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Are Simeon Thoresen, DVM¹

 

In 1984 I tried a new acupuncture method for mammary adenocarcinoma in a Dachshund with multiple tumors along the nipple line (the Stomach meridian) and dyspnea probably from lung metastases. ¹ One acupoint, LIV-3, was treated because the Liver meridian is the controlling meridian of the Stomach meridian. In a few weeks the tumors had almost completely disappeared. The dog died several years later from renal insufficiency. In 1995, good results were obtained using acupuncture of the controlling meridian in a horse with Equine Sarcoid.² Currently, I have treated about 500-600 animal and human patients with all types of cancer using the technique described in this paper. In cases of mammary cancer and malignant melanoma it is possible to determine the acupuncture meridian where the cancer is located or started (meridian diagnosis) and my results have been very good. My results for lymphosarcoma and brain tumors have been good, but not as good as for mammary cancer and malignant melanoma. Treatment of a few liver cancer patients was unsuccessful.

At a cancer seminar in December, 2002, I was approached by Sergio Manzetti, research assistant from the Prostate Cancer group, at the Institute of cellular and molecular biology at the University of Oslo as he was interested in my cancer treatment results. He organized a meeting with Dr. Med. Ottestad, Chief Medical Officer of the mammary cancer department at the Radium Hospital of Norway. At that time although my overall results had been good, due to time constraints there were insufficient details in my case-notes to make absolute conclusions. I agreed to document in detail an unbroken sequence of cases over a 9 month period and then report the results back to Dr. Ottwstad. A summary of the 16 veterinary cases treated during that time period that were part of my final report are presented here.

CANCER AND THE CONTROL SYSTEM OF THE BODY

Most bodily functions and processes are controlled by other processes or functions, called feed-back or control mechanisms. A control mechanism for blood-circulation is stimulated by too much or too little blood. The nervous system has many control mechanisms especially via the sympathetic and parasympathetic portions. The placebo effect of humans is an example of how the mind can control the body. ³

Endorphins and other peptides also control many bodily functions.⁴ This control can be molecular, genetic, proteomic or cellular in nature. An example of molecular control is when androgens like aldosterone control the cell cycle transitions in the prostate.⁵ An example of genetic control is when siRNA-fragments control geneexpression in eukaryotic cells.⁶ A proteomic control example is when proteolytic hydrolysis via caspase enzymes control cell cycles by inducing apoptosis.⁷ Cellular control occurs when osteoblasts regulate osteoclast formation through cell-to-cell contact with hemopoietic progenitor cells.⁸

The loss or a breakdown of these control systems are seen at a molecular level when c a r c i n o genic compounds like Nnitrosodiethamolamine induce cancer by forming 2- hydroxyethyl-DNA base-adducts.⁹ Loss of controls at the genetic level can result in mutations as in the case of the promoter element of the p53 gene which is often found in cancer patients.¹⁰ An example of a loss of control at the proteomic level is when Arg- 249-Met mutation in the p53 protein results in an uncontrolled cell-cycle and cancer.¹¹ Due to a loss of control at the cellular level, human T-cell Leukemia/Lymphotropic virus type 1 can induce cancer.¹²

ACUPUNCTURE IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER

The current conventional treatment for cancer relies mainly on radical surgery, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. Attempts are also made to boost the immune system by chemical immune stimulation, administering biotechnologically produced specific antibodies, purified interferon and other means. Research on gene-based therapy is in the early stages. Many of these treatments induce severe adverse effects in the patient, and some of these effects can compromise normal organ function and cause patient death. For example some patients when given cytotoxic chemotherapy develop myocardial, hepatic or kidney dysfunctions that seriously compromise their lives.

Acupuncture treats cancer by re-balancing normal control mechanisms. The potential of acupuncture to positively affect the immune system has been shown in previous studies where there were substantial increases of T-lymphocyte proliferation, NK-cell activity, complement system activation, heat-stable mitogenic humoral factors and in OKT4 cells following acupuncture.^13,14 Positive effects from acupuncture at the physiological and biochemical levels have lead to the addition of acupuncture to chemotherapy in cancer treatment trials.¹⁵ The specific points that were stimulated in these studies, were LIV-4, LI- 11, ST-36, SP-6, SP-10, PC-6 and GB-39.

