Articles tagged with Acupuncture
Researchers at the University of Michigan used brain imaging to study the effects of acupuncture on chronic pain. They found that traditional Chinese acupuncture increases binding availability of mu-opoid receptors in regions processing and dampening pain signals, leading to reduced pain levels.
The US public spends billions annually on CAM therapies, including herbal supplements, meditation, and acupuncture. Approximately 11.2% of healthcare expenditures are attributed to CAM, totaling $33.9 billion out-of-pocket expenses.
A randomized trial found acupuncture to be as effective in treating chronic low back pain as usual care, with simulated and standard acupuncture showing similar benefits. The study suggests that the mind-body connection and physiological effects may play a role in the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.
A randomized clinical trial found that real and simulated acupuncture were more effective than usual care in reducing chronic low back pain. Participants who received acupuncture experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in their level of functioning, compared to those receiving usual care.
Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center report that acupuncture treatments can significantly improve symptoms of xerostomia, a debilitating condition caused by radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. The treatment showed highly statistically significant improvements in saliva flow and quality-of-life scores.
A systematic review of 106 studies found that acupuncture is not effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flushes during menopause. While one study suggested favorable effects of acupuncture on symptom severity, the overall evidence does not support its use as a treatment option.
A national study of over 700 patients will measure the cost and clinical effectiveness of acupressure wrist bands in reducing chemotherapy-related nausea. The device aims to provide a drug-free alternative for a debilitating symptom that affects quality of life, social life, and mental health.
The US Air Force is integrating medical acupuncture into its military healthcare, utilizing a technique developed by Dr. Richard Niemtzow to relieve severe pain lasting several days. This approach reduces reliance on pain medications that may cause adverse reactions or addiction, offering a promising alternative for pain management in ...
A study published in Human Reproduction found that placebo acupuncture resulted in a significantly higher overall pregnancy rate (55.1%) compared to real acupuncture (43.8%) in patients undergoing IVF. The researchers suggest that placebo acupuncture may have a real effect, contrary to its inert control status.
A study at the University of California - Irvine found that applying adhesive acupressure beads to the Extra-1 acupoint decreased anxiety levels in children undergoing anesthesia. The treatment has no side effects and can be used as a complementary therapy to make surgical procedures less stressful.
A randomized, controlled trial found acupuncture significantly reduced pain, dysfunction, and dry mouth in head and neck cancer patients after neck dissection. The study also showed improvements in xerostomia, a common problem among cancer patients following radiotherapy.
A study found that acupuncture reduces hot flushes in breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen by 50%, with a sustained effect after treatment cessation. Acupuncture also improves overall well-being and has the advantage of being cheap and side-effect-free compared to other treatments.
Acupuncture significantly reduces post-surgical pain and opioid use, with lower rates of nausea, itching, dizziness, and urinary retention. The treatment is also inexpensive and has virtually no side effects when performed by trained personnel.
A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology found that electroacupuncture at PC6 can decrease the frequency of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR) induced by gastric distention in cats. The effect appears to act at the brain stem, mediated through nitric oxide (NO), CCK-A, and mu-opioid receptors.
A study of 215 cancer patients found that acupuncture did not reduce nausea caused by radiotherapy, but patients believed it helped. The treatment had no statistically significant effect on nausea duration or intensity.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that six months of acupuncture treatment was more effective than conventional therapy in treating low back pain. The treatment, which involved verum acupuncture and sham acupuncture, resulted in significant improvements in pain relief for patients with chronic low back pain.
A study found that providing regular acupressure treatment sessions twice a day for five days a week significantly reduced verbal and physical attacks, wandering, and agitation levels in dementia patients. The benefits were seen after four weeks of treatment, but agitation levels rose again once the treatment ended.
A randomized controlled trial found that osteoarthritis patients who received acupuncture treatment in addition to routine care showed significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life. The study's results suggest that acupuncture can be an effective treatment option for OA patients, with benefits lasting beyond the therapy period.
A study found that acupuncture improved knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis, even when compared to sham acupuncture. Another study revealed that Mediterranean diets improved blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels in older adults at risk for heart disease.
A Mayo Clinic study found that acupuncture significantly improved symptoms of fibromyalgia in patients, including fatigue and anxiety. The study's results lend credence to the effectiveness of non-traditional methods in improving health.
A clinical trial found that acupuncture reduced migraine days equally to standard therapy, with no difference between real and sham acupuncture. The study's results are surprising, as the underlying mechanisms are unknown, but suggest that efficacy is more important than understanding treatment mechanisms.
A study by University of Michigan Health System researchers found that students who applied self-applied acupressure treatments to stimulation points on their legs, feet, hands and heads showed a statistically significant reduction in sleepiness compared to those who only relaxed. This discovery could have implications for improving al...
A Mayo Clinic study found acupuncture significantly improves symptoms of pain, fatigue, and anxiety in patients with moderate to severe fibromyalgia. The treatment showed promise as an additive therapy to existing medications.
