A systematic review of the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis

Allergies cause a considerable burden to both sufferers and the National Health Service. There is growing interest in acupuncture as a treatment for a range of conditions. Since acupuncture may modulate the immune system it could be a useful treatment for allergic rhinitis (AR) sufferers. We therefore assessed the evidence for the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with AR by performing a systematic review of the literature.

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Neck Pain Patients Prefer Acupuncture to Injections

Patient survey shows neck pain sufferers more satisfied with acupuncture than with spinal injections. For neck pain sufferers, acupuncture may be a better treatment option than spinal injections, according to a recent SpineUniverse survay. 43.6% of acupuncture patients were satisfied or even very satisfied with their treatment. Only 41.3% of injection therapy patients reported satisfaction with the treatment. That's shocking news for patients and medical companies alike: after billions of dollars of pharmacological research on injection medication, acupuncture--a traditional Chinese are of healing--seems to make patients happier and feel less pain.

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Acupuncture May Help Menstrual Pain

When a woman has her period, she can feel like she already has pins and needles in her abdomen. But a new German study says acupuncture needles may actually relieve menstrual cramps, making females more productive during that time of the month, Reuters reports. Since the study compared acupuncture patients with a group who received no treatment, however, the patients might have experienced the "placebo effect," said Dr. Claudia Witt of Charite University Medical Center in Berlin. "Nevertheless, our study showed that acupuncture was beneficial for women if offered as part of the health insurance system," the researchers write in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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Older Americans begin to embrace nontraditional medicine

Her swollen knees in pain, Vivian Evans reached the breaking point. Arthroscopy repaired the tendons wrenched in a June 2006 car accident, but cortisone shots provided little relief. Exasperated, the 68-year-old Florissant retiree decided to take a nontraditional turn. After four treatments by Clayton acupuncturist Eric Saitta, Evans had less pain and greater mobility.

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Acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea: a randomized study on clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in usual care

Objective:To investigate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea. Study Design:In a randomized controlled trial plus non-randomized cohort, patients with dysmenorrhea were randomized to acupuncture (15 sessions over three months) or to a control group (no acupuncture). Patients who declined randomization received acupuncture treatment. All subjects were allowed to receive usual medical care.

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Doctors, hospital more accepting of acupuncture

Many medical organizations now recommend acupuncture as an alternative. The National Institute of Health in 1997 said acupuncture has been shown to help relieve nausea during chemotherapy and may be useful in treating a range of conditions including low-back pain, addiction-related cravings, headache and fibromyalgia, and may aid in rehabilitation after strokes. Most medical schools, including SIU, teach medical students about the history and philosophy surrounding complimentary medicine.

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Acupuncture Could Help with Hearing

A new study shows acupuncture may play a role in reducing ringing in the ears, by helping to balance the body. Nine months ago, Bob Grote started acupuncture therapy, after he suddenly lost hearing in one ear.

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