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Thread: Acupuncture Study

  1. #106
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    Evidence for headache relief...

    ...because nothing makes me forget my headache faster than sticking needles in my butt.

    Acupuncture for tension-type headache

    Published:
    19 April 2016
    Authors:
    Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, Fei Y, Mehring M, Shin B, Vickers A, White AR
    Primary Review Group:
    Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group

    Bottom line

    The available evidence suggests that a course of acupuncture consisting of at least six treatment sessions can be a valuable option for people with frequent tension-type headache.

    Background

    Tension-type headache is a common type of headache. Mild episodes may be treated adequately by pain-killers. In some individuals, however, tension-type headache occurs frequently and significantly impairs their quality of life. Acupuncture is a therapy in which thin needles are inserted into the skin at particular points. It originated in China and is now used in many countries to treat tension-type headache. We found randomised controlled trials to evaluate whether acupuncture prevents tension-type headache. We looked mainly at the numbers of people who responded to treatment, which means a halving of the number of days on which they experienced a headache.

    Key results

    We reviewed 12 trials with 2349 adults, published up to January 2016. One new trial is included in this updated review.

    Acupuncture added to usual care or treatment of headaches only on onset (usually with pain-killers) in two large trials resulted in 48 in 100 participants having headache frequency at least halved, compared to 17 of 100 participants given usual care only.

    Acupuncture was compared with 'fake' acupuncture, where needles are inserted at incorrect points or do not penetrate the skin, in six trials. Headache frequency halved in 52 of 100 participants receiving true acupuncture compared with 43 of 100 participants receiving 'fake' acupuncture. The results were dominated by one large, good quality trial (with about 400 participants), which showed that the effect of true acupuncture was still present after six months. There were no differences in the number of side effects of real and 'fake' acupuncture, or the numbers dropping out because of side effects.

    Acupuncture was compared with other treatments such as physiotherapy, massage or relaxation in four trials, but these had no useful information.

    Quality of the evidence

    Overall the quality of the evidence was moderate.

    Authors' conclusions:
    The available results suggest that acupuncture is effective for treating frequent episodic or chronic tension-type headaches, but further trials - particularly comparing acupuncture with other treatment options - are needed.

    Background:
    Acupuncture is often used for prevention of tension-type headache but its effectiveness is still controversial. This is an update of our Cochrane review originally published in Issue 1, 2009 of The Cochrane Library.

    Objectives:
    To investigate whether acupuncture is a) more effective than no prophylactic treatment/routine care only; b) more effective than 'sham' (placebo) acupuncture; and c) as effective as other interventions in reducing headache frequency in adults with episodic or chronic tension-type headache.

    Search strategy:
    We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE and AMED to 19 January 2016. We searched the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform to 10 February 2016 for ongoing and unpublished trials.

    Selection criteria:
    We included randomised trials with a post-randomisation observation period of at least eight weeks, which compared the clinical effects of an acupuncture intervention with a control (treatment of acute headaches only or routine care), a sham acupuncture intervention or another prophylactic intervention in adults with episodic or chronic tension-type headache.

    Data collection and analysis:
    Two review authors checked eligibility; extracted information on participants, interventions, methods and results; and assessed study risk of bias and the quality of the acupuncture intervention. The main efficacy outcome measure was response (at least 50% reduction of headache frequency) after completion of treatment (three to four months after randomisation). To assess safety/acceptability we extracted the number of participants dropping out due to adverse effects and the number of participants reporting adverse effects. We assessed the quality of the evidence using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation).

    Main results:
    Twelve trials (11 included in the previous version and one newly identified) with 2349 participants (median 56, range 10 to 1265) met the inclusion criteria.

    Acupuncture was compared with routine care or treatment of acute headaches only in two large trials (1265 and 207 participants), but they had quite different baseline headache frequency and management in the control groups. Neither trial was blinded but trial quality was otherwise high (low risk of bias). While effect size estimates of the two trials differed considerably, the proportion of participants experiencing at least 50% reduction of headache frequency was much higher in groups receiving acupuncture than in control groups (moderate quality evidence; trial 1: 302/629 (48%) versus 121/636 (19%); risk ratio (RR) 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1 to 3.0; trial 2: 60/132 (45%) versus 3/75 (4%); RR 11; 95% CI 3.7 to 35). Long-term effects (beyond four months) were not investigated.

