The Immediate Effect of Acupuncture on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Forty patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea were randomly assigned to either a manual acupuncture treatment group, an electroacupuncture 10 Hz treatment group, an electroacupuncture 20 Hz treatment group or a control group. The treatment was done just before sleep at 8 pm. The manual acupuncture points used were as follows: LU6, LU7, LI4, LI20, GV20, CV23, ST36, ST40, SP6, KI6. An extra point is located between the hyoid bone and the menton symphysis (Shanglianquan). For electroacupuncture the electrodes were placed in the points of the neck (deep enough to reach the genioglossus muscle - CV23 and Shanglianquan) and also along the body in LI4 and ST36 bilaterally. The Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index results for the manual acupuncture group and the electroacupuncture 10 Hz group were significantly different from the control and electroacupuncture 20 Hz groups. Manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture 10 Hz exerted better immediate effects than electroacupuncture 20 Hz and no treatment in reducing the Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index as well as the number of nocturnal respiratory events.
Acupunct Med. 2010 Sep;28(3):115-9. Epub 2010 Jun 15.
Immediate effect of acupuncture on the sleep pattern of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.
Electro-acupuncture Improves Specific Functions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Fifty-five children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were randomly assigned to either electro-acupuncture (EA) or sham electro-acupuncture (SEA). There were a total of 12 sessions of EA or SEA over 4 weeks. Eight acupoints were used: Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (EX-NH3), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), TaiChong (LR3), Ear naodian (AT3), Ear shenmen (TF4), and Sanyinjiao (SP6). The EA group had significant improvements in the language comprehension domain of the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), self-care caregiver assistant domain of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. The parental report showed significantly better social initiation, receptive language, motor skills, coordination and attention span.
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Altern Med Rev. 2010 Jul;15(2):136-46.
Randomized controlled trial of electro-acupuncture for autism spectrum disorder.
Acupuncture Improves Depression and Myalgia Scores in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and C
This prospective, uncontrolled, observational study enrolled 28 patients with chronic hepatitis B and C divided them into 3 groups. Group A (n=13) had high Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and myalgia scores. Group B (n=11) had low BDI scores and high myalgia scores and Group C (n=4) had high BDI and low myalgia scores. The following needling points were bilaterally sued: Yintang (0.3 cun), LU9 (0.2 cun), CV 17 (0.2-0.3 cun), SP6 (0.5-1 cun), LI4 (1 cun), ST36 (1-1.5 cun), KI3 (0.5 cun) and LR3 (0.5 cun). Patients received 2 weekly 20-minute sessions for 6 weeks. The mean age of the patients was 35,89% had chronic hepatitis B and 1 patient had both hepatitis B and C. Three patients were receiving interferon. The median BDI and myalgia scores decreased significantly in Groups A and B after treatment. Group C had a non-significant change in the BDI score and the myalgia score was similar before and after treatment. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, psychiatric disorders, and history of antidepressant use during the preceding 3 months, coagulation disorders and drug addiction.
Acupunct Med. 2010 Sep;28(3):136-9. Epub 2010 Jun 7.
Acupuncture for depression and myalgia in patients with hepatitis: an observational study.
Acupuncture Helpful for Depression
Eighty patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) were randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 received verum acupuncture, 10 mg/day of fluoxetine and placebo. Group 2 received sham acupuncture, 20-30 mg/day of fluoxetine for 6 weeks. Acupuncture in Group 1 was applied 5 times a week at 6 different locations: GV20 (Baihui), EX-HN1 (Sishencong), EX-HN3 (Yintang), GV26 (Shuigou), P6 (Neiguan), H7 (Shenmen), Liv3 (Taichong) and L14 (Hegu). Needling was done until there was needling sensation and retained for 30 minutes and manipulated once again during treatment. Group 2 was needled in non-specific locations 1-3 cm from the acupuncture points not recognized as true acupoints of meridians. Patients were allowed to use Zolpidem 10 mg prn for insomnia. No statistical difference was seen between groups at the end of the study even though Group 1 received a lower dose of fluoxetine. Group 1 also showed better improvement in symptoms of anxiety and antidepressant side effects. Group 1 also showed a statistically reduced use of zolpidem in the third period of the study.
J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Aug;15(8):837-44.
Combination of acupuncture and fluoxetine for depression: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.
Acupuncture Treatment for Plantar Faciitis
In this randomized trial, patients were assigned to either a treatment group or a control group. The treatment group recefacuived needling at acupoint PC 7 and the control group received needling at acupoint Hegu (LI 7). Morning pain (22.6 ± 4.0 versus 12.0 ± 3.0, mean ± SEM), overall pain and pressure pain threshold was significantly different, in favour of the treatment group.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Nov 23. [Epub ahead of print]
Acupuncture treatment for plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial with six months follow-up.
