Clinical Trials- Scientifically validated responses to Acupuncture:
"In a review of 29 previous well-designed studies, which together looked at almost 18,000 patients, researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that acupuncture does, indeed, work for treating four chronic pain conditions: back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache and shoulder pain:" https://www.mskcc.org/blog/clinical-trials-analysis-finds-acupuncture-effective-treating-chronic-pain
Cross-section of conditions:
World Health Organization- Acupuncture trials review- see pp. 33 for: "
"Diseases, sx's or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved—through controlled trials- an effective treatment:"
http://www.iama.edu/OtherArticles/acupuncture_WHO_full_report.pdf
Pain:
Chronic Pain- See two great resources below:
Effective for non-specific musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache, shoulder pain.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4036643/
Indiana University School of Medicine: Acupuncture releases stem cells to reduce pain,
promote tendon tissue repair.
http://news.medicine.iu.edu/releases/2017/03/iu-researchers-find-electroacupuncture-
releases-stem-cells%20.shtml
Chronic Headaches- Duke Anesthesiology review of 31 trials- very favorable (acupuncture 62% vs. 45% via medication.)
http://anesthesiology.duke.edu/?p=530
Migraines- A review of trials by Albrecht Molsberger, M.D. published in the Canadian Medical
Association Journal shows "It is at least as effective as prophylactic drug therapy, has longer
lasting effects, is safe, seems to be cost-effective and reduces drug intake with possibly
unwanted severe effects."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291665/
Neck and Shoulder Pain- Swedish and German research (177 subjects) with notable results. “Our
results show that acupuncture is a safe form of treatment for people with chronic neck pain, and offers clear clinical
advantages... in the reduction of pain and improvement of mobility…Acupuncture can be a safe
form of treatment for patients with chronic neck pain... .”
British Medical Journal June 30, 2001;322:1-6.
Low Back Pain- German study w/ over 1,000 participants. Ask me about the "sham" group.
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20070924/study-acupuncture-eases-low-back-pain
Elbow Pain, chronic tennis elbow- Just a single treatment shows a marked response.
(Longer time horizons are more telling, nevertheless...)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11886971
Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis- MD-run trial concludes 40% reduce pain/increased function
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15611487
Fertility:
IVF- Massive increase in embryo retrieval results with just two acupuncture tx's
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11937123
Erectile Dysfunction- Two thirds respond positively
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14562135
Cancer:
Dana-Farber Cancer institute- Weidong Lu, MB, MPH, PhD & David S. Rosenthal, MD. find that
acupuncture appears to be beneficial:
-To reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting, and to lessen the need for opioid painkillers (such as morphine)
following cancer surgery,
-To relieve constipation and itching that are common side effects of morphine and other opioid drugs,
-To treat pain and loss of nerve sensation (neuropathies) resulting from chemotherapy,
-For relief of joint pain in women taking aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer,
-To help relieve chronic pain from neck surgery and radiation for cancer.
http://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2013/04/can-acupuncture-ease-cancer-symptoms/?
_ga=2.81198807.1534929340.1516994455-1653348369.1516994455
Cancer/Chemo Related Fatigue: Meta-analysis of ten trials with over 1,300 patients. Concluding,
"Acupuncture is effective for CRF management and should be recommended as a beneficial alternative therapy for CRF
patients, particularly for breast cancer patients and those currently undergoing anti-cancer treatment."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29128952
Digestive:
Heartburn- acupuncture compares favorably to pharmaceutical tx (omeprazole 20 mg twice a day
and 20mg mosapride thrice a day).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20697939
IBS- over 40% have moderate to significant improvement
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2694961/
Respiratory:
Allergy, Asthma- Favorable response for allergic asthma patients
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11152056
Sinus Infections- Acupuncture and Conventional Medicine get similar results (some patients
respond better to acupuncture)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2546421/
Emotional:
Anxiety- Reduction in Anxiety
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22219023
Depression- Both acupuncture and counseling are highly effective
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24086114