Condition/Study |
No. |
Design |
Test group |
Control Group |
Results |
Abdominal pain in acute gastroenteritis (see also Gastrointestinal spasm) |
Shu et al., 1997 (67) |
25:25 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture (manual) |
Routine Western medication (intra-muscular atropine and promethazine) |
Relief of pain was observed in:
• 24 of the test group, starting 1.3 min after acupuncture
• 17 of the control group, starting 11. 9 min after injection. |
Acne vulgaris |
Li et al., 1998 (228) |
42:42 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture (manual) |
Herbal medication |
After 30 days of treatment, a cure was observed in:
• 42.8% of the test group
• 19.0% of the control group. |
Wang et al., 1997 (229) |
32:20 |
Group comparison |
Auricular acupuncture |
Medication (oral vitamin B6 and antibiotics, local benzoyl peroxide ointment) |
Acne disappeared after 10 days of treatment in:
• 19/32 (59%) in the test group.
• 7/20 (35%) in the control group. |
Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (see also Leukopenia (this includes leukopenia caused by chemotherapy); Nausea and vomiting) |
Xia et al., 1984 (237) |
49:20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture during radiotherapy |
Radiotherapy |
Acupuncture greatly lessened digestive and nervous system reactions (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fatigue) due to radiotherapy and showed protection against damage to haematopoiesis. |
Chen et al., 1996 (232) |
44:23 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Manual plus electric acupuncture |
Western medication (metoclopramide, etc.) |
Gastrointestinal reactions were cured in significantly more of the acupuncture group:
• 93.2% of test group after 5.8 ± 2.7 days of treatment
• 65.2% of control group after 9.4 ± 3.4 days of treatment. |
Liu et al., 1998 (235) |
40:40 |
Group comparison |
Magnetic plus electric acupoint stimulation |
Western medication (metoclopramide, etc.) |
Acupoint stimulation therapy was comparable with intravenous metoclopramide for gastrointestinal reactions, and with dexamethasone and cysteine phenylacetate (leucogen) for leukopenia. The treatment was effective in:
• 87.5% of the test group
• 75.0% of the control group. |
Wang et al., 1997 (236) |
90 |
Randomized crossover study |
Body acupuncture (manual) |
Western medication (metoclopramide) |
The treatment was effective in:
• 85.6% of the test group
• 61.1% of the control group. |
Li et al., 1998 (234) |
22:20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture (manual) |
Intravenous injection of albumin, milk fat and amino acid |
Natural killer cell activity and interleukin-2 were raised in the test group, but markedly lowered in the control group. During the 3-week observation period there was:
• no significant change of leukocyte and thrombocyte counts in the test group
• considerable lowering of both counts in the control. |
Alcohol dependence, see Dependence, alcohol |
Alcohol detoxification |
Thorer et al., 1996 (212) |
35 |
Sham controlled trial |
Acupuncture at two different traditional point combinations |
Acupuncture at a sham point or no acupuncture |
Clinical measurement using tests of equilibrium and ntation, and specific tests of metabolism and elimination of alcohol, formed the basis of the comparison. There was no difference between the sham acupuncture and no acupuncture control groups. After both traditional acupuncture point combinations, clinical effects of alcohol intoxication were minimized, while the alcohol level in the expired air increased and blood alcohol decreased. |
Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever) |
Chari et al., 1988 (111) |
25:20 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Antihistamine (chlorphenamine) |
The treatment effects were better and lasted longer in the test group and produced no adverse effects. |
Jin et al., 1989 (113) |
100:60 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture plus moxibustion |
Medication (patent herbal combination: tablets containing Herba Agastachis and Flos Chrysanthemi Indici) |
At follow-up 1 month after 15 days of treatment improvement was observed in:
• 92/100 in the test group
• 47/60 in the control group. |
Huang, 1990 (112) |
128:120 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture plus moxibustion |
Antihistamine (chlorphenamine) |
Treatment for 14 days was effective in:
• 97% of the test group
• 75.8% of the control group. |
Wolkenstein et al., 1993 (247) |
12:12 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
The results did not indicate a protective effect of acupuncture therapy against allergen-provoked rhinitis. |
Yu et al., 1994 (115) |
230:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Antihistamine (oral astemizole plus nasal drip 1% ephedrine) |
At follow-up 1 year after 4 weeks of treatment, improvement was observed in:
• 94% of the test group
• 76.7% of the control group. |
Liu, 1995 (114) |
50:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at biqiu (located at the round prominence on the lateral mucous membrane of the lateral nasal cavity) |
Nasal drip of cortisone plus ephedrine |
The treatment was significantly more effective in the test group. Effective rates were:
• 86.0% in the test group
• 76.7% in control group. |
Williamson et al., 1996 (116) |
102 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
The therapeutic effects were similar in the two groups. In the 4-week period following the first treatment, remission of symptoms was seen in:
• 39% of the test group; mean weekly symptom scores, 18.4; mean units of medication used, 4.1
• 45.2% of the control group; mean weekly symptom scores, 17.6; mean units of medication used, 5.0. |
Angina pectoris, see Coronary heart disease (angina pectoris) |
Aphasia due to acute cerebrovascular disorders (see also Dysphagia in pseudobulbar paralysis) |
Zhang et al., 1994 (102) |
22:22 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Scalp acupuncture |
Conventional supportive measures |
Assessed by a scoring method, the therapeutic effect was much better in the test group than in the control group. Before treatment, the two groups were comparable in various respects, including causal diseases and area of lesions. |
Arthritis, see Gouty arthritis; Osteoarthritis; Peri rthritis of shoulder; Rheumatoid arthritis |
Asthma, see Bronchial asthma |
Bell’s palsy |
You et al., 1993 (106) |
25:25 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Blood-letting acupuncture |
Medication (vasodilator plus steroid, etc.) |
A cure was achieved in:
• 96% of the test group
• 68% of the control group. |
Lin, 1997 (105) |
198:60 |
Group comparison |
Through acupuncture (puncture of two or more adjoining points with one insertion) |
Traditional acupuncture |
After a 2-week treatment the cure rate was:
• 90.9% in the test group
• 76.7% in the control group. |
Biliary colic (see also Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation) |
Mo, 1987 (62) |
70:76 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Medication (injection of atropine plus pethidine |
The analgesic effect was better in the test group than in the control group. |
Yang et al., 1990 (64) |
50:50 |
Group comparison |
Electric acupuncture |
Medication (injection of anisodamine (a Chinese medicine, structurally related to atropine, isolated from Anisodus tangutica) plus pethidine) |
Total relief of colic was achieved in 1-3 min in:
• 36/50 (72%) in the test group
• 12/50 (24%) in the control group.
Partial relief was achieved in 5-10 min in:
• 10/50 in the test group
• 32/50 in the control group. |
Wu et al., 1992 (63) |
142 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Anisodamine |
The treatment was effective in:
• 94.3% of the test group
• 80.0% of the control group. |
Bladder problems, see Female urethral syndrome; Neuropathic bladder in spinal cord injury |
Breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
Jobst et al., 1986 (127) |
12:12 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Placebo acupuncture (needling at non-acupuncture “dead” points) |
After 3 weeks of treatment, the test group showed greater benefit in terms of subjective scores of breathlessness and 6-min walking distance. Objective measures of lung function were unchanged in both groups. |
Bronchial asthma |
Yu et al., 1976 (123) |
20 |
Randomized cross-over |
Acupuncture |
Isoprenaline or sham acupuncture |
Isoprenaline was more effective than real acupuncture. Both were more effective than sham acupuncture. |
Tashkin et al., 1977 (121) (methacholine-induced) |
12 |
Randomized cross-over |
Acupuncture |
Isoprenaline or placebo |
Isoprenaline was more effective than acupuncture. Both were more effective than placebo. |
Fung et al., 1986 (119) (exercise-induced) |
19 |
Randomized single-blind crossover |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
Real acupuncture provided better protection against exercise-induced asthma than did sham acupuncture. |
Tandon et al., 1989 (125) (histamine-induced) |
16 |
Double-blind cross-over |
Acupuncture |
Acupuncture at irrelevant points |
Treatment with real or placebo acupuncture failed to modulate the bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine, suggesting that a single treatment is unlikely to provide improvement in the management of acute bronchial asthma. |
He et al., 1994 (120) |
48:48 |
Randomized group comparison |
Laser acupuncture |
Moxibustion at same points as laser acupuncture |
Pulmonary ventilation indices improved in:
• 33 of the test group
• 20 of the control group. |
Xie et al., 1996 (122) |
100 |
Randomized controlled trial with partial crossover |
Electric acupuncture at fèishû (BL13) (n = 30) |
Electric acupuncture at shàoshâng (LU11) (n =24) yújì (LU10) (n = 24), tàiyuân (LU9) (n = 30), jîngqú (LU8) (n = 28), lièquç (LU7) (n = 28) or qiûxû (GB40) (n = 24) |
An anti-asthmatic effect was observed in:
• 28/30 of the test group (BL13); best immediate effect
• 20/24 LU11, 22/24 LU10, 24/30 LU9, 24/28 LU8, 21/28 LU7; good effect 4/24 GB40; least effect. |
Biernacki et al., 1998 (248) (stable asthma) |
23 |
Randomized controlled trial, double-blind crossover |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
There was no improvement in aspects of respiratory function measured after acupuncture or sham acupuncture. There was significant improvement in the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire and a parallel reduction in bronchodilators. |
Bulbar paralysis after stroke (see also Dysphagia in pseudobulbar paralysis) |
Ding, 1996 (249) |
120:30 |
Group comparison with comparable conditions |
Acupuncture |
Conventional Western medication (troxerutin, piracetam, Cerebrolysin: a brain peptide preparation) |
Average recovery time was:
• 91 (75.8%) in test group after 5.6 days of treatment
• 12 (40%) in control group after 12 days of treatment. |
Cancer pain |
Dang et al., 1995 (230) (stomach carcinoma) |
16:16 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Western medication (codeine, pethidine) |
Acupuncture treatment had:
• immediate analgesic effect similar to Western medication
• more marked analgesic effect than Western medication after long-term use for 2 months. |
Dan et al., 1998 (231) |
34:37:42 |
Group comparison |
Body acupuncture or acupuncture plus medication |
Medication (analgesic steps recommended by WHO) |
An analgesic effect was observed in:
• 50.0% of the medication group
• 73.0% of the acupuncture group
• 92.2% of acupuncture plus medication group. |
Cardiac neurosis |
Zhou, 1992 (178) |
30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at rényíng (ST9) |
Medication (propranolol) |
At follow-up I month after 10 days of treatment the therapeutic effect was better in the test group than in the control group. |
Cardiopulmonary disease, see Breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Cardiac neurosis; Coronary heart disease (angina pectoris); Pulmonary heart disease, chronic |
Cerebrovascular disorders, see Aphasia due to acute cardiovascular disorders; Bulbar paralysis after stroke; Coma; Craniocerebral injury; Stroke |
Chloasma |
Luan et al., 1996 (224) |
60:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupuncture plus acupressure |
Vitamins C and E |
After 3 months of treatment cure was achieved in:
• 53.3% of the test group
• 13.3% of the control group.
