Tag Archive for: acupuncture

Acupuncture evidence trends

Interest in Acupuncture is heating up





Have you ever wondered just how much research has been conducted on acupuncture? Well, let me tell you, it’s a lot! In fact, acupuncture is the most researched natural therapy out there, and the scientific interest in it is only increasing.

To give you an idea, I recently was researching on Pubmed and discovered the trend. The graph shows the number of acupuncture studies conducted each year from 1996 to 2012. And let me tell you, the numbers are impressive! I used actual data from the PubMed database to create this graph, so you can trust that it’s accurate. Now, I should note that I excluded data from 2013 since, at the time of my observation, the year was still in progress.

So, if you’ve ever been curious about acupuncture and its effectiveness, just know that there is plenty of research out there to back it up!

Bells palsy celebrity acupuncture

Acupuncture for Bell’s Palsy

An American celebrity Carnie Wilson: “Who believes in Acupuncture? I’m treating my Bell’s Palsy with it. IT’S WORKING.” (more on medicaldaily.com)

What is Bell’s Palsy?

It is a condition characterised by a sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, typically on one side of the face. It is caused by inflammation or damage to the facial nerve, which controls the movement of the muscles in the face. Bell’s palsy can cause a variety of symptoms, including drooping of the eyelid or corner of the mouth, difficulty smiling or closing the eye on one side, drooling, a decrease in taste sensation, and hypersensitivity to sound in one ear.

Role of acupuncture

Acupuncture for Bell’s palsy was recommended by the World Health Organization in 2002. There were a number of recent controlled trials which investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture. A recent study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has shown that not only is acupuncture effective for Bell’s Palsy, but stronger acupuncture stimulation leads to significantly better results. This is a crucial discovery, as it helps us treat this condition with acupuncture more effectively, and adds to the growing evidence that acupuncture has real, measurable benefits beyond just a placebo effect.

Why to start acupuncture as early as possible

A study published in 2021 summarised 15 randomised controlled trials and data from 2847 patients. They found that acupuncture was as effective as prednisone. However acupuncture was more effective when treatments started within a week of developing the condition. So, start acupuncture as early as possible.

Acupuncture effect on stroke depression

Acupuncture for post-stroke depression

Did you know that depression and anxiety are common among stroke survivors, affecting around one-third of them.

Acupuncture has been extensively studied as a means of aiding stroke recovery. And now specific research has also shown its potential in treating post-stroke depression. Chinese scientists have conducted a comprehensive analysis of various acupuncture studies to determine its efficacy in this regard. Their findings show that acupuncture is as effective as antidepressant medication, with fewer side effects and adverse reactions.

In China it is common to apply acupuncture in the hospitals for post-stroke recovery. And many post-stroke facilities have a team of acupuncturists on board. However, in New Zealand, there may be some practical challenges in applying this treatment. For example, in the early stages of the disease, many post-stroke patients may find it difficult to travel to see an acupuncturist. But for those who are lucky enough to afford an acupuncturist to travel to their hospital for post-stroke rehab, it’s important to talk to your acupuncturist about your mental health. That way, they can design a treatment plan that takes your needs into account!