Acupuncture - The Research
In an Australian review of Systematic Reviews of Acupuncture for several conditions, evidence was compiled suggesting acupuncture has a positive impact on the symptoms associated with:
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Hayfever (Allergic Rhinitis)
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Chronic lower back pain
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Headache and migraine
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Knee Osteoarthritis
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Post-operative pain or nausea
It also found evidence for potential positive impact of acupuncture on the symptoms of at least 38 other conditions including plantar heel pain, sciatica, depression, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dry eye, hypertension, tennis elbow, neck and shoulder pain, asthma in adults, constipation and restless leg syndrome.
McDonald J, Janz S. The Acupuncture Evidence Project: A Comparative Literature Review (Revised edition). Brisbane: Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Ltd; 2017. http://www.acupuncture.org.au.
Hayfever (Allergic Rhinitis)
Hayfever or Allergic Rhinitis can be a frustration condition. Symptoms which show the greatest improvement with acupuncture include sneezing, itchy nose, itchy eyes, runny nose, blocked nose and interrupted sleep.
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For hayfever sufferers, acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms by reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, and improving overall respiratory function. Herbal formulas can also work synergistically to address the underlying imbalances contributing to hayfever symptoms. Herbs with anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, and immune-modulating properties are commonly used to reduce nasal congestion, soothe irritated mucous membranes, and alleviate allergic reactions.
The combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs offers a holistic and integrative approach to dealing with hayfever, where sessions are tailored to each individual's specific symptoms and constitution, providing personalized care and targeting the root causes.
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Taw MB, Reddy WD, Omole FS, Seidman MD. Acupuncture and allergic rhinitis. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 Jun;23(3):216-20.
McDonald JL, Smith PK, Smith CA, Changli Xue C, Golianu B, Cripps AW. Effect of acupuncture on house dust mite specific IgE, substance P, and symptoms in persistent allergic rhinitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016 Jun;116(6):497-505.
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Chronic Pain
Acupuncture is a therapeutic practice that has been used for centuries to manage pain. By stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture helps to alleviate pain through various mechanisms. It promotes the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals, as well as improving blood circulation to the affected area, reducing inflammation and promoting healing. Additionally, it helps to relax muscles and reduce muscle spasms, easing tension-related pain. By addressing the underlying imbalances both structurally and functionally, acupuncture offers a holistic approach to pain management and can be helpful for a wide range of conditions, from chronic pain to acute injuries.
Liu L, Skinner M, McDonough S, Mabire L, Baxter GD. Acupuncture for low back pain: an overview of systematic reviews. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:328196.
5 Causes of Period Pain
Period pain is a often considered a part of life by many women. However, if it causes you very significant pain, it might be a sign of an underlying condition that needs to be addressed by your doctor. Here are 5 possible causes:
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Endometriosis
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Adenomyosis
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Uterine fibroids
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
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Increased or imbalanced levels of prostaglandins that signal the uterus to contract.
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However, menstrual cramps and pain that can’t be explained by a particular condition (also known as primary dysmenorrhea) can occur in almost half of all menstruating women at some point in their lives.
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How can acupuncture help? A recent pilot study by Australian and New Zealand researchers indicates that acupuncture seems to reduce the symptoms associated with periods including the intensity and duration of pain. This might be because the use of needles in specific acupoints:
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Stimulates the release of vascular and immunomodulatory substances to reduce inflammation.
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Modulates neuroendocrine activity.
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Stimulates the nerves in muscles and other tissues as well as releasing endorphins and other neurohumoral substances.
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Promotes relaxation and reduces stress and tension.
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Increases nitric oxide generation, relaxing smooth muscle, and decreasing uterine contractions.
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(Armour M, Dahlen HG, Zhu X, Farquhar C, Smith CA (2017) The role of treatment timing and mode of stimulation in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with acupuncture: An exploratory randomised controlled trial. PLoS ONE 12(7): e0180177)
Headache
A review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses stated that acupuncture may have a ‘potentially important role as part of a treatment plan for migraine, tension-type headache, and several different types of chronic headache disorders’.
