Acupuncture Continuing Education News

Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of influenza. Two independent investigations confirm acupuncture’s efficacy for fighting influenza. One laboratory investigation tested acupuncture as a monotherapy and determined that acupuncture lowers mortality rates, increases serum interferon levels, and improves the phagocytosis of viruses. Another investigation finds acupuncture effective for enhancing the clinical efficaciousness of anti-viral drugs. Let’s start with the integrative investigation and we’ll look

Acupuncture demonstrates the ability to benefit patients with glaucoma. Modern research has determined that acupuncture benefits blood flow in the arteries of the brain and eyes. The results are confirmed with ocular blood flow (OBF) flowmeter readings for ocular pulse amplitude. Let’s take a look at the results, the acupuncture procedures that achieved the results, and a let’s start with a close look at

Acupuncture reduces fevers for patients with the common cold. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers conducted a controlled clinical trial and determined that acupuncture reduces fevers and initiates a process wherein the normal body temperature is restored. The results were specific to a singular acupuncture point that was tested for efficacy. 

Acupuncture alleviates sciatica and MRIs reveal that acupuncture causes important pain relief related changes in brain functional connectivity. Affiliated Huashan Hospital of Fudan University researchers gathered objective and subjective data in a controlled clinical trial consisting of patients suffering from sciatica. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores indicate that acupuncture produces significant decreases in both pain intensity levels and frequency of pain. Additionally, MRIs show

Acupuncture and herbs alleviate cervical spondylosis, a disorder caused by disc degeneration in the neck that results in pain and range of motion impairment. Hubei University of Medicine Dongfeng Hospital researchers conclude that acupuncture combined with herbs successfully relieves pain and regulates excess sympathetic nervous system outflows for patients with cervical spondylosis. [1] Other improvements were also observed, including reductions in dizziness, palpitations, and neck

Acupuncture is effective for the alleviation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University researchers compared the efficaciousness of true acupuncture and sham acupuncture. The combination of true acupuncture plus standard aerobic training produced superior patient outcomes over patients receiving sham acupuncture plus identical standard aerobic training. The researchers conclude, “the addition of acupuncture to a standard aerobic training

Acupuncture restores brain activity and benefits chronic users of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), a drug often referred to as ecstasy or molly. Using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), Peking University researchers compared a healthy control group with a chronic MDMA user group. The research documents that acupuncture significantly improves cerebral perfusion and brain functional activity after brain damage due to chronic MDMA use. [1] 

Acupuncture successfully regulates hormones and ovarian blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) related infertility. Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital of Hengfeng County researchers compared the efficaciousness of acupuncture and drug therapy. The addition of acupuncture to drug therapy produced superior patient outcomes over patients receiving only drug monotherapy. [1] The combined integrative medicine protocol using acupuncture produced improvements in the regulation

Acupuncture and herbs improve eyesight for patients with diabetic retinopathy. In a controlled clinical trial, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine ophthalmology department researchers determined that herbal medicine monotherapy benefits vision. The addition of acupuncture to the treatment protocol significantly improved patient outcomes. 

Acupuncture restores brain connectivity and benefits patients with major depression disorder (MDD). Utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers at the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine hospital document that acupuncture significantly increases the connectivity of the corticostriatum to other brain regions, an important brain circuit connection involved in rewards and motivation. In the same investigation, eight weeks of acupuncture treatments significantly decreased depression scores.