Chemo induced neuropathy

Comment by Archived User

Tingling may internal wind, check her blood pressure, if high, she may wind phlegm attack with live and kidney yin deficiency, use points: Ren4, St40, Kd3,6, Sp6, Lv3, Li4, Lv8, Ub17,18, 20, 23, Sp10, Pc6, Gb34, Gb8, Gb20, St36. Herb formula: Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang.

Comment by Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac.

We unfortunately see this quite a bit, but generally get very good results. I usually do something like the following:

General support for someone with cancer/cancer history (weakened immunity, qi and blood, generally) to this you might add some general TCM pattern related points, ST 36 for example:

<ul>
<li>
GV 22 - frontal lobe, stress, anxiety, hormonal balances</li>
<li>
GV 19 - sensory cortex</li>
<li>
GB 20</li>
<li>
Huatuo of T1, T2, T3 - bone marrow, thymus and lung/lymph system respectively</li>
<li>
Huatuo of T7 - any blood issue</li>
</ul>

For neuropathy in the hands:

<ul>
<li>
HT 7, PC 7 and LU 9 (occasionally use baxie but don&#39t find them very effective)</li>
<li>
PC 4 or PC 5 as appropriate</li>
<li>
Following treatment deep tuina from huatuo of C6/7 through shoulder and down the inside of the forearm multiple times vigorously, then light massage in the palm and fingers (tuina, I believe, is crucial)</li>
</ul>

For neuropathy in the feet:

<ul>
<li>
Huatuo of L2 (kidneys), L5 (colon) and UB 32</li>
<li>
UB 40, UB 57, GB 39, UB 60, KD 3, SP 3 (sometimes bafeng, but again I generally don&#39t find them helpful, occasionally KD 1 as well but same caveat).</li>
<li>
Following treatment deep tuina from huatuo of L2 down through the legs, through the calf muscles multiple times vigoroursly, then light massage in the feet and toes (again tuina is important)</li>
</ul>

Personally I don&#39t find herbal medicines very helpful (but that is partially my own bias in favoring acupuncture and tuina for cancer generally and neuropathy particularly)..

Comment by Archived User

I&#39ve found moxa useful for this. Just used stick moxa & played it up & down the area concerned.

Comment by Archived User

I have been trating a 55yo male for a few weeks now with chemotherapy induced neuropathy after a battle with colon cancer. It&#39s been mostly in his hands along the SJ/PC channels with some inclusion of LI/LU. The first treatment I used Dr. Richard Tan&#39s "12 magical points" which theoretically rebalances the Qi in all 12 meridians.

Right: LI 4, SJ3 , SI 3, SP 6, Liv 4, K 3

Left: LU 11, P 9, Ht 9, ST 36, GB 34, UB 40

He came back 1 week later saying that for the first time in months he was able to unscrew jars and lids, button his pants, and write his name.

Because the Jing Well points really aren&#39t that "pleasant" for most people, I only did that treatment once and now am using more traditional points

LI4/LV3 - open up flow of qi and blood throughout the whole body (yangming-jueyin)

LI11 - drain LI channel stagnation

ST36/SP6/KD3 - protect qi and blood

SJ5 - open up yang wei

GB39 - marrow influencial for nerves

Baxie - local qi and blood circulation

Every week he comes in able to do more activities with his hands. Hoping he&#39ll be back to normal soon.

Comment by Archived User

I would also had Master Tung;s points for peripheral neuroapthy - Five Tigers or Five Foot Tigers - For hand use 1,2 - for feet usually 3,4 - use .5 cun needles.