Acupuncture Matrix

Sham Acupuncture is Not a Valid Placebo

Acudoc — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:53:12 +0000

A placebo is a sham medical intervention. Placebo-control of acupuncture is used to evaluate and distinguish between the specific effects and the non-specific ones. During ‘true’ acupuncture treatment in general, the needles are inserted into acupoints and stimulated until deqi is evoked. In contrast, during placebo acupuncture, the needles are inserted into non-acupoints and/or superficially (so-called [...]

Acupuncture Treatment of Drug Addiction

Acudoc — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:12:20 +0000

Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemical substances which relay, amplify, and modulate signals between a neuron and another cell. What brain neurotransmitters are involved in the treatment of acupuncture for drug addiction? Serotonin, opioid and amino acids including GABA have been implicated in the modulation of dopamine release by acupuncture. A possible mechanism underlying the effectiveness of acupuncture [...]

Diagnoses and visit length in complementary and mainstream medicine

Acudoc — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:52:15 +0000

Do complementary medicine physicians spend more time with patients compared to mainstream general practitioners? BackgroundThe demand for complementary medicine (CM) is growing worldwide and so is the supply. So far, there is not much insight in the activities in Dutch CM practices nor in how these activities differ from mainstream general practice. Comparisons on diagnoses and [...]

What rheumatologists think of acupuncture

Acudoc — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:32:30 +0000

What do rheumatologists in the United States think of complementary and alternative medicine which includes acupuncture? Background We aimed to describe prevailing attitudes and practices of rheumatologists in the United States toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments. We wanted to determine whether rheumatologists’ perceptions of the efficacy of CAM therapies and their willingness to recommend them [...]

Acupuncture and acupoint specificity

Acudoc — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:01:48 +0000

Is acupuncture effective if the needle is inserted anywhere along the involved segment or motor points for specific disorders? Background The results of many clinical trials and experimental studies regarding acupoint specificity are contradictory. This review aims to investigate whether a difference in efficacy exists between ordinary acupuncture on specific acupoints and sham acupuncture controls on non-acupoints [...]

Treatment methods in myofascial pain syndrome

Acudoc — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:09:23 +0000

Is acupuncture an effective treatment in myofascial pain syndrome? Background Myofascial pain is a common dysfunction with a lifetime prevalence affecting up to 85% of the general population. Current guidelines for the management of myofascial pain are not available. In this study we investigated how physicians on the basis of prescription behaviour evaluate the effectiveness of treatment [...]

Auricular acupuncture for repetitive self-injury in depressed adolescents

Acudoc — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:05:47 +0000

Auricular acupuncture has been shown to be effective in cocaine dependence treatment, is it effective for “addictive” behaviors such as repetitive self-injury in depressed adolescents? An Open Trial of Auricular Acupuncture for the Treatment of Repetitive Self-Injury in Depressed Adolescents. Can Child Adolesc Psychiatr Rev. 2003 Feb;12(1):10-2. Related Acupuncture Posts:Acupuncture and Auricular Acupressure for Menopausal Hot FlashesAcupuncture [...]

fMRI Scans of Acupuncture in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Acudoc — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:05:46 +0000

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy. Can functional MRI be used to evaluate the effect of acupuncture stimulation on a specific acupoint such as LI-4 ? Hypothalamus and Amygdala Response to Acupuncture Stimuli in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Pain. 2007 August; 130(3): 254–266. Related Acupuncture Posts:CAM for irritable bowel syndromeAcupuncture effects seen on fMRIAcupuncture in [...]

Pediatric Acupuncture

Acudoc — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:42:36 +0000

A review of the current literature on pediatric acupuncture including conditions of Chronic Pain, Migraine, Procedural Stress, Enuresis, Constipation, Epilepsy, Allergies, Neurologic Disability, Laryngospasm, Post-operative Vomiting and Cancer-related Conditions. Pediatric Acupuncture: A Review of Clinical Research. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Jan 10. Related Acupuncture Posts:Acupuncture for Acute and Chronic Spinal Cord InjuriesPerioperative AcupunctureAcupuncture for Allergic [...]

Electroacupuncture activates opioid pathways

Acudoc — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:19:08 +0000

What is the anti-nociception effect is obtained by stimulation of acupoint St36? What is the best frequency for Electroacupuncture? Naloxone was shown to block the anti-nociception effect of Electroacupuncture. Opioidergic orofacial antinociception induced by electroacupuncture at acupoint St36 Braz J Med Biol Res. 2008 Jul;41(7):621-6. Related Acupuncture Posts:Acupuncture for MusclesElectroacupuncture Stimulation and Sciatic Nerve Blood FlowAcupuncture for InsomniaTranscutaneous [...]