Alternative forms of medicine such as acupuncture are steadily becoming more popular in resolving health issues such as headaches, back pain and infertility. The World Health Organization cites an impressively long list of conditions for which acupuncture is proven effective through controlled trials for those looking to take a more natural approach to improving their health and reducing the use of prescription medications.
Back Pain
In the Sept. 24, 2007, issue of "Internal Medicine," a German study reported acupuncture to be more effective in treating low-back pain than the conventional treatment of physical therapy and medication. The study included 1,162 patients given over 13,000 acupuncture treatments for chronic low-back pain. Those receiving acupuncture experienced a 47.6 percent improvement in pain, while those receiving conventional treatments experienced a 27.4 percent change in pain.
Infertility
In a study published in the Mar. 8, 2008, "British Medical Journal" researching the effectiveness of using acupuncture in increasing the rates of pregnancy and live births with in vitro fertilization, a 65 percent increase in pregnancy compared with the control groups was reported. These results implied that clinically for every 10 women treated with acupuncture, one would become pregnant, increasing the baseline pregnancy rate. The results were viewed as promising in reducing the high costs and stress associated with the in vitro process.
Battlefield Acupuncture
A procedure employed at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany using ear needles on military personnel wounded in service was reported in an article on Red Orbit website, Apr. 1, 2008. After being treated, a 50 to 75 percent reduction in chronic shoulder pain and migraine headaches was cited where little to no relief was experienced using medication. Doctors at the army base undergo specialized training and certification to bring this effective form of acupuncture to the military.
Hypertension
In a study published in the June 4, 2007, issue of "Circulation," 160 patients with mild to moderate hypertension were given acupuncture treatments over six weeks. The results showed a significant reduction in blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic. When acupuncture treatment was discontinued, the reduction in blood pressure levels was no longer present, showing the need for continued acupuncture.
References
- JAMA Archives News Releases: Acupuncture
- BMJ: Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation
- Red Orbit: US Army and Battlefield Acupuncture
- Circulation American Heart Association Journals: Randomized Trial of Acupuncture to Lower Blood Pressure
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