For cancer survivors, cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy etc can often cause pain and side effects that may last beyond the final treatment. These side effects may include pain, nausea, vomiting, hot flushes, fatigue, dry mouth, peripheral neuropathy etc. To manage the discomfort, many people turn to acupuncture.

In the UK, Macmillan Cancer Support states on its website:
‘Some studies show that acupuncture may help to reduce nausea in people who have had chemotherapy. Acupuncture may also be used to relieve pain and other symptoms or side effects.’

How does acupuncture work:?

According to chinese medicine, pain and discomfort can be caused by a blockage in the flow of energy (Qi).Acupuncture can unblock and restore a balanced flow of energy leading to improved health.

Carolyn Katzin, Oncology specialist at UCLA Centre for Integrative Oncology, Los Angeles, California USA says:
‘ Acupuncture is a very useful tool for managing cancer side effects. It focusses on restoring the energy flow that cancer treatment disturb.’

Here are couple of examples of patient testimonials who have attended my acupuncture clinics in Brentwood, Chelmsford and Leigh on Sea:

; Half way through a course of NHS chemotherapy for colon cancer, I was experiencing numbness and tingling in my hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy), fatigue and low mood. I decided to try Traditional Acupuncture with Derek Climpson. The acupuncture has greatly improved my symptoms and helped me regain a feeling of control and wellbeing.’ – Kathryn

‘As a recovering cancer sufferer, it was recommended that i have Acupuncture to help with my rehabilitation.The treatment i received from Derek has been of the highest quality and has definitely helped my recovery.’ – Anne

Derek Climpson worked as a volunteer acupuncturist at St Joseph’s Hospice, London between 2010 and 2014 treating both inpatients and outpatients.

Acid reflux/ heartburn / GERD is extremely common affecting up to 1 in 4 adults in the UK . It is a discomfort, often a ‘burning’ sensation, in the chest that occurs after eating, lying down or bending over. Western medicine generally treats the disorder’s symptoms by acid suppression drugs with varying degrees of success.

Those who come to my acupuncture clinics in Brentwood, Chelmsford and Leigh on sea are either not helped by the drugs or who dislike taking drugs or wish to treat the cause of the problem rather than suppressing symptoms.

Acupuncture views the cause of acid reflux to be the reverse/ upward flow of acidic digestive fluids up into the œsophagus ( food pipe) often caused by a weakened sphincter which separates the stomach from the food pipe .
Acupuncture focussed on calming anxiety and restoring the downward flow of energy/ Qi and strengthening the stomach sphincter.

The Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine , 2010 (16), 298-303 wrote
‘Acupuncture can effectively inhibit the intra- oesophageal acid and bile acid reflux in GER patients to alleviate symptoms with good safety and is well accepted by patients.’