Acupuncture News and Research
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Acupuncture is an effective treatment modality for Achilles tendon disorders. Two clinical case histories were published by Dr. Hawks demonstrating that acupuncture is “highly effective, with rapid results for both acute and chronic Achilles tendinopathy and was performed easily in an austere environment.” [1] Dr. Hawks works at the Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and the treatments were administered to personnel while deployed overseas.
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Acupuncture has been proven clinically effective for the treatment of Meniere’s disease, a disorder characterized by vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Researchers determined that acupuncture produces a 100% total effective rate. The results indicate that acupuncture is safe and effective for the treatment of Meniere’s disease. [1]
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Researchers demonstrate that acupuncture is an effective treatment modality for patients with herniated lumbar discs. [1] Jinan Number Three People’s Hospital researchers conducted a clinical trial with 90 herniated lumbar disc patients, each with lumbar, iliac, and sciatic region pain due to the condition. To test the effectiveness of warm needle acupuncture, the researchers randomly assigned patients to two groups. One group received postural adjustments with acupuncture and the other group received only postural adjustments. The two groups were statistically similar in terms of gender and age, and had all been suffering from discogenic pain for at least 7 months and up to 4 years.
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Acupuncture is an effective treatment modality for the alleviation of Parkinson’s disease. Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hangzhou, China) researchers conducted a study comparing the effects of drug therapy as a standalone procedure with acupuncture plus drug therapy in an integrated treatment protocol. Based on the data, the researchers conclude that acupuncture plus antiparkinsonian drug therapy is significantly more effective than using only antiparkinsonian drug therapy. [1]
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Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers find acupuncture effective for hemorrhoid surgery postoperative relief. The research team integrated acupuncture into a standard hemorrhoidectomy postoperative care protocol. [1] Patients receiving both postoperative care and acupuncture in a combined treatment protocol had superior patient outcomes compared with patients receiving only postoperative care. The researchers conclude that the addition of acupuncture to a standard postoperative regimen improves outcomes following hemorrhoid surgery, including significant reductions of anal pain, swelling, and hematochezia (passage of fresh blood through the anus).
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Researchers confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of cervical spondylosis, a painful disorder caused by intervertebral disc degeneration. The term cervical spondylosis refers to general wear and tear of the discs in the cervical spine. Often with age, the spinal discs degenerate and osteoarthritis ensues. The acupuncture point GV14 was determined effective across multiple studies for the treatment of cervical spondylosis. Based on the evidence, this acupuncture point is recommended for patients with cervical spondylosis.
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Researchers confirm that acupuncture significantly alleviates allergic rhinitis, a condition characterized by a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy or watery eyes. Also known as hay fever, allergic rhinitis is often triggered by pollen, mold, dog or cat hair, and dust mites. Wuyi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital researchers (Jiangmen City, Guangdong) confirm that acupuncture and herbal medicine effectively relieve symptoms and improves quality of life for allergic rhinitis sufferers. [1]
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Researchers conclude that acupuncture increases the effectiveness of epidural morphine analgesia for the relief of pain after intestinal cancer surgery. Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers combined scalp acupuncture with epidural morphine analgesia in a controlled clinical trial. Patients receiving both epidural morphine analgesia and scalp acupuncture in a combined pain management protocol after completion of intestinal cancer surgery showed significant improvements in visual analog scale (VAS) scores and Bruggman comfort scale (BCS) scores. The researchers documented another benefit of adding acupuncture to the pain management protocol. The addition of scalp acupuncture accelerated postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal functions.
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Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Researchers at the Beijing Chaoyang Fatou Community Health Service Center conducted a study comparing the effects of warm needling acupuncture, standard acupuncture, and sham acupuncture. [1] Based on the data, the researchers conclude that warm needling acupuncture is significantly more effective than using only standard acupuncture or sham acupuncture.
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Researchers find acupuncture combined with herbal medicine effective for the treatment of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers investigated the effects of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine on patients with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. [1] The combined therapy produced an 86.7% total effective rate. Acupuncture, as a standalone therapy (absent the use of herbal medicine), produced a 60.0% total effective rate.
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Guangdong Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital researchers find acupuncture with moxibustion produces similar positive patient outcomes rates as the drug paroxetine for treatment of mild to moderate depression. In the study, true acupuncture produced similar results as paroxetine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI) and significantly outperformed a sham acupuncture control group. A total of 105 patients met the eligibility criteria and were randomly assigned to three study groups (acupuncture, paroxetine, control).
