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Acupuncture research definitively proves that it is an effective treatment modality, especially for pain relief. This has been augmented by contributions from Georgetown University, Harvard Medical School, Tufts University, Emory University, University of California, and other prestigious institutions. In addition, endorsements from the American Academy of Physicians and inclusion within the USA Medicare system have added to both the acceptance and access to acupuncture.
Medicare picked up acupuncture coverage in 2020. The rollout is encumbered by limitations and exclusions, but it is a start. For now, coverage is limited to a small number of back pain acupuncture treatments and all care must be billed through an MDs office.
Harvard Medical School neuroscientists have proven that acupuncture downregulates inflammation in response to bacterial infections. The study demonstrates that acupuncture is effective in reducing the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokine storms. The investigation shows that acupuncture increases survival rates and prevents disease progression. The research team includes members from the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School (Boston), Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, Texas), and the McNair Medical Institute (Houston, Texas).
In another investigation, Harvard Medical School, Georgetown University, University of Arizona, Creighton University, and Louisiana State University researchers conclude that acupuncture reduces the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine attacks. The study also notes that patients receiving acupuncture treatments are less prone to secondary conditions, including anxiety attacks and depression.
In an independent investigation, Harvard Medical School, Xidian University, and Capital Medical University researchers demonstrate that acupuncture reduces migraine attacks and they have found a way to predict acupuncture treatment success using MRIs. The researchers discovered that a patient’s brain structure is predictive of the success rate achieved by acupuncture for the reduction or elimination of migraines. Using MRIs and machine learning, specific patterns in brain gray matter prior to treatment were correlated with improved response rates.
Patients received 3 acupuncture treatments per week for 4 weeks. Each acupuncture treatment lasted for a total of 30 minutes.
The data-driven machine learning process had an 83% accuracy rate in determining responders from non-responders. The researchers note MRIs can help to improve the cost-effectiveness of access to care. Using MRIs, the research team knows whether or not the aforementioned acupuncture treatment formula will reduce or eliminate migraines.
Tufts University School of Medicine (Boston, Massachusetts) researchers conducted a meta-analysis and conclude that acupuncture is safe and effective for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, low back pain, and fibromyalgia. They add that studies indicate that acupuncture produces pain relieving effects by stimulating specific nerve pathways that trigger the body’s natural opioid systems.
The Tufts University research team notes that fMRIs “demonstrate that acupuncture has regionally specific, quantifiable effects on relevant structures and restoration of the balance in the connectivity of the human brain implicated in descending pain modulation, and altered pain-related attention and memory.” The researchers conclude that acupuncture is a “safe and reasonable referral option” for patients with knee osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain” and add that scientific data demonstrates that patients suffering from fibromyalgia experience relief from acupuncture.
Research published in JAMA Oncology including contributions from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York), RMIT University (Australia), and Guangdong University (Guangzhou) researchers finds acupuncture effective for the relief of cancer pain and reduces the need for opioids. The investigators determined that true acupuncture produces significantly greater pain reduction than sham controls. They add that hospitals need to include acupuncture services to address this demand based on the “growing evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture.”
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston) and Fudan University Cancer Center (Shanghai) researchers conclude that acupuncture reduces the frequency and severity of xerostomia (dry mouth). The investigation of acupuncture’s effects on head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation finds that acupuncture “resulted in significantly fewer and less severe RIX [radiation-induced xerostomia] symptoms 1 year after treatment vs SCC [standard care control].”
All acupuncturists providing treatment were licensed acupuncturists and were trained at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Emory University and Atlanta VA Medical Center researchers find acupuncture effective for the alleviation of sleep disorders for veterans with PTSD and brain injuries. The research team concludes that acupuncture produces significant improvements in both subjective and objective sleep parameters for veterans with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), including veterans with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). The team notes that “acupuncture provides meaningful relief for a particularly recalcitrant problem affecting large segments of the veteran population.”
Researchers from Washington State University, Yale School of Medicine, New Zealand School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the University of California conclude that acupuncture and cupping are safe and effective treatments for lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy. Acupoints were selected on an individual basis.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY) researchers conclude that the analgesic effects of acupuncture are superior to sham controls and pain relief lasts over time. The research team concludes that acupuncture is an effective treatment modality for chronic pain and referral to an acupuncturist is a reasonable treatment option. In a meta-analysis of 20,827 patients across 39 clinical trials, the researchers determined that acupuncture’s pain relieving effects for patients with musculoskeletal pain, headaches, shoulder pain, and arthritis persist over time—with only a 15% decrease in treatment efficacy after one year. [9] In addition, Stanford University researchers conclude that acupuncture reduces and delays the need for opioids after total knee replacement surgery.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends acupuncture for the treatment of back pain. The ACP notes that nonpharmacologic treatment with acupuncture for the treatment of chronic low back pain is recommended. The official grade by the ACP for the use of acupuncture is a “strong recommendation.”
Excerpt from:
Current Research