APPLYING TCVM THEORY TO CANCER TREATMENT STRATEGIES

The Yellow Emperor’s Internal Medicine Classic (Huangdi Neijing), written before 200 BC, is still the basic text for practitioners of acupuncture.^16,17 It described the fundamental theories of Change, Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Qi- Xue (Energy and Blood), Jing-Luo (different types of meridians) relationships, meridian-organ relationships, external and internal pathogenic factors, the interaction of the body-mind-spirit, as well as other topics. Huangdi Neijing teaches that each of the 12 meridians supports another meridian (nourishes its “son”) and controls a different meridian (governs its “grandson”). Likewise, each meridian is nourished by its “mother” and controlled by its “grandfather”. Thus, each meridian has generative (Sheng) and control (Ke or Ko) functions on its related elements, as outlined in Table 1. This control-cycle is called the 5-starcontrol cycle, as the system may be organized as a 5- pointed star (Fig 1). The cross-control-cycle as seen in Figure 2 can also be used to treat cancer. In this system the heart and kidney mutually control each other, as is also the case with the liver and lung. The Spleen can control all the other organs (Fig. 2).

Over the past 9 years, I have used an acupuncture protocol for the treatment of human and animal cancer patients using the Ko Cycle as outlined in Table 1 and illustrated in Figure 1. I use acupoints on the Yin meridian (LIV, HT, PC, SP, LU, KID) to bring control to the meridian associated with the cancer. For example I use acupoints on the LIV meridian to control cancer of the Spleen or Stomach and tissues along these meridians. I will use acupoints on the LIV meridian to treat cancer of the lower medial tibia (where the SP meridian passes), or mammary cancer (ST meridian passes through the nipple). I use acupoints on the SP meridian to control cancer of the kidney or bladder, as well as cancer of the adrenal gland, ovary, oviduct, uterus, cervix, vagina, testicle, spermatic ducts, seminal vesicle, prostate, and penis because in TCVM they all directly relate to the kidney. I also use acupoints on the SP meridian to treat cancer of tissues along the KID and BL meridians such as cancer close to the sacrum. For cancer of the CV meridian I’ll treat GV meridian and vice versa. I will change my protocol if clinical improvement does not occur within two weeks.

CANCER TREATMENT WITH ACUPUNCTURE IN MY PRACTRICE

An overview of my approach to cancer treatment with acupuncture is as follows:

1. First, I make an exact meridian diagnosis by simply observing where the tumor has arisen such as the meridian of the cancerous organ or superficial tissue.

 

Table 1: The normal nourishing and control cycles

Sheng Cycle*	LIV GB	?	HT SI TH PC	?	SP ST	?	LU LI	?	KID BL	?	LIV GB
Ko Cycle**	LIV GB	X	SP ST	X	KID BL	X	HT SI TH PC	X	LU LI	X	LIV GB

* ? =Generates, Nourishes, or Engenders

** X =Controls (brings control to), Governs or Prevents unruliness

Figure 1: An illustration of the 5 star controlling relationships

 

Figure 2: An illustration of the cross-controlling relationship

 2. I select acupuncture points on the corresponding Ko meridian (the meridian that controls the meridian affected by the cancer)

3. I do not use the Ko (controlling) acupuncture points on the affected meridian itself.

4. I use dry needles for 10 minutes in the selected acupoint or acupoints

5. During the period of treatment, I do not recommend stimulation of any other meridian.

6. To bring most cancers under control it usually takes 1-3 acupuncture sessions every 3- 4 weeks. Treatment of severe forms of cancers may be continued for 1-2 years.

 

It is most important to stimulate only the Ko (controlling) meridian, not the Ko (controlling) points of the affected meridian itself. During the period of treatment, I do not stimulate any other meridian or process.

 

With this protocol I use acupuncture alone to treat most types of cancer. Mammary cancer is an exception. For mammary cancer patients I usually also consider the diet since the liver controls the breast and the liver is very sensitive to diet. If my patients are receiving medication prescribed by their primary veterinarian, medical doctors or oncologists, I ask them to continue with that. The primary aim and the most important function of acupuncture for cancer treatment is to stimulate the body’s own control mechanisms. The purpose is to control cellular growth and normal life supporting processes because in cancer the basic problem is that these processes have become uncontrolled. As acupuncturists, if we stimulate the wrong process, like treating a nourishing meridian, we may aggravate the cancer by actually stimulating tumor growth so care must be taken to develop treatment strategies that will avoid this possibility.

