A team of Chinese investigators has found that acupuncture can improve mood and sleep quality in patients with depression. One hundred and forty subjects with clinical insomnia were randomised to one of two acupuncture protocols; standard (Hegu LIV-3, Yintang M-HN-3 and Baihui DU-20) or augmented (adding Lieque LU-7 and KID-6 with intradermal needles for sustained treatment). Participants received two sessions weekly for six weeks, with follow-up at ten weeks. Better sleep and depression scores were observed in the augmented protocol group compared with standard acupuncture at all time points measured. Randomized single-blind multicenter trial comparing the effects of standard and...Weiterlesen

Chinese investigators have found that acupuncture can contribute to a clinically relevant improvement in perimenopausal insomnia (PMI), both subjectively and objectively. Seventy-six perimenopausal women with insomnia received ten sessions of acupuncture at bilateral Shenshu BL-23 and Ganshu BL-18 with unilateral Qimen LIV-14 and Jingmen GB-25, or placebo needling at the same acupoints, over a three week period. After treatment, the decrease from baseline in sleep quality and insomnia severity scores was significantly greater in the acupuncture group compared with the placebo group. Acupuncture treatment also significantly improved sleep efficiency and total sleep time, and was associated with less waking after...Weiterlesen

ABSTRACT Background Depression is recognised as a major public health problem that has a substantial impact on individuals and on society. People with depression may consider using complementary therapies such as acupuncture, and an increasing body of research has been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment of individuals with depression. This is the second update of this review. Objectives To examine the effectiveness and adverse effects of acupuncture for treatment of individuals with depression. To determine: Whether acupuncture is more effective than treatment as usual/no treatment/wait list control for treating and improving quality of life for individuals...Weiterlesen

One of the largest randomised controlled trials on acupuncture for insomnia has found it to be effective and safe. Researchers from Hong Kong randomised 224 subjects with insomnia to acupuncture alone (bilateral Sishencong M-HN-1, Anmian M-HN-54, Neiguan P-6, Shenmen HE-7 and Sanyinjiao SP-6 and ear Shenmen, plus Yintang M-HN-3 and Baihui DU-20, acupuncture plus auricular acupressure (Shenmen, Heart, Kidney, Liver, Spleen, Occiput and Subcortex), or a waitlist control. There was no significant difference between acupuncture and the combination treatment for any measured outcomes. However, both treatments were significantly better than waitlist in reducing insomnia (with moderate to large effect size),...Weiterlesen

A Chinese research team has found acupuncture to be as effective as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for helping people quit tobacco smoking. Although a total of 300 participants were recruited, the dropout rate was high (35 per cent) and so only 195 participants finished the trial. Participants were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture (Baihui DU-20, Lieque LU-7, Hegu L.i.-4, Zusanli ST-36, Sanyinjiao SP-6, Taichong LIV-3, Yintang M-HN-3 Neiguan P-6), auricular acupressure or NRT for a total of eight weeks, with follow-up at 16 weeks. The abstinence rate was 43 per cent at 24 weeks in the acupuncture group, which was...Weiterlesen

In order to investigate the different effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and alterations in the autonomic nervous system by measuring heart rate variability (HRV). Forty-five participants were recruited and randomly divided into 3 groups using a randomization schedule. The control group (CG, n = 15) and the acupuncture group (AG, n = 15) were treated by manipulation acupuncture, and the moxibustion group (MG, n = 15) was treated by indirect moxibustion. Primary outcomes were the scores of the Fatigue Assessment Instrument (FAI). Secondary outcomes were the HRV parameters which can reflect activity of the autonomic...Weiterlesen

In a collaborative study between Chinese and US cancer centres, the Chinese formula Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (RSYRT, ‘Ginseng Decoction to Nourish the Nutritive Qi’) has been found to significantly reduce severe fatigue in cancer patients. RSYRT is a tonic formula containing 12 herbs: Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae alba, Dang Gui Radix (Angelicae Sinensis) Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae), Huang Qi (Radix Astragali), Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi Cassiae), Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae Praeparata, Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis), Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos),...Weiterlesen

Verstopfung als Nebenwirkung einer Chemotherapie bei Brustkrebspatientinnen kann durch Ohr-Akupressur gelöst werden, so das Ergebnis einer randomisierten klinischen Studie aus Korea. Die Diagnose Brustkrebs ist der Beginn eines langwierigen therapeutischen Prozesses, zumeist einhergehend mit einer chemotherapeutischen Behandlung der Patientin, welche die Überlebenschancen der betroffenen Frauen erhöht, jedoch mit etlichen Nebenwirkungen verbunden ist. Dazu gehören Appetitmangel, Übelkeit und Erbrechen, wodurch die Patientinnen weniger Nahrung aufnehmen, weniger körperlich aktiv sind und unter Verdauungsstörungen in Form von Verstopfung leiden. Diese können durch die Einnahme von Antiemetika, Antidepressiva und Schmerzmitteln noch verstärkt werden. Eine zusätzliche medikamentöse Behandlung der Obstipation ist aufgrund der bereits vorhandenen...Weiterlesen

Die Behandlung von Prostatakrebs erfolgt üblicherweise mittels Bestrahlung, Hormonentzugstherapie oder Operation. Ein im Blut nachweisbares Tumormerkmal zur Beobachtung des Krankheitsverlaufs bei Prostatakrebs ist das sogenannte Prostata-Spezifische Antigen (PSA). Kommt es nach einer zunächst erfolgreichen Behandlung dennoch zum Anstieg dieses Tumormerkmals im Blut, spricht man von einem biochemischen Krankheitsrückfall, d. h. der Prostatakrebs schreitet fort. Häufig verwenden die betroffenen Männer dann pflanzliche Arzneimittel, wie z. B. Kräuterpräparate, um die Bildung von Tumorabsiedlungen (Metastasen) im Körper zu verzögern und weitere aggressive Therapien mit unerwünschten Nebenwirkungen, wie z. B. die körperlich sehr belastende Chemotherapie, erstmal zu vermeiden. Somit sind die pflanzlichen Arzneimittel, sogenannte...Weiterlesen

Transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) may improve postoperative immune depression in patients with lung cancer, by regulating the balance of T cells and their related cytokines. In a Chinese pilot study, 90 patients with lung cancer underwent TAES (frequency, 2/100 Hz; intensity, 4-12 mA) at bilateral Hegu L.I.-4, Neiguan P-6, Houxi SI-3 and Zhigou SJ-6 for 30 minutes prior to surgical incision, and at 20, 44, 68, 92 and 116 hours following thoracotomy. Following thoracotomy without TAES, down-regulated expression levels of Th1/Th17-associated cytokines and transcription factors, and up-regulated expression levels of Th2-associated cytokines and transcription factors were observed, indicative of...Weiterlesen