Acupuncture Continuing Education

Acupuncture News and Research

 

pregnancyrate

Acupuncture boosts clinical pregnancy rates and balances biochemistry in infertility patients with a thin endometrium. First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University researchers combined acupuncture with standard drug therapy. They determined that acupuncture plus estradiol valerate drug therapy produced superior patient outcomes compared with patients using only estradiol valerate.

Estradiol valerate is a form of estrogen used to treat hormone imbalances. The estradiol valerate tablet control group obtained a 20.0% clinical pregnancy rate. The combined protocol treatment group had a 33.3% clinical pregnancy rate. The addition of acupuncture to the treatment protocol increased the pregnancy rate by 13.3% (p<0.05). [1]

TB23 Sizhukong

Acupuncture combined with herbal medicine outperforms an immunomodulatory drug for the treatment of Sjögren syndrome. Sjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder wherein the immune system attacks the lacrimal and salivary glands, causing impaired production of tears and saliva. Researchers (Li et al.) compared the therapeutic effects of acupuncture plus herbs with hydroxychloroquine.

knee

Acupuncture is effective for treating knee osteoarthritis. Dongzhimen Hospital and Puxiang Hospital in Beijing researchers treated joint dysfunction and pain due to knee osteoarthritis successfully with abdominal acupuncture in their multicenter study. [1]

Sihua

Acupuncture and herbs are effective for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Gansu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (endocrinology department) researchers conducted a controlled clinical trial comparing drug therapy with acupuncture and herbs. Patients receiving both acupuncture and herbal medicine had a total effective rate of 96.67%. Patients receiving Chinese herbal medicine monotherapy had a 73.33% total effective rate. Drug therapy patients had a 53.33% total effective rate for the alleviation of DPN (diabetic peripheral neuropathy). [1]

PC6 Neiguan

Acupuncture relieves carpal tunnel syndrome pain and restores function. Two independent studies reveal the benefits of warm needle acupuncture for CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome). Participants in both studies experienced significant improvements in pain levels and wrist function following acupuncture treatment combined with either Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang herbal formula or nighttime wrist splinting.

Xinshu BL15

Acupuncture and herbs alleviate insomnia. Wenzhou Central Hospital and First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University researchers conclude that acupuncture plus the herbal formula Jiao Tai Wan improves sleep and reduces inflammatory biomarkers. [1] The inclusion of inflammatory biomarkers as an outcome measure is of special interest since insufficient sleep has been linked with an increased risk of systemic inflammation and associated health risks.

diabetes shu

Acupuncture aids weight loss and reduces blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients. Sanming County Hospital of Integrated Medicine researchers (Fujian) conducted a clinical trial of obese patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. They conclude that acupuncture treatment in addition to routine care is more effective in promoting healthy weight loss and improved blood chemistry than routine care monotherapy. [1]

hair loss

Acupuncture and herbs outperform a popular hair loss drug for patients with seborrheic alopecia. Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital researchers compared results in a clinical trial. Drug therapy produced an 82.5% total effective rate. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine produced an 87.5% total effective rate. The researchers conclude that the application of acupuncture and herbs “is an effective method in treating seborrheic alopecia.” [1]

LV14 Qimen

Acupuncture combined with herbal medicine is effective for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Ganzhou City Third People’s Hospital (Jiangxi, China) researchers conducted a clinical trial and confirm that not only is Chinese medicine (acupuncture and herbs) effective, but it is also more effective than a popular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). [1]

herbs

Acupuncture plus herbal medicine assists in the reduction of uterine fibroids. Anshan Tumor Hospital (Liaoning, China) researchers compared two study groups in a clinical trial. One group received acupuncture and herbal medicine therapy. The other group received drug and herbal medicine therapy but did not receive acupuncture. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements, but the group receiving acupuncture achieved superior patient outcomes.

liver

Researchers find acupuncture and herbs effective for the treatment of liver cirrhosis. Researchers from the Third People’s Hospital of Yiwu City combined acupuncture and herbs with standard drug therapy. Patients receiving both drug therapy and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) treatment in a combined treatment protocol had superior patient outcomes compared with patients receiving only drug therapy. The researchers conclude that the addition of acupuncture and herbs to conventional drug therapy can “effectively improve liver function, control the development of the disease, promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function, and reduce relevant complications.” [1]

GERD

Acupuncture and herbal medicine are effective for the alleviation of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease, acid reflux). Independent investigations confirm that acupuncture and herbal medicine produce significant positive patient outcomes for patients with GERD. One of the clinical studies reveals an important integrative medicine finding. The combination of acupuncture and herbs with a proton pump inhibitor medication into a combined treatment protocol produces superior patient outcomes to patients receiving only drug therapy.

arrhythmias

Acupuncture and herbs increase the efficacy of drug therapy for the relief of heart arrhythmias. Researchers from the Qinghai Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine combined acupuncture and herbs with standard drug therapy. Patients receiving both drugs and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) therapy in a combined treatment protocol had superior patient outcomes compared with patients receiving only drugs. The researchers conclude that the addition of acupuncture and herbs to conventional drug therapy improves heart rate variability and downregulates serum inflammatory cytokines.

