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Acupuncture and Anxiety
·
Auricular
acupuncture: a potential treatment for anxiety.
Wang SM, Kain ZN.
Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale-New
Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut 06521, USA. Shu-ming.wang@yale.edu
Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for chronic anxiety disorders. The
purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in
reducing anxiety in a volunteer population. If found effective, this modality
could be introduced as a treatment of anxiety before surgery. Adult
volunteers (n = 55), were randomized to three treatment groups: a) Shenmen
group—bilateral auricular acupuncture at the “shenmen” point; b) Relaxation
group-bilateral auricular acupuncture at a “relaxation” point; and c) Sham
group-bilateral auricular acupuncture at a “sham” point. Press-acupuncture
needles were inserted at the respective auricular areas for 48 h. State
anxiety, blood pressure, heart rate, and electrodermal activity were assessed
at 30 min, 24 h, and 48 h after insertion. Analyzing anxiety levels using
repeated-measures analysis of variance has demonstrated a significant
difference [F (2,51) =8.8, P = 0.001] between the three treatment groups.
Post hoc analysis demonstrated that patients in the Relaxation group were
significantly less anxious at 30 min (P = 0.007) and 24 h (P = 0.035) as
compared with patients in both the Shenmen group and the Sham group, and less
anxious at 48 h (P = 0.042) as compared with patients in Shenmen group.
Repeated-measures analysis of variance performed for electrodermal activity,
blood pressure, and heart rate demonstrated no group differences (P = ns). We
conclude that auricular acupuncture at the “relaxation” point can decrease
the anxiety level in a population of healthy volunteers.
PMID: 11159266 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
[Acupuncture in patients
with minor depressive episodes and generalized anxiety. Results of an
experimental study]
[Article in German]
Eich H, Agelink MW, Lehmann E, Lemmer W, Klieser E.
Klinik fur Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, am Evangelischen Krankenhaus
Gelsenkirchen Universitatsklinik der Ruhr-Universitat Bochum.
In a placebo-controlled, randomized, modified double-blind study we investigated
the effects of body needle acupuncture (n = 10) in 43 patients with minor
depression (ICD 10 F32.0, F32.1) and 13 patients with generalized anxiety
disorders (ICD10 F41.1). The severity of the disease was assessed by the
Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Treatment response was defined as a
significant improvement in CGI. An intent-to-treat analysis was performed to
compare treatment responses between verum- and placebo acupuncture. After
completing an total of 10 acupuncture sessions the verum acupuncture group (n
= 28) showed a significantly larger clinical improvement compared to the
placebo group (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.05). There were significantly more
responders in the verum-compared to the placebo group (60.7% vs. 21.4%;
chi-square test, p < 0.01). In contrast, no differences in the response
rates were evident just after 5 acupuncture sessions. A multivariate analysis
with the independent factor acupuncture (verum vs. placebo) and the results
of the results of the additional rating scales (total score of HAMA, HAMD,
Bf-S, BL) as dependent variables (ANOVA, 1:54 D.F.) revealed a clear trend
towards lower HAMA scores in the verum group after completing 10 acupunctures
(F3.29, p = 0.075). This corresponds well to the high response rate of 85.7%
in patients with generalized anxiety disorders, in whom verum acupuncture was
applied. Our results indicate that needle acupuncture (Du.20, Ex.6, He.7,
Pe.6, Bl.62) leads to a significant clinical improvement as well as to a
remarkable reduction in anxiety symptoms in patients with minor depression or
with generalized anxiety disorders. The total sum of acupuncture sessions and
the specific location of acupuncture needle insertions might be important
factors for bringing about therapeutic success.
PMID: 10758845 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Clinical research on the
therapeutic effect of the electro-acupuncture treatment in patients with
depression.
Luo H, Meng F, Jia Y, Zhao X.
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Mental Health,
Beijing Medical University, PR China.
Electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation has been found to influence the brain
(norepinephrine metabolism in experimental animals). Preliminary clinical
research has shown that EA treatment is as effective as amitriptyline for
patients with depression. In this study, two consecutive clinical studies on
the treatment of depression with EA are conducted. The first study was double
blind placebo controlled, in which 29 depressed inpatients were recruited.