    Acupuncture was compared with sham acupuncture in seven trials of moderate to high quality (low risk of bias); five large studies provided data for one or more meta-analyses. Among participants receiving acupuncture, 205 of 391 (51%) had at least 50% reduction of headache frequency compared to 133 of 312 (43%) in the sham group after treatment (RR 1.3; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.5; four trials; moderate quality evidence). Results six months after randomisation were similar. Withdrawals were low: 1 of 420 participants receiving acupuncture dropped out due to adverse effects and 0 of 343 receiving sham (six trials; low quality evidence). Three trials reported the number of participants reporting adverse effects: 29 of 174 (17%) with acupuncture versus 12 of 103 with sham (12%; odds ratio (OR) 1.3; 95% CI 0.60 to 2.7; low quality evidence).

    Acupuncture was compared with physiotherapy, massage or exercise in four trials of low to moderate quality (high risk of bias); study findings were inadequately reported. No trial found a significant superiority of acupuncture and for some outcomes the results slightly favoured the comparison therapy. None of these trials reported the number of participants dropping out due to adverse effects or the number of participants reporting adverse effects.

    Overall, the quality of the evidence assessed using GRADE was moderate or low, downgraded mainly due to a lack of blinding and variable effect sizes.
    But srsly, I have got some really good results with acupuncture for headaches and some other pain alleviation.
    Gene Ching
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  2. #107
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    Acupuncture bests morphine IV in Emergency Room study

    From http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...ncbi_mmode=std
    Waiting for my full text copy to arrive so I can give it a more thorough review.

    Published in American Journal of Emergency Medicine - acupuncture performed significantly better than intravenous morphine, and with much lower percentage of adverse events.

    Am J Emerg Med. 2016 Jul 20. pii: S0735-6757(16)30422-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2016.07.028. [Epub ahead of print]
    Acupuncture vs intravenous morphine in the management of acute pain in the ED.
    Grissa MH, Baccouche H, Boubaker H, Beltaief K, Bzeouich N, Fredj N, Msolli MA, Boukef R, Bouida W, Nouira S.

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND:
    Acupuncture is one of the oldest techniques to treat pain and is commonly used for a large number of indications. However, there is no sufficient evidence to support its application in acute medical settings.

    METHODS:
    This was a prospective, randomized trial of acupuncture vs morphine to treat ED patients with acute onset moderate to severe pain. Primary outcome consists of the degree of pain relief with significant pain reduction defined as a pain score reduction ≥50% of its initial value. We also analyzed the pain reduction time and the occurrence of short-term adverse effects. We included in the protocol 300 patients with acute pain: 150 in each group.

    RESULTS:
    Success rate was significantly different between the 2 groups (92% in the acupuncture group vs 78% in the morphine group P<.001). Resolution time was 16±8 minutes in the acupuncture group vs 28±14 minutes in the morphine group (P<.005). Overall, 89 patients (29.6%) experienced minor adverse effects: 85 (56.6%) in morphine group and 4 (2.6%) in acupuncture group (P<.001). No major adverse effects were recorded during the study protocol. In patients with acute pain presenting to the ED, acupuncture was associated with more effective and faster analgesia with better tolerance.

    CONCLUSION:
    This article provides an update on one of the oldest pain relief techniques (acupuncture) that could find a central place in the management of acute care settings. This should be considered especially in today's increasingly complicated and polymedicated patients to avoid adverse drug reactions.

    Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    PMID:
    27475042
    DOI:
    10.1016/j.ajem.2016.07.028

  3. #108
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    Acupuncture found to improve persistent nasal inflammation in Australian study

    Effect of acupuncture on house dust mite specific IgE, substance P, and symptoms in persistent allergic rhinitis.
    McDonald JL, et al. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016.

    Abstract
    BACKGROUND: Clinical evidence suggests that acupuncture improves symptoms in persistent allergic rhinitis, but the physiologic basis of these improvements is not well understood.