The treatment was effective in:
• 95.0% of the treatment group
• 43.3% of the control group. |
Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation (see also Biliary colic) |
Gong et al., 1996 (139) |
80:24 |
Group comparison |
Body plus ear acupuncture |
Conventional Western medication (unspecified) |
Clinical cure (disappearance of symptoms and signs, and marked improvement of gallbladder motor function as shown by ultrasonic examination) was achieved in:
• 92.5% of the test group
• 32.1% of the control group. |
Cholelithiasis |
Zhao et al., 1979 (138) |
522:74 |
Group comparison |
Electric acupuncture plus oral magnesium sulfate |
Oral magnesium sulfate |
Stones were excreted in:
• 409/522 (78.4%) in the test group
• 20/74 (27.4%) in the control group. |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, see Breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
Cocaine dependence, see Dependence, opium, cocaine, heroin |
Colour blindness |
Cai, 1998 (250) |
44:65: 53 |
Group comparison |
Body acupuncture or ear acupressure |
No treatment |
After 1-3 courses of treatment (7-12 days each course), colour discrimination was improved:
• from 0.24 to 0.46 in acupuncture group
• from 0.27 to 0.52 in ear acupressure group.
There was no improvement in the control group (change from 0.28 to 0.30). |
Coma |
Frost, 1976 (108) |
17:15 |
Group comparison with similar levels of coma |
Acupuncture at shéntíng (GV24) and shu?gôu (GV26) |
No acupuncture |
A neurological recovery of 50% or more (significant difference) was observed in:
• 59% of the test group
• 20% of the control group. |
Competition stress syndrome |
Que et al., 1986 (196) |
111:102 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupressure |
Psychotherapy plus placebo drug |
The treatment was effective in:
• 92.8% of the test group
• 7.8% of the control group. |
Convulsions in infants and young children due to high fever |
He et al., 1997 (215) |
51:51 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at hég? (LI4) |
Intramuscular phenobarbital |
Convulsions stopped 2 min after starting treatment in:
• 98% of the test group
• 51% of the control group. |
Coronary heart disease (angina pectoris) |
Ballegaard et al., 1986 (180) |
13:13 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture (insertion of needles outside the meridians) |
Cardiac work capacity (difference in pressure-rate product (dPRP)) between rest & maximum exercise & maximum PRP during exercise, was measured. No adverse effect was observed. Patients receiving active acupuncture showed significant increase in cardiac work capacity compared to those receiving sham acupuncture. |
Ballegaard et al., 1990 (181) |
24:25 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
There was a median reduction of 50% in anginal attack rate and glyceryl trinitrate consumption in both groups, with no significant difference between the groups. The increase in exercise tolerance and delay of onset of pain was significant in the test group; there were no significant changes in the control group. |
Xue et al., 1992 (186) |
42:27 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (nifedipine plus isosorbide dinitrate) |
Acupuncture was more effective in improving symptoms and ECG and pulse doppler ultrasonocardiography indices. |
Mao et al., 1993 (184) |
30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture plus conventional medication |
Conventional medication (glyceryl trinitrate, aspirin, calcium antagonist) |
Improvement in symptoms and ECG, respectively, were observed in:
• 85.7% and 69% of the test group
• 57.1% and 38% of the control group. |
Dai et al., 1995 (182) |
20:18 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupuncture at point heart |
Auricular acupuncture at point stomach |
Marked relief of angina pectoris and other symptoms, with improvement of ECG & haemorrheological indices was observed in the test group. There was no such effect in the control group. |
Cheng, 1995 (183) |
50:50 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupressure |
Conventional medication (glyceryl trinitrate, etc.) |
A marked effect (no recurrence of angina during the 4-5 weeks of treatment) was observed in:
• 74% of the test group
• 52% of the control group. |
Ma et al., 1997 (251) |
30:24 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture plus routine Western medication (aspirin, nitrates and calcium antagonist) |
Routine Western medication (aspirin, nitrates and calcium antagonist) |
After 10 days of hospitalization and treatment, improvement in angina pectoris and ST-T, respectively, was observed in:
• 85.7% and 69% of the test group
• 58.3% and 33.3% of the control group.
Levels of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine were higher than normal in both groups but were significantly lowered only in test group after the treatment. |
Craniocerebral injury, closed |
Ding et al., 1997 (252) |
50:50 |
Group comparison |
Body acupuncture |
Routine Western medication (unspecified) |
After 15 days of treatment, clinical cure (disappearance of the main clinical symptoms and signs, and basic recovery of functions) was observed in: 86% of the test group 56% of the control group. |
Deafness, sudden onset |
Wang et al., 1998 (218) |
50:50 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture plus routine Western treatment (dextran, dexamethasone, etc.) |
Routine Western medication (dextran, dexamethasone, etc.) |
After 2 weeks of treatment, the effect was highly statistically significant in:
• 90% of the test group
• 70% of the control group. |
Defective ejaculation, see Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic |
Shui, 1990 (148) |
30:30: 40 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Herbal medication or the Goboes and Liu regimens (treatment included sex instruction, electric massage, hormonal therapy and injection of strychnine and galantamine |
After 1 month of treatment, the cure rate was:
• 83.3% in the test group
• 56.7% in the herbal medication group
• 12.5% in the control Goboes and Liu regimen group. |
Dental pain |
Sung et al., 1977 (78) (postoperative) |
40 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture plus placebo drug |
Sham acupuncture plus placebo drug, sham acupuncture plus codeine, or acupuncture plus codeine |
Acupuncture plus placebo drug gave significantly greater pain relief than sham acupuncture plus placebo drug or sham acupuncture plus codeine. Acupuncture plus placebo drug was more effective than acupuncture plus codeine in initial 30 min after surgery; less effective 2-3 h after surgery. |
Zheng et al., 1990 (79) (after pulp devitalization) |
15:11 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupressure |
No treatment |
After 48 h, there was no pain in:
• 12/15 (80%) in the test group
• 4/11(36%) in the control group. |
Lao et al., 1995 (77) (after tooth extraction) |
11:8 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Placebo acupuncture |
Subjects treated with acupuncture reported a significantly longer period without pain and experienced less intense pain than controls. |
Sukandar et al., 1995 (80) (apical periodontitis) |
20:20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
Mock electric acupuncture |
Analgesic effect lasting 24 h was obtained in:
• 65% of the test group
• 10% of the control group. |
Lao et al., 1999 (73) (after oral surgery) |
19:20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Placebo acupuncture |
Acupuncture was statistically significantly superior to the placebo in preventing postoperative dental pain. Mean pain-free postoperative time and minutes before requesting pain relief medication, respectively, were:
• 172.9 min and 242.1 min in the test group
• 93.8 min and 166.2 min in the placebo group. |
Dependence, alcohol |
Bullock et al., 1987 (210) |
27:27 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at specific points |
Acupuncture at non-specific points |
There was a significant difference between the two groups at the end of the study; patients in the test group expressed less need for alcohol, with fewer drinking episodes. |
Bullock et al., 1989 (211) |
40:40 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at specific points |
Acupuncture at non-specific points |
Significant treatment effects persisted at the end of the 6-month follow-up; more control patients expressed a moderate-strong need for alcohol and had more than twice the number of drinking episodes & admissions to detoxification centres. |
Dependence, opium, cocaine and heroin |
Margolin et al., 1993 (201) (cocaine) |
32 per group |
Group comparison (post hoc) |
Auricular |
Desipramine, amantadine or drug placebo |
Abstinence rates during final 2 weeks of 8-week treatment were:
• auricular acupuncture 44%
• desipramine 26%
• amantadine 15%
• drug placebo 13%. |
Washburn et al., 1993 (202) (heroin) |
100 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
Self-reported frequency of heroin use was lower in the test group. |
Cai et al., 1998 (200) (heroin, late stage of abstinence) |
60:60 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture |
Vitamin B1 |
Reduction of anorexia, spontaneous sweating and insomnia in the late stage of abstinence was greater in test group, and statistically significant. |
Bullock et al., 1999 (199) (cocaine) |
236 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupuncture |
Acupuncture at sham ear points or conventional treatment without acupuncture |
The data failed to identify significant treatment differences among the various groups. |
Dependence, tobacco |
Fang, 1983 (204) |
33:28 |
Randomized controlled trial (patients told they were receiving acupuncture for other purposes) |
Auricular acupuncture |
Body acupuncture |
Under a regime of passive abstinence with no suggestion or motivation, auricular acupuncture was superior to body acupuncture in reducing the tobacco consumption by more than half in:
• 70% of the auricular acupuncture group (72% experienced disgust at the taste of tobacco and 15% felt dizzy during smoking)
• 11% of the body acupuncture group. |
Clavel et al., 1985 (253) |
224:205: 222 |
Randomized group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Nicotine gum or minimal intervention (cigarette case with lock controlled by a time switch, which could be regulated at will) |
Acupuncture and nicotine gum did not reduce the tendency to relapse after one month but were effective in helping smokers to stop smoking during the first month in:
• 43/224 in the acupuncture group
• 46/205 in the group receiving nicotine gum
• 8/222 in the minimal intervention group. |
He et al., 1997 (205) |
23:23 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at points used to assist smoking cessation |
Acupuncture at points assumed to have no effect on smoking cessation |
Daily cigarette consumption fell during the treatment in both groups, but the reduction was larger in the test group. Serum concentrations of cotinine and thiocyanate were significantly reduced after the treatment period in the test group but not in the control group. |
White et al., 1998 (207) |
76 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture at appropriate points in each ear |
Sham procedure (auricular acupuncture over the mastoid bone) |
There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean score for reduction of withdrawal symptoms. |
Waite et al., 1998 (206) |
78 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture plus self-retained ear seed (a herbal seed used to apply pressure to the point) at an active site |
Auricular acupuncture plus self-retained ear seed at a placebo site |
The test acupuncture was significantly more effective in helping volunteers to quit smoking than the control treatment. Cessation of smoking at 6 months in:
• 12.5% of the test group
• 0% of the control group. |
Depression (see also Depression after stroke) |
Luo et al., 1985 (191) |
27:20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
Medication (amitriptyline) |
There was a similar improvement in the two groups but far fewer side-effects in the test group. |
Luo et al., 1988 (192) |