Other studies in Germany/UK found that it was cost-effective to use acupuncture for chronic headaches.
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Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, Fei Y, Mehring M, Shin BC, et al. Acupuncture for the prevention of tension-type headache. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;4:Cd007587
Coeytaux RR, Befus D. Role of Acupuncture in the Treatment or Prevention of Migraine, Tension-Type Headache, or Chronic Headache Disorders. Headache. 2016 Jul;56(7):1238-40
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Knee Osteoarthritis
In 2014, a systematic review of randomised controlled trials, found that acupuncture significantly reduced the symptoms of pain intensity in knee osteoarthritis, as well as improving general function, mobility and quality of life Furthermore it was suggested that there was a greater reduction in pain intensity when sessions were given for more than four weeks. The conclusion was that ‘current evidence supports the use of acupuncture as an alternative for traditional analgesics in patients with osteoarthritis’
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Manyanga T, Froese M, Zarychanski R, Abou-Setta A, Friesen C, Tennenhouse M, et al. Pain management with acupuncture in osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014;14:312.(53)
Anthea Watson has also found that combining the use of acupuncture with Low-Level Laser Therapy (Class IIIb) provided in the same session can also yield more positive outcomes. This corresponds to recent studies that have yielded good results using low level laser therapy combined with exercises. Over several weeks one study in 2022 found that this combination seemed to "reduce pain, disability, and intake of medication over a six-month period, compared to the placebo group."
Alfredo, PP and Bjordal, JM and Lopes-Martins, RÁB and Johnson, MI and Junior, WS and Marques, AP and Casarotto, RA (2022) Efficacy of prolonged application of low-level laser therapy combined with exercise in knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled double-blind study. Clin Rehabil, 36 (10). pp. 1281-1291. ISSN 1477-0873 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/02692155221111922
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Gastrointestinal Symptoms
A recent study suggests that for every ten adults in the world, four suffer from functional gastrointestinal disorders of varying severity.
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Sperber, A.D., et al. (2020) Worldwide Prevalence and Burden of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Results of Rome Foundation Global Study. Gastroenterology. doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014.7
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Traditionally, acupuncture and moxibustion (use of topical heating herbs) has been used by people suffering from the symptoms of GI disorders such as spasms/pain, constipation, diarrhoea, reflux, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and delayed gastric emptying. Points are chosen on various acupuncture channels related to the large or small intestine, stomach, bladder, kidney and spleen meridian.
The underlying mechanisms of acupuncture are still under investigation but, in this case, may involve the neuromodulation and adjustment of bowel motility and hypersensitivity, anti-inflammatory actions, as well as balance of gut microbiota as well as improved circulation to the intestinal barrier .
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Stress & Anxiety
Stress and generalised anxiety can be difficult to manage with our busy, nonstop modern-day lifestyles. Not only do they interfere with everyday activities but chronic anxiety starts to cause physical stress on the body. This can have a knock-on effect to your nervous, cardiovascular, digestive or immune systems. The ancient art of acupuncture seems to have something to offer for this pervasive malaise.
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Acupuncture can help return your own natural systems to a state of balance. In more modern terms this means seeking to balance your sympathetic nervous system (which activates the “flight, fight or freeze” response) with your parasympathetic nervous system (which allows for rest, relaxation and proper digestion) in order to restore health and vitality to mind and body.
Despite challenges in designing studies to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture to conventional treatment of anxiety, some of the evidence so far suggests that acupuncture has moderate benefits in the treatment of anxiety.
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Bazzan AJ, Zabrecky G, Monti DA, Newberg AB. Current evidence regarding the management of mood and anxiety disorders using complementary and alternative medicine. Expert Rev Neurother. 2014 Apr;14(4):411- 23. 80.
Goyata SL, Avelino CC, Santos SV, Souza Junior DI, Gurgel MD, Terra FS. Effects from acupuncture in treating anxiety: integrative review. Rev Bras Enferm. 2016 Jun;69(3):602-9.
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