Basic Acupuncture Research:
Acupuncture & Pain:
- Tennis Elbow – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
- Shoulder Pain – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
- TMJ – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
- Neck Pain – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
- Back Pain – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
- Hip Pain – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
- Knee Pain – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
- MRI Shows That Acupuncture Treatments Reduce Pain
Dec. 1, 1999 (Chicago) — Sticking an acupuncture needle into a point in the hand greatly diminishes the amount of brain activity associated with pain impulses, doctors report at the 85th Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America… - Acupuncture May Be Best to Ease Neck Pain
Western medicine is wonderful and successful, but in many, many chronic conditions … there is a lack of success, and Eastern medicine methods may be the right choice. … [Our] study shows that acupuncture is more effective than one of the most customary treatments for chronic neck pain [that is, massage].” - Acupuncture Tops Conventional Therapy for Low-Back Pain
Acupuncture offers an effective alternative to conventional therapy for low-back pain, investigators here reported… Almost twice as many patients responded to acupuncture versus conventional therapy, Heinz G. Endres, M.D., of Ruhr-University Bochum, and colleagues, reported in the Sept. 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine…
Acupuncture & Arthritis:
- Arthritis: Acupuncture
To ease arthritis pain, you do not necessarily have to rely solely on pain pills and steroids; there are a few alternative treatments that may help you find relief, including acupuncture… - Acupuncture Helps Knee Osteoarthritis
Traditional Chinese acupuncture is “effective” at reducing knee osteoarthritis pain and improving function in people with knee osteoarthritis, say the researchers, who presented their findings in San Antonio at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual scientific meeting… - Study Finds Acupuncture Effective for Arthritis Pain
A study funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), both components of the National Institutes of Health, has found that acupuncture may provide pain relief and improve function for people with knee osteoarthritis… - Arthritis (Osteo-arthritis & Rheumatoid) Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
Studies on Acupuncture to Enhance Athletic Performance:
- Ear Acupuncture Enhances Athletic Recovery – Am J Chin Med. 2011;39(6):1131-8).
http://www.jcm.co.uk/research-archive/article/ear-acupuncture-enhances-athletic-recovery-1925/ - Akimoto, T., Nakahori, C., Aizawa K., (August, 2003). Acupuncture and the Response of Immunologic and Endocrine Markers During Competition. Medical Science in Sports and Exercise, 35, 1296-1302
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California. “Responses of Nitric Oxide-cGMP Release in Acupuncture Point to Electroacupuncture in Human Skin In Vivo Using Dermal Microdialysis.” In Microcirculation, 2009 May 26:1-10.
- Pelham, T., Holt, L., Stalker, R., (2001). Acupuncture in Human Performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 15(2) (pp 266-271)
- Resourced from Article written by: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM, Acufinder
- Studies have shown that acupuncture has measurable effects on the flow of blood to certain areas of the body, which could in turn boost athletic performance. One such study conducted at the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine involved athletes running 5,000 meters, and afterwards sitting for acupuncture treatments before they had a chance to catch their breath. The heart rates of the athletes who received the treatments recovered more quickly than those in the control group.
- Another study published in the American Journal of Acupuncture measured the effects of acupuncture on anaerobic threshold and work capacity during exercise in healthy young males. Researchers found that individuals in the acupuncture treatment group had higher maximal exercise capacity and were able to perform higher workloads at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) than individuals in the placebo group. The individuals that received acupuncture also had lower heart rates.
- A recent study published in the January, 2008 issue of the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine examined the effects of acupuncture on cyclists. Twenty young (between 18 and 30 years of age) male cyclists underwent three tests per week, riding a stationary bike for 20 kilometers as fast as possible. The volunteers were divided into three groups that either received acupuncture, sham acupuncture or no acupuncture. Acupuncture points were chosen on the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine and administered immediately before cycling. Sham acupuncture was shallow needling of known acupoints. Not only did the study show that the group that received acupuncture had a higher RPE (Rates of Perceived Exertion) scores compared to the other tests. The men receiving the real acupuncture treatments completed their cycling tests at a higher acceleration than the others.
Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine & Gynecology:
- Gynecology Research from the Journal of Chinese Medicine
- Gynecological Pain – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
- A Benign Complex Ovarian Cyst Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Case Study, by Kandace Cahill, DiplOM, LAc. – published in The American Acupuncturist
- Acupuncture for premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21609380
- Acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhea. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21249697
- Chinese herbal medicine for endometriosis. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19588398
- Treating gynaecological disorders with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20606770
- Seeking an Oracle: Using the Delphi Process to Develop Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Endometriosis with Chinese Herbal Medicine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Acupuncture & Pregnancy:
- Acupuncture for Pregnancy & Labor – Research from the Journal of Chinese Medicine
- Pregnancy and Labor Pain – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
- Acupuncture fights morning sickness
Acupuncture helps relieve morning sickness for pregnant women, a study shows. “Our results have shown that as little as one acupuncture treatment can significantly change the way these women feel,” said research co-ordinator Dr Caroline Smith… - Acupuncture Helps Relieve Pregnancy’s Low Back Pain
For low back pain during pregnancy, acupuncture may be better than traditional treatment with massage, heat, and exercise, according to a Swedish report in a recent issue of the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica… - Acupuncture or acupressure for pain management in labour: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21735441
- Acupuncture treatment of pregnant women with low back and pelvic pain–an intervention study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20102541
- Does acupuncture have a place as an adjunct treatment during pregnancy? A review of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19747272
- Moxibustion for cephalic version: a feasibility randomised controlled trial: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21943180
- The use of acupuncture as a routine pre-birth treatment: http://www.jcm.co.uk/sample-articles/product/catalog/product/view/6648/the-use-of-acupuncture-as-a-routine-prebirth-treatment/
- Pre-Birth Treatment & Labour Preparation:
- The first pre-birth study in 1974 by Kubista & Kucera was verified by later studies which also concluded acupuncture from week 37 + was successful in reducing mean labour time.
- A 2001 randomized study headed by Rabl involving 45 women investigated the effect of acupuncture on cervical ripening to reduce post-date inductions. The authors concluded acupuncture supports cervical ripening and shortens the time interval between the woman’s expected due date and the actual time of delivery.
- A New Zealand observational study undertaken by Betts & Lennox involving midwives and 169 women over a 4 month period concluded that pre-birth acupuncture treatment provided many positive therapeutic results that promoted a normal vaginal delivery, reduced medical interventions with lower inductions and emergency Caesareans and shortened labour. Treatments were given from the 37th-40th week of gestation.
Acupuncture for Post-Partum:
- Post natal acupuncture: http://www.jcm.co.uk/sample-articles/product/catalog/product/view/6577/post-natal-acupuncture/
Acupuncture & Fertility:
- ABORM final Comprehensive Review of Published Literature on the Role of TCM with or without Acupuncture on Reproductive Medicine – by Diane K. Cridennda, L.Ac., (FABORM)
- Acupuncture ‘boosts IVF success’
Women undergoing fertility treatment could have their chances of success boosted by acupuncture. German researchers said they have increased success rates by almost 50% in women having in vitro fertilization (IVF)… - Acupuncture Boosts Fertility
New York, ny (april 29, 2003)–physician-scientists at the center for reproductive medicine and infertility (crmi) at New York Weill Cornell medical center call for a definitive study of acupuncture as a fertility treatment, citing its numerous, promising benefits associated with increasing fertility in women…
- Studies by Chen, Dong and Luo et al have shown that acupuncture relieves stress. The relationship between stress and infertility is thought to be through the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPA), which plays a significant role in fertility. The axis regulates both our sex hormones and our stress responses, which suggests stress contributes to a range of fertility disorders such as amenorrhea, anovulation, ovulatory disorders and irregular periods.
- Stener-Victorin et al studied the use of electro-acupuncture on 24 women suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) with oligo/amenorrhoea. In cases of mild obesity, ovulatory cycles increased from 15% to 66%, suggesting acupuncture is a long-lasting effective treatment for ovulation induction.
- Stener-Victorin E, et al Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture. Hum Reprod 1996;11:1314 -7. Another study Stener-Victorin led, demonstrated that a certain acupuncture protocol increases uterine blood flow (decreased the pulsatility index of the uterine arteries). This means that acupuncture increased the blood flowing through the uterine arteries. Therefore, when the diet is nutritionally sound and the body is in balance, adequate nutrients will be more easily supplied to the uterus when using the Stener-Victorin protocol. This supports the development of a healthy endometrial lining, which is an important prerequisite for embryo implantation and growth.