Patients were randomly divided into three groups: EA + placebo; amitriptyline;
and EA + amitriptyline. They received EA and/or amitriptyline treatment for 6
weeks. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Clinical Global Impression
and ASBERG scales for the side effect of antidepressants were used to
evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and side effects. Based on the results and
research protocol of the first study, a multi-centered collaborative study
was conducted, in which 241 inpatients with depression were recruited.
Patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups: the EA + placebo
and the amitriptyline groups. The results from both studies showed that the
therapeutic efficacy of EA was equal to that of amitriptyline for depressive
disorders (P > 0.05). Electro-acupuncture had a better therapeutic effect
for anxiety somatization and cognitive process disturbance of depressed
patients than amitriptyline (P < 0.05). Moreover, the side effects of EA
were much less than that of amitriptyline (P < 0.001). The article
suggested that EA treatment was an effective therapeutic method for
depressive disorders. Particularly, it was a treatment of choice for
depressed patients who were unable to comply with the classic tricyclic
antidepressants because of their anticholinergic side effects. The possible
mechanism of EA treatment is discussed.
[back to top]
Acupuncture and Back Pain
The
acupuncture treatment of low back pain: a randomized controlled study.
Coan RM, Wong G, Ku SL, Chan YC, Wang L, Ozer FT, Coan PL
The acupuncture treatment situation was beneficial to the
majority of people with low back pain. This was shown by the use of
short-term controls and long-term controls, although the latter were not
intended in the study design. After acupuncture, there was a 51% pain
reduction in the average pain score in the Immediate Treatment Group. The
short-term controls, the Delayed Treatment Group, had no reduction whatsoever
in their pain scores at the comparable followup period. Later, the Delayed
Treatment Group bere also treated by acupuncturists, and reported 62% less
pain. When these two treatment groups were compared at 40 weeks with
long-term controls (Inadequate Treatment Group), the Inadequate Treatment
Group still had the same pain scores, on the average, as when they enrolled
in the study. Both treatment groups, on the average, had 30% lower pain
scores. Furthermore, 58% of the treatment groups felt that they were
definitely improved at 40 weeks, while only 11% of the Inadequate Treatment
Group felt definitely improved at 40 weeks.
1 : Spine 1996 Dec 15;21(24):2860-71; discussion 2872-3
Related Articles, Books, LinkOut
Spinal manipulation for low back pain. An updated
systematic review of randomized clinical trials.
Koes BW, Assendelft WJ, van der Heijden GJ, Bouter LM
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije
Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of randomized clinical
trials. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of spinal manipulation for
patients with low back pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The management of
low back pain remains controversial. Spinal manipulation is a widely used
treatment option for low back pain. Recently issued clinical guidelines
suggest that spinal manipulation may be effective for patients with acute low
back pain. METHODS: A computer-aided search for published papers was
conducted, and the methods of the studies identified were assessed. Scores
were assigned for quality of methods (based on four main categories: study
population, interventions, measurement of effect, and data presentation and
analysis), the conclusion of authors regarding spinal manipulation, and the
results based on the main outcome measure. RESULTS: Thirty-six randomized
clinical trials comparing spinal manipulation with other treatments were identified.
The highest score of a trial was 60 points (maximum score was set at 100
points), indicating that most were of poor quality. Nineteen studies (53%)
showed favorable results for manipulation. In addition, five studies (14%)
reported positive results in one or more subgroups only. Among the five
studies with 50-60 points, three were positive, and two were positive only
for a subgroup of the study population. Eleven trials compared manipulation
with some placebo therapy, with inconsistent results. There appeared to be no
clear relation between the methodologic score and the overall outcome of the
studies. Twelve trials included patients with acute low back pain only. Of
these, five reported positive results, four reported negative results, and
three reported positive results in a subgroup of the study population only.
There were eight trials comparing manipulation with other conservative
treatment modalities, focusing on patients with subacute or chronic low back
pain. Of these, five reported positive results, two reported negative
results, and in one study no conclusion was presented. There were only 16
studies that included an effect measurement of at least 3 months. In only six
of these do the authors report positive effects of manipulation. CONCLUSIONS:
The efficacy of spinal manipulation for patients with acute or chronic low
back pain has not been demonstrated with sound randomized clinical trials.
