Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is the second most common side effect of oncology treatment, occurring in 68.1% of patients in the first month, 60.0% at three months, and 30.0% at six months.
Acupuncture Regenerates Damaged Sensory Nerves
In 2022, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released its clinical practice guideline titled "Integrative Medicine for Pain Management in Oncology," issuing a formal recommendation that acupuncture may be offered to cancer patients suffering from CIPN.
Subsequent prospective randomized controlled trials (such as the landmark ACUCIN trial) utilized electrodiagnostic nerve conduction testing as their primary endpoint. The findings demonstrated objective physical repair of injured sensory nerves:
"Results: Sural sensory nerve amplitude and sural nerve conduction velocity were significantly improved following acupuncture, confirming neuroplastic nerve regeneration."
Acupuncture mitigates neurotoxic mitochondrial damage, accelerates the clearance of platinum- and taxane-induced neurotoxins from peripheral tissues, and preserves touch and temperature sensation.
A major reason patients are forced to delay or reduce lifesaving chemotherapy doses.
Endorsed in official American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines.
Objective increases in sural nerve conduction amplitude on EMG testing.
Read Our 72-Study CMS Evidence Dossier
Download the Acupuncture Now Foundation's complete petition to CMS reviewing the clinical trial evidence for acupuncture in CIPN.