133:108 |
Multicentre, randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
Medication (amitriptyline) |
There was a similar improvement in the two groups but a greater effect on anxiety and fewer side-effects in the test group. |
Yang et al., 1994 (193) |
20:20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (amitriptyline) |
There was a similar improvement in the two groups after 6 weeks. |
Luo et al., 1998 (254) |
29 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture plus placebo |
Electric acupuncture plus amitriptyline |
The therapeutic efficacy was similar in the two groups for depressive disorders. The therapeutic effect for anxiety somatization and cognitive process disturbance was greater and there were fewer side-effects in the test group. |
Depression after stroke |
Li et al., 1994 (190) |
34:34: 33 |
Randomized controlled trial |
“Antidepressive” acupuncture (different selection of points) |
Medication (doxepin) plus traditional acupuncture or traditional acupuncture alone |
There was a similar improvement in the anti-depressive acupuncture and medication plus traditional acupunture groups; improvement was superior to that in traditional acupuncture group. |
Hou et al., 1996 (189) |
30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial with independent assessment |
Electric acupuncture at bãihuì (GV20) and yìntáng (EX-HN3) |
Traditional manual acupuncture |
The results were better in the test group; the difference was significant as assessed by the Hamilton and other scoring methods. |
Depressive neurosis |
Zhang, 1996 (194) |
31 per group |
Randomized controlled trial |
Laser acupuncture |
Conventional antidepressant (doxepin, amitriptyline or aprazolam) |
The therapeutic effect was similar in the two groups, somewhat better in the test group for cognitive disturbance. Side-effects occurred in all cases in control group but in none in test group. |
Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent |
Latief, 1987 (241) |
20:20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at sânyînjiâo (SP6) |
Acupuncture at 1 Chinese inch (cun) superiolateral to SP6 |
There was a reduction in fasting blood sugar of:
• 19.2% in the test group
• 4.9% in the control group. |
Kang et al., 1995 (240) |
12:15: 13:10 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Untimed acupuncture or acupuncture at insulin secretion climax (ISCA) or acupuncture at insulin secretion valley (ICSV) |
Conventional Western medication (tolbutamide) |
Improvement in fasting blood glucose, 2-h glucose, postprandial blood glucose, 24-h urine glucose, and glucosylated haemoglobin was:
• marked in the ISCA group
• superior in the ISCA group to that in the untimed acupuncture and ISVA groups
• similar in the ISCA group to that of the tolbutamide group. |
Diarrhoea, see Diarrhoea in infants and children; Dysentery, acute bacillary; Irritable colon syndrome |
Diarrhoea in infants and young children |
Li et al., 1997 (213) |
380:450 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture at zúsânl? (ST36) and chángqiáng (GV1) |
Medication (gentamicin or haloperidol) |
Cure in 1 day was obtained in:
• 82.3% of the test group (the remainder were cured within 3 days)
• 41.3% of the control group. |
Yang, 1998 (214) |
100:70 |
Group comparison |
Body acupuncture and moxibustion |
Medication (antibiotics and vitamins) |
Cure was obtained in:
• 98% of test group within 3.43 ± 0.32 days
• 80% of control group within 4.41 ± 0.43 days. |
Dysentery, acute bacillary |
Qiu et al., 1986 (9) |
596:281 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Medication (furazolidone) |
Acupuncture relieved symptoms earlier than furazolidone. Stool culture became negative in:
• 92.4% of the test group
• 98.2% of the control group. |
Li, 1990 (8) |
276:269 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Medication (syntomycin, furazolidone) |
Stool culture became negative in all patients after 7 days, but within 7 days in:
• 87.7% of the test group; recurrence rate in 1 year, 2.4%
• 74.2% of the control group; recurrence rate in 1 year, 2.5%. |
Yu et al., 1992 (10) |
162:164 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (furazolidone) |
Both treatments relieved symptoms and signs, with no side-effects. Stool culture became negative in:
• 128 (79%) in the test group by 5.1 days; recurrence at 9-month follow-up in 4 cases
• 143 (87.2%) in the control group by 3.2 days; recurrence at 9-month follow-up in 5 cases. |
Dysmenorrhoea, primary |
Helms, 1987 (153) |
11:11:11: 10 |
Randomized controlled trial, comparing four groups |
Acupuncture |
Placebo acupuncture, no acupuncture but conventional treatment, no acupuncture but conventional treatment and control visits to physician |
Improvement was observed in:
• 10/11(90.9%) in the real acupuncture group
• 4/11 (36.4%) in the placebo acupuncture group
• 2/11 (18.2%) in the conventional treatment control group
• 1/10 (10%) in the conventional treatment plus visits control group. |
Shi et al., 1994 (154) |
120:44 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at sânyînjiâo (SP6) |
Medication (a paracetamol-propyphenazone-caffeine combination) |
A better and quicker analgesic effect was observed in the test group. |
Dysphagia in pseudobulbar paralysis |
Liu et al., 1998 (255) |
30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture |
Logemann functional training of lingual muscles |
Cure rates after 15 days were:
• 26 in the test group (average 8.7 days)
• 6 in the control group. |
Earache, unexplained |
Mekhamer A et al. 1987 (222) |
96 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Mock TENS |
The response was significantly better following acupuncture than placebo for both 33% and 50% pain-relief criteria. |
Encephalitis, see Viral encephalitis in children |
Epidemic haemorrhagic fever |
Song et al., 1992 (86) |
38:32 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Moxibustion |
Western medication. (steroid, supportive treatment) |
Moxibustion shortened the period of oliguria and accelerated the fall in urine protein and reduction in kidney swelling (ultrasound). |
Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm) |
Xu et al., 1991 (128) |
42:31 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at liángqiû (ST34) and wèishû (BL21) |
Conventional medication. (anisodamine) |
The treatment was effective in:
• 97.6% of the test group
• 83.9% of the control group. |
Yu, 1997 (129) |
160:40 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture (manual) at zúsânl? (ST36) |
Medication (morphine plus atropine) |
A marked effect was observed in:
• 81% of the test group
• 80% of the control group. |
Epistaxis, simple (without generalized or local disease) |
Lang et al., 1995 (223) |
92:42 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupuncture with thumb-tack needle |
Western medication (carbazochrome salicylate plus vitamin C) |
Cure (no recurrence at 3-month follow-up) was observed in:
• 84.8% of the test group
• 28.6% of the control group. |
Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection |
Shen, 1996 (14) |
24:15 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at bìnào (LI14) |
No treatment |
Pain mostly disappeared in 0.5-1 min in 22/24 of the test group but persisted for 30-60 min in all of the control patients. |
Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders) (see also Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) |
Hansen et al., 1983 (29) |
16 |
Randomized crossover trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
Pain levels were more significantly reduced following acupuncture than following sham acupuncture. |
Johansson et al., 1991 (30) |
15 per group |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Occlusal splint or no treatment |
Acupuncture was as effective as occlusal splint. At follow-up, subjective dysfunction scores and visual analogue scale assessments were significantly lower in the test group. |
List, 1992 (31) |
110 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture. |
Occlusal splint or no treatment |
Symptoms were reduced by acupuncture and occlusal-splint therapy. The control group remained essentially unchanged. Acupuncture gave better short-term subjective results than occlusal splint. |
Cai, 1996 (28) |
32:36 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture with retention of needles for 1-1.5 h |
Acupuncture with retention of needles for 0.5 h |
Marked effect (with effective rate after course of treatment of 14 sessions):
• 59.3% of test group after 5 sessions of treatment; overall effective rate, 93.7%
• 25% of the control group after 11 sessions on average; overall effective rate, 77.8%. |
Facial spasm |
Liu, 1996 (107) |
33:33 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Wrist-ankle acupuncture |
Body acupuncture |
Elimination of involuntary twitching with no recurrence at 6-month follow-up in:
• 69.7% of the test group
• 39.4% of the control group. |
Female urethral syndrome |
Zheng et al., 1997 (151) |
103:50 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture and moxibustion. |
Medication (Urgenin: herbal extract containing Serenoa serrulata, effective for irritable bladder; used because antibiotics had proved ineffective in all patients) |
Effective rates after 1-2 months of treatment were:
• 88.3% in the test group
• 28% in the control group. |
Wang et al., 1998 (150) (from same institute as study above) |
56:37 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture and moxibustion |
Medication. (Urgenin; used because antibiotics had proved ineffective) |
Effective rates after 1-2 months of treatment were:
• 87.5% in the test group (urodynamic study also showed the beneficial effect of acupuncture)
• 29.7% in the control group. |
Fever, see Convulsions in infants and young children due to high fever; Tonsillitis, acute |
Fibromyalgia |
Deluze et al.,1992 (40) |
36:34 |
Randomized controlled trial with independent assessment |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
There was a significant difference between the two groups with improvement in:
• 7 of the 8 parameters in the test group
• none of the parameters in the control group. |
Gastrointestinal spasm |
Shi et al., 1995 (130) |
100:100 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Atropine |
Total relief of pain in 30 min was observed in:
• 98 in the test group
• 71 in the control group. |
Gastrokinetic disturbance |
Zhang et al., 1996 (131) |
104:41 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Conventional medication (domperidone) |
Effective rates (no significant difference between the two groups) were:
• 95.2% in the test group
• 90.2% in the control group. |
Gouty arthritis |
Li et al., 1993 (60) |
23:19 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Blood-pricking acupuncture |
Conventional medication (allopurinol) |
The test group showed more marked improvement than the control group. Reduction in blood and urine uric acid was similar in the two groups. |
Pan, 1997 (61) |
39:20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Plum-blossom needling plus cupping |
Medication (allopurinol) |
After 6 weeks of treatment, marked improvement was observed in:
• 100% of the test group
• 65% of the control group. |
Haemorrhagic fever, see Epidemic haemorrhagic fever |
Hay fever, see Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever) |
Headache |
Ahonen et al., 1983 (17) (myogenic) |
12:10 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Physiotherapy |
Significant changes in pain and electromyogram in both groups, with 4 sessions of acupuncture equivalent to 8 sessions of physiotherapy. |
Loh et al., 1984 (23) (migraine and tension) |
48 |
Crossover (incomplete) |
Acupuncture |
Standard drug therapy (mainly propranolol) |
Benefit was observed in:
• 59% of the test group; 39% with marked improvement
• 25% of the control group; 11% with marked improvement. |
Dowson et al., 1985 (20) (migraine) |
25:23 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Mock TENS |
33% severity improvement was observed in:
• 56% (14/25) of the acupuncture group
• 30% (7/23) of the control group.
