General Medical Conditions and Acupuncture Treatment Management

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) explored whether acupuncture works and if acupuncture is a placebo. A review was conducted that compared usual medical care with placebo acupuncture and acupuncture. The review found that acupuncture was better than usual care and placebo acupuncture for pain from musculoskeletal conditions, knee arthritis and chronic headache. To find out more Watch the Video below.

The research involved reviewing 29 high-quality trials that investigated medical treatments that were prescribed to patients vs. acupuncture treatment. Medical treatment comparison included anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy. Findings demonstrate that acupuncture is a treatment option for people with chronic pain as acupuncture significantly reduced the number of headaches and migraine attacks. Acupuncture also reduced lower back pain and disability of osteoarthritis. This was said to contribute to patients being less reliant on medication to control pain.

 Your GP can refer you to Aquilia Acupuncture. This referral system is in place as Lianne Aquilina is a member of the British Acupuncture Council which is accredited by the Professional Standards Association PSA. You can access our services privately. 

When a patient has received a diagnosis of chronic pain and or depression and is interested in an effective treatment option acupuncture should form part of an informed and shared decision-making process based on the evidence-base of acupuncture. 

If this option has not been presented to a person suffering from chronic pain and the patient is considering options we advise the patient to contact us for further information. 

Acupuncture is also recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence NICE guidelines for the treatment management of Headaches in over 12s: diagnosis and management (CG150). 

Acupuncture is also recommended by NICE for the treatment management of Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s: assessment of all chronic pain and management of chronic primary pain (CG193).

Evidence-Based Acupuncture aims to provide information about acupuncture’s scientific evidence. Particularly, as research studies involving acupuncture as a medical treatment for people has risen enormously and continues to do so.

Research methods range from systematic reviews on a topic, clinical trials, cohort studies or animal research. Questions asked by scientists about acupuncture include for example acupuncture’s impact on menopause, sleep, anxiety through to pregnancy.

An acupuncture evidence base summary was conducted by a team of researchers in Australia. They found that research identifies that there is currently evidence of a positive effect of acupuncture treatment for eight conditions.

A review of systematic reviews of acupuncture treatment identified evidence for a positive effect of acupuncture for medical conditions outlined below:

• Acupuncture and allergic rhinitis
• Acupuncture and chronic low back pain
• Acupuncture and tension-type headache/chronic headaches
• Acupuncture and osteoarthritis of the knee
• Migraine prevention with acupuncture treatment
• Postoperative pain management

A potential positive effect of acupuncture treatment was presented for other specific medical conditions:

• Acupuncture for acute low back pain
• Acupuncture and acute stroke/stroke rehabilitation
• Anxiety treated with acupuncture
• Insomnia treated with acupuncture
• Irritable bowel syndrome treated with acupuncture
• Acupuncture and labour pain
• Acupuncture treatment for pain of the lateral elbow
• Menopausal hot flashes treatment with acupuncture
• Neck pain and acupuncture treatment
• Obesity management with acupuncture
• Plantar heel pain treatment with acupuncture
• Sciatica treatment with acupuncture
• Acupuncture treatment for shoulder pain
• Temporomandibular pain

Please click here to be directed to the Evidence-Based Acupuncture Organisation. It is non-profit organisation, donations can be made direct https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org.

For further information please contact us.

Note* Research into acupuncture’s effectiveness or efficacy is growing rapidly. Lianne Aquilina aims to update information regarding the scientific status of acupuncture for a range of common conditions ongoingly. Scientific research requires a high level of critique, which requires skill and time. Please visit this page again or contact us if you have any questions. Individual case management in terms of research and clinical practice is provided to our patients ongoingly.