A large study found that acupuncture significantly improves symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. However, its effectiveness when compared to standard treatment remains uncertain, and further research is needed to confirm its benefits.
A new 12-week study of 302 adults with high-normal or mildly elevated blood pressure found that eating special cookies containing 40 grams of soybean protein resulted in significantly larger decreases in pressure levels compared to those who ate similar cookies made of complex wheat carbohydrate. The soybean group had a net reduction o...
A randomized controlled trial of 302 patients with migraines found that acupuncture and sham acupuncture resulted in similar reductions in headache frequency. While acupuncture was associated with a reduction in migraine headaches compared to no treatment, the effects were comparable to those observed with sham acupuncture.
This study found that 71 percent of older adults used some form of alternative medicine in 2000, with chiropractor being the most commonly used. The findings suggest that older adults are using alternative medicine due to chronic health issues and dissatisfaction with conventional healthcare.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have found that electroacupuncture can reduce elevated blood pressure by up to 50 percent in rats. The study suggests that acupuncture may be an effective complement to other medical treatments for patients with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
A multi-site study found that acupuncture significantly decreases pain and improves function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Participants receiving acupuncture showed a 40% decrease in pain and nearly 40% improvement in function compared to baseline assessments.
Acupuncture was found to be effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee, while its effectiveness for chronic neck pain was no better than placebo. A third study identified a clinical prediction rule that can predict which patients with low-back pain are most likely to benefit from spinal manipulation.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that acupuncture is more effective than medication in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting, as well as decreasing pain levels. The study, which used electro-acupuncture, showed significant improvements in patient satisfaction and comfort after major breast surgery.
Researchers at UCI are studying how acupuncture triggers physiological changes in the brain that can reverse illnesses impacting millions of Americans. The study aims to bridge the gap between Western and Eastern medicine, providing a clear medical basis for acupuncture's effects on cardiovascular ailments.
Researchers found that wrist bands with acupressure or stimulation applied to an acupuncture point on the wrist reduced nausea in breast cancer patients by 15% compared to no band. Patients who expected the bands to ease their nausea experienced even greater relief, reporting a 25% decrease in nausea severity.
The University of Pittsburgh will conduct a new study on acupuncture's effectiveness in alleviating hot flashes, insomnia, and nervousness in breast cancer survivors experiencing menopause. The study aims to explore the potential benefits of acupuncture for reducing cortisol levels and promoting relaxation.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute are testing acupuncture's efficacy in alleviating symptom distress and promoting emotional well-being in terminally ill colorectal cancer patients. The four-year study will compare acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and usual care to determine its benefits.
A new clinical trial at NCCAM investigates the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in managing delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea, which often proves difficult to treat with medications. The study aims to provide an alternative approach to alleviate this condition and its associated side effects, such as stress.
Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating vomiting after chemotherapy or surgery, as well as nausea associated with pregnancy. However, its effectiveness in treating chronic pain, back pain, and headache is still a topic of debate, with conflicting results from clinical trials.
A large trial involving 593 pregnant women has shown that traditional acupuncture can significantly reduce nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. A type of acupuncture called p6 took around a week longer to have an effect.
Researchers quantified needle grasp by measuring pullout force, finding that two types of needle rotation had greater effects than no manipulation. These findings suggest a potential role for manual needle manipulation in acupuncture therapy.
A study led by Suppes is investigating whether supplementing bipolar patients' medications with acupuncture can help reduce medication use. The research aims to explore the potential benefits of acupuncture in treating depressive symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.
Researchers measured the force required to overcome tissue-needle connection during acupuncture needling, finding a significant pullout force when needles were rotated. The study suggests that layers superficial to muscle may be involved in the body's response to acupuncture, with future research focusing on connective tissue's role.
Acupuncture was found to significantly reduce sympathetic nerve activity in critically ill chronic heart failure patients, but blood pressure and heart rate remained unaffected. Further study is needed to confirm the treatment's effectiveness and potential benefits for patients with severe heart failure.
A clinical trial found acupuncture to be as effective as the commonly used medication ondansetron in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Additionally, women who received acupuncture reported lower levels of moderate to severe pain after breast surgery, a surprising discovery that opens up new possibilities for pain management.
A study published in Spine found that patients with higher expectations for acupuncture or massage therapy experienced greater improvement in low back pain and function. Those with lower expectations showed only moderate improvement, highlighting the importance of considering patient expectations in treatment decisions.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that participants who received auricular acupuncture had a higher likelihood of being free from cocaine during treatment. Over half of those receiving acupuncture tested negative for the substance at the end of the eight-week trial, compared to 23.5% of control group participants.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that auricular acupuncture significantly increased cocaine-negative urine screens among participants with heroin and cocaine addiction. The treatment also led to longer periods of sustained abstinence compared to control groups.