There certainly are indications that manipulation might be effective in some
subgroups of patients with low back pain. These impressions justify
additional research efforts on this topic. Methodologic quality remains a
critical aspect that should be dealt with in future studies.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and
acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for chronic low
back pain.
Gadsby JG, Flowerdew MW
47 Milton Crescent, LEICESTER, Leicestershire, UK, LE4
OPA. Joseph.gadsby@virgin.net
[Record supplied by publisher]
BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
(TENS), originally based on the gate-control theory of pain, is widely used
for the treatment of chronic low back pain. Despite its wide use and
theoretical rationale, there appears at first glance little scientific
evidence to support its use. This Cochrane review examines the available
evidence on TENS for the treatment of chronic back pain through an exhaustive
search of the literature. OBJECTIVES: Transcutaneous electrical nerve
stimulation (TENS) and acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve
stimulation (ALTENS) for chronic low back pain management have experienced a
tremendous growth over the past 25 years. The objective of this review was to
assess the effects of TENS and ALTENS for reducing pain and improving
function in patients with chronic back pain. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched
MEDLINE up to November 1997, EMBASE from 1985 to September 1995, Amed and
Ciscom to January 1995, reference lists of the retrieved articles,
proceedings of conferences and contacted investigators in the field.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials comparing TENS or ALTENS therapy to
placebo in patients with chronic low back pain. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:
Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data on pain
reduction, range of movement, functional and work status. MAIN RESULTS: Six
trials were included. The trials included 288 participants with an average
age range of 45 to 50 years and approximately equal numbers of women and men.
The overall odds ratio for improvement in pain for each comparison was:
TENS/ALTENS versus placebo 2.11 (95% confidence interval 1.32 to 3.38),
ALTENS versus placebo 7.22 (95% confidence interval 2.60 to 20.01) and TENS
versus placebo 1.52 (95% confidence interval 0.90 to 2.58). The odds ration
for improvement in range of motion on ALTENS versus placebo was 6.61 (95%
confidence interval 2.36 to 18.55). REVIEWER’S CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence
from the limited data available that TENS/ALTENS reduces pain and improves
range of motion in chronic back pain patients, at least in the short term. A
large trial of ALTENS and TENS is needed to confirm these findings.
Acupuncture
treatment at Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital—a report on our initial
experience.
Yong D, Lim SH, Zhao CX, Cui SL, Zhang L, Lee TL
Acupunture Research Clinic (ARC), Ang Mo Kio Community
Hospital, Singapore.
BACKGROUND: We report our initial experience with
acupuncture treatment at the Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital’s Acupuncture
Research Clinic. PATIENTS: One thousand one hundred and twenty-eight patients
received a total of 12,172 acupuncture treatment sessions during the period
between September 1995 and December 1996. The majority were Chinese (94%),
between 40-70 years (70%) with either dialect or Mandarin (68%) as the main
spoken language. However, one third of the patients were English speaking,
and educational level did not seem to be a factor among our patients
accepting acupuncture treatment. Most had either painful conditions (58%) or
stroke-related dysfunction (23%). Amongst the painful conditions, arthritis
(25%), low back pain (22%) and other musculo-skeletal pain (12%) were the
most common. RESULTS: Prior to treatment, about three-quarter of patients
believed acupuncture would benefit them while 40% had tried acupuncture
before. After completion of treatment, 70% of all patients considered
acupuncture safe, 54% were satisfied with the overall result, 51% felt
acupuncture was beneficial, while 54% would recommend acupuncture to others with
similar conditions. In a subgroup of patients treated for painful conditions,
> 90% reported improvement. Near-syncope occurred in 2 patients (0.18%) or
during 2 treatment sessions (0.02%). There was no other acupuncture-related
complication. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary experience showed that acupuncture
is safe, and appears to be beneficial to patients with painful conditions. An
overview of acupuncture treatment is presented, and the issues of safety,
efficacy and a need to conduct enterzed controlled clinical trials are
discussed.
