Dr. Scott Ling is the Chief Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturist and the founder of Sustain Health in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Ling has a special interest in cancer care and has extensive experience in treating cancer with Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture have been practiced for more than 3,000 years. In some parts of the world, acupuncture is used to treat many ailments. According to the National Cancer Institute, “acupuncture applies needles, heat, pressure, and other treatments to certain places on the skin, called acupuncture points (or acupoints), to cause a change in the physical functions of the body.”
There’s a growing body of research on acupuncture and more is being discovered each day. Acupuncture and TCM can be used to treat and help manage chronic health conditions and a number of symptoms. More recently, acupuncture is being considered as an additional pain management option for people with cancer receiving chemotherapy or surgery and for many common side effects after cancer treatment, such as hot flashes, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and xerostomia (dry mouth).