CV6

Acupuncture outperforms lactulose for the alleviation of post-stroke constipation and the regulation of gastrointestinal hormones. Qujing First People’s Hospital researchers investigated the benefits of the Shu Gan Tiao Qi (liver-soothing and qi-regulating) acupuncture protocol and a drug for the treatment of post-stroke constipation. Acupuncture provided superior short and long-term relief from post-stroke constipation and improvements in relevant gastrointestinal hormone levels. [1]

LI15 Jianyu

Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of frozen shoulders (adhesive capsulitis), a disorder characterized by pain and stiffness of the rotator cuff region. Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers compared two acupuncture treatment protocols and determined that, while both approaches to patient care were effective, a combined protocol of acupuncture plus moxibustion produces superior patient outcomes to patients receiving only acupuncture. Patients receiving only acupuncture had a 75.86% total effective rate. Patient receiving both acupuncture and moxibustion had a 93.10% total effective rate. [1]

anxiety

Acupuncture calms anxiety. Xuzhou Guangci Hospital psychiatric department researchers conducted a clinical trial comparing acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of anxiety disorders with gamma oryzanol plus alprazolam (a benzodiazepine medication). Acupuncture combined with moxibustion produced a 93.75% total effective rate and alprazolam plus gamma oryzanol produced a 75% total effective rate. Based on the data, the research team notes that acupuncture is safe and effective for the treatment of anxiety.

gout

Acupuncture is more effective than a popular drug for the treatment of gout, a type of arthritis involving pain and inflammation due to a build-up of uric acid crystals in a joint. Dongguan Tangxia Guanhua Hospital researchers compared the efficaciousness of acupuncture with indomethacin (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) for the treatment of gout. Acupuncture produced a higher total effective rate than the medication, including greater reductions in pain, swelling, and redness. [1]

three acuneedles

Acupuncture and herbs alleviate depression. Shaoxing Seventh People’s Hospital (Zhejiang) researchers tested the efficacy of combining acupuncture and herbal medicine in an integrated treatment protocol. Based on the data, the researchers conclude that a combination of the herbal formula Chai Hu Shu Gan San and acupuncture is effective for the relief of depression and is more effective than either treatment modality as a monotherapy. [1]

taiyang TB23

Researchers conclude that acupuncture increases positive outcomes for cataract surgery patients that have comorbid glaucoma. Fenghua District People’s Hospital researchers determined that phacoemulsification (surgical removal of cataracts using an ultrasonic device) patients have better intraocular pressure, aqueous outflow (F value), pain relief, and visual acuity when receiving acupuncture and tuina massage. [1]

yintang MHN3

Acupuncture and herbs improve sleep for children with intractable insomnia. Kaifeng Pediatric Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers find that the An Hun herbal formula combined with acupuncture applied to a single acupoint is effective for the relief of intractable pediatric insomnia. In a randomized controlled investigation, a total of 104 children were recruited for the study and were randomly assigned to a treatment group or a control group. The cured, markedly effective, and effective scores were added together to determine the total effective rate. In the acupuncture plus herbs treatment group, there were 20 cured, 25 markedly effective, 4 effective, and 3 ineffective cases, yielding a total effective rate of 94.2%. [1]

  1. Acupuncture Reverses Chemotherapy Side Effects
  2. Acupuncture Test Anxiety Relief Confirmed
  3. Acupuncture Alleviates Coronary Artery Disease
  4. Acupuncture Reduces Post-Stroke Depression, Restores Function
  5. Acupuncture And Herbs Beat Hormones For Menstrual Irregularity
  6. Acupuncture Reduces MRI Claustrophobia
  7. Acupuncture Muscle Regeneration Discovery
  8. Acupuncture For Autism Found Effective
  9. Acupuncture Plus Herbs Beat Ibuprofen For Menstrual Pain
  10. Acupuncture Beats Drug For Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
  11. Acupuncture Heals Stomach Ulcers And Alleviates Gastritis
  12. Acupuncture Mitigates Insomnia Attention Deficits
  13. Acupuncture Increases Fertility Treatment Success
  14. Acupuncture Aids Swallowing After Stroke
  15. NY Governor Excludes Acupuncture For Injured Workers
  16. Acupuncture Found Effective For Rheumatoid Arthritis Relief
  17. Acupuncture Pain Relief After Knee Surgery Lowers Morphine Use
  18. Acupuncture and Herbs Benefit Paraplegia Patients
  19. Acupuncture Benefits Premature Ovarian Failure Patients
  20. Acupuncture Increases Drug Efficacy For Trigeminal Neuralgia
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