    OBJECTIVE: A randomized, sham-controlled trial of acupuncture for persistent allergic rhinitis in adults investigated possible modulation of mucosal immune responses.

    METHODS: A total of 151 individuals were randomized into real and sham acupuncture groups (who received twice-weekly treatments for 8 weeks) and a no acupuncture group. Various cytokines, neurotrophins, proinflammatory neuropeptides, and immunoglobulins were measured in saliva or plasma from baseline to 4-week follow-up.

    RESULTS: Statistically significant reduction in allergen specific IgE for house dust mite was seen only in the real acupuncture group, from 18.87 kU/L (95% CI, 10.16-27.58 kU/L) to 17.82 kU/L (95% CI, 9.81-25.83 kU/L) (P = .04). A mean (SE) statistically significant down-regulation was also seen in proinflammatory neuropeptide substance P (SP) 18 to 24 hours after the first treatment from 408.74 (299.12) pg/mL to 90.77 (22.54) pg/mL (P = .04). No significant changes were seen in the other neuropeptides, neurotrophins, or cytokines tested. Nasal obstruction, nasal itch, sneezing, runny nose, eye itch, and unrefreshed sleep improved significantly in the real acupuncture group (postnasal drip and sinus pain did not) and continued to improve up to 4-week follow-up.

    CONCLUSION: Acupuncture modulated mucosal immune response in the upper airway in adults with persistent allergic rhinitis. This modulation appears to be associated with down-regulation of allergen specific IgE for house dust mite, which this study is the first to report. Improvements in nasal itch, eye itch, and sneezing after acupuncture are suggestive of down-regulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Identifier: ACTRN 12610001052022.

  4. #109
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    Ptsd

    Military Researchers Collaborate With University on Opioid Crisis
    By Sarah Marshall Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

    BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 25, 2017 — Opioids are the main driver of drug overdose deaths across the United States, and West Virginia has been among the hardest hit by the crisis, experiencing the highest overdose death rates in the country.


    With the military, West Virginia and the nation experiencing over-reliance on opioids for pain management, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and West Virginia University have established an official collaboration to pool their resources to help in solving the problem. Graphic courtesy of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

    With a shared vision of combating this growing epidemic, health care providers and researchers from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences here and West Virginia University have established an official collaboration to pool their resources.

    In 2015, the overdose death rate in West Virginia was an estimated 41.5 per 100,000 people, an increase of about 17 percent from the year prior, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cabell County in southern West Virginia has a population of 96,000, and an estimated 10,000 of those residents are addicted to opioids.

    Additionally, the state's indigent burial fund, which helps families pay for a funeral when they can't afford one, reportedly ran out of money this year for the sixth consecutive year, largely due to the high number of overdose deaths.

    As the opioid epidemic continues to have a substantial impact on the state, leaders from WVU reached out to USU's Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management, aware of their efforts to successfully combat opioid misuse in the military over the last several years with the idea that lessons learned in the military would be applicable to their state's current crisis. Earlier this year, leaders from both universities developed a cooperative research and development agreement allowing them to formally share pain management resources developed by DVCIPM.

    Adding Value to Civilian, Military Medicine

    The agreement also allows the DVCIPM an opportunity to measure the efficacy of the tools they've developed in a new environment – a collaboration that these leaders believe already is adding value to both civilian and military medicine.

    Nearly a decade ago, at the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, physicians were seeking to help troops get their chronic pain levels to zero as they survived combat injuries in record numbers. This was often achieved by using opioids – and using opioids as a single modality – which the military quickly realized was not effective, because this approach was affecting many service members and their relationships with loved ones, work, and daily living.

    In 2009, then-Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric Schoomaker chartered the Army Pain Management Task Force, which sought to make recommendations for a comprehensive pain management strategy, ensuring an optimal quality of life for service members and other patients dealing with pain. It became clear to the military that pain should be viewed as more than just a number, and over the last several years, the military has been dedicated to researching and developing more effective tools for pain management, ultimately reducing the number of those potentially exposed to opioid addiction.