- Gerhard & Postneek assessed the hormonal effect of ear acupuncture on 45 infertile women with oligomenorrhea (scanty or infrequent menstrual flow) or luteal phase deficiency. Results were compared with 45 women undergoing conventional hormone therapy. The authors assert, ‘Based on our data, [auricular] acupuncture seems to offer a viable alternative for female infertility due to hormonal disorders.’ They also observed a reduced miscarriage rate in the auricular acupuncture group compared to the hormonal treatment.
- Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: A prospective, randomized trial. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: Systematic review and meta-analysis. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
- The relationship between perceived stress, acupuncture, and pregnancy rates among IVF patients: A pilot study. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Paulus, et.al. Influence of Acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy: Fertility and Sterility Vol: 77, No. 4, APRIL 2002
- Stener-Victorin E, et al, Ovarian blood flow responses to electro-acupuncture stimulation at different frequencies and intensities in anaesthetized rats: Auton Neurosci. 2003 Oct 31;108(1-2):50-6.
- Manheimer E et al. BMJ 2008;336 pg 545-549 – Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Quintero et.al A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Cross-Over Study Evaluating Acupuncture as an Adjunct to In-Vitro Fertilization: Fertility and Sterility Vol: 81, Supplement 3, April, 2004
- Magarelli et.al. Acupuncture & IVF poor responders: a cure?: Fertility and Sterility Vol: 81, Supplement 3, April, 2004
- Gurfinkel et al., Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities. Asian J Androl. 2003 Dec;5(4):345-8.
Chinese Herbal Medicine & Fertility Studies
- Lian used Chinese herbs in 60 cases of luteal phase insufficiency. The author recorded a rise in the Basal Body Temperature (BBT) and a 56% successful outcome with over half achieving pregnancy. This modest study suggests that Chinese herbs have a normalizing effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.
- Chinese herbal medicine and clomiphene citrate for anovulation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
- Pregnancy in premature ovarian failure after therapy using Chinese herbal medicine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12956293
- A Comprehensive Review of Studies Related to Chinese Herbal Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Conjunction with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), IVF, and IUI for Male and Female Infertility by Ray Rubio, DAOM, L.Ac., (FABORM)
Chinese Medicine and Male Factor Infertility:
- Acupuncutre Studies:
- Acupuncture associated with Increased number of motile sperm, Increased number of sperm with intact tails, and Increased % of viable sperm in 32 subfertile males with sperm impairment – Sherman S et al, Arch Androl. 1997 Sep-Oct;39(2):155-61
- Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy Associated with a significant decrase in Anti-Sperm Anti-Bodies (ASABs) as compared to treatment by oral Prednisone – Fu B et al, J Tradit Chin Med. 2005; 25(3):186-9
- Acupuncture improving very low Sperm count – Sherrman S. Andrologia. 2000 Jan;32(1):31-9.
- Acupuncture and ICSI – Improvement in rapid sperm movement, normal morphology and fertilisation rates – Zhang M et al, J Huazhong Univ Sci Tech Med Sci.2002;22(3):228-30
- Acupuncture Improving Morphology:
- Trial 1: Controlled study with 28 infertile men – 10 acupuncture treatments (2/wk) significant improvement in sperm quality especially morphology – Pei J et al, Fertil Steril. 2005 Jul;84(1):141-7
- Trial 2; Controlled study with19 infertile men randomised into 2 groups, 1st given 10 acupuncture and moxa treatments (1/wk), 2nd given sham acupuncture – significant increase in
% of normal forms in acupuncture group – Gurfinkel E et al, Asian J Androl. 2003 Dec;5(4):345-8.
