Reviewed by Physician Chu I Ta on May 18, 2022

How To Take A TCM Approach to Palliative Care

Published April 8, 2024| 4 min read

Palliative care provides essential support to patients with serious or terminal illnesses. Enhance your care practices by exploring these Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tips.

How to take a tcm approach to palliative care

Palliative care is a type of specialized medical care, which involves caring for a person who is undergoing treatment for a serious illness or terminally ill condition, such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, or heart failure.

Palliative care helps to reduce the side effects of the illness itself as well as any medications or treatment the patient may have to take to improve their quality of life.

This type of care seeks to make life for the patient as comfortable as possible. It may also help to improve the outcomes of traditional treatments to promote recovery.

In this guide, our expert physicians discuss the important role Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plays in palliative care.

Why Might Someone Need Palliative Care?

Insomnia, head pain, and night sweats may be side effects that palliative care can help address.

People with cancer and other serious health conditions will likely experience symptoms of varying prevalence and severity, hence the need for palliative care. Usually, it relates to the types and stages of the disease and treatment options prescribed by their doctor.

In addition, comorbidities can also have a direct effect on symptom intensity. Palliative care can help reduce some of these symptoms and make your living conditions better.

A few common signs and symptoms of chronic illnesses that palliative care can help with are:

Fatigue
Night sweats
Insomnia
Skin changes
Nausea and vomiting
Bowel or bladder issues
Pain that doesn’t go away
Unexplained bleeding or bruising
Unexplained weight gain or weight loss

How Does It Work?

The goal of palliative care is to improve the patient’s quality of life. It may be done in conjunction with medical care, but it is not really “treatment” focused.

Palliative care can be performed in a hospital, nursing home, outpatient care clinic, or right at home. A palliative care team may include palliative care specialists, doctors, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, and personal trainers.

The goal is to provide emotional, physical, and social support to those with a serious health condition.

How To Use TCM During Palliative Care

TCM can be considered to improve quality of life of the patient. For people who have malignant tumors, the treatment options proposed will serve to improve the efficacy of clinical therapy whilst suppressing its side effects.

According to Registered TCM Physician Chu I Ta, “People who undergo surgery to remove a gastrointestinal tumor will experience issues like epigastric distention, stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, as well as intractable hiccups.” Palliative care will help improve the quality of life of the patient by reducing these issues.

Acupressure

On the anterior aspect of the lower leg, 4 fingers-breadth below the outer depression of the knee joint, one finger-breadth (middle finger) from the anterior crest of the tibia.

Located in the middle of the abdomen, finger widths from the umbilicus.

On the anterior median line of the upper abdomen, mid-point between the tip of the xyphoid process and the umbilicus.

Located along the midline of the lower abdomen, 2-fingers-breadth below the navel.

Located about a hand width below the bellow button.

The use of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on acupoints like Zu San Li (ST36), Tian Shu (ST25), Zhong Wan (CV12), Qi Hai (CV6), and Guan Yuan (CV4) can be helpful.

On the inner lower leg, 4-fingers-breadth above the tip of the inner ankle bone, just behind the shin bone.

Located about a hands width below the bellow button.

On the anterior midline, 4 cun below the umbilicus.

Physician Chu adds, “People with cervical cancer who underwent extensive hysterectomy and pelvic node dissection procedures can experience urination paralysis and urine retention problems. Thus, acupuncture treatment on San Yin Jiao (SP6), Yin Ling Quan (SP9), Zu San Li (ST36), Qi Hai (CV6), Guan Yuan (CV4), and Zhong Ji (CV3) can help relieve these symptoms.”

Herbal remedies

“A nasal feeding of Chinese medicine that reduces bloating, regulates Qi (vital energy), and strengthens the Spleen can also be introduced to promote the recovery of gastrointestinal functions,” explained Physician Chu.

A multi-grain meal that contains flaxseeds, red sage (Dan Shen), and Panax notoginseng (Tian Qi) may also be consumed to boost vitality.

For people with incurable, advanced-stage cancer or elderly people with poor body constitutions, TCM treatment can be useful for calming clinical symptoms and extending their lifespan.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, palliative care can potentially increase a person’s chances of achieving health remission. Do speak to a TCM practitioner if you wish to consider using acupuncture and herbal medication to support disease treatment.