Headache frequency was reduced in:
• 44% (11/25) of the acupuncture group
• 57% (13/23) of the control group. |
Doerr-Proske et al., 1985 (19) (migraine) |
10 per group |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Psychological biobehavioural treatment or no treatment (on waiting list) |
Over 3 months of treatment, there was a significant reduction of headache frequency and intensity in the acupuncture and psychological biobehavioural groups. There was almost no change in those on the waiting list. |
Vincent, 1989 (25) (migraine) |
15:15 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
There was a significant difference between two groups: the test group experienced sustained improvement over 1 year after only 6 treatments in a 6-week period. |
Tavola et al., 1992 (24) (tension) |
15:15 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
The mean decreases in headache episodes, headache index and analgesic intake, respectively were:
• 44.3%, 58.3% and 57.7% in the test group
• 21.4%, 27.8% and 21.7% in the control group. |
Kubiena et al., 1992 (21) (migraine) |
15:15 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Placebo acupuncture |
The test group showed better results than the control group (reduction in frequency of attacks, intensity of pain and amount of medication taken). |
Xu et al., 1993 (27) (migraine) |
50:50 |
Randomized group comparison |
Manual acupuncture |
Electric acupuncture |
There was an Immediate analgesic effect in:
• 80% of the test group
• 48% of the control group. |
Weinschütz et al., 1994 (26) (migraine) |
20:20 |
Controlled trial, comparable pretreatment conditions |
Acupuncture at classical points |
Acupuncture at points 1-2 cm from those used in test group |
Acupuncture at classical points yielded a significant therapeutic effect superior to the control acupuncture. |
Chen et al., 1997 (18) (migraine) |
45:30 |
Group comparison |
Penetrating acupuncture |
Nimodipine |
After 20 days of treatment, headache disappeared with no recurrence after 6 months of follow-up in:
• 30/45 in the test group
• 16/30 in the control group. |
Liu et al., 1997 (22) (migraine) |
30:34 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Scalp acupuncture |
Flunarizine |
Headache was relieved after 1 week treatment in:
• 73.3% of the test group
• 38.2% of the control group. |
Heart disease, see Coronary heart disease (angina pectoris); Pulmonary heart disease, chronic |
Hepatitis B virus carrier |
Wang et al., 1991 (85) |
70:42 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture plus moxibustion |
Herbal medication (Herba Cymbopogonis) |
After 3 months of treatment, carrier status became negative in:
• 30% of the test group
• 2.4% of the control group.
Antibodies to hepatitis B e core antigen were produced in:
• 50% of the test group
• 6.25% of the control group. |
Heroin dependence, see Dependence, opium, cocaine, heroin |
Herpes zoster (human (alpha) herpesvirus 3) (see also Neuralgia, post-herpetic) |
Chen et al., 1994 (225) |
33:32 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Laser acupuncture |
Polyinosinic acid |
Disappearance of pain and formation of scabs, respectively, occurred after:
• 1.48 and 5.76 days of laser acupuncture
• 10.5 and 10.4 days of medication. |
Hyperlipaemia |
Wang, 1998 (239) |
40:25 |
Group comparison |
Acupoint injection plus oral administration of simvastatin |
Oral administration of simvastatin |
Significant improvement after 30 days of treatment in:
• 36/40 (90%) in the test group
• 11/25 (44%) in the control group. |
Hypertension, essential |
Iurenev et al., 1988 (173) |
25:38 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Conventional medication (rescinnamine) |
The therapeutic efficacy was similar in the two groups. |
Zhou et al., 1990 (176) |
135:68: 71 |
Group comparison |
Auricular acupressure |
Medication (nifedipine plus propranolol) or placebo drug |
There was a similar improvement with acupressure and medication. Both were superior to placebo. |
Yu et al., 1991 (175) |
280:51 |
Group comparison |
Auricular acupressure |
Conventional medication (reserpine) |
There was a similar improvement in the two groups. There were no side-effects in the test group. |
Wu et al., 1997 (174) |
82:118 |
Group comparison |
Scalp acupuncture |
Conventional medication (nifedipine) |
The effects were similar, with no statistically significant difference, in the two groups:
• marked response in 47.6%, partial response in 50% of the test group
• marked response in 57.6%, partial response in 40.7% of the control group. |
Dan, 1998 (172) |
26:26 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Conventional medication (nifedipine) |
Monitoring of ambulatory blood pressure showed a similar reduction in 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the two groups. The reduction in myocardial oxygen consumption index was greater in the test group. |
Hypo-ovarianism |
Ma et al., 1997 (256) |
30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture (manual) plus cupping |
Medication (diethylstilbestrol) |
Marked improvement was observed in:
• 43/56 (76.8%) in the test group (hormonal assay showed a further long-term effect after treatment)
• 26/55 (47.3%) in the diethylstilbestrol group. |
Hypophrenia |
Tian et al., 1996 (254) |
100:25 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body plus ear acupuncture plus application of herbal extract to acupoints |
No treatment |
Intelligence quotient increased:
• from 53.97 to 65.07 (11.10 ± 2.96) in the test group
• from 53.87 to 55.12 in the control group.
Social adaptability behaviour increased:
• from 7.51 to 8.89 (1.38 ± 0.31) in test group
• from 7.57 to 7.82 in the control group. |
Hypotension, primary |
Guo, 1992 (170) |
50:50 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupressure |
Herbal tonics |
After 10 days of treatment, blood pressure was restored to normal in:
• 45 in the study group (no improvement in 1)
• 15 in the control group (no improvement in 25). |
Yu et al., 1998 (171) |
180:60 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at bãihuì (GV20) plus herbal medication (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, a formula that is routinely used in herbal medicine for the treatment of hypotension) |
Herbal medication (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang) |
A therapeutic effect was observed after 0.5-1 month of treatment in:
• 172/180 (95.5%) in the test group
• 46/60 (76.7%) in the control group. |
Induction of labour |
Yu et al., 1981 (161) |
10:10:8 |
Randomized group comparison |
Acupuncture at distant points or local points |
Acupuncture at distant plus local points |
Acupuncture at distant points was superior to that at local points in strengthening uterine contractions for induction of labour. Combined use of distant & local points was best technique. |
Lin et al., 1992 (159) |
62:48 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at hég? (LI4) and sânyînjiâo (SP6) |
Oxytocin intravenous drip |
Similar results were obtained in the two groups, but uterine contractions were less frequent and uterine motility was less marked in the test group. |
Ma et al., 1995 (160) |
31:29: 15:26 |
Randomized controlled trial |
(1) Ear acupuncture at shénmén, (2) Body acupuncture at sânyînjiâo (SP6) or (3) Body acupuncture at yánglíngquán (GB34) |
(4) No treatment |
The duration of labour in the four groups was:
• (1) 4.47 ± 0.76 h
• (2) 6.80 ± 1.04 h
• (3) 9.79 ± 2.45 h
• (4) 10.20 ± 2.04h. |
Infertility, see Defective ejaculation; Hypo-ovarianism; Infertility due to inflammatory obstruction of fallopian tube; Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic |
Infertility due to inflammatory obstruction of fallopian tube |
Ji et al., 1996 (158) |
64:36:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Manual acupuncture plus electric acupuncture plus moxibustion |
Herbal medication or conventional Western medication (intrauterine injection of gentamicin, chymotrypsin and dexamethasone) |
Results showed that the fallopian tube obstruction was totally removed in:
• 81.3% of the test group; in a 2-year follow-up, the pregnancy rate was 75%
• 55.6% and 56.7% of the control groups, respectively; in a 2-years follow-up, the pregnancy rates were 52.7% and 46.7%. |
Insomnia |
Zhang, 1993 (110) |
60 per group |
Group comparison |
Auricular acupressure |
Medication (diazepam plus chlorohydrate) |
After 1 month of treatment, sleep was restored to normal or markedly improved in:
• 59/60 in the test group
• 20/60 in the control group. |
Luo et al., 1993 (109) |
60 per group |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupressure |
Medication (phenobarbital, methaqualone or meprobamate) |
After the course of treatment, sleep improved in:
• 96.7% of the test group
• 35.0% of the control group. |
Irritable bladder, see Female urethral syndrome |
Irritable colon syndrome |
Wu et al., 1996 (133) |
41:40 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Moxibustion |
Western medication |
After 2.5-3 months of treatment, a therapeutic effect was observed in:
• 92.7% of test group (improvement in 53.7%)
• 62.5% of control group (improvement in 37.5%). |
Knee pain |
Maruno, 1976 (56) (arthrosis) |
26:26 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
Manual acupuncture |
Good results (complete alleviation of pain) were observed in:
• 17/26 in the test group (average no. of treatments required, 6)
• 11/26 in the control group (average no. of treatments required, 10). |
Christensen et al., 1992 (54) (osteoarthritis) |
14:15 |
Randomized controlled trial, independent assessment |
Acupuncture |
No treatment (waiting for surgery) |
Reduction in pain, analgesic consumption and objective measurements were significantly greater in the test group. |
Berman et al., 1999 (58) (osteoarthritis) |
73 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Standard care (weight loss, physical and occupational therapy, medication) |
Improvement according to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Lequesne indices was superior in test group. |
Labour, see Induction of labour; Labour pain |
Labour pain |
Zhang et al., 1995 (82) |
150:150 |
Randomized controlled trial with independent assessment |
Body plus ear acupuncture |
No treatment |
Acupuncture yielded a good analgesic effect and expedited the opening of the uterine ostium. |
Lactation deficiency |
Chandra et al., 1995 (169) |
15:15 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
No acupuncture |
Lactation increased by:
• 92% in the test group
• 30.9% in the control group.