- Chinese Herbal Medicine Studies
- A Comprehensive Review of Studies Related to Chinese Herbal Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Conjunction with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), IVF, and IUI for Male and Female Infertility by Ray Rubio, DAOM, L.Ac., (FABORM)
- EFfect of Chinese Herbal Therapy on Chromosomal issues in Sperm – decreasing high aneuploidy after 6 months of Chinese Herbal Therapy – Tempest J et al, Asian Jnl Andrology 2005, 7 (4) 419 – 425
- Chinese Herbal Therapy improving pregnancy rates in patients with Anti-Sperm Antibodies, both undergoing IUI and Not undergoing IUI compared to patients just recieving IUI without any Chinese Herbal therapy intervention – Lian F et al Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002, 22(2):95-7
- Adding the Chinese Herbal Formula, “Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang”, protects from in vitro effects of Anti-Sperm Anti-bodies – Yamanaka M et al Nippon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi, 89(7):641-6 1998
- The Chinese Medicinal, Shan Zhu Yu,Improves Sperm’s swimming ability, aka forward progression – Jeng H et al Am J Chin Med 1997, 25 (3-4) p301-6
Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine) and Menopausal & Peri-Menopausal Syndrome:
- Menopausal Syndrome & Acupuncture – Research from the Journal of Chinese Medicine
- Acupuncture beats drug to treat hot flashes: study
Acupuncture works as well as a drug commonly used to combat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms that can accompany breast cancer treatment, and its benefits last longer, without bad side effects, researchers said on Monday…. - Action mechanism of Zuo Gui Yin Decoction’s promotion on estradiol production in rats during the peri-menopausal period. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Acupuncture increases bone strength by improving mass and structure in established osteoporosis after ovariectomy in rats. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16817281
- Perspectives in clinical research of acupuncture on menopausal symptoms. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22139540
- The ACTIV study: acupuncture treatment in provoked vestibulodynia. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19912491
- The effect of acupuncture on postmenopausal symptoms and reproductive hormones: a sham controlled clinical trial. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21383392
- The treatment of menopausal symptoms by traditional East Asian medicines: Review and perspectives. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
Acupuncture and Hormones:
- Hormones come to Light – The Link between Hormones and Acupuncture points
There are many places where nerve and blood vessel-rich tissues pop up perpendicular to the surface of the body. These correlate well with charted acupuncture points. This is just one of the many pieces of evidence showing that acupuncture points are bio-electric communication gateways between the living matrix and the outside environment…
Male Disorders:
Kidney & Urinary Disorders:
Acupuncture & Fibromyalgia:
Acupuncture addressing Headaches and Migraines:
- Acupuncture cuts tension headache rates by almost half
Acupuncture is an effective treatment for tension headache, cutting rates for sufferers by almost half, shows a study… - Acupuncture May Help Tension Headaches
German researchers tested acupuncture on 270 adults with tension headaches. Some patients got traditional acupuncture. Others got “minimal” acupuncture, with needles placed superficially at non-acupuncture points. A third group went on a wait list for acupuncture.
Both acupuncture groups had similar drops in headaches, with benefits lasting months after treatment stopped… - Acupuncture May Ease Impact of Headaches
“The results showed that patients who received acupuncture reported significant improvement in many quality of life measures,” says researcher Remy Coeytaux, MD, assistant professor of family medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, in a news release. “The patients felt better, and the vast majority who got acupuncture reported that their headaches had improved during the six weeks of treatment.” - Headaches/Migraines – Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Research from the Journal of Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture & Hypertension/High Blood Pressure:
- Acupuncture Can Lower High Blood Pressure
Pascal J. Goldschmidt, MD, FACC, chief of cardiology at Duke University, agrees. “It’s not an accident that people have been doing acupuncture for so long,” he tells WebMD. The findings are “pretty clear that it’s not a placebo effect. Acupuncture seems to be having a relatively specific effect on the control of blood pressure.” - Acupuncture in the treatment of Blood Pressure and Hypertension – Research from the Journal of Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture in the treatment Gastrointestinal and Bowel Disorders:
Insomina:
- Treating Insomia with Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine – Research from The Journal of Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture in the Treatment of Fatigue:
Respiratory Disorders:
Acupuncture in the treatment of Allergies/Hayfever/Allergic Rhinitis:
Post Stroke Treatment with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine:
Acupuncture & Facial Rejuvenation:
- Crow’s Feet and Wrinkles? Try Acupuncture
If there’s a Zen way to smooth away wrinkles, facial acupuncture claims to be it. Rather than injecting Botox, a bacterial poison that paralyzes the muscles that cause brows to furrow, proponents of facial acupuncture say they accomplish the same results more gently and naturally by relaxing the muscles…
Acupuncture & Surgery:
- Acupuncture May Lessen Post-Op Pain, Nausea
A high-tech, acupuncture-like therapy appears to be as effective as the leading medication in treating nausea and vomiting following major breast surgery… - Post Operative Pain & Acupuncture – Research from the Journal of Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
- Acupuncture Helps Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Study Says
…”Acupuncture proved helpful enough to where some participants said they were significantly helped and/or did not have as much of their post-traumatic stress symptoms anymore.”