Electro-Acupuncture

Presentation Slides

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Systematic Review

Electro-acupuncture could positively impact a range of medical conditions by modulating brain activity and connectivity related to pain, emotion, and cognition.

2023 Healthcare Electro-Acupuncture Effects Measured by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging—A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials
Rodrigues JM, Ventura C, Abreu M, Santos C, Monte J, Machado JP, Santos RV

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Randomised Controlled Trial

Systemic electroacupuncture associated with Nogier frequency improves some aspects of quality of life in fibromyalgia patients, but not pain intensity, diagnostic criteria and heart rate variability.

2023 Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Effect of Systemic and Auricular Acupuncture with a 2/100 Hz Frequency and Nogier Frequency in Fibromyalgia: a Randomized Clinical Trial, Pilot Study
Moreira RM, Rosário RC, Boggiss A, Lima RA, Silva PA, Silva KP, Farias CL, Santos VQ, Silva JRT, Simões RP, Terra AMSV, Santos ATS

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Meta-Analysis

The application of acupuncture proved notably effective in alleviating pain and managing symptoms in patients suffering from herpes zoster.

2023 Journal of Acupuncture Research The Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Herpes Zoster: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Choi SK, Moon JH, Jang WS, Jang JE, Park SH, Sung WS, Jung CY, Seo BK, Lee SD, Kim KH, Kim EJ

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Systematic Review

Acupuncture, particularly electro-acupuncture, may alleviate post-hemorrhoidectomy pain at certain stages, but overall effectiveness remains inconclusive.

2022 Frontiers in Surgery The Role of Acupuncture in Relieving Post-Hemorrhoidectomy Pain: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Chen H, Zhang W, Sun Y, Jiao R, Liu Z

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Systematic Review

Fire-acupuncture combined with electro-acupuncture appears to be the most effective acupuncture method for treating herpes zoster.

2022 TMR Non-Drug Therapy Efficacy comparison of different acupuncture methods for herpes zoster: a systematic review and Bayesian analysis
Xu HC, Jiang YW, Shi YC, Liu P, Deng L

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Clinical Study

Electro-acupuncture when added to standard treatment can substantially enhance recovery in Bell palsy patients, reducing paralysis severity and improving nerve function.

2020 Journal of Craniofacial Surgery The Efficacy of Electro-Acupuncture Added to Standard Therapy in the Management of Bell Palsy
Gökçe Kütük S, Özkan Y, Topuz MF, Kütük M

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Systematic Review

Electroacupuncture combined with conventional routine care has the potential of reducing spasticity in the upper and lower limbs and improving overall and lower extremity motor function and activities of daily living for patients with spasticity, within 180 days poststroke.

2017 Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Electroacupuncture for Poststroke Spasticity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Cai Y, Zhang CS, Liu S, Wen Z, Zhang AL, Guo X, Lu C, Xue CC

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Systematic Review

Acupuncture may be recommended for the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with relatively rare incidence of adverse events.

2016 Scientific Reports Network Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Acupuncture, Alpha-blockers and Antibiotics on Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Qin, Z., Wu, J., Tian, J. et al.