[Acupuncture treatment
of low back pain]
[Article in German]
Schmitt H, Zhao JQ, Brocai DR, Kaps HP.
Abteilung Orthopadie I, Stiftung Orthopadische Universitatsklinik Heidelberg.
Holger.schmitt@ok.uni-heidelberg.de
OBJECTIVES: This prospective, non-controlled pilot-study examines the
potential benefit of acupuncture in patients with low back pain and radicular
symptoms. METHODS: 60 patients with low back pain and lumbar disc herniation
diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography were treated
by acupuncture. Pain intensity was assessed before and after treatment on a
100 mm visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Intensity of low back pain dropped
from 59 to 19 mm, and intensity of radicular pain from 64 to 12 mm. Three to
twelve months after the end of acupuncture, 88% of patients were satisfied
with treatment outcome. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture as a noninvasive treatment
with very few complications is a promising therapeutical option of low back
pain, especially when associated with radicular symptoms.
PMID: 11810327 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Acupuncture for chronic
low back pain: a randomized placebo-controlled study with long-term
follow-up.
Carlsson CP, Sjolund BH.
Department of Rehabilitation, Lund University Hospital, Sweden. akusyd@swipnet.se
OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to determine whether a series of needle
acupuncture treatments produced long-term relief of chronic low back pain.
DESIGN: A blinded placebo-controlled study with an independent observer. The
patients were randomized to receive manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture,
or active placebo (mock transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation).
Subjects were examined and monitored by an investigator who was blinded to
the treatment given. SETTING: A tertiary-level pain clinic at a Swedish
university hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty consecutive patients (33 women, 17 men;
mean age, 49.8 years) with chronic low back pain (mean pain duration, 9.5
years) and without rhizopathy or history of acupuncture treatment were
included in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Treatments were given once per week for
8 weeks. Two further treatments were given during the follow-up assessment
period of 6 months or longer. OUTCOME MEASURES: The independent observer made
a global assessment of the patients 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. The
patients kept pain diaries to score pain intensity twice daily, analgesic
intake, and quality of sleep daily, and activity level weekly. RESULTS: At
the 1-month independent assessment, 16 of 34 patients in the acupuncture
groups and 2 of 16 patients in the placebo group showed improvement (p
<0.05). At the 6-month follow-up assessment, 14 of 34 patients in the acupuncture
groups and 2 of 16 patients in the placebo group showed improvement (p
<0.05). A significant decrease in pain intensities occurred at 1 and 3
months in the acupuncture groups compared with the placebo group. There was a
significant improvement in return to work, quality of sleep, and analgesic
intake in subjects treated with acupuncture. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found a
long-term pain-relieving effect of needle acupuncture compared with true
placebo in some patients with chronic nociceptive low back pain.
PMID: 11783809 [PubMed – in process]
·
[Acupuncture contra antiphlogistics in
acute lumbago]
Kittang G, Melvaer T, Baerheim A.
Kinn Legekontor, 6900 Floro. G-kitta@online.no
BACKGROUND: Acute low back pain is one of the most frequent complaints
presented in general practice. This study compares acupuncture and
antiphlogistica in the treatment of acute low back pain in general practice.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Among 60 consecutively included patients with acute low
back pain, 30 patients were randomized to enterzedd acupuncture treatment for
two weeks, and 30 patients to entero-soluble naproxen 500 mg twice daily for
ten days. Effects were observed over six months, and observed for a further
12 months with regard to relapse of low back pain and number of days on sickness
leave. RESULTS: There were no differences in pain or stiffness (VAS, physical
tests) at inclusion, nor in the reduction of pain or stiffness over a six
month evaluation. However, patients receiving acupuncture used significantly
less analgetic drugs during the first week after start of treatment than
those receiving naproxen (2/28 versus 11/29, p < 0.01). Patients receiving
acupuncture also reported fewer new episodes of low back pain (11/28 versus
30/29, p < 0.05) during the 6 + 12 month follow-up. Side effects were
frequent in the naproxen group, especially gastro-enteric side effects (0/28
versus 15/29, p < 0.01). INTERPRETATION: Standardised acupuncture
treatment seems to be safe and effective in the treatment of acute low back
pain in general practice.