 

RESULTS

The treatments and outcomes of 15 dogs and 1 horse that were treated for cancer from 2002-2004 are summarized in Table 2. The cases were not selected based on their outcomes but were the total of animals I treated sequentially for cancer during that time period. At least 1-3 acupuncture sessions or more were given every 3- 4 weeks. The followup period was at least 1 year. The tumors visibly disappeared in 25% (4/16) of the cases. In 50% (8/16) of the cases the tumors reduced in size following treatment. Some positive effect was seen in 75% (12/16) of the cases. The acupuncture had little effect in 19% (3/16) of the cases. In one case in which acupuncture was considered to have a negative effect, the tumor was stable for 1 year before it began to grow again. In one case the tumor would shrink after each acupuncture treatment but then would grow again. The results by tumor type are outlined in Table 3.

 

DISCUSSION

In a cancerous state the cell cycle is uncontrolled and cells form an independent unit or tumor.¹⁸ There is a lack of control at the genetic, proteomic or cellular levels. Genetic mutations in the p53 promoter yield deficient expression of the p53 product thereby leading to uncontrolled transition between the G and S phases, ¹⁹ At the proteomic level, mutations in the p53 gene yield a deficient protein which inefficiently binds to the suppressor and cannot manage to “silence” the S phase of the cell.²⁰ Recent evidence suggests also that cancer is inducible at the cellular level by oncoviruses, like Human T-cell Leukemia/ Lymphotropic virus type 1. ¹²

TCVM clinicians evaluate the normal

 

Table 2: A summary of the acupuncture treatment and outcome in 16 animals with cancer*

