The following are some examples of the latest research being conducted in both Asia and the West into the efficacy of Acupuncture for treating a broad range of conditions.
Arthritis
Acupuncture in combination with routine care was shown to be clinically effective
in treating osteoarthritis (OA). In a randomized, controlled trial conducted
at the Charite University Medical Centre, Berlin, Germany, 3,633 patients with
chronic pain due to OA of the knee or hip were randomly allocated to undergo
up to 15 sessions of acupuncture in a 3-month period or to a control group
receiving no acupuncture. All patients received standard medical care. Clinical
OA severity (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index
[WOMAC]) and health-related quality of life (Short Form 36) were assessed at
baseline, after 3 months and at 6 months. The Acupuncture group had a significant
improvement in their condition and quality of life relative to the group that
received standard care only.
Witt CM et al. (2006). Efficacy of
treating Osteoarthritis with Acupuncture
in combination with routine care. Arthritis
Rheumatology. 54(11):3485-3492
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Study 1:
Electro-Acupuncture (EA) was shown
to be effective in treating Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Forty patients
at The First Hospital affiliated to
Guangzhou University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine, China, were randomly
selected to EA treatment. EA
was applied to 5-visceral Back-shu
points. The effectiveness of the treatment
was assessed using Fatigue Assessment
Instrument (FAI) and Symptom Checklist
90 (SCL-90), administered before and
after treatment. The scores
on both instruments have decreased
significantly after EA treatment,
suggesting that EA applied to Back-shu
points is an effective intervention
in alleviating symptoms of CFS.
Wang O. (2005). Chronic fatigue
Syndrome treatment with Electro-Acupuncture. Zhongguo
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi.25(9):834-6.
Study 2:
Another study from The First Hospital
of Guangzhou University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine in China compared
the effects of EA and auricular-plaster
therapy on CFS with routine western
medication. Sixty-four patients were
randomly allocated to the treatment
with either EA and auricular-plaster
therapy or with oral hydrocortisone.
The treatment group receiving EA and
auricular-plaster therapy showed a
significantly higher rate of improvement
then the control group receiving routine
western medication.
Yuemei, L. (2006). Effects of
Electro-Acupuncture with auricular-plaster
therapy on Chronic fatigue Syndrome. Journal
of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
(3):163-4.
Low Back Pain
Acupuncture was shown to provide
immediate relief of low back pain
as compared with sham acupuncture.
A randomised, evaluator-blinded,
placebo-controlled trial was conducted
at the Department of Acupuncture,
Meiji University of Oriental Medicine,
Japan. Thirty-one patients with
low back pain were randomly allocated
to either an acupuncture group or
a sham acupuncture group. Both acupuncture
and sham acupuncture were performed
at the most sensitive point on the
lower back for each patient. For
the acupuncture group, a stainless
steel needle was inserted to a depth
of 20 mm and manually stimulated
(sparrow pecking method) for 20
seconds, whilst for the sham treatment
group a guide tube without a needle
was placed at the point and tapped
on the skin. Changes in low back
pain severity were evaluated with
a visual analogue scale (VAS) and
the Schober test. The therapy and
the evaluation were independently
performed by two different acupuncturists.
The scores on both the VAS and the
Schober test showed significant
improvement after acupuncture as
compared with sham acupuncture treatment.
Inoue, M. et al. (2006). Relief
of low back pain immediately after
acupuncture treatment – a randomised, placebo
controlled study. Acupuncture
Medicine. 24(3): 103-8.
Postmenopausal Hot Flashes
and Sleep Quality
Acupuncture was found to significantly
reduce the severity of nocturnal hot
flashes when compared with placebo.
A prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled
study was carried out at the Department
of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences,
Stanford University School of Medicine,
Stanford, California, USA. Twenty-nine
participants were given active or
placebo acupuncture administered for
nine sessions over seven weeks. The
severity and frequency of nocturnal
hot flashes were assessed from daily
diaries, whereas sleep quality was
assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality
Index (PSQI). The nocturnal hot-flash
severity significantly decreased in
the active acupuncture group compared
with the placebo group. The frequency
of nocturnal hot flashes in the active
group also decreased, however not
significantly more than in the placebo
group. Active acupuncture treatment
did not differentially influence sleep;
however, there was a significant inverse
correlation between PSQI scores and
nocturnal hot flush severity and frequency,
suggesting that the reduction in severity
and frequency of nocturnal hot flashes
might improve sleep quality in at
least some cases.
Huang M.I. et al. (2006). A randomized
controlled pilot study of acupuncture
for postmenopausal hot flashes:
effect on nocturnal hot flashes
and sleep quality. Fertility Sterility.
86(3):700-10
