| PATIENTS |
|
|
 |
| PRACTITIONERS/STUDENTS |
|
|
|
|
| MORE |
|
|
|
|
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS |
|
|
|
|
|
FIND AN ACUPUNCTURIST |
|
Over 30,000 Professionals Listed 
Advanced Search
Search Help
List Your Practice
|
|
|
|
Subscribe |
Keep informed on current news in the world of
Traditional Chinese Medicine. |
|
|
Acupuncture.Com accepts article contributions. Email
submissions to | Home > Newsletters > July 2005 > Recent Research | |
Recent Research |
|
 |
Repeated Acupuncture Affects Leukocyte Circulation in Healthy Young Males |
 |
Auricular Acupuncture for Pain Relief after Ambulatory Knee Arthroscopy |
 |
A Case of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Successfully Treated by Acupuncture |
|
Repeated Acupuncture Affects Leukocyte Circulation in Healthy Young Males Kou W, et al. Department of Medical Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. A recent study was conducted in order to analyse whether acupuncture treatment affects leukocyte circulation as well as plasma levels of cortisol and norepinephrine in humans. Ten healthy young men participated in a randomized single-blind two-period crossover study. Each period contained three sessions of either acupuncture or sham acupuncture treatment. After randomization, group 1 (n=5) received acupuncture at acu-points ST36, LI11, SP10, and GV14, while sham acupuncture was performed for group 2 (n=5). After two weeks, each group received the alternative treatment. Blood samples were taken before needling, 10 minutes after, and 30 minutes after removing the needles in the first and the third session. Furthermore, blood pressure and heart rate were determined. Although acupuncture treatment did not affect leukocyte circulation in peripheral blood after the first session, it was observed that there was a significant decrease in leukocyte and lymphocyte values after the third session. However, cortisol and norepinephrine plasma levels remained unchanged by acupuncture. In conclusion, these data indicate that repeated acupuncture can affect leukocyte circulation in healthy humans by still unknown mechanisms. Auricular Acupuncture for Pain Relief after Ambulatory Knee Arthroscopy Usichenko TI, Hermsen M, Witstruck T, Hofer A, Pavlovic D, Lehmann C, Feyerherd F. Auricular acupuncture (AA) is effective in treating a variety of painful conditions, but there have been no analyses of AA for the treatment of pain after ambulatory knee surgery. Twenty patients randomly received a true AA treatment (Shenmen, Lung, and Knee points) or sham treatment (three non-acupuncture points on the auricular helix) before ambulatory knee arthroscopy. Permanent press AA needles were retained on the ear for one day after surgery. Post-operative pain was treated with ibuprofen, and weak oral opioid tramadol was used for rescue analgesic medication. The quantity of these analgesics and reported pain intensity were used to assess the effect of AA. Ibuprofen consumption after surgery in the AA group was lower than in the control group: median 500 versus 800 mg, P = 0.043. Pain intensity on a 100 mm visual analogue scale for pain measurement and other parameters were similar in both groups. Thus, AA seems to be useful in reducing the post-operative analgesic requirement after ambulatory knee arthroscopy. A Case of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Successfully Treated by Acupuncture Suzuki M, et al. Department of Oriental Medicine, Gifu University of Medicine. The Gifu University Hospital reported a COPD patient whose respiratory symptoms were improved by acupuncture. A 66-year-old man visited the hospital with symptoms of breathlessness with exercise. In spite of medication, his general condition worsened. Subsequently, a series of acupuncture treatments was started on October 27, 2001. He had level III breathlessness on JRS classification prior to acupuncture treatment. The basic acupuncture points used were KI 3 (Fuliu), LU 9 (Taiyuan), LU 1 (Zhongfu), CV 12 (Zhongwan), CV 4 (Guanyuan), BL 13 (Feishu), and BL 23 (Shenshu). The needles were retained for ten minutes for each session. This research design was used to detect the specific efficacy of acupuncture treatment after ten acupuncture treatments over two months, his walking distance, Borg scale and respiratory function were improved compared with before treatment. These findings suggest that acupuncture treatment may be efficacious for advanced cases of COPD. |
|
| This Month's Articles |
|
July, 2005 |
|
Archives 2005 |
|
January February March April May June Archives 2004: |