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Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers find acupuncture clinically effective for the treatment of progressive bulbar palsy, a disease that is a variant of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Progressive bulbar palsy is a rare illness involving the brain stem. Patients often have dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), weakness of facial and extremity muscles, loss of speech, and difficulty with chewing. In a controlled study of 90 patients receiving acupuncture treatments, researchers conclude that acupuncture has a 96.7% total effective rate for the treatment of bulbar palsy. In addition, 100% of all patients receiving acupuncture within two weeks of onset demonstrated significant improvements.
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Acupuncture suppresses methamphetamine addiction. Daegu Haany University and Qiqihar Medical University researchers investigated acupuncture as a means of suppressing intravenous methamphetamine self-administration. Based on the results of a controlled laboratory experiment, the research team concludes that the application of acupuncture to an acupoint located on the wrist suppresses methamphetamine self-administration via the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptor system. The researchers suggest that acupuncture is “a useful therapy for the treatment of methamphetamine abuse.” [1]
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Researchers find acupuncture effective for the treatment of obesity. Results were obtained by implementing a protocolized body acupuncture point prescription without a diet or exercise program. [1] In a five week clinical trial, patients receiving acupuncture achieved a 2.9 kg mean weight loss and the decrease in mean BMI (body mass index) was 1.43. The laboratory findings, including serum levels of insulin, leptin, ghrelin, and cholecystokinin are consistent with the results. The controlled study documents that sham acupuncture does not produce significant positive patient outcomes, only true acupuncture achieves clinical results. Based on the evidence, the hospital researchers conclude that acupuncture treatment regulates weight for patients with obesity.
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Hunan University of Chinese Medicine researchers find acupuncture effective for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (indigestion). Results from the investigation demonstrate that acupuncture is effective for alleviating upper abdominal pain and burning, nausea, and belching. In a semi-protocolized clinical trial, two primary acupuncture points were proven effective for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (abdominal discomfort or pain with no known organic cause identifiable with endoscopy).
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Acupuncture and herbs are effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. In research conducted at the Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture plus herbs produced a 46.56% total effective rate. Using only herbal medicine produced a 16.17% total effective rate and using only acupuncture produced an 13.24% total effective rate. [1] The researchers conclude, “Acupuncture combined with herbal medicine has a synergistic therapeutic effect on erectile dysfunction.”
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Acupuncture soothes nasal allergy symptoms. Investigators at Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital conducted a meta-analysis of 30 independent clinical trials with a sample size of 2,602 allergic rhinitis patients. [1] The researchers (Tang et al.) conclude, “Acupuncture, either used alone or combined with other treatments such as moxibustion, herbal medicine, and western medicine, were proven to have both short and long-term clinical benefits to allergic rhinitis sufferers.” The following is a basic overview of common acupuncture points used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis across the multiple studies in the meta-analysis:
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Researchers find triple acupuncture combined with warm needle acupuncture safe and effective for the treatment of lower back pain. In a clinical investigation, Xianning Hospital researchers tested the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of dorsal ramus syndrome, which is characterized by lower back pain, spasms, and radiculopathy. The results of the investigation reveal that triple acupuncture combined with warm needle acupuncture has an 80% total effective rate for the alleviation of dorsal ramus syndrome. Another group receiving standard acupuncture protocols without triple needling or warm needle stimulation achieved a 66.7% total effective rate.
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Researchers determined that a combination of acupuncture and McKenzie physical therapy produces excellent results for patients with cervical spondylosis, a painful disorder caused by intervertebral disc degeneration. Patients receiving only acupuncture had a 96.7% total effective rate and patients receiving McKenzie therapy had a 63.3% total effective rate. However, when the two therapies were combined into a comprehensive treatment protocol, the total effective rate was 100%.
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Acupuncture combined with moxibustion is more effective for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis than meloxicam (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Researchers from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine quantified the curative effect of warm needle acupuncture using micro-CT (computed tomography). [1] In the study, acupuncture combined with moxibustion successfully improves the condition of the osteoarthritic knee bone structure. In addition, knee cartilage scores document that acupuncture with moxibustion reduces inflammation and accelerates knee cartilage repair.
