By: Gudrun Wu Snyder

Founder, Doctor of Acupuncture

DAc, LAc, Dipl.Ac (NCCAOM), MSAc

I’ll never forget how disorienting it felt, post-treatment, when I realized my mind wasn’t bouncing back the way I’d hoped.

The intensity of chemo and hormone therapy had passed, but I still didn’t feel like me. My thoughts felt scattered. I struggled to find words or remember why I walked into a room. It wasn’t just forgetfulness — it was like the dial on my brain had been turned down a few notches.

That kind of cancer-related cognitive fog — sometimes called “chemo-brain” — isn’t just frustrating. It’s disheartening. It sneaks into everyday life in subtle, stubborn ways. And as I came to learn, I wasn’t alone. Studies show that over 40% of breast cancer survivors experience ongoing memory and concentration issues long after treatment ends.

Why This Matters — and What the Research Says

Recently, a new study shared at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium caught my attention — not just as a practitioner, but as someone who’s walked this path myself. Researchers found that acupuncture may significantly improve perceived cognitive difficulties in breast cancer survivors, compared to usual care. (aacr.org)

The study involved women who had completed treatment but were still experiencing cognitive fog. After 10 weeks of acupuncture, they reported clearer thinking, better memory, and more mental energy. Some even showed measurable improvements in learning and recall compared to those receiving sham acupuncture or no treatment at all.

This resonates deeply. Because while chemo-brain might not always show up in a blood test or MRI, it shows up in life — in conversations, in work, in relationships, in the quiet moments where you realize your brain isn’t quite working the way it used to.

What I Found on the Table

When I began receiving acupuncture for myself — long before Moon Rabbit was born — I wasn’t looking for a miracle. I just wanted to feel a little more me. What I discovered was far more than a treatment; it was a pause, a soft reset, and a moment of presence when everything felt off-kilter.

The experience of acupuncture is not only physical. It’s deeply regulating for the nervous system. It invites your body to recalibrate and your mind to soften. Over time, I noticed:

• Fewer word-finding blocks

• More mental clarity by late afternoon

• Better sleep (which, unsurprisingly, the study also linked to improved cognition)

• A subtle but real return of confidence — the feeling that I could trust my own brain again

Small Changes, Big Shifts

One of the most affirming parts of the recent research is this: you don’t have to push through or ignore brain fog. And you’re not imagining it. Cognitive symptoms after cancer treatment are real, and so is the relief acupuncture may offer.

It’s not about fixing everything overnight. It’s about creating space for your body to remember how to heal.

At Moon Rabbit, we witness this kind of slow magic every day — not just with cognitive clarity, but with stress, sleep, hormonal balance, and the unspoken layers of recovery that aren’t always captured in charts.

Healing the Whole Self

Breast cancer changes you — physically, emotionally, neurologically. Recovery is never linear. And part of our mission at Moon Rabbit is to walk with you through that transformation. Whether it’s through acupuncture, herbal medicine, or simply holding space, we believe in care that is empowering, authentic, and deeply attuned to who you are becoming.

If you’re navigating chemo-brain, please know you’re not alone. There’s support. There’s science. And most importantly, there’s hope — rooted in ancient medicine and backed by modern research.