The difference was statistically significant. |
Leukopenia |
Chen et al., 1991 (141) (chemotherapy-induced) |
121:117: 34 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture or moxibustion |
Medication (batilol plus cysteine phenylacetate) |
Effective rates after 9 days of treatment were:
• 88.4% in the acupuncture group
• 91.5% in the moxibustion group
• 38.2% in the medication group. |
Chen et al., 1990 (140) (chemotherapy-induced) |
57:34 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Moxibustion |
Medication (batilol plus cysteine-phenylacetate) |
Effective rates after 9 days of treatment were:
• 89.5% in the test group
• 38.2% in the control group. |
Yin et al., 1990 (143) (benzene-induced) |
30:27 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (cysteine-phenylacetate) |
Effective rates after 6 weeks of treatment were:
• 83.3% in the test group
• 53.4% in the control group. |
Yin et al., 1992 (144) (benzene-induced) |
30:25 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (rubidate) |
Acupuncture was superior to rubidate in improving symptoms and increasing leukocyte count; effective rates were:
• 91% in the test group
• 68% in the control group. |
Wang, 1997 (142) (chemotherapy-induced) |
49:34 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Moxibustion |
Medication (batilol plus cysteine-phenylacetate) |
Effective rates were:
• 82% in the test group
• 50% in the control group. |
Low back pain (see also Sciatica; Spine pain, acute) |
Gunn et al., 1980 (46) |
29:27 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Standard therapy (physical therapy, remedial exercises, etc.) |
Return to original or equivalent work or to lighter work, respectively, was possible in:
• 18/29 and 10/29 in the test group
• 4/27 and 14/27 in the control group. |
Coan et al., 1980 (45) |
25:25 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture and electric acupuncture |
No treatment (waiting list) |
Improvement was observed in:
• 19/25 in the test group
• 5/25 in the control group. |
Mendelson et al., 1983 (49) |
95 |
Randomized single-blind crossover with independent assessment |
Acupuncture |
Lidocaine injection plus sham acupuncture |
Improvement was observed in:
• 26 in the test group
• 22 in the control group. |
MacDonald et al., 1983 (48) |
8:9 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture and electric acupuncture |
Mock TENS |
Combined average reduction (pain score, activity pain, physical signs) was:
• 71.4% in the acupuncture group
• 21.4% in the control group. |
Lehmann et al., 1986 (47) |
17:18:18 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
TENS or mock TENS |
There was a significantly greater gain in various measures in the test group during a 3-week in-patient treatment period and at 6-month follow-up. |
Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic (see also Defective ejaculation) |
Aydin et al., 1997 (147) |
15:16:29 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Hypnosis or placebo |
Success rates were:
• 60% in the acupuncture group
• 75% in the group treated with hypnotic suggestion
• 43-47% in the placebo group. |
Malposition of fetus, correction of |
Qin et al., 1989 (167) |
100:40 |
Group comparison |
Auricular acupressure |
Knee-chest position |
Success rates were:
• 92.9% in the test group
• 67.5% in the control group. |
Li et al., 1990 (165) |
27:27:20 |
Group comparison |
Moxibustion at zúlínqì (GB41) |
Moxibustion at zhìyîn (BL67) (not traditionally used for fetal transposition) or at a non-classical point (located 3 cm below the head of the fibula) |
After 1 week of treatment, successful transposition occurred in:
• 51.9% of the test group
• 22.2% and 15%, respectively, in the control groups. |
Li et al., 1996 (166) |
48:31 |
Group comparison |
Electric acupuncture at zhìyîn (BL67) |
No treatment |
Efficacy was markedly superior in the test group. |
Cardini et al., 1998 (164) |
130:130 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Moxibustion at zhìyîn (BL67) |
Routine care but no intervention for breech presentation |
Among primigravidas with breech presentation during the 33rd week of gestation, moxibustion for 1-2 weeks increased fetal activity during the treatment period and resulted in cephalic presentation after treatment period & at delivery. |
Ménière disease |
Zhang et al., 1983 (219) |
33:32 |
Randomized controlled trial with partial crossover |
Acupuncture |
Conventional Western medication (betahistine, nicotinic acid, vitamin B6, cinnarizine) |
After 15 days of treatment, the syndrome was relieved in:
• 25 in the test group (ameliorated in 1), with relief usually occurring immediately after treatment
• 16 in the control group (ameliorated in 2).
Of the 7 unaffected acupuncture patients, 5 returned to receive medication; all remained unimproved. Of the 14 unaffected control patients, 6 returned to receive acupuncture; 2 were cured and 1 improved. Effective rates were:
• 74.4% in 39 courses of acupuncture treatment
• 48.6% in 37 courses of medication. |
Migraine, see Headache |
Morning sickness (see also Nausea and vomiting) |
Dundee et al., 1988 (162) |
119:112: 119 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupressure at nèiguân (PC6) or sham acupressure (a point near right elbow) |
No treatment |
Troublesome sickness was significantly less in the acupressure (23/119) and sham acupressure (41/112) groups than in the control group (67/119). |
De Aloysio et al., 1992 (258) |
66 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupressure at nèiguân (PC6) |
Sham acupressure |
Effective rates were:
• 60% in the test group
• 30% in the control group. |
Bayreuther et al., 1994 (259) |
23 |
Randomized single-blind crossover with independent assessment |
Acupressure at nèiguân (PC6) |
Sham acupressure |
Effective rates were:
• 69% in the test group
• 31% in the control group. |
Fan, 1995 (163) |
151:151 |
Randomized group comparison |
Moxibustion |
Herbal medication |
Cure rates after 1 week of treatment were:
• 96.7% in the test group
• 58.9% in the control group. |
Nausea and vomiting (see also Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy; Morning sickness) |
Dundee et al., 1986 (260) (peri- and postoperative) |
25 per group |
Group comparison |
(1) Acupuncture plus meptazinol, (2) Acupuncture plus nalbuphine |
(3) Meptazinol (4) Sham acupuncture plus nalbuphine (5) Nalbuphine |
Vomiting in group (1) was half that in group (3). There was a significantly lower incidence of emetic episodes in the acupuncture groups (1) and (2) than in the control groups (3), (4) and (5). There were no differences between the control groups (3), (4) and (5). |
Dundee et al., 1987 (233) (cisplatin-associated) |
10 |
Randomized crossover trial |
Electric acupuncture at nèiguân (PC6) |
Electric acupuncture at “dummy” point |
Sickness was significantly lower in the test group. |
Ghaly et al., 1987 261) (postoperative) |
31:31 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture plus electric acupuncture |
Medication (cyclizine) |
Acupuncture and electric acupuncture were as effective as medication. |
Weightman et al., 1987 (262) (postoperative) |
46 |
Double-blind randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at nèiguân (PC6) |
No acupuncture |
Acupuncture performed during surgery under anaesthesia did not lead to a significant reduction in nausea or vomiting after surgery. |
Dundee et al., 1989 (263) (chemotherapy-related) |
20 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture at nèiguân (PC6) |
Sham acupuncture |
Effective rates were:
• 90% in the test group
• 10% in the control group. |
Barsoum et al., 1990 (264) (postoperative) |
162 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupressure at nèiguân (PC6) by using bands (with pressure button) |
Placebo bands (without pressure button) or injection of prochlorperazine |
The severity of nausea was significantly reduced in the test group compared with the two control groups. |
Ho et al., 1990 (265) (postoperative) |
25 per group |
Group comparison |
Electric acupuncture |
Medication (intravenous prochlorperazine 5 mg) or TENS or no treatment |
Emesis episodes were observed in:
• 3/25 in the electric acupuncture group
• 3/25 in the medication group
• 9/25 in the TENS group
• 11/25 in the untreated group. |
Ho et al., 1996 (266) (postoperative) |
60 |
Randomized double-blind controlled trial |
Acupressure bands (with pressure button) |
Placebo bands (without pressure button) |
Incidence of nausea and of vomiting, respectively was:
• 3% and 0% in the test group
• 43% and 27% in the control group. |
Andrzejowski et al., 1996 (267) (postoperative) |
36 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture with semipermanent needles |
Placebo with needles inserted into sham points |
Semipermanent acupuncture did not reduce the overall incidence of nausea and vomiting after abdominal hysterectomy but did reduce the severity of nausea in the second 24-h period and had a greater effect on patients who had nausea & vomiting after a previous anaesthetic. |
McConaghy et al., 1996 (268) (postoperative) |
30:50 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at nèiguân (PC6) |
Acupuncture at sham points |
Patients were treated with acupuncture with manual stimulation for 4 min after developing post-operative nausea & vomiting lasting more than 10 min:
• 53% of patients in the test group did not require further antiemetic treatment
• all patients in the control group required further antiemetic treatment. |
Schwager et al., 1996 (269) (postoperative) |
84 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Placebo (no needle stimulation) |
There was no statistically significant difference in total postoperative vomiting between the two groups. |
Liu et al., 1997 (270) (cisplatin-associated) |
184: 161:25: 25:23: 22:70 |
Randomized group comparison |
Magnetic plate at nèiguân (PC6): (1) 120 mT, (2) 60 mT or (3) 2000 mT |
(4) 120 mT magnetic plate at zúsânl? (ST36), (5) iron plate at nèiguân (PC6), (6) steel bead at nèiguân (PC6) or (7) medication (unspecified) |
Total effective rates were significantly higher in the first two test groups):
• (1) 92.4%
• (2) 89.4%
• other group rates ranged from 47.2% (7) to 0%. |
Al-Sadi et al., 1997 (271) (postoperative) |
81 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Placebo (no needle stimulation) |
The use of acupuncture reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting in hospital from 65% to 35% (for day cases) and from 69% to 31% (after discharge). |
Stein et al., 1997 (272) (postoperative) |
75 |
Randomized double-blind controlled trial |
Acupressure bands plus intravenous saline |
Placebo bands plus intravenous metoclopramide or placebo bands plus intravenous saline |
