Acupuncture
Acupuncture improves menopause symptoms – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
A pilot RCT carried out in the USA has found that while both traditional acupuncture (TA) and sham acupuncture (SA) can improve menopause-related vasomotor symptoms (VMS), only TA shows an impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Thirty-three peri- and post-menopausal women with at least seven VMS daily were randomised to TA, SA or a waiting-list control (WC). Both the TA and SA groups demonstrated improved VMS trends and both showed significantly improved scores for menopause-specific quality of life compared with the WC group. However, 24-hour urinary measures of total cortisol metabolites and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were lower only in the TA versus both the SA and WC groups. (A pilot randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial of traditional acupuncture for vasomotor symptoms and mechanistic pathways of menopause. Menopause. 2012 Jan;19(1):54-61).
Acupuncture helps relieve breast pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
American researchers have found preliminary evidence that acupuncture may be able to help relieve non-cyclic breast pain. Thirty-seven women experiencing breast pain received treatment consisting of four acupuncture sessions over two weeks, with three months follow-up. Patients reported that pain (described as throbbing and heavy) decreased significantly after acupuncture. Following treatment, pain scores decreased by an average of 3.5 points (on a 10-point scale) for the worst pain experienced, by 2.7 points for average pain experienced and by 2.3 points for interference from pain. The percentage of patients reporting a clinically meaningful decrease of two points from baseline to the end of treatment was 67% for the worst pain experienced, 65% for average pain experienced, and 56% for pain interference. (Acupuncture for treatment of noncyclic breast pain: a pilot study. Am J Chin Med. 2011;39(6):1117-29).
Acupuncture better than drugs for migraine – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
Acupuncture compares favourably with the drug topiramate for reducing migraine frequency, according to Taiwanese investigators. Sixty-six chronic migraine patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups. The acupuncture group received 24 acupuncture sessions over 12 weeks, while the topiramate group received a four-week titrated dose of topiramate (25-100 mg / day) followed by an eight-week maintenance period at a dose of 100 mg / day. A significantly larger decrease in the mean monthly number of moderate to severe headache days (20.2 days to 9.8 days) was observed in a pilot randomized controlled Altern Complement Med. 2011 10):923-30).
Electro-acupuncture as effective as drugs for labour induction – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
A Brazilian group has shown that electro-acupuncture (EA) can be used to promote labour as efficiently as the prostaglandin analogue misoprostol, but with fewer obstetric complications. Sixty-seven pregnant women in labour were randomised to receive either EA or misoprostol. Women who received EA experienced significantly fewer obstetric complications, along with a significantly higher frequency of vaginal deliveries. Although they tended to have a longer duration of labour, there was also a tendency to higher patient satisfaction among patients of the EA group. (Electroacupuncture for cervical ripening prior to labour induction: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2011 Jun;283(6):1233-8).
Acupuncture reduces cost of back pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
Patients with low-back pain (LBP) are less likely to visit physicians for their problem after receiving acupuncture treatment, which leads to reduced healthcare pending on LBP. In a case control study carried out in Canada, 201 cases in which LBP was treated with acupuncture were compared with 804 controls. Each acupuncture group case was matched with four comparison cases from the general population with LBP, based on gender and age. The number of physician visits for the one-year period post-acupuncture decreased 49% for the acupuncture group, compared with the one-year period pre-acupuncture. In the comparison group, there was a decrease of 2% in physician visits for the same time periods. The cost of LBP-related physician services showed corresponding decreases, declining by 37% for the acupuncture group and 1% for the comparison group. (Reduced health resource use after acupuncture for low-back pain. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Nov;17(11):1015-9).
Acupuncture contributes substantially to UK healthcare – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Feb 2012
A major national survey of acupuncture practitioners in the UK has provided an up-to-date overview of the profession, concluding that acupuncture provides a substantial contribution to the country’s healthcare. A team of UK authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of 800 acupuncture practitioners randomly chosen from the four major national professional associations. Data collected included demographic details, association membership, statutorily regulated status, practice setting, style of acupuncture practiced, diagnostic methods used and needle response sought. Practitioners additionally recorded details of their 10 most recent patients, including demographic details, primary reason for consulting and lifestyle advice provided. Of the 330 practitioners who responded, 29% were doctors, 29% physiotherapists, 15% nurses and 27% independent acupuncturists. Of these, 62% were women with median age of 48 years. The majority (68%) practiced in independent settings, while 42% practiced within the National Health Service (NHS). Patients most commonly consulted for low back, neck, shoulder and knee pain, as well as headaches and migraine. Treatment for infertility by independent acupuncturists was found to have increased fivefold over recent years. Based on the survey results, the authors estimate that almost four million acupuncture treatments were provided in the UK in 2009, of which approximately one-third were provided within the NHS. They conclude that the primary complaints for which patients consult acupuncturists reflect the growing evidence base for these conditions, and suggest that the survey data provides a basis for future decision-making regarding policy and practice. (Acupuncture in practice: mapping the providers, the patients and the settings in a national cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open. 2012 Jan 11;2(1):e000456. Print 2012).