Acupuncture and its Effect on Type I Hypersensitivity Itch
Thirty patients with atopic eczema received acupuncture before (direct effect) and after (preventative effect) exposure to an allergen stimulus (house dust mite or grass pollen skin prick). Patients either received verum acupuncture at points Quchi and Xuehai dominant side, or placebo acupuncture on the dominant side, or no acupuncture. Direct and preventative effect itch intensity was significantly lower in the verum acupuncture group compared to the placebo and no acupuncture groups. Mean wheal and flare size were significantly lower in the verum acupuncture group compared to the placebo and no acupuncture groups. In both treatment approaches, itch questionnaire results were significantly lower in the verum acupuncture group.
Allergy. 2010 Jul;65(7):903-10. Epub 2009 Dec 11.
Influence of acupuncture on type I hypersensitivity itch and the wheal and flare response in adults with atopic eczema: a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial
Acupuncture Effective Treatment in Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
Seventeen patients (37-50 years of age) with Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, including signs and symptoms of TMD with a primarily muscular origin and pain for at least 6 months received acupuncture treatment for 10 weeks. The acupuncture needling bilateral points were IG4, E6, E7, B2, VB14, VB20, ID18, ID19, F3, E36, VB34, E44, R3, and HN3, with 10 sessions conducted on a weekly basis, for 20 minutes each session. After acupuncture treatment electromyography (EMG) was decreased at rest, as well as, clenching for all muscles. The molar maximal bite force increased after treatment. The EMG decrease did not reach an ideal of zero and EMG activity persisted and was higher in temporalis rather than masseter muscles. There was a better distribution of EMG activity after treatment. Individuals in this study also reported decreased pain and this may have contributed to the increased bite strength. However, the trial was of small size and lacked a sham placebo component.
J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Dec;15(12):1307-10.
Acupuncture and temporomandibular disorders: a 3-month follow-up EMG study.
Combined Abdominal Acupuncture with Conventional Acupuncture Improves Knee Osteoarthritis
One hundred and five patients with knee osteoarthritis were divided randomly into 3 groups. Group A received abdominal acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Wailing (ST 26), Daheng (SP 15), Lower Rheumatism point and Qipang with needles retained for 30 minutes. Group B received conventional acupuncture at Neixiyan (EX-LE4) and Dubi (ST 35) of the affected limb, Yanglingquan (GB 34), Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10) and Xiyangguan (GB 33). Group C received both abdominal and conventional acupuncture. Treatment was given once daily, 6 days a week, for 4 weeks. Group C had the most "remarkably relieved" patients with 13 of the 35, followed by Group A with 8 of 25 and Group B with 7 of 35. Group C also had a higher number of "relieved" patients with 16 of the 35. Abdominal acupuncture has a synergized function when combined with conventional acupuncture.
J Tradit Chin Med. 2009 Dec;29(4):249-52.
Clinical research on abdominal acupuncture plus conventional acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis.
Acupuncture Superior to Western Medicine and Chinese Medicine for Relieving Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Ninety individuals were randomly divided in an acupuncture group, a Western medicine group and a Chinese medicine group for 7 days of treatment. All subjects received a water and electrolyte supplement. The acupuncture group recieved acupuncture at Dazhu (BL 11), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Neiguan (PC 6), and Gongsun (SP 4). The Western medicine group received Luminal 30 mg tid and the Chinese medicine group received a herbal decoction according to TCM syndrome differentiation. The therapeutic effect, ketone bodies, carbon dioxide combining power (CO2-CP) and electrolyte imbalanceswere observed in all the groups. The acupuncture group had an efficacy rate of 96.7%, the Western group a rate of 46.7% and the Chinese medicine group a rate of 60%.
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2009 Dec;29(12):973-6.
Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture on hyperemesis gravidarum
[Article in Chinese]
Acupuncture Plus Baclofen Works Better than Baclofen Alone for Lower Back Pain
Eighty-four men (50-60 years) with non-specific back low back pain (LBP) were randomly assigned to 4 groups for 5 weeks. Group 1 received baclofen 30 mg/day, Group 2 received acupuncture, Group 3 received both treatments, and Group 4 was a control group. For the acupuncture protocol each patient in Group 2 and 3 received needles bilaterally at points Shenshu (BL23), Dachangshu (BL25), Panguanshu (BL28), Ciliao (BL32), Kunlun (BL60), Huantiao (GB30) and Yanglingquan (GB34). Each acupuncture session consisted of 10-12 needles which were used bilaterally and needles were left in place for 20-25 minutes. Bacolfen alone was effective in reducing pain, but pain relief was not found to be significantly different from baseline at 3, 4, 5 and 10 weeks follow-up. Acupuncture alone significantly decreased pain at weeks 2, 3, 4 and 5 compared to baseline. Relief was stable in the acupuncture group at week 10. The baclofen and acupuncture groups had significant pain reduction and the pain scores were lower than the baclofen or acupuncture monotherapy groups.
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Chin Med. 2010 Apr 24;5:15.
Reduction of chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised controlled clinical trial on acupuncture and baclofen.
