RESEARCH – Click on Condition to go to research abstract.

 

 Anxiety
Back Pain
Bells Palsy
Breast Cancer
Cancer
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chondromalacia
Dental Pain
Diabetes
Edema
Eye Disorders
Fibromyalgia
Gastrointestinal Problems
Heart Disease
HIV
Human Performance Enhancement
Hypertension
Infertility/IVF
Insomnia
Itching/Pruritis
Knee Pain
Migraines
Nausea
Neck Pain
Olfaction
Osteoarthritis
Pancreatitis
Psoriasis
Pulmonary Disorders
Shin Splints
Tennis Elbow
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Vertigo

 

 

 

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]

 

Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr 2000 Mar;68(3):137-44

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[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]

 

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 1998 Dec;52 Suppl:S338-40

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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.

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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.

 

: Schmerz 2001 Feb;15(1):33-7

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[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]

 

 

1: Clin J Pain 2001 Dec;17(4):296-305

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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]

 

1: Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2001 Apr 20;121(10):1207-10

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·        
 [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]

1: Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi 2001 Mar;38(2):205-11

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[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]

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2000 May;79(5):331-5

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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]

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000;(2):CD001351

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·        
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]

Singapore Med J 1999 Apr;40(4):260-4

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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.

 

 

Acupunct Electrother Res 1984;9(1):11-29

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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]

Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1983 Jan;65(1):44-6

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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.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

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