Acupuncture News and Research
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Researchers conclude that acupuncture increases the total effective rate of drug therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine combined acupuncture with standard drug therapy. Patients receiving both drug therapy and acupuncture in a combined treatment protocol had superior patient outcomes compared with patients receiving only drug therapy. The researchers conclude that the addition of acupuncture to standard drug therapy is effective for the alleviation of relevant symptoms and the regulation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) related laboratory indices (rheumatoid factor, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, platelet, fibrinogen, and D-dimer). [1] The study was approved and funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
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Researchers conclude that acupuncture improves pain relief outcomes in patients receiving pain-relieving drugs after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Researchers from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine combined acupuncture with standard drug therapy. Patients receiving both pain-relieving drugs and acupuncture in a combined treatment protocol had superior patient outcomes compared with patients receiving only pain-relieving drugs. The researchers conclude that the addition of acupuncture to a traditional drug treatment regimen significantly reduces pain intensity and frequency, the total dosage requirements for pain-relieving drugs, and mitigates relevant complications. [1]
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Dangyang City Chinese Medicine Hospital researchers conclude that the addition of acupuncture and herbs to usual care improves outcomes for spinal injury paraplegia patients. The researchers assessed several parameters. Eighty-five patients with spinal injury related paraplegia were assessed based on activities of daily living, limb mobility, and factors including nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as overall clinical efficacy. The results indicate that the addition of acupuncture and herbal medicine to usual care protocols produces significantly better outcomes than usual care alone. [1]
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Acupuncture and herbs improve outcomes for premature ovarian failure patients. Chongqing Banan People's Hospital researchers conclude that the addition of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) protocols significantly improves outcomes. The hospital researchers confirm that a combination of acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, and HRT significantly alleviates premature ovarian failure symptoms, regulates hormone levels, and increases endometrial thickness. Based on the data, the researchers conclude that the combination of TCM therapies with HRT produces greater outcomes than HRT monotherapy.
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Acupuncture increases the efficacy of drug therapy for the relief of trigeminal neuralgia by 20%. Researchers from the Affiliated Huzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of the Zhejiang Chinese Medical University conclude that acupuncture combined with carbamazepine delivers consistent positive clinical outcomes for patients with trigeminal neuralgia, a pain disorder of the face involving the 5th cranial nerve.
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Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers find acupuncture effective for the treatment of insomnia. Their controlled laboratory investigation finds acupuncture effective for the regulation of sleep latency and duration. In addition, the researchers identified important biological responses elicited by acupuncture responsible for its effective actions.
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Acupuncture and herbs speed recovery for acute ankle injuries. Guilin Central Hospital researchers conclude that a comprehensive Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach to patient care increases positive patient outcome rates. The researchers conclude that a combination of electroacupuncture, warm needle acupuncture, and topical herbal applications reduce inflammation and promotes faster healing in patients with acute ankle injuries.
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Acupuncture regulates brain regions for ischemic stroke patients. Southern Medical University researchers gathered MRI data in a controlled clinical trial consisting of both healthy subjects and patients suffering from ischemic stroke. In a controlled human clinical trial, Waiguan (TB5) applied unilaterally to the right arm produced significant MRI findings. True acupuncture caused important changes in brain functional connectivity.
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Acupuncture and herbs alleviate IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Two independent studies find Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion effective for the relief of irritable bowel syndrome. Both studies feature an integrative approach to patient care.
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Acupuncture improves outcomes for patients with Meniere’s disease. Researchers find that acupuncture, when added to a standard treatment regimen, significantly reduces symptoms of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss for patients with Meniere’s disease. The researchers conclude that the combination of acupuncture with medication therapy is significantly more effective than drug monotherapy. [1]
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Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers conclude that acupuncture inhibits nerve cell death due to sciatic nerve impairment. A controlled laboratory investigation identified the neuroprotective role of two acupuncture techniques for impaired sciatic nerves. Shallow acupuncture and deep acupuncture at Huantiao (GB30) successfully promoted motor functional recovery, improved nerve conduction velocity, and boosted regeneration of sciatic nerve cells.
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Acupuncture outperforms drugs for the treatment of chronic prostatitis. Researchers from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University gathered objective and subjective data in a controlled clinical trial consisting of patients with chronic prostatitis. The acupuncture treatment group achieved a total effective rate of 87.5% and the drug control group achieved a total effective rate of 62.5%.
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The NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) has changed the way diplomates report their acupuncture continuing education credits. The new system was implemented by the NCCAOM in November of 2018. The NCCAOM no longer accepts certificates by email.
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Acupuncture enhances weight loss and improves blood chemistry in patients with simple obesity. Researchers tested the efficacy of warm needle acupuncture by adding it to a weight loss dietary program. Patient outcomes improved significantly for patients receiving acupuncture plus dietary therapy when compared with patients receiving only dietary therapy.
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Acupuncture combined with drug therapy outperforms drug monotherapy for the treatment of diabetic postural hypotension (also known as orthostatic hypotension). Shanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers conducted a controlled clinical trial and concluded that acupuncture plus metformin outperforms metformin monotherapy for diabetic patients suffering from postural hypotension. [1]
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Acupuncture and herbs prove effective for the treatment of shingles. Researchers from three independent studies conclude that acupuncture and herbal medicine significantly relieve rashes and pain associated with the herpes zoster virus (shingles). Importantly, acupuncture and herbal medicine outperformed antiviral and anti-inflammatory medications, indicating that usual care protocols are suboptimal without inclusion of acupuncture and herbal medicine.
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Acupuncture is effective for patients with lumbar disc protrusions. CT scans confirm that acupuncture reduces disc protrusion size and increases healthy space in the spinal canal. Along with relief from nerve compression, investigators conclude that acupuncture improves range of motion and reduces pain for patients with lumbar disc protrusions.
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Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of influenza. Two independent investigations confirm acupuncture’s efficacy for fighting influenza. One laboratory investigation tested acupuncture as a monotherapy and determined that acupuncture lowers mortality rates, increases serum interferon levels, and improves the phagocytosis of viruses. Another investigation finds acupuncture effective for enhancing the clinical efficaciousness of anti-viral drugs. Let’s start with the integrative investigation and we’ll look at the acupuncture monotherapy next.
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Acupuncture demonstrates the ability to benefit patients with glaucoma. Modern research has determined that acupuncture benefits blood flow in the arteries of the brain and eyes. The results are confirmed with ocular blood flow (OBF) flowmeter readings for ocular pulse amplitude. Let’s take a look at the results, the acupuncture procedures that achieved the results, and a let’s start with a close look at glaucoma and the challenges it presents.
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Acupuncture reduces fevers for patients with the common cold. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers conducted a controlled clinical trial and determined that acupuncture reduces fevers and initiates a process wherein the normal body temperature is restored. The results were specific to a singular acupuncture point that was tested for efficacy.
