The acupuncture group and standard analgesic pharmaceutical drug only groups had similar reductions in pain after surgery. The sham acupuncture group did not perform well compared with the true acupuncture group- sham acupuncture did not provide the pain relief that true acupuncture provided. The researchers note, for example, that on the day following the surgery to remove the hemorrhoids; standard analgesic drugs and true acupuncture both provided significant pain relief when administered. The sham acupuncture did not provide significant pain relief. In addition, the researchers note that “less rescue analgesics were necessary” if true acupuncture was administered to the patients.

Researchers examined a total sample size of 712 patients. They were randomly assigned to 6 groups. Group 1 received specific acupuncture points on the stomach (Leg Yangming) meridian. Group 2 received non-specific acupoints on the stomach meridian. Group 3 received acupuncture on alarm points and transport points. Group 4 received acupuncture on the gallbladder (Leg Shaoyang) meridan. Group 5 received sham acupuncture, which uses acupuncture needles applied to non-acupuncture points. Group 6 was administered itopride. Itopride is a drug made for the treatment of dyspepsia and many gastrointestinal disorders. It is a prokinetic benzamide.

Patients received 5 acupuncture treatments per week for a period of 4 weeks. Follow-up was documented 12 weeks following the treatment period. All groups improved, however, Group 1 had over a 70 percent success rate. Group 1 received specific acupuncture points on the stomach meridian. The group with the lowest success rate was the sham acupuncture group with only a 34.75 percent improvement. The researchers concluded, “Acupuncture is effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia, and is superior to non-acupoint puncture. The benefit of acupuncture relies on acupoint specificity.”

Reference:
Ma, T. T., Yu, S. Y., Li, Y., Liang, F. R., Tian, X. P., Zheng, H., Yan, J., Sun, G. J., Chang, X. R., Zhao, L., Wu, X. and Zeng, F. (2012), Randomised clinical trial: an assessment of acupuncture on specific meridian or specific acupoint vs. sham acupuncture for treating functional dyspepsia. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 35: 552–561. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04979.x

Authors:
Teaching Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China

AchE is an enzyme that converts the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetate and plays an important role in synaptic transmission. The study shows that rats exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) had significantly lower AchE activity in the hippocampus of the brain. It was discovered that acupuncture at P6 increased chemical reactivity of AchE in the hippocampus compared with the control group.

The researchers also conducted a passive avoidance test (PAT) to compare the biochemical findings with behavioral examination. The acupuncture group performed better than the control group for the PAT. The researchers concluded that acupuncture at P6 improves memory, increases AchE reactivity in the hippocampus and restores learning and memory after biochemical and behavioral impairments due to chronic mild stress.

Traditionally, P6 is used to ‘calm the spirit’ and regulate the heart. It is also well known for its ability to alleviate stomach disorders and relieve nausea and vomiting. Other traditional functions include P6’s ability to unbind the chest, clear the heat and regulate the Qi (energy).

P6 is one of the eight confluent acupuncture points and regulates the Yin Linking (Yinwei Mai) channel. This acupuncture channel starts on the lower leg at acupuncture point K9 and ascends medially along the leg, intersects points Liv14, Sp13, Sp15, and Sp16 in the abdominal region; moves up to the chest, and runs medially to the sternum and terminates at CV23 and CV22 in the chest and throat. The Yin Linking vessel traverses the chest where the heart and lungs reside. P6 is located on the pericardium channel and is the confluent point of the Yin Linking channel thereby making P6 important point for the treatment of heart pain and is one of the primary acupuncture points used to induce analgesia for use during chest surgery.

Cancer patients treated with  taxanes, vinca  alkaloids, or platinum compounds can develop a condition known as chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, or CIPN for short, as a side affect of the treatment.

These powerful drugs can damage peripheral nerves, particularly in the calves and feet, which can result in severe nerve pain and/or difficulty walking. As yet, there is no effective antidote.

Out of a total of 192 patients with peripheral neuropathy eligible for inclusion in the study, 11 had developed their symptoms during a course of chemotherapy for various types of cancer. Six of these patients agreed to undergo acupuncture, the other five served as a comparison group.