PMID: 11402745 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
[Influence of
acupuncture and moxibustion on QOL of the elderly living in nursing home and
care house]
Matsumoto T, Terasawa S.
Department of Geriatric Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of
Oriental Medicine.
To clarify the influence of acupuncture therapy on the quality of life (QOL)
of the elderly, the acupuncture and moxibustion were performed on 35 elderly
subjects (8 men and 27 women) with a mean age 79.1 living in nursing homes
and elderly care houses. The acu-points were chosen according to their
symptoms. Changes in pain and other complaints, body condition, appetite,
sleep, bowel movement and activity of daily living (ADL) were evaluated by
questionnaires. A total of 38 symptoms were reported. A high rate of
improvement was seen in pain and stiffness. For example, there was 86%
improvement in low back pain, 84% in knee joint pain and 82% in shoulder
stiffness. Concerning body conditions, decrease of fatigue, relaxed of
feeling, improvement in appetite, sleep and bowel movement were observed.
Furthermore, gait and ADL were also improved. These results suggested that
acupuncture and moxibustion are useful to improve QOL in the elderly.
PMID: 11305035 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
·
A prospective randomized
study comparing acupuncture with physiotherapy for low-back and pelvic pain
in pregnancy.
Wedenberg K, Moen B, Norling A.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrkoping,
Sweden.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the effects of acupuncture
in the treatment of low-back and pelvic pain during pregnancy and compare it
with physiotherapy. METHODS: Sixty pregnant women were allotted to
acupuncture or physiotherapy. The women estimated the severity of their pain
using a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10 and disability in performing
twelve common daily activities using a disability-rating index (DRI) from 0
to 10. RESULTS: In the acupuncture group all 30 women completed the study
(two exclusions), in the physiotherapy group only 18. Before treatment the
two study groups were rather similar with respect to pain and disability.
After treatment the mean morning VAS had declined from 3.4 to 0.9 (p<0.01)
in the acupuncture group and from 3.7 to 2.3 (NS) in the physiotherapy group.
The corresponding evening values had declined from 7.4 to 1.7 (p<0.01) and
6.6 to 4.5 (p<0.01), respectively. The mean VAS values were lower after
acupuncture than after physiotherapy both in the morning (p=0.02) and in the
evening (p<0.01). After treatment also the mean DRI values had decreased
significantly in the acupuncture group for 11 of 12 activities and the values
were significantly lower for all activities than in the physiotherapy group
where no significant changes had taken place. Overall satisfaction was good
in both groups. There were no serious adverse events in any of the patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture relieved pain and diminished disability in low-back
pain during pregnancy better than physiotherapy.
PMID: 10830757 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
·
Acupuncture for low back
pain.
Tulder MW VA, Cherkin DC, Berman B, Lao L, Koes BW.
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, van der
Boechorststraat 7, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1081 BT. Mw.van_tulder.emgo@med.vu.nl.
BACKGROUND: Although low back pain is usually a self-limiting and benign
disease that tends to improve spontaneously over time, a large variety of
therapeutic interventions are available for the treatment of low back pain.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of
acupuncture for the treatment of non-specific low back pain. SEARCH STRATEGY:
We searched the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field trials register, the
Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (1997, issue 1), Medline (1966 – 1996),
Embase (1988 – 1996), Science Citation Index and reference lists of articles.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials of all types of acupuncture treatment
that involves needling for subjects with non-specific low back pain. DATA
COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers blinded with respect to authors,
institution and journal independently assessed trial quality and extracted
data. MAIN RESULTS: Eleven trials were included. The methodological quality
was low. Only two trials were of high quality. Three trials compared acupuncture
to no treatment, which were of low methodological quality and provide
conflicting evidence. There was moderate evidence from two trials that
acupuncture is not more effective than trigger point injection or
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). There was limited
evidence from eight trials that acupuncture is not more effective than
placebo or sham acupuncture for the treatment of chronic low back pain.
REVIEWER’S CONCLUSIONS: The evidence enterzed in this systematic review does
not indicate that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of back pain.
PMID: 10796434 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Acupuncture treatment at
Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital—a report on our initial experience.
