Positive Health Online

Recovery – Renewal – Transformation

Beverley has done an incredible job of condensing her considerable experience of helping post treatment cancer patients.

The book is the first fully peer reviewed evidence-based book about using acupuncture in supporting the care of cancer survivors post treatment and a quick glance at the credentials of the 30 reviewers gives an idea of how highly regarded this book is, with top professors, consultants and doctors from the allopathic cancer world, leading acupuncturists, herbalists, physiotherapists and researchers all having had an input.

The book is comprehensive, easily accessible, informative, practical and meticulously referenced. At 454 pages long it is in four parts:

Introduction to Survivorship – Chapter 1 Introduces what survivorship is, it gives examples of how acupuncture can help and its role. Chapter 2 looks at the consequences of cancer treatments with a very informative overview of some of the common side effects and the types of drugs and hormones that are used. Chapter 3 looks at the emotional impact of survivorship and concludes with a case study and the treatment protocol she used;

Using Acupuncture to support cancer survivors – This section gives practitioners sound advice for working with clients and outlines Beverley’s own approach of when dealing with complex conditions, to keep it simple. The ‘Toolkit’ of chapter 5 is full of excellent information and suggestions for protocols and point. Chapter 6-10 looks at specific cancer related conditions – Fatigue, dry mouth, hot flushes/night sweats, lymphoedema and pain.

These chapters give much more in-depth guidance starting with the biomedical perspectives and approaches to each of these conditions along with lifestyle advice and then the Chinese medical perspective. For each condition Beverley has collated the acupuncture research studies summarising the points used and design and outcomes. Followed by her own treatment approaches and case studies. Many will find the lymphedema chapter invaluable as most practitioners are often rightly quite cautious in treating this condition;

Milestones and beyond – This section gives insight and guidance to supporting patients in what can be the aftermath of successful treatment, which is often described as being worse than the treatment phase itself. There is advice on common long-term effects of treatment, emotional factors, lifestyle, building the immune system and reducing the risk of reoccurrence. There are a number of helpful case studies and treatment protocols further demonstrating the important role acupuncture can have in helping people return to greater normality;

Acupuncture for transformation and beyond. – The final section is a detailed case study illustrating acupuncture’s potential to help cancer survivors, not just to survive but to actually thrive. Supporting not just recovery but also renewal and even transformation.

The book is a valuable resource for all professional acupuncturists and although it is does not discuss herbal remedies, it will also be worthwhile for herbalists due to all the other information that it contains. The case studies throughout the book demonstrate the reality of treating people, with a range of outcomes from positive to neutral. Along with the case studies the book is interspersed with vignettes from clients. Reading the feedback in their own words is a reminder of how much benefit the treatments can provide, outside of our own, often high expectations. This is a part of one such example “I feel so much more in control of myself. I feel a happier person and I’ve got far more time…It’s marvellous.”

And so is this book.

Further Information

Available to purchase on Amazon.co.uk    and Amazon.com