Patients who received either acupressure or placebo bands plus metoclopramide prior to initiation of spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section experienced much less nausea than patients in the placebo band plus saline group. |
Schlager et al., 1998 (273) (postoperative) |
40:20 |
Randomized double-blind controlled trial |
Laser stimulation of nèiguân (PC6) |
Placebo laser |
The incidence of vomiting after strabismus surgery was significantly different for
• 25% in the test group
• 85% in the control group. |
Chu et al., 1998 (274) (postoperative) |
34:31 |
Randomized controlled trial assessed by evaluator blind to treatment |
Acupressure using non-invasive vital point needleless acuplaster (Koa, Japan) |
Placebo acupressure |
The overall incidence of vomiting in a 24-h period after strabismus surgery was:
• 29.4% in the test group
• 64.5% in the control group. |
Alkaissi et al., 1999 (275) (postoperative) |
20:20: 20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupressure with wrist band |
Placebo with or without wrist band |
Nausea decreased after 24 h in all groups but vomiting and need of relief antiemetic was reduced only in the test group. |
Shenkman et al., 1999 (276) (postoperative) |
100 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture plus acupressure |
Acupuncture at sham points |
Perioperative acupressure and acupuncture did not diminish emesis in children following tonsillectomy. |
Neck pain |
Coan et al., 1982 (35) |
15:15 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture plus electric acupuncture |
No treatment (waiting list) |
Mean pain scores were reduced by:
• 40% in the test group; improvement in 12/15
• 2% in the control group; improvement in 2/15. |
Loy, 1983 (36) |
26:27 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
Physiotherapy |
Improvement was observed in:
• 67.4% of the test group at 3 weeks, 87.2% at 6 weeks
• 51.3% of the control group at 3 weeks, 53.9% at 6 weeks. |
Petrie et al., 1986 (37) |
13:12 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Mock TENS |
At 1-month follow-up, daily pill count and disability scores, respectively:
• decreased by 23.5% and 24.6% in the test group
• increased by 8.4% and 8.4% in control group. |
David et al., 1998 (34) |
35:35 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Physiotherapy |
Both groups improved in respect of pain and range of movement of neck. Acupuncture was slightly more effective in patients who had higher baseline pain scores. |
Birch et al., 1998 (33) |
46 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at specific sites relevant for neck pain or acupuncture at specific sites not relevant for neck pain |
Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory medication |
Relevant acupuncture contributed to modest pain reduction in persons with myofascial neck pain. The relevant acupuncture group had significantly greater pre- and post-treatment differences in pain than the non-relevant acupuncture and medication groups. |
Neuralgia, post-herpetic |
Lewith et al., 1983 (103) |
30:32 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular plus body acupuncture |
Placebo (mock TENS) |
There were no differences in the pain recorded in the two groups during or after treatment. There was a significant improvement in pain at the end of treatment in 7 patients of the placebo group and 7 patients of the acupuncture group. |
Sukandar et al., 1995 (104) |
7:7 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at jiáj? (EX-B2) on affected side plus amitriptyline-trifluoperazine combo (amitriptyline 5 mg + trifluoperazine 0.5 mg per tablet), one tablet twice a day |
Acupuncture at jiáj? (EX-B2) on contralateral side plus an amitriptyline-trifluoperazine combination |
There was a significant difference in analgesia between the test and control groups. Analgesia was excellent in:
• all patients in the test group after 6 sessions
• none of the patients in the control group. |
Neurodermatitis |
Huang et al., 1998 (227) |
60:60 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture with seven-star needles |
Conventional local treatment |
Cure rates were:
• 100% in the test group
• 16.7% in the control group. |
Neuropathic bladder in spinal cord injury |
Cheng et al., 1998 (277) |
40:40 |
Controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
Conventional bladder-training programme |
Times taken to achieve balanced voiding were:
• 57.1 ± 22.6 days in the test group
• 85.2 ± 27.4 days in the control group.
The difference was statistically significant. |
Obesity (see also Simple obesity in children) |
Richards et al., 1998 (238) |
60 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Auricular acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
Suppression of appetite was noticed in:
• 95% of the test group
• 0% of the control group. |
Opium dependence, see Dependence, opium, cocaine, heroin |
Osteoarthritis |
Junnila, 1982 (55) |
16:16 |
Group comparison (sequential) |
Acupuncture |
Medication (piroxicam) |
Pain was relieved by:
• 61% 1 month after a series of acupuncture treatments; no side-effects
• 32% after 4 months of piroxicam therapy; itching of the skin, intestinal bleeding, or tiredness occurred in 19%. |
Pain, see Abdominal pain in acute gastroenteritis; Biliary colic; Cancer pain; Dental pain; Dysmenorrhoea, primary; Earache; Epigastralgia, acute; Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection; Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders); Gastrointestinal spasm; Headache; Knee pain; Labour pain; Low back pain; Neck pain; Neuralgia, post-herpetic; Osteoarthritis; Pain due to endoscopic examination; Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans; Periarthritis of shoulder; Plantar pain due to fasciitis; Postoperative pain; Radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndromes; Renal colic; Sciatica; Sore throat; Spine pain, acute; Sprain; Stiff neck; Tennis elbow |
Pain due to endoscopic examination |
Wang et al., 1992 (135) (colonoscopy) |
100:100 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Standard medication (scopolamine butylbromide, pethidine) |
Analgesia was similar in the two groups but there were significantly fewer side-effects in the test group. |
Wang et al., 1997 (136) (colonoscopy) |
30:29 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture at zúsânl? (ST36) and shàngjùxû (ST37) |
Pethidine analgesia |
Analgesia was similar in the two groups, but there were fewer side-effects in the test group. |
Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans |
Qiu, 1997 (16) |
60:30 |
Group comparison |
Body acupuncture (manual) |
Medication (intramuscular bucinnazine; also known as bucinperazine) |
Effective rates were:
• 93.4% in the test group; pain relief started 2-10 min after needling and lasted for 5.6 h
• 56.7% in the control group; pain relief started 15-25 min after injection and lasted for 3.1h. |
Periarthritis of shoulder |
Kinoshita, 1973 (38) |
15:15 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at specific & basic points |
Acupuncture at basic points alone |
The therapeutic effect was superior in the test group; the difference was significant. |
Shao, 1994 (39) |
62:62 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at èrjiân (LI2) |
Acupuncture at traditional points |
Cure rates were:
• 66.1% in the test group after 2.2 treatments
• 31.7% in control groups after 8.2 treatments. |
Pertussis, see Whooping cough (pertussis) |
Plantar pain due to fasciitis |
Karen et al., 1991 (41) |
15 per group |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture or conventional sports therapy |
True acupuncture produced greater improvement in pain records than conventional sports therapy at the end of the treatment period (4 weeks) and at the end of the follow-up period (3 weeks). There was also a statistically significant difference between true and sham acupuncture. |
Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome) |
Ma et al., 1996 (245) |
50:48 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Manual acupuncture plus electric acupuncture plus moxibustion |
Conventional Western medication (clomifene) |
Clinical cure (assessment of clinical symptoms, ultrasonic examination and radioimmunoassay of sex hormones) was observed in:
• 94% of the test group
• 62.5% of the control group. |
Postextubation in children |
Lee et al., 1998 (15) |
38:38 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture (blood-letting at shàoshâng (LU11) at the end of operation) |
No acupuncture |
If laryngospasm developed, patients were immediately given acupuncture at shàoshâng (LU11) or zhôngf? (LU1). The laryngospasm was relieved within 1 min in all patients. The incidence of laryngospasm occurring after tracheal extubation in children was:
• 5.3% in the test group
• 23.7% in the control group. |
Postoperative symptoms, closed craniocerebral injury |
Ding et al., 1997 (252) |
50:50 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Conventional Western medication plus acupuncture |
Conventional Western medication (no further details available) |
Clinical cure in was observed in:
• 13 in the test group; marked improvement in 30; cure and improvement rate, 86%
• 7 in the control group; marked improvement in 21; cure and improvement rate, 56%. |
Postoperative convalescence |
Xu, 1998 (101) (hemiplegia after meningioma removal) |
15:15 |
Group comparison |
Body acupuncture |
Routine medical treatment (intravenous piracetam) |
Improvement of muscular strength and activities after 10 days of treatment was observed in:
• 14 in the test group
• 8 in the control group. |
Postoperative pain |
Christensen et al., 1989 (72) (after lower abdominal surgery) |
10:10 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
No treatment |
The pethidine requirements of each patient were recorded. The quantity of pethidine consumed by the test group was half that consumed by the control group. |
Wang et al., 1990 (76) (after tonsillectomy) |
33:33 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Medication (penicillin plus Dobell gargle) |
Alleviation of pain, reduction in salivation and speed of wound healing were superior in the test group. |
Lü et al., 1993 (74) (after anal surgery) |
62:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Bucinnazine |
A marked analgesic effect was obtained in:
• 77% of the test group
• 27% of the control group. |
Tsibuliak et al., 1995 (75) (various) |
229:91: 229 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Electric stimulation or narcotic analgesics (omnopon (a Chinese opium alkaloid), trimeperidine) |
Although less effective than narcotic analgesics, acupuncture provided adequate analgesia in 50% of patients, & noticeably alleviated severity of postoperative complications (nausea, vomiting, retention of urine, intestinal paresis, impaired drainage function of bronchi). |