Yong D, Lim SH, Zhao CX, Cui SL, Zhang L, Lee TL.
Acupunture Research Clinic (ARC), Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital, Singapore.
BACKGROUND: We report our initial experience with acupuncture treatment at
the Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital’s Acupuncture Research Clinic. PATIENTS:
One thousand one hundred and twenty-eight patients received a total of 12,172
acupuncture treatment sessions during the period between September 1995 and
December 1996. The majority were Chinese (94%), between 40-70 years (70%)
with either dialect or Mandarin (68%) as the main spoken language. However,
one third of the patients were English speaking, and educational level did
not seem to be a factor among our patients accepting acupuncture treatment.
Most had either painful conditions (58%) or stroke-related dysfunction (23%).
Amongst the painful conditions, arthritis (25%), low back pain (22%) and
other musculo-skeletal pain (12%) were the most common. RESULTS: Prior to
treatment, about three-quarter of patients believed acupuncture would benefit
them while 40% had tried acupuncture before. After completion of treatment,
70% of all patients considered acupuncture safe, 54% were satisfied with the
overall result, 51% felt acupuncture was beneficial, while 54% would
recommend acupuncture to others with similar conditions. In a subgroup of
patients treated for painful conditions, > 90% reported improvement. Near-syncope
occurred in 2 patients (0.18%) or during 2 treatment sessions (0.02%). There
was no other acupuncture-related complication. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary
experience showed that acupuncture is safe, and appears to be beneficial to
patients with painful conditions. An overview of acupuncture treatment is
presented, and the issues of safety, efficacy and a need to conduct enterzed
controlled clinical trials are discussed.
Acupuncture—a
therapeutic concept in the treatment of painful conditions and functional
disorders. Report on 971 cases.
Fischer MV, Behr A, von Reumont J.
The results in 971 outpatients who have been treated with acupuncture for
different diseases are reported. The outcome of treatments and number of
sessions are discussed in relation to the different diseases. Acupuncture
treatment was regarded as successful when 1. the patients had no pain at all
without medication and 2. there was a significant improvement (no long-term
medication, only mild pain under unusual strain, minimal medication under
such circumstances). We obtained positive results in cephalalgias ,
sinusitis, cervical spine syndrome, shoulder-arm syndrome, ischialgias , back
pain, constipation, herpes zoster, allergic rhinitis and disturbances of
peripheral blood flow. For the following ailments, in order to reduce the
medication, we recommend acupuncture despite a high rate of recurrence:
Trigeminal neuralgia, colitis ulcerosa, bronchial asthma and cancer pain.
Results in the treatment of mental disturbances were unsatisfactory, and in
cases of tinnitus results were negative.
PMID: 6145308 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Superficial acupuncture
in the relief of chronic low back pain.
Macdonald AJ, Macrae KD, Master BR, Rubin AP.
A single-blind, enterzed, placebo-controlled trial of superficial acupuncture
in the treatment of low back pain was carried out by comparing 8 patients
treated by acupuncture with 9 patients treated by placebo. In all five
measures of efficacy chosen for study the acupuncture group achieved better
responses than the placebo group; four of the five inter-group differences
were statistically significant. In addition, an overall mean for all five
measures combined showed significant superiority of acupuncture over placebo.
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Acupuncture and Back Pain
What is back pain?
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical
attention. It is one of the most frequent causes of missed workdays and one
of the most expensive conditions in the United States; according to a
recent government report, in 1999, nearly one million people in the U.S.
took time away from work to treat and recover from some sort of back pain.
Back problems can be caused by an inordinately wide range of problems.
It can exist alone, or it can be caused by a condition that occurs
elsewhere in the body, with the pain being transmitted (referred) to areas
of the back by the nervous system. The majority of backache sufferers
complain of pain in the lower back; the second most common site of
discomfort is the base of the neck.
Who suffers from back pain?
Half of all adults will experience some form of low back pain during
their lifetime. The fact that humans walk upright puts great pressure on
the spine and the muscles that support it. Over time, factors such as
disease, accidents, poor posture and overexertion can lead to immediate
and/or long-term back problems.