    The task force's efforts led to the development of DVCIPM, which was designated as a Defense Department Center of Excellence last year.

    Schoomaker, now retired, continues to lead these efforts, serving as vice chair for leadership, centers and programs for USU's department of military and emergency medicine, which oversees DVCIPM.

    "We now have good evidence for the use of non-pharmacologic, non-opioid treatments, such as yoga, guided imagery, medical massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, Tai Chi, as well as a closely related movement therapy called Qigong, and music therapy," he said. "We have pretty good research to endorse their use."

    Because these practices might not work the same for each person, he added, it's important to use a variety of these modalities as part of a comprehensive program, tailored to the needs of an individual with chronic pain. Now, thanks to the official collaboration between USU and WVU, DVCIPM will have the opportunity to continue researching the efficacy of various integrative modalities and the pain management tools and resources they've developed.

    "We owe it to our patients, and we owe it to practitioners, to only use tools that have good evidence for their use," Schoomaker said.

    Gathering, Measuring Data

    DVCIPM Director Dr. Chester "Trip" Buckenmaier said the center's tools and resources have mainly been used in a fairly selective population within the military. Studying their efficacy in a smaller system within a state's civilian infrastructure will allow them to gather and measure data on how successful they can be in a broader population, which will continue to help illustrate the potential these tools have.


    Battlefield acupuncture is a unique auricular (ear) acupuncture procedure providing an integrative modality to help treat chronic pain. It’s being taught to qualified providers in the military. Now, thanks to a new collaboration between Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and West Virginia University, it’s also being employed in a new pain management center in West Virginia to help combat the opioid crisis. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences photo by Sarah Marshall

    "It's important to have relationships like we have with West Virginia. … They pay off in so many different ways that you can never anticipate," Schoomaker said.

    Dr. Mike Brumage, WVU's assistant dean for Public Health Practice and Service, initiated the collaborative effort by reaching out to USU about two years ago, wanting to do something about the issue affecting his native West Virginia. At the time, he had just retired after a 25-year career in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, and was able to connect with former military health colleagues, including Schoomaker and then-Army Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Richard Thomas, who was serving as the Defense Health Agency's chief medical officer. Thomas is an alumnus of WVU's undergraduate, dental and medical programs, and is now USU's president.

    This quickly led to several more meetings and discussions, led by Dr. Clay Marsh, vice president and executive dean of WVU's Health Sciences Center, and Dr. Bill Ramsey, assistant vice president of coordination and logistics for the center. Ultimately, they arrived at a CRADA, signed off by Thomas and Marsh, and have since continued looking for ways to make the most out of their collaboration.

    The hope is that this joint effort will galvanize further interest from other entities, Schoomaker said, leading to other similar collaborations, ultimately continuing the fight against a crisis that's impacting the entire nation.
    Medicinal Qigong & Tai Chi may ultimately be their greatest gifts (Acupuncture is intrinsically medicinal).
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
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  5. #110
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    carpal tunnel & acupuncture

    Acupuncture Carpal Tunnel Cure Mystery Solved
    13 APRIL 2017
    Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston) researchers find acupuncture effective for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, an entrapment neuropathy affecting the arm, wrist, and hand. Results were published in Brain, a journal founded in 1878 that is dedicated to the publication of landmark findings in both clinical neurology and translational neuroscience. Additional members of the research team hailed from Logan University (Missouri), Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine (Daejeon, South Korea), Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (Medford, Massachusetts), and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (Boston, Massachusetts).



    The research team used subjective and objective instruments to measure patient outcomes. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire assessed pain and paraesthesia. Nerve conduction studies assessed median nerve improvements. Brain imaging data using fMRIs (functional magnetic resonance imaging) was used to measure somatotopic arrangements. Somatotopy maps the correspondence of specific points on the body to specific areas of the brain and other areas of the central nervous system.

    In a landmark finding, the researchers find that acupuncture “may improve median nerve function at the wrist by somatotopically distinct neuroplasticity in the primary somatosensory cortex following therapy.” Essentially, acupuncture elicits measurable improvements in brain areas correlated with positive patient outcomes for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The researchers add that somatotopic improvements elicited by acupuncture “can predict long-term clinical outcomes for carpal tunnel syndrome.”

