Acupuncture Research Update October 2014: Acupuncture is an excellent remedy for osteoarthritis of the knee. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that acupuncture produces significant pain relief and improved function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. In the study, the subjects who experienced acupuncture had a greater reduction in pain and stiffness, improved functioning and a higher quality of life than the placebo group. Berman, BM., et. Al., Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunct therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, DEC. 21, 2004; 141(12)901-910. Electro-acupuncture can help reduce blood pressureA study conducted on rats, by Dr. Longhurst, at the University of California, concluded that raised blood pressure was reduced as much as 50% with the use of electro-acupuncture.The doctors conducting the study artificially inflated blood pressure in rats. Afterwards, acupuncture was applied to specific points on the forelimbs. These specific points were the equivalent to acupuncture points on our forearm.When acupuncture was used alone, there were no significant changes; however, when a subtle electrical current was passed through the needles, blood pressure went down between 40 – 50%.According to Dr. Longhurst, “this suggests that acupuncture can be an excellent complement to other medical treatments (including a healthy diet), especially for those treating the cardiac system.Tjen-A-Looi, S.C., Li, P., and Longhurst, J., Medullary substrate and differential cardiovascular responses during stimulation of specific acupoints. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of California, APRIL 2004.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:21:40 +0000