Twenty needles were inserted at prescribed points and depths and left in place for 20 minutes during each of the 10 sessions. A senior doctor, who had been fully trained in acupuncture and had used the technique for 20 years, delivered these over a period of three months.

Nerve conduction studies, to assess the signalling speed and intensity of two nerves in the same calf, were carried out before acupuncture and again six months after chemotherapy in the six volunteers. The same studies on patients in the comparison group were carried out after they had completed their chemotherapy and then again six months later.

In those given acupuncture, both the speed and the intensity of the nerve signalling improved in five out of the six patients. And these same patients said their condition had improved. Among those in the comparison group, speed remained the same in three, fell in one, and improved in one. Intensity remained the same in one, improved in two, and decreased in two.

“The data suggest that acupuncture has a positive effect on CIPN, as measured by objective parameters [nerve conduction studies],” said authors.

They concluded that the results of this pilot study are ‘encouraging’ and merit further investigation in a larger trial.

The study has been published in Acupuncture in Medicine. (ANI)

Lorenzo Cohen from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center examined 86 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, out of which 40 received acupuncture three times a week while they received radiotherapy over a seven week period. The other 46 patients received the standard care.

Researchers monitored the study participants’ saliva flow using an Xerostomia Questionnaire — a score under 30 meant that dry mouth was mild or completely gone.

A month after all the study participants had finished their therapies, researchers found that 54.3 percent of the people who had acupuncture had a Xerostomia Questionnaire score of over 30, while 86.1 percent of people who didn’t have acupuncture had a score of over 30.

And then six months after undergoing treatment, researchers found that just 24.1 percent of the people who had acupuncture had a score over 30, while 63.6 percent of the people who didn’t had a score of over 30.

Researchers said more studies are needed to see why exactly acupuncture has these benefits.

In 2009, MD Anderson researchers had also found that acupuncture twice a week seemed to relieve dry mouth in cancer patients being treated with radiation therapy, ScienceDaily reported.

Previously, studies have shown that acupuncture can help relieve people experiencing chronic back pain. WebMD reported on a 2009 study showing that acupuncture was actually more effective than physical therapy and drugs at relieving this kind of pain.

Acupuncture is also used to help relieve pain in the neck and joints, as well as headache pain, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

This is the reason more and more people are turning to acupuncture  for weight loss treatments in an effort to handle their weight problem once and for all.
Acupuncture is a practice that is more than 5000 years old, a lot older than Western Medicinal  practices.
Acupuncture weight loss treatments consists of inserting hair-thin needles into particular points on the body that  help the body function properly.
Acupuncture stimulates the body to release endorphins, the body’s own “feel-better” pain-relieving chemicals.  Acupuncture weight loss treatments help control appetite by releasing endorphins.
In the case of overweight patients, the acupuncture specialist will first ask a variety of questions and perform an examination. The purpose is to understand the main causes of the person’s excess weight. Perhaps it is  behavioral, or there could be a physiological reason as well.
Once the root causes of the problem are identified, the acupuncture specialist will then insert needles into different areas of the body in order to help improve the body’s functioning in a way that will promote weight loss.
For example, an acupuncture specialist who is doing acupuncture weight loss treatment for a patient will probably use a multi-targeted approach. They may attempt to lower the body’s weight by increasing the output of the pituitary gland.
They would also probably work on reducing cravings for certain foods or they would attempt to encourage a decrease in natural appetite. Certain needle placements are even thought to lower insulin levels or lipid levels in the blood.
A benefit of acupuncture weight loss treatment is that unlike certain medications, there are no harmful side effects and no chance for addiction. It is a perfectly natural  means of boosting the patient’s weight loss efforts.
Acupuncture weight loss treatments need to be repeated on a rather regular basis in order to maintain the effects. However, the acupuncture specialist will instruct the patient that the treatment on its own is not likely to be enough to result in long term, permanent weight loss.
Attention should also be paid to diet and exercise. The acupuncture specialist may provide the patient with certain guidelines as to what to avoid eating in order to promote the regular flow of energy throughout the body .
If you’ve been struggling with a stubborn weight problem, consider acupuncture weight loss treatment to give your weight loss efforts a boost.