    True acupuncture (verum acupuncture) produced improvements in the median nerve that were directly correlated with reductions of fractional anisotropy (i.e., MRI scans measured specific improvements in white matter fiber tracts of the brain that regulate positive patient outcomes for carpal tunnel patients). This discovery reveals an important neurophysiological mechanism activated by acupuncture stimulation. Acupuncture produces positive patient outcomes in the wrist by improving specific areas of the brain.

    Fake acupuncture (sham acupuncture), used as a control, did not produce results in the brain correlated with median nerve improvements, as measured by MRIs. This dispels a great mystery. Medical procedures often produce short-term placebo effects, including sham acupuncture. However, the long-term clinical benefits of true acupuncture are quantifiable in terms of improvements in specific areas of the brain. In other words, sham acupuncture is only capable of producing minor short-term placebo benefits because it does not produce the central nervous system improvements produced by true acupuncture.

    True acupuncture produces superior patient neurophysiological outcomes in the wrist and brain over sham acupuncture. True acupuncture produces quantifiable improvements in median nerve conduction and digit cortical separation distances. The researchers discovered that interdigit cortical separation distances are predictive of long-term symptomatic improvements achievable with true acupuncture (and not with sham acupuncture). The results are published in the research entitled Rewiring the primary somatosensory cortex in carpal tunnel syndrome with acupuncture. Results were based on comparative outcomes of baseline to acupuncture treatments (16 sessions over 8 weeks).

    Li et al. and Wang et al. confirm that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Li et al. find that acupuncture produces a 95.2% total effective rate. Wang et al. find that acupuncture produces an 86.67% total effective rate for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

    Let’s take a look at both studies. Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers (Li et al.) find acupuncture effective for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, producing a 95.2% total effective rate. The results are published in a research paper entitled Acupuncture in Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: a Study of 21 Cases. A total of 21 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were treated and evaluated in this study.

    The patients were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome between November 2013 and September 2014. There were 9 males and 12 females participating in the study. The youngest patient was 25 years of age, the oldest was 72. The shortest course of the disease was 1 week, the longest was 2 years. In a breakdown of etiologies, 5 cases of CTS were caused by carpometacarpal joint ganglion cysts, 9 were caused by repetitive strain injuries, and 7 by wrist sprains. The primary acupoints selected for all patients were the following:

    TB4 (Yangchi)
    SI5 (Yanggu)
    LI5 (Yangxi)
    LI4 (Hegu)
    LI11 (Quchi)
    TB5 (Waiguan)
    Ashi

    Additional acupoints were administered based on individual symptoms. For finger paresthesia, the following acupoints were added:

    Sifeng
    Shixuan

    For atrophy of the thenar muscles, the following acupoints were added:

    LU10 (Yuji)
    PC8 (Laogong)
    SI3 (Houxi)

    For wrist pain, the following acupoints were added:

    PC7 (Daling)
    SI6 (Yanglao)
    LU7 (Lieque)

    For pain radiating to the forearm, the following acupoints were added:

    LI10 (Shousanli)
    PC3 (Quze)
    continued next post
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
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  6. #111
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    Continued from previous post

    Treatment commenced with patients in a sitting position, with the arms, wrists, and fingers relaxed and the palms facing downwards. After disinfection of the acupoint sites, a 0.30 mm x 40 mm disposable filiform needle was inserted into each acupoint. TB4 was pierced to a depth of 10–15 mm with the triple acupuncture technique. SI5, LI5, LI4, TB5, LU10, PC8, SI3, PC7, SI6, and Ashi points were perpendicularly needled to a depth of 10–15 mm. For Sifeng points, needles were inserted rapidly to a depth of 3–6mm and then immediately withdrawn. LI11, LI10 and PC3 were pierced to a depth of 15–25 mm. Next, 3–5 Shixuan points were selected and were needled with the bleeding technique. Shixuan (translated as 10 dispersions) acupoints are located on the fingers, 0.1 cun distal to the fingernails. Each hand has ten Shixuan acupoints.

