Lahey Clinic Acupuncture - Evidence Based Guidelines Jonathan Ammen, M.Ed., M.Ac., Lic.Ac. Acupuncture has been used increasingly in the United States and Europe since the 1960’s. Though acupuncture has historically been used for a wider range of illnesses this paper focuses on those for which a scientific evidence base has been established. Since the NIH Consensus Conference on Acupuncture in 1997 there has been great interest in acupuncture research. As of 2010, hundreds of mechanism studies and efficacy RCTs, have been completed. Likely mechanisms of action have been identified but are not discussed here and the evidence base for acupuncture efficacy is growing. Though efficacy research results are promising, the strength of evidence in some studies is limited by study design and sample size. Also, the puzzle of identifying satisfactory scientific controls when researching a medical procedure is only partially solved1. Our understanding of placebo controls has in fact been expanded through some acupuncture studies.2,3 With mounting evidence of acupuncture’s efficacy it is gradually being integrated into conventional healthcare. In most of the United States acupuncturists are licensed after three years of post graduate education with internship and passage of board certification examinations. In Massachusetts, acupuncturists are licensed by the Registration Board in Medicine as an independent medical specialty. Patients may access care with or without a physician’s referral. Lahey Clinic began offering acupuncture within the Community Group Practices in 1999 and in 2010 at the Sophia Gordon Cancer Center in Burlington. At Lahey, acupuncture is integrated with conventional care. A summary of the evidence for acupuncture efficacy is presented in table form below. The tables result from a review of the scientific evidence for acupuncture’s safety & efficacy, citations are generally limited to randomized controlled trials. Some information from case series or pilot studies is included only for conditions with which acupuncture has a long history of empirical success. The author is informed as an acupuncture researcher4,5,6, educator and by 30 years of clinical practice. Questions about acupuncture in relation to a patient? Jonathan B. Ammen, Lic.Ac. Jonathan.B.Ammen@lahey.org Direct Line: 781 259 1165 1 (c) 2010 Jonathan Ammen updated 11/16/2010 Acupuncture - Evidence Based Guidelines Acupuncture is well tolerated and has an excellent safety record in adults7,8 and children.9 General Medicine - Acupuncture is effective for patients with: Condition Low back pain10,11 Chronic Shoulder Pain Post surgical pain15 Headache16 including migraine17,18 Lateral epicondyle pain19 Knee pain and function due to osteoarthritis20 Fibromyalgia pain fatigue and anxiety21 Dysmenorrhea22,23, infertility24,25 polycystic ovary syndrome26 Menopausal hot flashes27,28 Depression,29,30 depression during pregnancy31 Poor exercise tolerance in heart patients32 Bronchial asthma33,dyspnea34 Chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)35 Sleep apnea36 Findings, Recommendations & Comments Am College of Phys & Am Pain Soc - use for chronic or subacute low back pain.12 N Am Spine Soc - better relief and functional improvement than no treatment, add to other treatments for greater benefit than other treatments alone.13 Effective therapy in chronic shoulder pain. 15 treatments over 6 weeks are more effective than therapy with NSAIDs and physiotherapy. Therapeutic effect lasts for 3 mos.14 Comparable to 0.1 mg/kg IV morphine May enable reduction of medication May enable reduction of medication May be combined with physical therapy As part of comprehensive treatment approach Commonly used in Asia for wide range of GYN complaints Promising results, better placebo controls needed. One meta-analysis found acupuncture similar to antidepressants in major depressive disorder and post stroke depression. Ambulated 6 min walk distance was remarkably increased but no change in Cardiac ejection fraction or peak oxygen uptake. Improved lung function & reduced anxiety, acupuncture as an adjunct may enable medication reduction. Safe in children. Improved dyspnea on exercise. Apnea index, respiratory events & micro-arousals decreased. Hematology/Oncology - Acupuncture is effective for patients with: Condition Nausea & Vomiting of chemotherapy, pregnancy37 & perioperative38,39 Weight loss.40 Pain Oral & facial pain41,42,43 Cancer related pain, may enable reduced analgesic use. 44,45,46 Post Surgical pain47,48 Neck dissection pain, dysfunction & xerostomia.49 Joint pain & stiffness from aromatase inhibitors.50 Pain & limited ROM post axillary lymphadenectomy51 Immune Support Other cancer or cancer treatment symptoms xerostomia associated with radiotherapy.56 Dysphonia57 Inflammation associated with radiotherapy Vasomotor59,60 and depressive symptoms associated with antiestrogen therapy61, Vasomotor symptoms in men treated for prostate cancer.63 Weight loss, cough, chest pain, fever64 Fatigue associated with chemotherapy.65 Postoperative lymphedema 66 Anxiety, depression,67 post traumatic stress PTSD68 Findings, Recommendations & Comments Strong evidence Weight gain Post- surgical, myofascial pain, swallowing pain Clear benefit even when patients already under stable analgesic treatment. One trial – equal or better analgesia than conventional drugs over long term. Opiates may be reduced by peri-operative acupuncture. Significant reduction in symptoms versus usual care. Effective and well tolerated management strategy Treatment in this study begun 1 day post surgery. May enhance platelet count & prevented leukocyte decrease after radiation or chemotherapy.52, 53 Enhancement of leukocyte phagocytosis.54 Increased IL-2 level and NK cell activity55 Concurrent or after radiotherapy. Improved voice range, voice quality, and quality-of-life. rectitis58 studied, other tissues may be extrapolated. Equivalent to and more durable than Effexor62 also increased well being, energy, and in some cases libido. Frequency of and distress from hot flashes reduced, effect persisted 9 months. Weight gain, symptom relief, fewer side effects. Improvements in general & physical fatigue, activity & motivation Initiate treatment soon after surgery. Safe and effective management, PTSD symptom reductions maintained at least 3 months. 2 (c) 2010 Jonathan Ammen updated 11/16/2010 Endnotes: 1 Takakura N, Takayama M, Kawase A, Kaptchuk T,Yajima H. Double blinding with a new placebo needle: a further validation study. Acupuncture in Medicine, Sep2010, Vol. 28 Issue 3, p144-148; , 5p 2 Finniss DG, Kaptchuk TJ, Miller F, Benedetti F. Biological, clinical, and ethical advances of placebo effects. Lancet, ISSN: 1474-547X, 2010 Feb 20; Vol. 375 (9715), pp. 686-95; PMID: 20171404 3 Wasan AD, Kong J, Pham LD, Kaptchuk TJ, Edwards R, Gollub RL. The impact of placebo, psychopathology, and expectations on the response to acupuncture needling in patients with chronic low back pain. The Journal Of Pain: Official Journal Of The American Pain Society [J Pain], ISSN: 1528-8447, 2010 Jun; Vol. 11 (6), pp. 555-63 4 Kaptchuk T, Stason W, Davis R, et al. Sham device v inert pill: randomised controlled trial of two placebo treatments. 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