Five Element
Acupuncture For Support During Chemotherapy
Acupuncture For Support During Chemotherapy, An Overview:
Chemotherapy is a vital part of modern cancer treatment, but it can also bring significant physical and emotional challenges. Many people experience changes in energy, appetite, sleep, digestion or mood as they move through treatment, and it is common to look for supportive therapies that can help create moments of steadiness and grounding during this time.
Acupuncture is often used alongside medical cancer care as a complementary approach. While it does not treat cancer or replace conventional treatment, many individuals seek it for the sense of calm, stability and emotional support it can offer. Some people describe their sessions as a chance to pause, breathe and reconnect with themselves — something that can feel valuable during a process that is often fast-paced and demanding.
Five-Element acupuncture looks at the whole person rather than focusing solely on symptoms. It takes into account the physical, emotional and constitutional landscape of each individual, offering space for balance, reflection and integration at a time when many aspects of life may feel disrupted.
This page explores how acupuncture is used in supportive cancer care — from both a Western and a Five-Element perspective — and how it may help people feel more grounded, settled and supported throughout chemotherapy.
What the Research Says
Research into acupuncture during chemotherapy is ongoing, and findings vary depending on the symptom being studied. Acupuncture is not a treatment for cancer, but several respected health organisations acknowledge that it may offer supportive benefits in specific areas.
The NHS also states that acupuncture is sometimes used to support people experiencing symptoms or side effects related to cancer treatment, including feeling sick after chemotherapy.
NHS – Acupuncture uses
The World Health Organization (WHO) includes acupuncture in its review of clinical trials, citing supportive evidence for its potential role in managing some treatment-related side effects, including nausea linked to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
WHO Review & Analysis of Controlled Clinical Trials (2003)
Cancer Research UK highlights that some studies suggest acupuncture may help with certain symptoms associated with cancer treatment — such as feeling sick or anxious — although it emphasises that more high-quality research is needed.
Cancer Research UK – Acupuncture and cancer care
Overall, the evidence suggests that acupuncture may offer emotional or physical support for some individuals undergoing chemotherapy, particularly around nausea. However, effects differ from person to person, and acupuncture should always be used as a complementary therapy alongside medical treatment, not a replacement for it.
Acupuncture as Support During Chemotherapy: A Western Perspective
From a Western medical perspective, acupuncture is sometimes included in supportive cancer-care services. While evidence varies, certain clinical guidelines acknowledge potential benefits in specific areas. For example, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) notes that acupuncture may help with chemotherapy-related nausea in some contexts, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has cited supportive evidence relating to the management of treatment-related side effects.
These references do not mean acupuncture treats cancer or replaces conventional care, but they reflect its use within wider supportive frameworks. In many oncology settings around the world, acupuncture is offered as part of a holistic approach that sits alongside medical treatment — helping individuals manage the emotional and physical challenges of chemotherapy in a more integrated way.
The intention is not to influence treatment outcomes but to provide space for comfort, steadiness and overall wellbeing during what can be a demanding process.
A Five-Element Perspective on Chemotherapy Support
In Five-Element acupuncture, the focus is not solely on symptoms but on the person moving through them. This approach recognises the full experience of chemotherapy — the physical fatigue, emotional uncertainty, shifting identity, and the sheer intensity of an unfamiliar landscape. Treatment holds space for all of this, honouring the individual rather than the condition.
Five-Element theory works with the interplay of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water — each connected to different aspects of physical, emotional and mental life. During challenging periods, these Elements may feel strained, depleted or out of step with one another. Treatment explores these patterns with the aim of supporting a greater sense of coherence, steadiness and inner connection.
Acupuncture sessions often offer a quiet, restorative pause — a moment of stillness within a process that can feel clinical, fast-paced or overwhelming. Many people describe this time as a chance to reconnect with themselves, their breath and the inner resources that can feel harder to access during treatment.
What My Patients Say
What Patients Say...
How Acupuncture Is Used During Chemotherapy
Many people seek acupuncture during chemotherapy to help them navigate the emotional and physical demands of treatment. Some individuals describe feeling depleted, unsettled or overwhelmed at different stages of the process, and acupuncture can offer a quiet, grounding space alongside the clinical care they are receiving.
While evidence varies, both NICE and the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledge that acupuncture may help with chemotherapy-related nausea in certain contexts. Beyond this specific area, acupuncture is used in many oncology settings as a complementary therapy focused on supporting overall wellbeing, rather than treating chemotherapy side effects directly.
In Five-Element acupuncture, points are selected based on the individual’s presentation and what they are experiencing on any given day. Two points commonly used in supportive care include:
ST36 – ‘Leg Three Miles’, a Stomach Channel point below the knee
Traditionally associated with grounding and nourishment, ST36 is often chosen for people who feel depleted or fatigued. Many patients describe it as a stabilising or steadying point during intensive treatment phases.
BL38 - 'Rich for the Vitals', a point on the bladder Channel on the upper back
Used in classical practice to support deeper reserves, BL43 is selected when someone feels worn down or emotionally stretched. Its role is not to treat medical symptoms, but to offer a sense of inner support during demanding periods.
These points are sometimes complemented with moxibustion, a gentle warming technique using refined mugwort. The warmth is often described as comforting or soothing, particularly for those who experience coldness or a sense of internal depletion during chemotherapy. Many people find the experience deeply relaxing, offering a moment to settle and reconnect with themselves.
Experiences vary, but patients frequently describe acupuncture sessions as a welcome pause — a space to rest, breathe and feel supported through a process that can otherwise feel intense and fast-moving. For many, the treatments provide a sense of steadiness and connection that supports their overall wellbeing during chemotherapy.
Important Note:
Acupuncture is offered here as a holistic and complementary therapy, drawing on Five-Element principles and traditional Chinese medicine theory. Many people find it supportive, although responses vary and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Evidence from observational studies and systematic reviews — including references from organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and, where relevant, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — suggests that acupuncture may be used to support wellbeing and certain symptoms. However, it should not be considered a replacement for medical diagnosis or treatment.
Each treatment is tailored to the individual, and experiences differ from person to person. If you have a medical condition or are under the care of a GP or specialist, please continue with your prescribed treatment plan. Acupuncture can be used alongside medical care, and it is advisable to discuss any changes with your healthcare provider.
