A good overview of the current research into whether traditional Chinese medicine is effective:
Acupuncture is part of a system of medicine from China dating back, by some accounts, 8,000 years. The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor, which is the basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of the oldest known medical texts. During an acupuncture treatment, the practitioner inserts fine needles along energy channels, called “meridians” to stimulate the flow of Qi – the body’s vital force.
Although the practice of acupuncture was used anciently in China and is still one of the main methods of treatment in China today, scientific research in this area has only begun to emerge over the past few decades. Studies and clinical trials are numerous, but many Western physicians and researchers question some of these trials, claiming there is insufficient evidence to support the use of acupuncture in complementary medicine. Additionally, some OMD’s and practitioners point out that some of the studies may be flawed. However, there are still a number of noteworthy trials which provide scientific validation for acupuncture. Below is a sample of recent research:
Chronic neck pain – A review published in 2006 by Kein Trinh, found that “individuals with chronic neck pain who received acupuncture reported, on average, better pain relief immediately after treatment and in the short-term than those who received sham treatments”.
Migraines – A review published in January of this year by Klaus Linde of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed, “there is consistent evidence that acupuncture provides additional benefit to treatment of acute migraine attacks only or to routine care”.
Insomnia – Another study from 2007 by Daniel Cheuk and his group found that, “Based on the findings from individual trials, the review suggested that acupuncture and acupressure may help to improve sleep quality scores when compared to placebo (95%)”.
Related posts:
