What's New! - Treating Tinnitus
Researchers have concluded that electro-acupuncture shows some promising effects on tinnitus. Fifty patients were randomly assigned to three tratments: manual acupuncture(MA, electro-acupuncture(EA), or placebo acupuncture (PL). The MA group received traditional Chinese acupuncture method at GB8,TH17, GB2, GB20, Du20,TH3 and St36. The Ea group had the same points with electrical stimulation. The placebo group had blunt non-penetrating needles. The results showed a 41% decrease in interference by tinnitus.
(Results published in Acupuncture Magazine - Winter edition). Blood flow effect of acupuncture on the human meridianPublished on Thursday, 13 May 2010 Posted in Recent research archive
Background: It has been known for thousands of years that humans have
meridian lines.
Objective: To understand the effects of induction of Qi by
acupuncture in the meridians. Design, Setting, and Patients: The study was
performed in 56 healthy volunteers who were randomly selected from the
university population at Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science,
Taiwan. Blood flow at the acupoints of Lieque (LU 7) and Chize (LU 5) of
the right hand, or a nonacupuncture point chosen freely near LU 5, was
recorded.
Intervention: Acupuncture stimulation of a human LU 7 point for
about 15 seconds, until the De Qi sensation was achieved.
Main Outcome Measure: Skin blood flow detected using a laser Doppler flowmeter.
Results: When LU 7 was stimulated by acupuncture, the blood flow was increased after the De Qi sensation; as long as the participant was
getting the emergence of a strong De Qi feeling or feeling a flow of
numbness to reach LU 5, there was a visible peak of upward LU 5 blood
flow.
Conclusions: This hot, numb feeling that developed within a few
minutes after acupuncture was most likely caused by the circulation of
tissue fluid inside the meridian. copyright 2010 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Authors: Kuo T.-C. Chen Y.-J. Kuo H.-Y. Chan C.-F.
Journal: Medical Acupuncture. 22(1)(pp 33-40), 2010
Faced with the need to develop new research models in order to properly measure treatment outcomes, the BAcC established the Acupuncture Research Resource Centre (ARRC) in 1994. Other key aims were to:
collect acupuncture research data from available sources
increase awareness of the effectiveness of traditional acupuncture by providing good quality information to practitioners, other health service providers, journalists, researchers, government bodies and the public
liaise with other researchers and establish a network of research-active practitioners
produce review papers on the latest evidence-based clinical trials into the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of specific conditions
encourage and support BAcC members' research projects
conduct the BAcC’s own research projects
Acupuncture and tennis elbow
In general, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body's homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional well-being. Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation and deactivating the ‘analytical’ brain, which is responsible for anxiety (Wu 1999).
Acupuncture may help relieve symptoms of tennis elbow, such as pain and inflammation by:
stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, which leads to release of endorphins and other neurohumoral factors (e.g. neuropeptide Y, serotonin), and changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord (Pomeranz 1987, Han 2004, Zhao 2008, Zhou 2008, Lee 2009, Cheng 2009);
delivering analgesia via alpha-adrenoceptor mechanisms (Koo 2008);
increasing the release of adenosine, which has antinociceptive properties (Goldman 2010);
modulating the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network (Hui 2009);
reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors (Kavoussi 2007, Zijlstra 2003);
improving muscle stiffness and joint mobility by increasing local microcirculation (Komori 2009), which aids dispersal of swelling.
There are many more Research items on the British Acupuncture website
www.acupuncture.org.uk/research-fact-sheets.html
