According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), not enough data exists to thrust acupuncture into the mainstream with conventional medicine or to integrate it fully as a complementary treatment.
Research results are mixed, and depending on a wide range of pressure points, the results vary.
The following is a non-exhaustive treatment of what some scientists are telling us about acupuncture.
Positive Results and Electronic Acupuncture
In a March 2009 Anesthesia and Analgesia article entitled "Capsicum plaster at the hegu point reduced postoperative analgesic requirement after orthognathic surgery" KS Kim et al. report that capsicum plaster at the Hegu point reduced the need for regular post-operative drugs after surgery.
In a 2009 American Journal of Chinese Medicine article entitled "Electroacupuncture Improves Imbalance of Autonomic Function under Restraint Stress in Conscious Rats" K Imai et al. used a rat model to study electroacupunture on various pressure points on the leg and back, noting reduced heart rates compared to the rats that were not treated. The study suggests that acupuncture has positive effects on the nervous system through various mechanisms that were not described.
Mixed Results Using Acupuncture Research
In a February 13 2009 Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine article entitled "Randomized controlled trials of Acupuncture for Neck Pain: Systemic Review and Meta Analysis" LM Fu et al. noted that many of the studies published about acupuncture on neck pain show positive results in the short-term, but the long-term effects are still understudied.
In a February 13 2009 Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine article entitled "Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flashes: A Qualitative Study About Patient experiences" T Alraek and K Malterud draw insignificant conclusions from patient interviews about whether acupuncture alleviated hot flashes during menopause.
Questionable Results for Acupuncture as an Alternative Medicine
In a February 18 2009 Support Care in Cancer article entitled, "Acupuncture for treating hot flushes in men with prostate cancer: a systematic review" MS Lee et al. noted that more research is needed in this area to determine if acupuncture works for men with prostate cancer.
In a February 2009 Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics article entitled, "Commentary on the use of acupuncture in chronic pediatric pain" M. Waterhouse et al. noted that using acupuncture to treat children is still well understudied, particularly with regard to the more rigorous randomized clinical trial method. More research is needed to fully understand the benefits to children.
Conclusion
Acupuncture has many facets that need to be studied before this alternative treatment becomes a regular complementary medical practice. More research is needed on its many pressure points and techniques, using better and more reliable research designs. Always consult a physician or an experienced acupuncture practitioner before seeking an acupuncture treatment.
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