Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE: Stable angina is ischemic chest pain on exertion or with emotional stress. Despite guideline-directed therapy, up to 30% of patients have suboptimal pain relief. The aims of this study were to: (1) determine the feasibility and acceptability of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of acupuncture; and (2) evaluate preliminary efficacy of acupuncture with respect to reduction of pain and increased functional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: Participants with stable angina for ⩾1 month received either a standardized acupuncture protocol, twice per week for 5 weeks, or an attention control protocol...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: We examined whether the effect of true electroacupuncture on pain and functionality in chronic pain participants can be differentiated from that of medication (gabapentin) by analyzing quantitative sensory testing (QST). METHODS: We recruited chronic back and neck pain participants who received six sessions (twice weekly) of true electroacupuncture versus sham electroacupuncture or 3 weeks of gabapentin versus placebo treatment. QST profiles, pain scores, and functionality profile were obtained at baseline (visit 1) and after three sessions (visit 4) or six sessions (visit 7) of acupuncture or 3 weeks of gabapentin or placebo...

BACKGROUND: Hyperalgesic priming (HP) is a model of the transition from acute to chronic pain. Electroacupuncture (EA) could inhibit pain development through the peripheral dorsal root ganglia; however, it is unclear whether it can mitigate the transition from acute to chronic pain by attenuating protein expression in the p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) pathway in the spinal dorsal horn. AIMS: We aimed to determine whether EA could prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain by affecting the p38 MAPK/TNF-α pathway in the spinal dorsal horn in a rat model established using HP...

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OBJECTIVE: Faced with the frustration of chronic discomfort and restricted mobility due to osteoarthritis (OA), many individuals have turned to acupuncture for relief. However, the efficacy of acupuncture for OA is uncertain, as much of the evidence is inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to evaluate electroacupuncture (EA) in a rodent model of OA such that conclusions regarding its effectiveness for symptom or disease modification could be drawn. METHODS: Ten 12-month-old male Hartley guinea pigs-which characteristically have moderate to advanced OA at this age-were randomly assigned to receive EA for knee OA (n = 5) or anesthesia only (control group, n = 5)...

OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain is a common symptom experienced among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Our aims were to assess the feasibility and acceptability of performing acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain in adults with SCD. METHODS: This was a single-arm, prospective pilot study of six adults with SCD. Participants reported ⩾ 3 months of chronic pain and were > 18 years of age. Per protocol, acupuncture was to be administered twice per week for 5 weeks, for 30 min per session...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). METHODS: The Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical (VIP), Wanfang, and Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM) databases were electronically searched from their inception to 10 April 2019. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale were used as outcomes to assess effectiveness with respect to cognitive function...

BACKGROUND: Conventional therapy may be inadequate for many patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be a viable alternative, but its effectiveness for axSpA is unknown. We are currently conducting a pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effectiveness of a TCM collaborative model of care (TCMCMC), which combines usual rheumatologic care with acupuncture for patients with axSpA. This nested qualitative sub-study aims to identify facilitators of and barriers to the implementation of the TCMCMC...

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OBJECTIVES: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated inflammatory condition that is highly prevalent worldwide. The aim of this pilot trial was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of self-administered acupressure for AR. METHODS: A randomized, single-blind, non-specific controlled clinical trial was conducted at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, Australia. Fifteen AR patients were randomized into two groups: self-administered acupressure at five specific acupressure (SA) points or five non-specific acupressure (NSA) points (1 min/point, twice a day), and treated for 4 weeks with an 8-week follow-up period...

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BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a complex disease that remains challenging to treat. Low-frequency dense-and-disperse (DD) electroacupuncture (EA) has been used as adjuvant therapy for neuropathic pain; however, its analgesic effect decreases as stimulation time increases, or when it is repeatedly used. We hypothesized that a new frequency parameter could improve the effectiveness of EA, and aimed to compare the efficacy and duration of the analgesic effect between classic DD-EA and non-repetitive and non-sequential frequency (random frequency (RF)-EA) in neuropathic rats...

OBJECTIVE: Given the existing evidence for the analgesic effect of acupuncture, the current study aimed to assess whether acupuncture could be feasible and manageable as an adjunctive therapy for cancer pain in a real-world hospital setting. METHODS: Thirty patients in an Oncology department with moderate or severe pain were recruited and randomized to an adjunctive acupuncture group or control group, who received pharmacotherapy for pain management without acupuncture...

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) consists of a galvanic current combined with the insertion of a solid needle into the tissues of the musculoskeletal system. The application of a galvanic current through a needle can alter the morphology and composition during treatment application. This procedure may also provoke a localized temperature increase. AIM: The aim was to evaluate the safety of the PNE procedure by analyzing possible alterations of the needles employed...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture/electroacupuncture, alone or combined with other interventions, on pain intensity, pain-related disability, and strength in lateral epicondylalgia (LE) of musculoskeletal origin. DATABASES AND DATA TREATMENT: Electronic databases were searched for randomized clinical trials, where at least one group received acupuncture or electroacupuncture for LE of musculoskeletal origin. To be eligible, trials had to include humans and collect outcomes on pain intensity or pain-related disability in LE...

BACKGROUND: Increasing access to non-pharmacologic pain management modalities, including acupuncture, has the potential to reduce opioid overuse. A lack of insurance coverage for acupuncture could present a barrier for both patients and providers. The objective of this scoping review was to assess the existing literature on acupuncture insurance coverage in the United States and to identify knowledge gaps and research priorities. METHODS: We utilized the Arksey and O'Malley framework to guide our scoping review methodology...