Question :
Is acupuncture effective in the treatment of chronic low back pain?
Low back pain or lumbago is a very common musculoskeletal disorder. Most episodes of back pain resolve without treatment. Back pain lasting more that three months is considered to be chronic low back pain.
Research Articles :
Acupuncture therapy for chronic lower back pain: a systematic review.
Four studies meeting eligibility criteria were selected out of fifteen randomised controlled trials. Acupuncture may be superior to usual care in the treatment of chronic low back pain.
Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain.
Thirty-five randomized, controlled trials were included in this review article. Three studies were on acute low back pain. Acupuncture was more effective for pain relief and functional improvement in the short term when compared to no treatment or to sham treatment. The authors conclude that higher quality trials will be required.
Meta-analysis: acupuncture for low back pain.
Thirty-three randomized, controlled trials were included in this review article, whick looked at the treatment of acute low back pain and chronic low back pain. Acupuncture was effective for the treatment of chronic low back pain but is was not more effective than other treatments.
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Orthopedics Low Back Pain
Question :
The vasomotor symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and palpitations are treated with hormones. Is acupuncture and auricular acupressure effective for menopausal hot flashes?
Answer :
Acupuncture and auricular significantly reduced the severity and the frequency of hot flashes. Hormone replacement therapy had a greater effect.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Hot Flashes, Menopause
Does electroacupuncture improve sleep quality in patients with chronic insomnia?
Sleep architecture, sleep continuity, slow wave sleep time and REM sleep time was evaluated in this study.
Electroacupuncture treatment of chronic insomniacs.
Chin Med J (Engl). 2009 Dec 5;122(23):2869-73.
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Research Article Electroacupuncture, Insomnia, REM sleep, Sleep
Question :
Is acupuncture treatment effective in migraine prophylaxis?
A migraine is a type of recurrent headache that is very painful. A treatment strategy in allopathic medicine involves taking a drug everyday to prevent migraines.
Research Articles :
Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis
This review article is an updated version of the 2001 Cochrane review. It looked at 22 randomized trials with a total of over 4000 patients (12 additional trials since 2001).
The authors conclude that acupuncture was of benefit compared to routine acute migraine treatment. Acupuncture was at least as effective compared to prophylactic drug treatment with fewer side effects. The authors could not ascertain if “true” acupuncture was better than “sham” acupunture.
Acupuncture versus topiramate in chronic migraine prophylaxis: a randomized clinical trial
This randomized trial included 66 patients. Acupuncture was more effective compared to the drug topiramate in reducing the mean monthly number of moderate and severe headache days. The incidence of side effects was much lower with acupuncture treatment; 6% in the acupuncture group and in the 66% of topiramate group.
Efficacy of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: a single-blinded, double-dummy, randomized controlled trial
This randomized trial included 140 patients.Acupuncture was more effective compared to the drug flunarizine in reducing the days of migraine attacks. There was no difference in the measures of pain intensity reduction and quality of life improvement.
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Neurology, Randomized Controlled Trial Headache, Migraine, Pain
Question :
Is acupuncture an effective treatment for essential hypertension?
People with hypertension or high blood pressure usually have no symptoms but are at increased risk of serious complications such as heart attacks.
Research Articles :
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Hypertension
An review article on electroacupuncture and blood pressure which discusses the effects of acupuncture on the central nervous system and the endocrine system.
Acupuncture for essential hypertension
Twenty randomized, controlled trials were included in this review article, comparing acupuncture with sham acupuncture or other treatment modalities.
Significant blood pressure was seen with acupuncture in some of the studies.
The authors conclude that more rigorously designed studies will be required for a definitive answer to the question.
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Cardiovascular, Research Article Hypertension - High blood pressure
Question :
Is acupuncture effective in reducing nicotine withdrawal symptoms?
Answer :
Thirty-eight patients received six 20 minute acupuncture sessions, three times weekly for two weeks. This study concluded that real acupuncture treatment was no more effective than sham acupuncture at reducing nicotine withdrawal symptoms in smoking cessation.
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Research Article Nicotine, Smoking
Question :
Is there any evidence for use of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in spinal cord injuries?
Answer :
This article is a review of the allopathic and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) literature.
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Review Article Electroacupuncture, Spinal Cord Injury
Question :
Can acupuncture help lessen the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
Answer :
A review of 6 studies and 323 subjects. This systematic review found no evidence of benefit for acupuncture as a treatment for fibromyalgia.
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Review Article Fibromyalgia
Question :
The International Headache Society renamed tension headaches to tension-type headaches. They are the most common type of headaches. Is acupuncture effective in the treatment of tension-type headaches?
Answer :
Acupuncture was more effective than no treatment but it was not significantly more effective than minimal acupuncture for the treatment of tension-type headaches.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Headache
Question :
Placebo administration has been shown to cause the release of dopamine in the brain of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Is the placebo effect disease specific? What is the best way to perform sham acupuncture in research studies?
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Research Article Parkinson's disease, Placebo