Felhendler et al., 1996 (278) (after knee arthroscopy) |
40 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupressure (firm pressure across classical acupoints) |
Placebo (light pressure in the same area) |
60 min and 24 h after treatment, pain scores on a visual analogue scale were lower in the test group. |
Chen et al., 1998 (71) (after abdominal hysterectomy or myomectomy) |
25 per group |
Randomized controlled trial |
TENS at zúsânl? (ST36) or dermatomal TENS at the level of the surgical incision |
Nonacupoint TENS or sham TENS (no electric current) |
Peri-incisional dermatomal TENS and TENS at zusanli were equally effective in decreasing postoperative opioid analgesic requirement and in reducing opioid-related side effects. Both of these treatments were more effective than the nonacupoint or sham TENS. |
Premenstrual syndrome |
Li et al., 1992 (155) |
108:108 |
Randomized group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Herbal medication |
Total relief of symptoms with no recurrence in 6 months of follow-up was observed in:
91.7% of the test group
63% of the control group. |
Prostatitis, chronic |
Luo et al., 1994 (149) |
100:81 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at zhìbiân (BL54) and sânyînjiâo (SP6) |
Medication (oral sulfamethoxazole) |
Relief of symptoms and improvement in sexual function were superior in the test group. |
Pruritus, experimentally induced |
Lunderberg et al., 1987 (226) |
10 |
Randomized crossover trial |
Manual or electric acupuncture |
Placebo acupuncture (superficial insertion of needle with no specific sensation) |
Acupuncture and electric acupuncture reduced subjective itch intensity more effectively than placebo acupuncture. The difference was significant. The results suggest that the two test procedures could be tried in clinical conditions associated with pruritus. |
Pulmonary heart disease, chronic |
Zou et al., 1998 (279) |
30:29 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Ginger moxibustion plus acupoint injection |
Routine Western treatment (oxygen inhalation, antibiotics and bronchodilators) |
After 1.5-2 months of treatment, improvement was observed in:
• 27/30 (90%) of the test group; in 1-year follow-up, acute respiratory infection occurred in 7
• 12/29 (41.4%) of the control group; in 1-year follow-up, acute respiratory infection occurred in 26. |
Radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndromes |
Kreczi et al., 1986 (57) |
21 |
Randomized single-blind crossover trial |
Laser acupuncture |
Mock laser acupuncture |
Laser acupuncture was more effective than placebo in 20 out of 21 patients. |
Raynaud syndrome, primary |
Appiah et al., 1997 (244) |
17:16 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
No treatment |
Mean duration of the capillary flowstop reaction induced by local cooling test decreased from 71 s to 24 s (week 1 compared to week 12, P = 0.001) in test group. Changes in control group weren’t significant. Authors concluded that Chinese acupuncture is a reasonable alternative in treating patients with primary Raynaud syndrome. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of attacks by: 63% in the test group and 27% in the control group. |
Recurrent lower urinary-tract infection |
Aune et al., 1998 (152) |
67 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture or no treatment |
Proportions remaining free of lower urinary-tract infection during 6-month observation period were:
• 85% in the acupuncture group
• 58% in the sham acupuncture group
• 36% in the untreated group. |
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy |
Kho, 1995 (280) |
28 |
Double-blind placebo-controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
Acupuncture was beneficial. |
Renal colic |
Lee et al., 1992 (65) |
22:16 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (injection of a metamizole-camylofin combination) |
Both groups experienced a significant decrease in pain levels, with the acupuncture group improving slightly more. Side-effects occurred in:
• 0/22 in the test group
• 7/16 in the control group. |
Zhang et al., 1992 (7) |
126:118 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Medication (injection of atropine plus pethidine) |
An analgesic effect was observed in:
• 99.2% of the test group
• 71.2% of the control group. |
Li et al., 1993 (66) |
25:27 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (injection of atropine plus promethazine and bucinnazine) |
Relief of pain was observed in:
• all patients in the test group in 25 min on average
• 90% of the patients in the control group in 50 min. |
Retention of urine, traumatic |
Pan et al., 1996 (146) |
76:32 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (intramuscular neostigmine bromide) |
The therapeutic effect of acupuncture was markedly superior to that of neostigmine injection. |
Retinopathy, central serous |
Yu et al., 1997 (281) |
83:135 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture (manual) |
Medication (rutoside, vitamin C, troxerutin) |
Cure rates were:
• 46/86 (49.5%) eyes in test group; average duration of treatment required, 50.6 days
• 52/146 (35.6%) eyes in control group; average duration of treatment required, 63.6 days. |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
Man et al., 1974 (4) |
10:10 |
Group comparison |
Electric acupuncture |
Sham acupuncture |
Pain relief was observed in:
• 90% of the treatment group
• 10% of the control group. |
Ruchkin et al., 1987 (5) |
10:6 |
Double-blind controlled trial |
Auricular electric-acupuncture |
Sham electric acupuncture (no electrical stimulation) |
Subjective improvement was observed in:
• all patients in the test group
• 1 patient in the control group. |
Sun et al., 1992 (6) |
378:56 |
Group comparison |
Warming acupuncture |
Acupuncture |
Marked improvement was observed in:
• 65.5% of the test group
• 26.8% of the control group. |
Schizophrenia |
Jia et al., 1986 (195) |
24:13 |
Controlled trial |
Laser acupuncture |
Medication (chlorpromazine) |
After 6 weeks of treatment, marked improvement was observed in:
• 78% of the test group
• 39% of the control group. |
Zhang et al., 1994 (282) |
38:31 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture plus conventional medication (various) |
Conventional medication (various) |
The therapeutic effect was significantly greater in the test group. |
Sciatica |
Kinoshita, 1971 (50) |
15:15 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture with deep insertion of needles (10-30 mm) |
Acupuncture with superficial puncture (5 mm) |
The therapeutic effect was greater in the test group. The difference was statistically significant. |
Kinoshita, 1981 (51) |
15:15 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at dàchángshû (BL25) with deep puncture (6 cm) |
Acupuncture with superficial puncture (2 cm) |
The therapeutic effect on tenderness, Lasegue’s sign, and subjective symptoms was greater in the test group. The difference was significant. |
Shen, 1987 (53) |
50:50 |
Group comparison |
Long-needle acupuncture |
Classical acupuncture |
Effective rates were:
• 96% of the test group
• 72% of the control group. |
Li, 1991 (52) |
100:70 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture at xiazhibian |
Acupuncture at zhìbiân (BL54) |
Effective rates were:
• 98% of test group after 15.8 treatments, on average
• 81.4% of the control group after 27.7 treatments. |
Sexual dysfunction, see Defective ejaculation; Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic |
Sialorrhoea, antipsychotic-induced |
Xiong et al., 1993 (242) |
60:60 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Anisodamine |
After 10 days of treatment, marked reduction in salivation was achieved in:
• 96.7% of the test group
• 35.9% of the control group. |
Simple obesity in children |
Yu et al., 1998 (283) |
101:101: 50 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Photo-acupuncture or auricular acupressure |
No treatment |
The effects of photo-acupuncture and auricular acupressure were satisfactory, with better results for the former. After 3 months of acupuncture treatment, the obesity indices decreased significantly and levels of blood lipids, glucose, hydrocortisone and triiodothyronine were all markedly improved. |
Sjögren syndrome |
List et al., 1998 (243) |
21 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
No treatment |
A significant increase in paraffin-stimulated saliva secretion was found in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in unstimulated salivary secretion between groups. The study showed that acupuncture is of limited value for patients with primary Sjögren syndrome. |
Small airway obstruction |
Chen et al., 1997 (284) |
21:21:21 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture (40 min) |
Body acupuncture (20 min and 60 min) |
Small airway function in bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis improved in all three groups. The best result was obtained in the test group. |
Smoking, see Dependence, tobacco |
Sore throat (see also Tonsillitis, acute) |
Gunsberger, 1973 (118) |
100 per group |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture at a single point or at 2 points |
No treatment (acupuncture refusers) or petroleum jelly placebo |
Results in the two treatment groups were significantly better than in the two control groups. At 48 h, 90% of those receiving acupuncture at 2 points were still reporting pain relief compared with only 30% of those receiving no treatment. |
Spine pain, acute (see also Low back pain; Sciatica) |
Santiesteban, 1984 (285) |
5:5 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
Selected physical therapy |
The test group showed significant increases in range of motion, straight leg raising, & decreased pain immediately after treatment. Control group showed no improvement. |
Sprain |
Jiao, 1991 (68) (limb) |
200:100 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Physiotherapy |
Pain was relieved after 1 session of treatment in:
• 32% of the test group (in 84% after 9 sessions)
• 0% of the control group (in 18% after 9 sessions). |
Jin, 1991 (69) (lumbar) |
346:50 |
Group comparison |
Hand acupuncture |
Medication (analgesic) |
Pain was relieved and function restored in:
• 1-3 days (average 1.06 days) in test group
• 3-10 days (average 4.38 days) in control group. |
Zheng, 1997 (70) (lumbar) |
100:50 |
Randomized group comparison |
Hand acupuncture |
Body acupuncture |
Cure (disappearance of symptoms, free movement of the lower back, and no recurrence in 3 years) immediately after 1 session of treatment in:
• 82.4% of the test group
• 52.9% of the control group. |
Stiff neck |
Wu, 1997 (286) |