	Cancer Type and Size   M= malignant B=benign	Type of Patient   Fe = female M = male Year of birth	Acupoints Used Date of First Treatment Outcome   P = positive effect ? = uncertain effect N= no effect	Rationale for Acupoint Selection
1.	Mammary carcinoma 8-10mm, tumors on both sides ( M )	Dog, Chihuahua Fe Born 1999	LIV-3 and LIV-2 April 2003 The tumors greatly reduced in size, then reappeared; Now static. No other treatment ( P )	The ST meridian passes through the nipple and the LIV controls the ST
2.	Perianal-tumor 12 cm. diameter ( B )	Dog, Chihuahua Fe Born 1999	CV-23 Spring 2002 The tumor was stable for 1 year; started to grow in the fall of 2003; the dog was euthanized in November 2003. No other treatment ( N )	The tumor was situated on the dorsal midline GV, so the ventral midline-meridian (CV) was treated
3.	Osteosarcoma Left front leg 11 cm 2 ( M )	Dog, mixed breed Born 1994	HT-9 November 2002 By April 2003 the cancer was totally gone. No other treatment ( P)	The cancer was located on the LU meridian and the HT controls the LU
4.	Carcinoma of the peritoneum with local metastasis ( M )	Dog, Riesenschnauser M Born 1989	SP-6 April 2003 For the first 3 months the dog seemed better, but then he suddenly died in August. No other treatment ( N )	The pulse showed a “Yang-deficiency” and SP-6 usually controls this deficiency. Later I found that SI-18 was more effective
5.	Lymphosarcoma skin Multiple tumors 1.2cm and 2.9 x 3.3cm; 3.7 x 4.3cm and 3.2 x 3.4 cm; 2.5 x 4.5 cm and 2.5 x 2.5 cm. 2.9 x 3.0 cm. 3.2 x 3.8 cm and 3.3 x 2.7 cm ( M )	Horse, Swedish warm blood Born 1997	SI-3, BL-62 and GV-1 July 2003 After one year the tumors were reduced by 60%. No other treatment. ( P )	The tumor first appeared on the ventral midline (CV); therefore I treated the dorsal midline (GV);, SI-3 and BL-62 are points that affect GV
6.	Mammary tumor Diameter 1.1 cm Suspected benign ( B )	Dog, English setter Fe Born 1996	LIV-3 Date July 2003 After one year the cancer was totally gone. No other treatment ( P )	The ST meridian passes through the nipple and the LIV controls the ST
7.	Mammary tumors 2 diameter 1.4 cm, 1.1 cm Suspected benign ( B )	Dog, English setter, Fe Born 1998	LIV-3 July 2003 After one year the tumors were 2 and 3 mm No other treatment ( P )	The ST meridian passes through the nipple and the LIV controls the ST
8.	Carcinoma of the skin Began as 4 cm. Mass of right front paw; operated before I saw the dog, but had spread to right back leg and right axilla ( M )	Dog, Riesenschnauser, Born 1994	KID-1 July 2003 After treatment the tumors reduced in size by 60%. No other treatment ( P )	The tumor first appeared on the HT meridian and the KID controls the HT
9.	Seminoma Left testical 7.5 cm in diameter ( B )	Dog Golden retriever, M Born 1988	LU-11 June 2003 The tumor stopped growing. No other treatment ( P )	The LIV meridian passes through the testes and the LU controls the LIV
10.	Chondrosarcoma left side of abdomen, 12 x 12 cm ( M )	Dog, Mixed breed, M Born 1995	LU-11 and LU-1 July 2003 After each treatment the cancer initially reduced in size, but then would grow again. The tumor is 17 x 20 cm. ( ? )	The cancer was located on the GB meridian, which is controlled by the LU
11.	Lymphosarcoma treated for a long time with corticosteroids ( M )	Dog, Norwegian harehound, M Born 1996	LIV-3 September 2003 2 days after the first treatment the dog was acutely worse, and was euthanized by the owner ( N )	The tumor started on the ST meridian and the LIV controls the ST
12.	Mammary adenocarcinomas multiple tumors on both sides, size varying between 5 mm to 20 mm ( M )	Dog, Islandic sheepdog, Fe Born 2001	LIV-3 September 2003 No surgery or other forms of treatment. The are currently undetectable (P )	The ST meridian passes through the nipple and the LIV controls the ST
13.	Mesenchymal tumor Medial stifle, 10 cm. diameter ( M )	Dog, mixed breed, M Born 1999	LU-11 October 2003 After the first treatment the tumor became static. ( P )	The cancer was located on the LIV meridian, which is controlled by the LU
14.	Carcinoma of the skin Located at the tuber ichii , 5 x 4 cm. ( M )	Dog, Standard Poodle, Fe Born 1992	SP-1 and HT-9 October 2003 After the treatment shrunk to 1.9 x 1.9 cm. No other medication or treatments have been performed. ( P )	The tumor was situated on the BL meridian, and both SP (the 5-starcontrol), and HT (the cross-control) controls the BL
15.	Mastocytoma ( M )	Dog, English setter, M Born 1997	HT-9 December 2003 The tumor size reduced approximately 70% ( P )	The tumor was located in the axilla, close to the LU meridian and the HT controls the LU
16.	Mammary carcinoma, left side, surgically removed but new tumor developed on the right side ( M )	Dog, Tibetan temple dog, Fe Born 1991	LIV-3 bilaterally January 2003 Reduction of tumor size ( P )	The ST meridian passes through the nipple and the LIV controls the ST

*At least 1-3 acupuncture sessions or more were given every 3- 4 weeks. Each treatment was with dry needles only for 10 minutes. Follow-up period was 1 year.

 

Table 3: A summary of a one- year follow up of the effect of acupuncture for cancer in 15 dogs and 1 horse

controlling processes (CP) of the body essential for health. The normal biological activity of bodily cells is to grow and multiply in an orderly way because of these CP. The CP are less important for plants and animals lower on the phylogenetic scale as growth continues throughout life in these species. Since the CP limit the growth and lifespan

of cells they are most important in highly developed animals where cell growth and division stop at a certain age. Cancerous tumors arise when the CP fails, growth processes regain dominance and cells survive past their normal time.

The CP and all cellular and bodily functions are stressed by constant adaptation to changes in the external and internal environments and fail for many reasons. Some environmental factors that adversely influence living organisms and their CP include emotional and mental stressors, food additives, toxic pollution of food, air and water sources, exposure to excessive electromagnetic fields such as high voltage cables and geopathic stress and continual bombardment by negative sounds and visual impressions, These stressors strain the CP and results in the loss of dominance of the CP.

Many important CP are related to the immune system. A proper functioning immune system is critical for preventing or limiting cancer. The aim of effective cancer therapy and prevention must be to help the patient restore the lost CP function especially those of the immune system. Many methods such as diet changes and meditation have been suggested. Acupuncture using the Ko cycle meridian by TCVM experts has few if any adverse effects and in the author’s experience is a very effective method to restore the body’s normal CP and treat cancer. The primary aim and most important function of acupuncture is to stimulate the body’s own control mechanisms but if we stimulate the wrong processes, in this case the nourishing process, we may aggravate the disorder by stimulating tumor growth.

