Acupuncture and its potential in enhancing mental well-being for breast cancer survivors: An evidence-based insight

Abstract

Breast cancer survivors often face long-term physical and psychological challenges post-treatment, including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine technique, has shown promise in addressing these issues. This paper reviews several studies investigating the effects of acupuncture on the mental health of breast cancer survivors. A 15-year NADA auricular acupuncture service demonstrated improvements in mood, somatic symptoms, anxiety, and sleep problems, with benefits sustained at 4-week and 18-week follow-ups. Another study found auricular acupuncture to be superior to psychoeducation in improving sleep quality, stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Complementary acupuncture treatment significantly improved cancer-related fatigue, depression, and sleep quality. Additionally, electro-acupuncture outperformed gabapentin in improving sleep quality in breast cancer survivors with hot flashes. The reviewed studies employed various acupuncture techniques, including auricular and electro-acupuncture, with differences in treatment duration, frequency, and point selection. Mechanisms underlying acupuncture's effects on mental health remain complex and multifaceted, potentially involving modulation of neurotransmitter levels, neurotrophic factors, and pain pathways. However, the scarcity of high-quality randomized controlled trials and the lack of studies focusing specifically on mental health outcomes among breast cancer survivors highlight the need for further research in this area.