The TCM view
Traditional Chinese Medicine often describes neuropathy in terms of Qi and Blood not adequately nourishing the extremities, sometimes with Dampness or stasis. Treatment addresses both local symptoms and overall constitution.
Conditions · Neuropathy
Support for numbness, tingling and nerve pain
Peripheral neuropathy — from diabetes, chemotherapy or other causes — can make walking, sleeping and everyday tasks harder. Seven Medicine offers complementary acupuncture support, including for people during or after cancer treatment, coordinated with their medical team.
Does this sound familiar?
What we hear from patients
- “The numbness and tingling in my feet won't go away.”
- “Since chemo, my hands and feet feel different.”
- “The burning gets worse at night.”
- “I want to do something proactive.”
Concerns we commonly support
- Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)
- Diabetic and other peripheral neuropathy
- Burning, tingling and numbness
- Sleep disruption from nerve symptoms
- Balance and quality-of-life concerns
How Dr. Kristina explains it
You'll hear both the Traditional Chinese Medicine view and the familiar medical view, so you understand what we're doing and why.
The medical view
Neuropathy needs a medical diagnosis and management of its underlying cause. Acupuncture has been studied as a supportive therapy for neuropathy symptoms, including in cancer care, where integrative oncology guidelines discuss it for certain kinds of pain.
Your care at Seven Medicine
How treatment is personalized
How long care usually takes
Nerve symptoms usually change slowly. Expect a series of visits with regular check-ins, rather than a quick fix.
01
Oncology-aware care
Dr. Kristina's training includes oncology settings. She'll ask about your treatment schedule, blood counts and any restrictions from your oncology team.
02
Gentle, consistent treatment
Treatment focuses on the hands and feet, plus whole-body points for sleep, fatigue and stress.
03
Symptom tracking
We track numbness, pain and function so you can see trends over time.
What a course of care can look like
Illustrative treatment journey
- Area of discomfort
- Fine needles at selected points
- Tension eases over the course of care
Treatment response varies. Your care plan is based on your symptoms, assessment and response over time. This is an illustration, not a medical image.
Research
What the research says
We summarize the highest-quality research we can find — systematic reviews, Cochrane reviews, guidelines and large trials — including results that don't favor acupuncture. You deserve the full picture.
Reviewed October 2026. Research describes groups of people, not guarantees for any individual. Explore the research →
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
A small pilot trial found acupuncture improved neuropathy symptoms compared with usual care, and a 2026 review of 40 trials found some symptom improvement — but with very low certainty. Standard treatment options are limited as well; ASCO identifies duloxetine as the only agent with adequate evidence for painful CIPN.
3 sources
- [1]Bao T, Patil S, Chen C, et al. Effect of Acupuncture vs Sham Procedure on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3):e200681. PubMed 32159808 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.0681 (opens in a new tab)· randomized controlled trial (pilot)
- [2]Pan Z, Wu J, Xie Y, et al. Acupuncture for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis. J Pain Res. 2026;19:631984. PubMed 42780628 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.2147/JPR.S631984 (opens in a new tab)· systematic review and meta-analysis
- [3]Loprinzi CL, Lacchetti C, Bleeker J, et al. Prevention and Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Survivors of Adult Cancers: ASCO Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol. 2020;38(28):3325-3348. PubMed 32663120 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1200/JCO.20.01399 (opens in a new tab)· clinical practice guideline
Cancer-related pain
The 2022 Society for Integrative Oncology–ASCO guideline recommends acupuncture for aromatase-inhibitor-related joint pain and says it may be recommended for general cancer pain or musculoskeletal pain. Acupuncture is supportive care and does not treat cancer.
1 source
- [1]Mao JJ, Ismaila N, Bao T, et al. Integrative Medicine for Pain Management in Oncology: Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(34):3998-4024. PubMed 36122322 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1200/JCO.22.01357 (opens in a new tab)· clinical practice guideline
Patient experiences
In patients’ words
Individual experiences vary. Testimonials reflect personal experiences, not typical or guaranteed results.
Meet your practitioner
Dr. Kristina Gacesa
DAcCHM, M.CM, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.
Dr. Kristina completed her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine as valedictorian, summa cum laude, after earning master’s degrees in both acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her clinical training spans hospital and rehabilitation settings in Minnesota and clinical study in Zhengzhou, China.
She explains your care in both TCM and familiar medical terms, so you understand what she’s seeing, why she recommends what she does, and how you’ll know if it’s working.
Dr. Kristina holds a clinical doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. She is a licensed acupuncturist, not a medical physician (MD/DO), and works alongside — not in place of — your medical team.
FAQ
Neuropathy questions
Is acupuncture safe during chemotherapy?
Acupuncture is often used in integrative oncology programs, but timing matters — particularly around low blood counts. Dr. Kristina will ask about your treatment and may coordinate with your oncology team.
Can acupuncture reverse neuropathy?
We can't promise that. Some research suggests acupuncture may help neuropathy symptoms for some people, but evidence is still developing. We'll be honest about what we see as we go.
Still have questions?
or call(507) 258-7771