Acupuncture is effective for the alleviation of neck pain due to cervical spondylosis, a disorder caused by intervertebral disc degeneration. Researchers determined that electroacupuncture provides optimal therapeutic results when compared with manual acupuncture. Electroacupuncture produced a 96.67% total effective rate and manual acupuncture produced an 86.7% total effective rate.
Acupuncture is effective for shoulder pain relief. Two independent investigations find acupuncture effective for the alleviation of scapulohumeral periarthritis, which involves inflammation of the shoulder region (including the tendons, muscles, and bursa). Both investigations determined that acupuncture successfully improves shoulder function and reduces or eliminates pain.
Acupuncture is effective for alleviating lumbar disc herniation pain and improves mobility. Researchers conclude that patients receiving acupuncture in an integrated treatment regimen have superior patient outcomes compared with patients solely receiving massage therapy or medications. Researchers note that stimulation of certain acupoints improves blood circulation and metabolism, thereby reducing neuritis (peripheral nerve inflammation) by activating qi and blood. [1] The results of two
Acupuncture exerts anesthetic effects and reduces requirements for anesthetic drug use during endoscopic sinus surgery. Researchers from the Shuguang Affiliated Hospital (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine) combined acupuncture with general anesthesia. Patients receiving both general anesthesia and acupuncture in a combined treatment protocol had superior patient outcomes compared with patients receiving only anesthetic drugs. The researchers conclude that the addition of acupuncture to
Acupuncture is an effective measure against juvenile myopia. In one investigation, eye chart testing confirms that a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine produces a high success rate for eyesight improvement. Another investigation confirms the results with added measurements including reductions in photophobia, eye dryness, and visual fatigue.
Chinese herbal medicine is an effective measure for the treatment of mental disorders. Independent investigations find Chinese herbal medicine effective for the reduction of symptoms associated with a type of mental illness, termed Bai He (百合) disease within the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system. Researchers note that Bai He disease directly correlates to the modern diagnostic term psychoneurosis. [1]
Acupuncture demonstrates positive effects in supporting healthy weight reduction along with the alleviation of hunger sensations, fatigue, and abdominal distension. A widespread health concern, over 4 million people die annually due to complications caused by excess weight. [1] A body mass index (BMI) in excess of 25 is defined as overweight and a BMI greater than 30 is defined as obese. Research demonstrates that
Acupuncture alleviates neuropathic symptoms due to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in breast cancer survivors. A randomized-controlled trial was conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, Massachusetts). The results demonstrate that an 8-week intensive acupuncture protocol (18 sessions) greatly reduces pain intensity levels, pain interference, and average pain levels. [1] The results also show significant improvements in CIPN-specific and general quality of life scores, functional
Acupuncture demonstrates clinical efficacy for postviral recovery from the loss of the sense of smell. COVID-19 (coronavirus) patients often experience diminished olfaction, with a median return of the senses of taste and smell within eight days. However, long-term impacts on both gustation (tasting) and olfaction have been reported in COVID-19 cases. Research on acupuncture’s ability to benefit the restoration of olfaction indicates that it
Acupuncture has been found effective for the alleviation of insomnia in modern research. Several investigations make important clinical findings. The first piece of research covered in this article finds acupuncture superior to placebo controls. The second study finds acupuncture effective for improving sleep, reducing anxiety, and increasing neurohormonal endogenous secretions of melatonin.