100:32 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture at laozhen |
Medication (ibuprofen 0.3 g, 3 times per day) |
Cure was observed in:
• 80/100 (80%) in the test group after the first session, 10 after the second, and 4 after the third; 6 did not respond in 3 days
• 12/32 (38%) in the control group on the first day, 6 on the second, and 2 on the third; 12 did not respond in 3 days. |
Stroke |
Chen et al., 1990 (89) (ischaemic)) |
20 per group |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (mannitol, dextrose, citicoline) |
A better therapeutic effect (as assessed by EEG-map and somatosensory-evoked potential) was observed in the test group. |
Zou et al., 1990 (287) (ischaemic) |
32:31 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication (vinpocetine) |
A better therapeutic effect was observed in the test group. |
Bai et al., 1993 (88) (ischaemic) |
40 per group |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Medication Beniol (a Chinese medicine containing linoleic acid, inositol & other vitamins), troxerutin, nimodipine) |
A better neurological outcome was observed in the test group. |
Hu et al., 1993 (94) (ischaemic) |
30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Physiotherapy plus acupuncture |
Physiotherapy |
A better neurological outcome was observed for physiotherapy plus acupuncture than for physiotherapy alone. |
Jin et al., 1993 (99) (hemiplegia after stroke) |
108:100 |
Randomized group comparison |
Temporal acupuncture |
Traditional body acupuncture |
Significantly better results were obtained in the test group. |
Liang, 1993 (100) (sequelae of stroke) |
50:50 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Temporal acupuncture |
Traditional body acupuncture |
Significantly better results were obtained in the test group. |
Johansson et al., 1993 (95) (sequelae of stroke) |
38:40 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture plus physiotherapy and occupational therapy |
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy |
A more rapid and more complete recovery was observed in the test group. |
Zhang et al.,1994 (102) (stroke with aphasia) |
22:22 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Scalp electric acupuncture |
No treatment |
A more rapid and more complete recovery observed in the test group. |
Liao, 1997 (91) (hemiplegia after stroke) |
108:107 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture at sh?usânl? (LI10) and fútù (ST32) |
Routine medication plus hyperbaric oxygenation |
Marked improvement after 20 days of treatment was observed in:
• 66.7% of the test group
• 29.0% of the control group. |
Jiang et al., 1997 (90) (spontaneous limb pain after stroke) |
30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
Conventional Western medication (carbamazepine) |
After 30 days of treatment, the two groups showed similar amelioration of pain. Effective rates were: 90% in the test group 86.7% in the control group. |
Liu et al., 1997 (92) (myodynamia after stroke) |
78:56:30 |
Group comparison |
Scalp or body acupuncture |
Medication |
Functional recovery was observed in:
• 75.6% of the scalp acupuncture group; total effective rate 98.7%
• 51.8% of the body acupuncture group; total effective rate 92.8%
• 16.7% control group; total effective rate 80%. |
Kjendahl et al., 1997 (97) (subacute stroke) |
21:20 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Rehabilitation programme plus acupuncture |
Rehabilitation programme |
The test group improved significantly more than the control group during the treatment period of 6 weeks, and even more during the following year, according to motor-assessment scale, ADL, Nottingham health profile and social situation. |
Gosman-Hedstrom et al., 1998 (96) (acute stroke) |
104 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Conventional rehabilitation plus deep acupuncture |
Conventional rehabilitation plus superficial acupuncture or conventional rehabilitation alone |
There were no differences between the groups in respect of changes in the neurological score and the Barthel and Sunnaas activities of daily living index scores after 3 and 12 months. |
Si et al., 1998 (93) (acute ischaemic stroke) |
42 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture plus medication |
Medication |
Clinical functional recovery was significantly better in the test group. |
Wong et al., 1999 (98) (hemiplegia after stroke) |
59:59 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture plus rehabilitation |
Rehabilitation |
Patients in the test group had a shorter hospital stay for rehabilitation and better neurological and functional outcomes than those in the control group, with a significant difference in scores for self-care and locomotion. |
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (see also Facial pain, including craniomandibular disorders) |
Raustia et al., 1986 (288) |
25:25 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture |
Standard stomatognathic treatment |
Both treatments resulted in a significant reduction in symptoms and signs. Acupuncture seems to be useful as a complementary treatment, especially in cases with evidence of physiological or neuromuscular disturbances. |
Tennis elbow |
Brattberg, 1983 (42) |
34:26 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Steroid injection |
Improvement was observed at follow-up in:
• 61.8% of the test group
• 30.8% of the control group. |
Haker et al., 1990 (43) |
44:38 |
Randomized group comparison |
Classical acupuncture |
Superficial acupuncture |
Short-term improvement was significantly greater in the test group. |
Molsberger et al., 1994 (44) |
24:24 |
Placebo-controlled, single-blind trial with independent evaluation |
Acupuncture |
Placebo (acupuncture. avoiding penetration of the skin) |
Pain relief of at least 50% after 1 treatment was reported by:
• 19 of the test group; average duration of analgesia after 1 treatment, 20.2 h
• 6 of the control group; average duration of analgesia after 1 treatment, 1.4h. |
Tietze syndrome |
Yang, 1997 (246) |
108:64 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture (manual) plus cupping |
Routine medication (oral indometacin and local injection of prednisolone or procaine) plus physiotherapy |
After 3 weeks of treatment, cure was observed in:
• 70/108 (64.8%) in the test group
• 24/64 (37.5%) in the control group. |
Tinnitus |
Jin et al., 1998 (220) (subjective) |
35:35 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture |
Routine medication, including anisodamine |
After 6 weeks of treatment cure was observed in:
• 8 (22.9%) in the test group; 10 (28.6%) markedly improved
• 2 (5.7%) in the control group; 6 (17.1%) markedly improved. |
Vilholm et al., 1998 (221) (severe) |
54 |
Randomized controlled crossover trial |
Body acupuncture |
Placebo |
There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. |
Tonsillitis, acute |
Chen, 1987 (117) |
220:50 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Antibiotics (penicillin, etc.) |
Earlier relief of fever and sore throat was observed in the test group. |
Tourette syndrome |
Tian et al., 1996 (217) |
68:17 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture plus auricular acupressure |
Conventional Western medication (haloperidol) |
Cure was observed in:
• 30.9% of the test group; effective rate at 6-month follow-up, 46/57 (89.7%)
• 11.8% of the control group; effective rate at 6-month follow-up, 5/13 (69.7%) in the control group. |
Jin, 1998 (216) |
30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture plus auricular acupressure |
Conventional Western medication (haloperidol) |
After 1 month of treatment, clinical cure with no recurrence at 6-month follow-up in:
• 30.0% of test group; overall effective rate 93.4%
• 6.7% of control group; overall effective rate 76.7%. |
Ulcerative colitis, chronic |
Wu et al., 1995 (134) |
24:11 |
Group comparison |
Moxibustion with herbal partition |
Sulfasalazine |
After 3 months of treatment, clinical cure was observed in:
• 13/24 (54%) in test group; improvement in 10
• 3/11 (27%) in the control group; improvement in 4.
The difference was significant. |
Ma et al., 1997 (289) |
60:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Body acupuncture plus moxibustion. |
Sulfasalazine plus metronidazole |
After 30 days of treatment, cure (assessed both clinically and endoscopically) was observed in:
• 76.7% of the test group
• 56.7% of the control group. |
Urinary tract problems, see Female urethral syndrome; Neuropathic bladder in spinal cord injury; Recurrent lower urinary tract infection; Renal colic; Urolithiasis |
Urolithiasis |
Zhang et al., 1992 (7) |
126:118 |
Group comparison |
Acupuncture |
Fluid infusion plus herbal medication) |
Cure (elimination of symptoms and signs and no residual stones revealed by X-ray or ultrasound examination) was observed in:
• 90.48% of the test group
• 33.05% of the control group. |
Vascular dementia |
Lai, 1997 (290) |
30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Manual plus electric acupuncture |
Aniracetam |
Improvement after 6 weeks of treatment was observed in:
• 26 (86.7%) of the test group
• 19 (63.3%) of the control group. |
Liu et al., 1998 (291) |
60:60: 30:30 |
Randomized controlled trial |
(1) Scalp electric acupuncture |
(2) Nimodipine, (3) Electric acupuncture plus medication (nimodipine), or (4) No treatment |
Assessment by various neuropsychological scales showed that effects of test & control procedures were comparable. After 8 weeks of treatment, assessment (of memory, intelligence and ability to take care of oneself) showed improvement in:
• 68.3% of group (1)
• 71.6% of group (2)
• 73.3% of group (3)
• 23.3% of group (4). |
Condition/Study |
No. |
Design |
Test group |
Control Group |
Results |
Jiang et al., 1998 (292) |
33:33 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Electric acupuncture |
Dihydroergotoxine |
Results were superior in the test group, as assessed by the Hasegawa dementia scale and functional activities questionnaire, increase in superoxide dismutase and decreases in lipid peroxide and nitric oxide. |
Viral encephalitis in children, late stage |
Wang, 1998 (293) |
72:42 |
Group comparison |
Scalp electric and manual acupuncture plus routine medication as for control group |
Routine medication (including antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents, and nutrients for brain tissue) |
Effective rates were:
• 59/72 (81.9%) in the test group
• 19/42 (45.2%) in the control group. |
Whooping cough (pertussis) |
Yao et al., 1996 (87) |
145:50 |
Randomized controlled trial |
Acupuncture at bâxié (EX-UE9) |
Chloramphenicol intravenous drip |
After 7 days of treatment, cure was observed in:
• 98.6% of the test group
• 10% of the control group. |
Chargement en cours...
