Acupuncture improves renal function markers in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to research from Taiwan. Fifty nine patients with CKD were randomised into acupuncture and sham treatment groups. In the acupuncture group, manual acupuncture was applied to bilateral Hegu L.I.-4, Zusanli ST-36 and Taixi KID-3 to obtain qi, and electroacupuncture (2 Hz) was applied to two acupoint pairs (right Zusanli ST-36 and Taixi KID-3 and left Zusanli ST-36 and Taixi KID-3) once per week for 12 weeks. In the sham group, needles were inserted 1.5 cm lateral to the acupoints, and no electrical stimulation was applied. Levels of serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were found to have improved significantly in the acupuncture group compared with the control group after 12 weeks of treatment, suggesting that acupuncture is beneficial for renal function in patients with CKD.
Acupuncture on Renal Function in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Preliminary Controlled Study. J Altern Complement Med. 2017 Apr 19. doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0119.
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