Most back pain is muscular in nature. Muscle pain perpetuates what is
known as the pain cycle, a phenomenon of which the back is particularly
susceptible. In the pain cycle, pain causes a muscle to spasm, which may
distort the discs, joints and nerves of the spine. This spasm leads to
further pain, leading to further spasm, which compounds the original
problem. If the nerves are irritated enough, it may cause pain to radiate
down into the leg, similar to pain experienced via a herniated disc.
In most cases, people who experience an episode of acute back pain will
recover in 3-12 weeks. For those who don’t recover, however, chronic back
pain can be a significant source of inconvenience and suffering.
What can acupuncture do?
Acupuncture can play an important role in the reduction or elimination
of back pain by reducing recovery time and preventing a chronic condition
from developing.
Research has shown that acupuncture causes the body to produce natural
steroids and promote the production of natural endorphins. Steroids
decrease inflammation, while endorphins are produced by the body to kill
pain. Both substances can play an integral part in the breaking up of the
pain cycle.
By reducing acute back pain, acupuncture may also reduce the chances of
chronic back pain from occurring. It can help avoid the need for costlier
and more invasive surgical procedures. And if back pain can be
significantly reduced with acupuncture, it also lowers the need for
painkillers or other medications that can either cause unwanted
side-effects or prolong a patient’s condition.
Many styles of acupuncture may help ease back pain. Some practitioners
may advocate very few needles at particular acupoints on the hand; other
practitioners may employ electroacupuncture at several points on the body
simultaneously. In general, the longer the pain has been present, the
longer it will take for acupuncture to produce a response.
As with any other form of care, however, remember that not all patients
will respond to acupuncture. Make sure to discuss the situation thoroughly
with your acupuncturist before undergoing treatment for back pain (or any
other condition).
References
- Coan RM, et al.
The acupuncture treatment of neck pain: a randomized controlled study.
Amer J Chin Med 1980;8:181-189.
- Ernst E, White AR.
Acupuncture for back pain: A meta-analysis of enterzed controlled
trials. Arch Intern Med 1998;158:2235-2241.
- Lee A. Back pain
and the role of acupuncture in management. Available online at www.barefootdoctors.com/backpain.html.
- Patel M,
Gutzwiller F, Paccaud F, Marazzi A. A meta-analysis of acupuncture for
chronic pain. Inter J Epidem 1989;18:900-906.
- Thomas M, Lundberg
T. Importance of modes of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic
nociceptive low back pain. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand
1994;38:63-69.
- Yi-Kai L, et al. Silver needle therapy for
intractable low-back pain at tender point after removal of nucleus
pulposus. JMPT June 2000;23(5):320-3
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Acupuncture and Bell’s Palsy
This article
submitted by Joan Swartz Swigart on 10/20/96.
Author’s Email: wordchef@juno.com
Acupuncture cured Bell’s Palsy
This article
submitted by Joan S. Swigart on 9/28/96.
Author’s Email: wordchef@juno.com
UPDATE: 10/20/96
See comments at end of article for update!
On Friday the 13th,
Sept. 13, 1996, my husband Ned said that the right side of his face was numb
and he asked if I thought he should call the doctor. He was “in” as fast as
he could get there and the diagnosis was Bell’s Palsy with prednisone
prescribed and an appointment in a few hours to see a neurologist to confirm
the diagnosis, which she did. She, however, was upset about the prednisone
because she said that there is
no proof that it helps. She said there is nothing to be done except to
take something for pain if, in fact, he had any in his face etc. She also
said the condition would become worse before it started to get better, which
was correct. One week later, his right eyelid was 95% drooped and his mouth
was all crooked and he had to drink liquids through a straw..because his
mouth was frozen as if he’d had massive doses of novocaine, etc. Accidentally
we heard a woman say her brother had this condition and the only thing that
helped him was an acupuncturist. A high school classmate of mine in
Pittsburgh swears by “her” acupuncturist so I got his phone number. Ten (10)
days after the onset of this paralysis, this doctor applied the needles, came
back in 30 minutes, and Ned’s eyelid was UP, his mouth was mostly back to
normal, and he could drink liquids without a straw. It was unbelievable to us
and we kept waiting for this “miracle” to either “relax” or reverse itself. The
improvement has held. Ned returns this Monday for another treatment. Ned’s
friend who has had Ball’s Palsy for 2 years and still has a twisted mouth
refuses to believe that the acupuncture had anything to do with the vast
improvement. All I can say is: I was there. I KNOW how Ned was when we walked
into that examining room and I SAW the results 30 minutes later. There is no
way that there could be such drastic improvement in half an hour’s time with
just “Mother Nature” in
the act. We’ll know more on Monday, after Ned’s second treatment. Also, this
wasn’t just blind faith/acceptance either. While Ned was skeptical, he wasn’t
negative—just willing to try anything to help this very burdensome eye and mouth problem.
Yes, it seems like a miracle especially when 2 medical doctors had said that
perhaps he’d be better, or not, maybe within 2 years!
UPDATE: As of the 3rd visit (10/5/96) to Dr.
Yoon, Ned’s Bell’s Palsy isgone—done—over! (Remember: the onset of this was
Sept. 13!)The badly twisted right side of his face is completely back to
normal; his eyelidis where it should be; he can drink liquids normally; and,
best of all, he CAN once again whistle for his dog! All of this was
accomplished in three (3) visits..at a cost of $70 for the initial
consultation/treatment plus $40 a visit for the next two. Yes, we did pay
that ourselves because many insurance companies do not recognize acupuncture.
Compare our $150 cost for a cure to the $220 charged to Medicare from a
neurologist who “looked” at Ned the first time for $140 and then “looked” at
him a second time for $80 and said that Nature would have to take its
course—maybe be better in 2 years! Now, medical profession, I think that it’s
time someone in this country starts checking with acupuncturists about their rate
of cure with Bell’s Palsy! I’m not sure how Ned would have coped with a
minimum of 6 months with that twisted face, very sore eye that he rubbed ever
whipstitch, and drinking through a straw. I’m not sure how results that we’ve
had can be ignored—especially the high cost of “looking” by a neurologist.
CONCLUSION: My husband and
daughter have both been pleased with the results of acupuncture. Yes,
unfortunately in this rural Brookville, PA, town some people are laughing at
Ned (behind his back and to his face) for his “nonsense” about needles making
his face become untwisted, but that’s their backwoods-ish mentality. WE are
LIVING the results, not just high-priced “looking” by a “regular” MD and a
neurologist. I’ll soon know if acupuncture works for me and my poor
fingers! If anyone has any
questions, I’ll be glad to answer, based on our experiences. A final thought:
Ned’s fantastic recovery must have been helped because he sought treatment so
soon—10 days after the onset of Bell’s Palsy. People here are amazed at his “instant” recovery
but are unwilling to give acupuncture the credit!
Joan Swartz Swigart
814-856-2858
ARTICLE #2
Facial Paralysis (Bell’s Palsy)
Mostly affects young adults, acute, usually one side of
the face is effected, can’t close eye, or mouth, causes tearing and drooling.
May be accompanied by pain before attack (around GB 12 SJ 17 +/-), front 2/3
of tongue loses taste sensation, hearing may become sensitive.
Wind/Cold or Wind/Heat
When body is weak the meridians are empty, the pathogen
gets inside and blocks the flow of Qi, this results in a lack of nourishment
to the tendons and muscles. Can become chronic, this causes an eventual Yin
deficiency with Heat and/or deficiency Wind. This condition may cause the
deviation to move to the other side of the face.
P/T – promote
blood circulation, open meridians to expel Wind
Acupuncture
– hand and foot Yangming and Shaoyang, *SJ 17, ST 4-6, LI 4, LR 3, GB 20, LI
20, 19,
Du 26, Jia Cheng Jiang
38
eye not closing- Yin Qiao KI 6, Yang Qiao BL 62, BL 2, GB
14, Yu Yao
38
technique is to push drooping skin back towards normal
position
38
patient should come as soon after attack as possible, and
return every other day
38
only puncture effected side
38
be sure to wear head and neck scarves
Alternative Treatment Methods
electrical- when
facial muscles begin to twitch the stimulation is sufficient.
Chew gum
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