Acupuncture for labour pain management – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Oct 2011
A Cochrane Database systematic review has concluded that acupuncture and acupressure may have a role in reducing pain, increasing satisfaction with pain management and reducing use of pharmacological management for women in labour. Thirteen trials with data on 1986 women were included. Nine trials reported on acupuncture and four on acupressure. Less intense pain was found with acupuncture compared with no intervention. One trial showed increased satisfaction with pain relief compared with placebo. Reduced use of pharmacological analgesia was found in one trial of acupuncture compared with placebo and one compared with standard care. Fewer instrumental deliveries were found with acupuncture compared with standard care. Pain intensity was reduced with acupressure, compared with placebo and control and a combined control. Trials showed significant heterogeneity and all showed some risk of bias. (Acupuncture or acupressure for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database Syust Rev. 2011 Jul 6;(7):CD009232).
Acupuncture decreases plantar fasciitis pain – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Oct 2011
Acupuncture should be considered as a major therapeutic instrument for the decrease of heel pain in plantar fasciitis (PF), according to a Greek study. Thirty-eight patients with PF were randomly allocated to receive treatment with ice, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and a stretching and strengthening programme, or another group who received the same therapeutic procedures plus acupuncture. Scores for pain and mobility/function were significantly smaller in acupuncture group after at two months. (Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis in Recreational Athletes: Two Different Therapeutic Protocols. Foot Ankle Spec. 2011 Aug;4(4):226-234).
Acupuncture helps when anti-depressants don’t – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Oct 2011
An American study suggests that acpuncture may be an effective adjunct to medication in patients with depression who do not respond to anti-depressant medication. Thirty subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD) and partial or non-response after eight or more weeks of anti-depressant therapy assigned to eight weeks of standardised 30 minute acupuncture sessions on a weekly or twice-weekly basis. Twenty subjects (18 for weekly and two for twice-weekly treatment) completed the study. Depression scores decreased in both groups and improvement did not differ significantly between treatment arms (18.5 to 11.2 in the weekly group and 18.5 to 11.8 in the twice-weekly group). Response rates (defined as an improvement of 50% or more in depression scores) were 47% for all subjects – 50% for the weekly group and 33% for the twice-weekly group. (A pilot study of acupuncture augmentation therapy in antidepressant partial and non-responders with major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord. 2011 Apr;130(1-2):285-9).
Minimal acupuncture at L.I.-4 effective for infantile colic – Journal of Chinese Medicine, Oct 2011
A case series study of 913 infants, carried out in Sweden has shown that minimal acupuncture at Hegu L.I.-4 is an effective and easy treatment for infantile colic. The infants (mean age 5.4 weeks) had displayed colic symptoms since two weeks after birth. Light needle stimulation of Hegu L.I.-4 was performed for 10 to 20 seconds bilaterally on a daily basis for a mean of 6.2 consecutive days. Before treatment the infants were assessed by their parents whether they ‘often have inflated stomachs’ (99%), ‘seldom drool’ (76%), ‘regurgitate’ (53%) and ‘belch’ (62%). The reported frequency of defecation was five to eight times per day (64%), with a yellowish-green colour (61%) and a water-thin consistency (74%). After treatment, the variables for inflated stomachs, drooling and regurgitation were significantly improved and rated by the parents as occurring ‘sometimes’, while belching was rated as occurring ‘often’ and the frequency of defecation was reduced to one to four times per day with a mustard-yellow colour and a gruel-like consistency. The parents also rated their impression of the infants’ general colic symptoms including crying as ‘much ameliorated’ in 76% of cases. (Gastrointestinal symptoms of infantile colic and their change after light needling of acupuncture: a case series study of 913 infants. Chin Med. 2011 Aug 11;6(1):28).