    A deqi sensation was elicited at all acupoints. A TDP (Teding Diancibo Pu) heat lamp was applied to warm the acupoints. The TDP heat lamp emits far infrared radiation (2–50 micrometers).

    A needle retention time of 20 minutes was observed for each acupuncture session. On week 1, the acupuncture treatments were applied once daily for 6 consecutive days. Starting at week 2, the treatments were applied every other day. Each treatment course consisted of 6 acupuncture treatments. All patients received a total of 4 treatment courses. After treatment, the treatment efficacy for each patient was categorized into 1 of 4 tiers:

    Full recovery: Complete absence of symptoms. Physical movement of the upper limbs regained completely.
    Significantly effective: Absence of most symptoms. Physical movement of the upper limbs regained. Discomfort reoccurs only under strenuous exercise.
    Effective: Elimination of symptoms. Pain or discomfort present.
    Not effective: No improvement in symptoms.

    After four courses of care, the total effective rate was 95.2% with the following breakdown of improvement tiers: 66.7% fully recovered, 19.0% significantly effective, 9.5% effective, 4.8% not effective. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) falls under the Bi Zheng class of disorders. CTS is caused by weak qi and blood circulation, blood stasis, plus tendon and muscle malnourishment. Thus, researchers selected local acupuncture points to improve qi and blood circulation, including SI5, LI5, LI4, TB5, PC8, and PC7. The researchers note that the bleeding technique was applied to Shixuan points for the relief of finger paraesthesia.

    Wang et al. produced similar patient outcomes by using a different acupoint prescription. Their independent investigation was published in the Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Patients receiving acupuncture had an 86.67% total effective rate for the treatment of CTS. Primary acupoints for all patients included the following:

    PC7 (Daling)
    PC6 (Neiguan)

    Secondary acupoints included the following:

    PC5 (Jianshi)
    LI4 (Hegu)
    PC8 (Laogong)

    The patients rested in a supine position. Upon disinfection of the acupoint sites, a 0.25 mm x 40 mm filiform acupuncture needle was inserted into the acupoints with a rapid entry speed. For PC7, a mild manual stimulation was applied until a deqi sensation was achieved. For PC6, PC5, and PC8, a moderate to strong stimulation was applied until a deqi sensation was achieved. A needle retention time of 40 minutes was observed. During needle retention, the needle was manipulated every 5 minutes. Treatment was conducted once daily for 20 consecutive days. The total effective rate was 86.67% with the following breakdown of improvement tiers: 16 cases fully recovered, 6 cases significant improvements, 4 cases slight improvements, 4 no improvements.

    PC6 and PC7 are mentioned in this study as particularly helpful for the treatment of CTS. PC6 is a Luo-Connecting point on the pericardium meridian. In the Zheng Jiu Da Cheng (Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), it is said that PC6 is indicated for the treatment of “swelling and spasm of the hand which is caused by the attack of wind and heat.” PC7 is also on the the pericardium meridian. According to the Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing (Jia–Yi Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), it is effective for “hand spasms, hemiparesis of upper limbs, as well as hand spasms with slight tendon convulsion.”

    Continuing acupuncture education investigations reveal that acupuncture is clinically effective for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. The research published in the journal Brain provides insight into the neurophysiological mechanisms responsible for acupuncture’s therapeutic actions. The best way for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome to learn more and receive treatment is to contact licensed acupuncturists in their area.

    References
    Maeda, Y., Kim, H., Kettner, N., Kim, J., Cina, S., Malatesta, C., Gerber, J., McManus, C., Ong-Sutherland, R., Mezzacappa, P. and Libby, A., 2017. Rewiring the primary somatosensory cortex in carpal tunnel syndrome with acupuncture. Brain, 140(4), pp.914-927.

    Li Q, Hou SW. Acupuncture in Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: a Study of 21 Cases [J]. Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 2015(12):1229–1229.2.

    Wang W, Tang W, Chi HT et al. Acupuncture in Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: a Study of 30 Cases [J]. Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 2016, 32(5):28–29.

    Thread: Carpal tunnel
    Thread: Acupuncture Study
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
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