Acupuncture News and Research
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Acupuncture has been found effective in treating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which includes nerve related pain due to herpes shingles. Researchers in Zhejiang Provincial Zhongshan Hospital conducted a clinical trial investigated the efficacy of integrating electroacupuncture treatments with the administration of the pharmaceutical drug pregabalin. The results show that the addition of electroacupuncture to drug therapy improves pain relief, mitigates anxiety, and improves sleep quality in PHN patients. [1]
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Acupuncture benefits the recovery process for patients that have had a stroke. Hefei First People’s Hospital conducted a clinical trial and determined an effective acupuncture protocol to improve patients’ neurological function. The research determined that acupuncture also significantly improves serum inflammatory factors and coagulation states. [1] Furthermore, they determined that electroacupuncture produced greater positive patient outcomes over standard care.
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Electroacupuncture is effective in improving the quality of life and mental symptoms in patients withdrawing from amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). Researchers from Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Shanghai Institute of Rehabilitation for Drug Addiction) conducted a clinical trial assessing the efficacy routine detoxification care and adding electroacupuncture to the regular treatment of patients abstaining from ATS. The latter produced superior outcomes demonstrating that the addition of acupuncture produces superior patient outcomes. [1]
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Electroacupuncture is effective for sciatica relief. In a recent study from Henan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, researchers learned that applying electroacupuncture to GB30 (Huantiao) and GB34 (Yanglingquan) alleviates pain, inhibits inflammation, and improves nerve conduction velocity more effectively than a standard manual acupuncture protocol. [1]
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Acupuncture is an effective chronic heart failure (CHF) treatment modality. Researchers from Chuzhou First People’s hospital conducted a clinical trial examining the efficacy of treating CHF patients with standard biomedicine and that of acupuncture plus standard biomedicine. The latter yielded superior patient outcomes. As a result, the researchers conclude that an integrative medicine protocol yields superior patient outcomes. [1]
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Acupuncture is an effective treatment for shoulder periarthritis, a disorder characterized by pain and limited range of motion. Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers conducted a clinical trial on the efficacy of treating acute periarthritis with acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB34) and Taichong (LV3) acupoints combined with local exercises. This approach utilized the special opposite side of affliction needling techniques, which facilitates shoulder movements during attenuation manipulation methods. The research team compared this approach with a standard acupuncture procedure. The results show that the intergral approach of acupuncture plus special exercises yields superior patients outcomes. [1]
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Acupuncture improves patient outcomes for the treatment of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs). Researchers from the Shanghai University of Traditional Medicine collaborated with Longhua Hospital and Tongji University’s Maternal and Child Care Service Centre investigators in a clinical trial. They compared IUA treatments and discovered that the addition of acupuncture and moxibustion significantly improves patient outcomes for patients receiving standard care.
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Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers compared two groups in a controlled clinical trial. The control had basic lifestyle intervention monotherapy. The second group not had the same lifestyle changes as the control group, but also received electroacupuncture. The latter presented superior patient outcomes.
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Acupuncture is effective for preventing skeletal muscle tissue loss for hemodialysis patients. Beijing Huairou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers investigated the efficacy of a special acupuncture point prescription for the alleviation of sarcopenia in hemodialysis patients. [1] Sarcopenia is the loss of skeletal muscle tissue associated with aging. Sarcopenia is associated with both muscle loss and a decline of muscle strength and overall function. As a result, this condition often results in a lack of independence due to the decline of muscle function over time.
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Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of adenomyosis, a disorder characterized by tissue growing into the uterine wall that normally lines the uterus. This endometrial tissue disorder may not produce symptoms or may lead to heavy or prolonged menstrual flow, local pain, or painful intercourse (dyspareunia).
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Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment protocol for post-stroke urinary incontinence. The two-arm investigation compared electroacupuncture with manual acupuncture and the study was conducted in three hospitals with strict clinical trial controls. The electroacupuncture group had superior patient outcomes.
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Acupuncture has an important role in helping cancer patients after surgery. After stomach or other digestive tract procedures, there may be uncontrollable hiccups that may last for hours, weeks, and even years. This can lead to exhaustion, insomnia, arrhythmias, dehydration, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and many other complications. New research finds acupuncture an effective way to combat this disorder.
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Florida and Fuzhou researchers identify cells responsible for acupuncture’s analgesic effects. The researchers determined that acupuncture exerts a regulatory effect on microglial cells. The researchers determined that acupuncture reduces neuropathic pain by downregulation microglial activation. The research team consists of members from the University of South Florida (Dept. Neurosurgery & Brain Repair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences) and the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Fuzhou).
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Acupuncture has been proven effective for the treatment of hip region degeneration due to avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH). This is a condition wherein the upper parts of the thigh bone degenerate leading to hip, back, or groin pain. There may be difficulty walking, limping, and unevenness of the legs. ANFH results from inadequate blood circulation to the femur bone, which results in bone cell death and collapse of the femoral head.
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Acupuncture alleviates menstrual pain. Pinglu Hospital researchers conducted a controlled clinical trial comparing the efficacy of warm needle acupuncture and Chinese moxibustion versus ibuprofen for the relief of menstrual related discomfort. The acupuncture group outperformed the drug group with a total efficacy rate of 95.24% for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. [1]
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Acupuncture plus electroacupuncture has been proven effective for the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis (PFP). This condition is also termed Bell’s palsy. In a recent study, researchers from Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Rehabilitation) conducted a clinical experiment. They compared warm needle acupuncture monotherapy with warm needle acupuncture plus electroacupuncture. The combined treatment protocol demonstrated superior patient outcomes. [1]
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Acupuncture demonstrates clinical efficacy in relieving symptoms for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Researchers from Ruzhou Jiren Diabetes Hospital and First People's Hospital of Ruzhou conducted a clinical study and analyzed the effects of two treatment protocols. The results show that the integral approach of combining warm needle acupuncture with vitamin B-12 supplements outperforms vitamin B-12 monotherapy. [1]
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Acupuncture is effective for alleviating depression. Researchers investigated the efficacy of adding acupuncture to standard drug therapy protocols. The results show increased response to treatment with lower levels of depression and overall symptoms.
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Acupuncture is effective for regulating levels of inflammatory cytokines and relieving discomfort and pain in patients with cervicogenic headaches. Researchers from Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University and Shandong Shengli Oilfield Hospital conducted a clinical trial comparing the efficacy of electro -warm needle acupuncture and regular warm needle acupuncture. The electro -warm needle acupuncture treatment yielded superior patient outcomes. [1]
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Acupuncture is effective for treating cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA). This disorder is characterized by pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration plus insufficient vertebral-basal artery blood supply caused by the degenerative changes in the cervical spine.