In summary although it is impossible to make absolute conclusions because of the small patient number and many uncontrollable variables in the clinical situation, the overall results indicate that the acupuncture technique described in this paper appears to be effective and warrants further investigation.

REFERENCES

1. Thoresen A, Veterinærmedisin, Komplementære og Alternative metoder, 2002 pp.442-445, English edition 358-363.

2. Thoresen A. Akupunkturbehandling av Equint Sarcoid, Norsk Veterinærtidsskrift, 1995 107, 10

3. Ekeland T-J. Placebofenomenet – hvordan kan det forstås, Tidsskr. Nor. Lægeforen. 2000;120:3017-20

4. Pohorille A. et al. Membrane peptides and their role in protobiological evolution. Orig Life Evol Biosph. 2003 Apr;33(2):173-97.

5. Cinar B, Koeneman KS, Edlund M, Prins GS, Zhau HE, Chung LW. Androgen receptor mediates the reduced tumor growth, enhanced androgen responsiveness, and selected target gene transactivation in a human prostate cancer cell line. Cancer Res. 2001 Oct 1;61(19):7310-7.

6. Lewis DL, Hagstrom JE, Loomis AG, Wolff JA, Herweijer H. Efficient delivery of siRNA for inhibition of gene expression in postnatal mice. Nat Genet. 2002 Sep;32(1):107-8. Epub 2002 Jul 29.

7. Miller DK. The role of the Caspase family of cysteine proteases in apoptosis.Semin Immunol. 1997 Feb;9(1):35-49. Review.

8. Udagawa N. The mechanism of osteoclast differentiation from macrophages: possible roles of T lymphocytes in osteoclastogenesis. J Bone Miner Metab. 2003;21(6):337-43.

9. Loeppky RN, Goelzer P. Microsome-mediated oxidation of N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA), a bident carcinogen. Chem Res Toxicol. 2002 Apr;15 (4):457-69.

10. Chumakov AM, Miller CW, Chen DL, Koeffler HP. Analysis of p53 transactivation through high-affinity binding sites. Oncogene. 1993 Nov;8(11):3005-11.

11. Deppert W. The yin and yang of p53 in cellular proliferation.Semin Cancer Biol. 1994 Jun;5(3):187- 202. Review.

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13. Kim KJ, Lee MW, Choi JH, Sung KJ, Moon KC, Koh JK. (2002). Abstract CD30-positive T-cell-rich pseudolymphoma induced by gold acupuncture. Br J Dermatol. 146: 882-4.

14. Rogers PA, Schoen AM, Limehouse J. (1992). Acupuncture for immune-mediated disorders. Literature review and clinical applications. Probl. Vet. Med. 4:162-93

15. Shen J, Glaspy J. (2001). Acupuncture: evidence and implications for cancer supportive care. Cancer Pract. 9:147-50Tagliaferri M, Cohen I, Tripathy D. (2001). Complementary and alternative medicine in early-stage breast cancer. Semin. Oncol. 28:121-34.

16. Lu H. C., A complete translation of the Yellow Emperors classic of internal medicine and the difficult classic, translated from the Chinese, The academy of oriental Heritage, Vancouver, Canada, 1978

17. Maoshing N. (1995). The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine. A New translation of the Neijing Suwen with commentary. Shambhala Publications Inc, Boston.

18. Sherr CJ. (2000-2001). Cell cycle control and cancer. Harvey Lect. 96:73-92.

19. Yang Q, Wesch H, Mueller KM, Bartsch H, Wegener K, Hollstein M. (2000). Analysis of radonassociated squamous cell carcinomas of the lung for a p53 gene hotspot mutation. Br J Cancer. 82: 763- 6.

20. Miller C, Koeffler HP.(1993).P53 mutations in human cancer. Leukemia. 1993 Suppl 2: S18-21.

 

 

From Sandefjord, Norway

The Author thanks Phil Rogers MRCVS, Dublin, Ireland, for his criticism and editorial help in the drafting of this article and Sergio Manzetti PhD with the help of finding scientific referenc

 

 

 

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