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Modern Research and Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been employed as a health care modality for over 5,000 years. Practitioners of this ancient medical practice have experienced clinical success with a variety of health issues. Today, acupuncture is receiving wide acceptance as a respected, valid and effective form of health care.

Acupuncture & Fertility - A study published in the journal Fertility & Sterility, found Acupuncture improves pregnancy success rate by 50% in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization. Paulus W, et, at., Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. J Fertility and Sterility, 2002 April; 77(4):721-4.

Acupuncture & Insomnia - In the treatment of insomnia, acupuncture yields significant results with a total effective rate of 90.44%, improves the quality of sleep and overcomes complications induced by sleep medication. 50k, SR, et. al., The effects of acupuncture therapy on insomnia. J Adv Nurs., 2003 Nov;44(4):375-84. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2002 Dec.;22 (4):276-77.

Acupuncture & Gastritis - A study from the Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine concluded that acupuncture was effective in the treatment of chronic gastritis, resulting in a 95% effective rate. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003 Dec.;23(4):278-79.

Acupuncture & Shoulder Periarthritis - Acupuncture is effective in the treatment of shoulder
periarthritis. Of the 210 subjects studied, 158 were cured, 40 improved and 12 showed no significant improvement. J Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2003 Sept.;23(3):201-02.

Acupuncture & Fibromyalgia - A study conducted by the University of Washington and the Center for Health Studies at Group Health Hospital suggests that more than half if all participants had clinically meaningful improvements in pain (46%), fatigue (5 1%), sleep (47%) and general welt-being (45%). Another study suggests that acupuncture demonstrates positive change in the Visual Analogue Scale, myalgic index, number of tender points and improvement in quality of life based on the SF-36 questionnaire. Soc. for Acupuncture Research - Tenth Ann. Symposium 2003:29. Targino, RA., et. al, Curr Pain Headache Rep., 2002 Oct.;(5):379-83.

Acupuncture & Blood Pressure - Patients treated with acupuncture had an overall decrease in the level of systolic pressure during and after treatment. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003 Mar.;23(1):49-0.

Electro-Acupuncture & Immune Function During Chemotherapy - Electro-acupuncture can strengthen immune function, hematopoietic function and improve appetite, sleep, alleviate pain and digestive distress. Another study suggests acupuncture is able to normalize the pattern of leukocytes. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2002 Mar.;22 (1):21-3. Mori, H., et. at., Unique modulation by electro-acupuncture in humans possibly via stimulation of the autonomic nervous system. Neurosci Lett., 2002 Mar.1 ;320(1-2);21-4.

Acupuncture & Chronic Migraine - Patients who received acupuncture to treat chronic headaches, particularly migraines, experienced the equivalent of 22 fewer days of headaches per year, used 15% less medication and missed 15% fewer days of work. Another study systematically reviewed 22 randomized controlled trials, concluding acupuncture “has a role in the treatment of recurrent headaches” and can lead to other various clinical benefits for patients with chronic headache, Vickers AJ, et at. BMJ, 2004 Mar. 27;328(7442). Cephalgia, Nov.; 1999.

Acupuncture & Depression - All subjects receiving acupuncture for major depression significantly improved to a greater extent than those not receiving treatment. Another study suggests that electro-acupuncture can produce the same therapeutic results as tetracyclic drugs, but with fewer side effects and better symptomatic improvement. Acupuncture Treatment for Major Depression, The Tenth Annual Symposium of the Soc. for Acupuncture Research, 2003. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2004 Sep.;24(3): 172-6.

Acupuncture & Allergies - Acupuncture had an extensive action against type I allergic reaction, and the curative effect of the patients receiving acupuncture was higher than in the desensitization group in allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1993 Dec.; 1 3(4):243-8.

Acupuncture & Morning Sickness - Acupuncture administered to pregnant women before opioid premedication significantly reduced postoperative sickness up to 6-8 hours, and acupressure applied to specific acupoints reduced morning sickness. In the 2002 issue of the Journal of Birth, a study found that acupuncture is an effective treatment option for women experiencing nausea and other pregnancy related discomfort—without adverse side effects. Acu. and Electra-Therapeutics Research, 1990; 1 5(3-4):21 1-5.

Acupuncture & Asthma - Symptoms of bronchial asthma were markedly improved after acupuncture treatments, and the dosage of patients’ medication was gradually reduced. Another study suggests improvement of the quality of life for patients with clinically stable, chronic obstructive asthma when conventional care is combined with acupuncture. J Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1998 Mar.;1 8 (1 ):27-0. J Altern. Comp. Med., 2003 Oct.;9(5):659-0.

Acupuncture & Arthritis - A randomized, controlled trial conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine suggests that acupuncture can provide effective pain relief and improve function for oseteoarthritis of the knee. Berman, BM., et al., Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthrltls of the knee. Annals of Internal Medicine, Dec. 2004 141 (12)  901-910.

Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization for the treatment of many illnesses and diseases.

See a listing on our Acupuncture Treats page.

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