A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (February 1, 2010; 28(4):634–640) examined treatments for hot flashes in breast cancer patients receiving anti-estrogen therapy. The study followed 52 women over a 12-week period who were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or the antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor).
Both groups experienced meaningful reductions in hot flashes and depressive symptoms over the three months following the start of therapy. However, improvements occurred earlier in the acupuncture group. Within two weeks, participants receiving acupuncture reported fewer hot flashes than those taking venlafaxine.
In addition to symptom relief, many patients in the acupuncture group reported improvements in energy, overall sense of well-being, and mental clarity. In contrast, participants taking venlafaxine experienced side effects including dry mouth, dizziness, anxiety, and nausea—effects that were not reported by those receiving acupuncture.
