Supporting Immune Health in Cancer Care with Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Acupuncture and moxibustion can be powerful allies for immune support during cancer treatment when used alongside standard oncology care. Traditional Eastern medicine therapies like acupuncture and moxibustion aim to help patients stay stronger, tolerate treatment better, and recover more smoothly. These therapies also greatly help in managing stress, pain, nausea and other symptoms that can accompany cancer treatment.
How acupuncture may support immune function
Cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation often leave patients fatigued, achy, and more vulnerable to infection. Acupuncture uses very fine needles at specific points to influence the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, helping the body shift out of a constant “fight-or-flight” state. Clinical research suggests that acupuncture can reduce pain, nausea, neuropathy, insomnia, anxiety, and other symptoms that gradually erode immune resilience.
A recent meta-analysis of 33 randomized trials with over 2,600 patients with malignant tumors found that acupuncture and moxibustion were associated with higher CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ and natural killer (NK) cell levels, and lower CD8+ levels compared with control groups (Wang et al, 2025). These changes suggest a shift toward more balanced, effective immune surveillance, alongside improved overall treatment response and prognosis. By improving sleep, moderating inflammation, and easing distress, it’s likely that acupuncture indirectly frees up more of the body’s energy for healing and immune repair.
How moxibustion may help during treatment
Moxibustion, or “moxa,” involves gently warming acupuncture points with the herb mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), either directly or indirectly over the skin. This comfortable heat is used in East Asian medicine to tonify qi, warm yang, and enhance circulation of blood and lymph. Modern studies indicate that moxibustion can reduce chemotherapy-related gastrointestinal side effects, myelosuppression (bone marrow side effects that cause anemia and low white blood cell count), fatigue, and postoperative lymphedema, while improving overall quality of life (Lu & Wang, 2023).
Experimental and clinical work suggests that moxibustion may modulate inflammatory and immune pathways, including T-cell subsets and cytokines, and may help normalize the tumor immune microenvironment when combined with chemotherapy.
Safe, integrative use in oncology
In modern integrative oncology settings, acupuncture is regularly offered to help patients manage pain, fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, neuropathy, nausea, and emotional distress during and after treatment. At Bridge, we are proud to partner with the oncology center at Doylestown-Penn Medicine in the integrative care of their patients. When provided by a licensed practitioner familiar with oncology precautions—and in coordination with the oncology team—acupuncture and moxibustion can be adapted safely, even for patients with low blood counts or central lines.
The overall goal is to support immune function in a realistic, evidence-informed way, helping patients feel better, maintain strength, and move through cancer treatment with greater comfort and resilience.
References
Cancer Research UK. (n.d.). Acupuncture. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/acupuncturecancer
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. (2026, March 12). Oncology acupuncture. https://www.fredhutch.org/en/patient-care/services/integrative-medicine/acupuncture.htmlfredhutch
Lu, W., & Wang, H. (2023). Moxibustion for the treatment of cancer and its complications. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 22, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354231198089semanticscholar+1
Valois, B., et al. (2026). Teaching cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the National Health Service to use daily self-moxibustion to reduce chemotherapy-induced pancytopenia: A feasibility study. Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine and Technology Assessment. https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/eCMTA.2026.9570024news-medical
Wang, X., Sui, X., et al. (2025). Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the immune function of patients with malignant tumors: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Immunology, 16, 1583522. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1583522frontiersin+3
Wong, R. K. S., et al. (2020). Basic understanding of acupuncture and moxibustion in the supportive care of cancer patients. Current Oncology Reports, 22(11), 1–9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2414644720300531sciencedirect
Zhang, L., et al. (2024). Acupuncture in cancer care: Recommendations for safe practice and research. Supportive Care in Cancer, 32, 123–135. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10940387/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih
Oncology Nurse Advisor. (2024, May 6). Acupuncture and moxibustion for insomnia relief in cancer patients. Renal & Urology News. https://www.renalandurologynews.com/features/acupuncture-moxibustin-insomnia-relief-cancer-patients-treatment-risk-2/renalandurologynews