research supporting acupuncture
It is an exciting time to be in the field of acupuncture! While the clinical practice of acupuncturists over thousands of years provides valuable evidence for the profession, there is a recent surge in high quality, scientific studies on acupuncture. As the Complementary and Integrative Healthcare model gains greater acceptance and is adopted by major hospitals, funding for acupuncture research is increasing, as is the quality of the studies conducted.
While many reviews often conclude that there is insufficient evidence (due to a scarcity of relevant studies, or the flawed designs of older studies), they often also conclude that acupuncture does seem to have a beneficial effect, with little to no major risks or side effects, and that further studies are warranted. As our scientific understanding of acupuncture evolves, research designs improve to better assess the effectiveness of this ancient medicine from a modern scientific viewpoint.
Below are some examples of recent studies supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture and Chinese medicine for women's health. Click on the title for a link to the abstract in Pubmed.
While many reviews often conclude that there is insufficient evidence (due to a scarcity of relevant studies, or the flawed designs of older studies), they often also conclude that acupuncture does seem to have a beneficial effect, with little to no major risks or side effects, and that further studies are warranted. As our scientific understanding of acupuncture evolves, research designs improve to better assess the effectiveness of this ancient medicine from a modern scientific viewpoint.
Below are some examples of recent studies supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture and Chinese medicine for women's health. Click on the title for a link to the abstract in Pubmed.
- Dysmenorrhea: "Effects of acupoint-stimulation for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea compared with NSAIDs: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 RCTs."
- Dysmenorrhea: "As Acupressure Decreases Pain, Acupuncture May Improve Some Aspects of Quality of Life for Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
- Dysmenorrhea: "Effects of moxibustion or acupoint therapy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a meta-analysis"
- Dysmenorrhea: "Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhoea: A Randomized Controlled Trial"
- Heavy bleeding: "Decreasing bleeding due to uterine fibroid with electroacupuncture"
