanse my body. In talking with him I was surprised to learn what chemo did to my body that we worked on for the next couple of months. With Dr. Arnette’s help and weekly support I found amazing results!
I feel awesome. I feel more energized. I just feel very good. And with the treatments I get, my body responds better. My medical doctors were surprised that I responded so quickly. My oncologist said, oh well that’s never going to happen for you again Patty. It shocked my oncologist that with acupuncture I could be this healthy again.”
-Patty Gadd
“I started acupuncture with Dr. Arnette 4 years ago. I discovered my cancer in June 2016 and had a hysterectomy shortly after. When I started chemotherapy, I had no nausea but couldn’t tolerate the pain and had to stop chemotherapy. Dr. Arnette helped me recover before starting radiation. My cancer later migrated to my lungs in July 2017. I required surgery to remove it. I received acupuncture before and after my second operation. Acupuncture really, really got me back to normal and I believe that acupuncture got me there faster. Dr. Arnette was able to relieve the pain, help me relax and de-stress. I credit acupuncture to doing that. I’ve had other acupuncturists, but no one compares to Dr. Arnette. You need someone that understands cancer patients and knows what they are doing. “
-Susan Beckeley