Self Administered Acupuncture for Hot Flashes and Chemotherapy Fatigue Part I

This was one of my favorite talks by Jacqueling Filshie an Anesthesiologist in charge of the Pain Clinic at The Royal Marsden Hospital in the UK.  Abstract here.Jacqueline Filshie.
Power Point presentation here. Jacqueline Filshie_ppt
Hot flashes is a huge issue in patients recommended to take Tamoxifen because the hot flashes can lead to early termination of the Tamoxifen treatment.  Current recommendations are 10 years of treatment, and many patients quit much sooner due to the side effects.
From my notes the point prescription used for the hot flashes caused by Tamoxifen was
Liver 3, Spleen 6, Gall Bladder 20, Gall Bladder 34, CV4  for 6 weekly treatments.  At home they were given semipermanent needles, they changed needles weekly and massaged them 3 times a day.  They found it was safe and effective with some patients tolerating for years at a time.

Guidelines for safe practice have been published with clear instructions for patients [Filshie & Hester 2006].

For chemotherapy fatigue the point Rx is LI4, SP6 and ST36 once a week for 6 weeks and then self administered Sp6.