Executive Summary

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Electro-Acupuncture" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Electro-Acupuncture" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Electro-Acupuncture" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Systematic Review published in 2023 in the journal Healthcare found that Electro-acupuncture could positively impact a range of medical conditions by modulating brain activity and connectivity related to pain, emotion, and cognition. In the systematic review, a thorough search for randomized clinical trials evaluating the effects of electro-acupuncture, as measured through functional MRI, was conducted. Applying stringent eligibility criteria along with diligent quality evaluation and data extraction, five studies analyzing electro-acupuncture's role across different ailments including carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and obesity were chosen and scrutinized. Electro-acupuncture was seen to alter brain activity and connectivity in regions linked to pain perception, emotional regulation, and cognitive processing in these diverse health conditions. In carpal tunnel syndrome, neurophysiological enhancements were observed both locally and distantly, implying diverse neuroplasticity methods. In fibromyalgia, somatosensory electro-acupuncture was associated with decreased pain intensity, improved brain connectivity, and elevated levels of a partnering neurotransmitter. In Crohn's disease, electro-acupuncture potentially reduced gut inflammation by influencing the afferent processing network. For irritable bowel syndrome, electro-acupuncture decreased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, providing pain respite. In the case of obesity, the method impacted brain areas related to dietary inhibition and emotional regulation, offering potential alleviation.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2023 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies found that Systemic electroacupuncture associated with Nogier frequency improves some aspects of quality of life in fibromyalgia patients, but not pain intensity, diagnostic criteria and heart rate variability. Randomized clinical trial methodology was used in this pilot study in which eighteen volunteers (both control and experimental) participated. The experimental group underwent six twenty minute systemic electroacupuncture sessions coupled with auricular acupuncture twice a week, for six weeks. The intensity of pain, diagnostic criteria of American College of Rheumatology, effect on life by fibromyalgia, and changes in heart rate variability were measured using specific instruments such as the Numerical Pain Assessment Scale, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and HRV analysis. In terms of the results, the primary outcome, i.e., Numeric Pain Assessment Scale showed no significant difference. However, in the secondary outcomes, distinct improvements were noted in the total score and certain domains of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire such as pain and anxiety. Nonetheless, no significant changes were observed for the diagnostic criteria or HRV variables.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2023 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture Research found that The application of acupuncture proved notably effective in alleviating pain and managing symptoms in patients suffering from herpes zoster. The methodology of this study involved conducting a systematic review of clinical trials related to acupuncture and electro-acupuncture treatment for herpes zoster up until October 2022. The trials included were those that utilized acupuncture. The primary outcomes analyzed were visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the overall effectiveness of the treatment. Secondary outcomes encompassed time intervals to pain relief and elimination, stages of incrustation, and decrustation, as well as the final incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). In the analysis of results, it was noted that compared with conventional medication therapy, acupuncture was linked with a considerable improvement in pain as measured by the VAS and in overall treatment effectiveness. There were also improvements in times to pain relief and elimination. Additionally, significant improvements were noted in the timeframes to the end of new blister formation, incrustation, and decrustation. Importantly, the incidence of PHN was lower among patients who underwent acupuncture treatments, suggesting that acupuncture could be a viable treatment option for managing pain and related symptoms in patients with herpes zoster.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Frontiers in Surgery found that Acupuncture, particularly electro-acupuncture, may alleviate post-hemorrhoidectomy pain at certain stages, but overall effectiveness remains inconclusive. The study conducted a systematic review to assess acupuncture's effect on pain experienced post-hemorrhoidectomy. To compile the required data, the researchers closely searched through nine databases, such as PubMed and Embase, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) home in on information concerning pain level after the surgery, the dosage of rescue analgesic medication used, patients' quality of life, and details about adverse events. Extracted data was analyzed narratively. The systematic review included four RCTs that encompassed a total of 275 patients. One observed study demonstrated that patients who underwent electro-acupuncture recorded significantly lower pain scores on the visual analog scale post-surgery and during their first defecation compared to those in the sham acupuncture group. Similar trends appeared on the verbal rating scale and Wong-Baker Faces scale but at varying time points. Another study displayed that electro-acupuncture was successful in relieving pain during defecation, up to a week following surgery, more so than local anesthetics. However, two trials that compared manual acupuncture with active medications for post-hemorrhoidectomy pain demonstrated inconsistent results.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal TMR Non-Drug Therapy found that Fire-acupuncture combined with electro-acupuncture appears to be the most effective acupuncture method for treating herpes zoster. For the methodology, the researchers identified all randomized controlled trials related to acupuncture treatments for herpes zoster across seven databases. During the screening process, the effectiveness rate from each trial was noted as primary outcomes. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was then performed using multiple software tools. In discussing the results, the researchers discovered that fire-acupuncture plus electro-acupuncture stands out as the top-performing treatment. This was followed by body acupuncture combined with moxibustion, fire-acupuncture alone, and several other combinations of acupuncture methods and western medicine. Importantly, no significant difference was found between the outcomes of direct and indirect comparisons.

A Clinical Study published in 2020 in the journal Journal of Craniofacial Surgery found that Electro-acupuncture when added to standard treatment can substantially enhance recovery in Bell palsy patients, reducing paralysis severity and improving nerve function. In the study, a total of 88 patients diagnosed with Bell palsy participated. They were divided into two groups. The first group comprised 40 patients who received standard treatment (ST) only, while the second group consisted of 48 individuals receiving standard treatment plus additional electro-acupuncture therapy (ST-EA). Details concerning patient demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes over a 3-month treatment period were meticulously recorded. What's more, the treatment response outcomes were assessed via the House-Brackmann grading system, facial nerve recovery profile and electromyography. What emerged from the data was that the ST-EA group showed a significantly higher improvement compared to the ST group. A higher proportion of individuals experienced normal nerve function, as evinced by the 12 week electromyography tests. Additionally, a superior number of patients presented with a House-Brackmann grade of less than or equal to 2 in the 3rd, 6th, and 12th weeks of treatment, suggesting a decrease in paralysis severity. Furthermore, more patients in the ST-EA group showed facial nerve recovery profile scores of 8 or above in both the 6th and 12th weeks of treatment, indicating more satisfactory functional recovery. These outcomes highlight the promising impact of electro-acupuncture therapy as a safe and potent adjunct to standard treatment for Bell palsy.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that Electroacupuncture combined with conventional routine care has the potential of reducing spasticity in the upper and lower limbs and improving overall and lower extremity motor function and activities of daily living for patients with spasticity, within 180 days poststroke. EA combined with conventional routine care has the potential of reducing spasticity in the upper and lower limbs and improving overall and lower extremity motor function and activities of daily living for patients with spasticity, within 180 days poststroke. Further studies of high methodological and reporting quality are needed to confirm the effects and safety of EA, and to explore the adequate and optimal protocol of EA for poststroke spasticity, incorporating a group of comprehensive outcome measures in different populations.

A Systematic Review published in 2016 in the journal Scientific Reports found that Acupuncture may be recommended for the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with relatively rare incidence of adverse events. Based on decreases in the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) score, a network meta-analysis indicated that electro-acupuncture, acupuncture, alpha-blockers, antibiotics, and dual therapy are superior to placebo in decreasing this score. Additionally, electro-acupuncture and dual therapy were more effective than alpha-blockers in decreasing the total NIH-CPSI total score. Other network meta-analyses did not show significant differences between interventions other placebo. The incidence of adverse events of acupuncture was relatively rare (5.4%) compared with placebo (17.1%), alpha-blockers (24.9%), antibiotics (31%) and dual therapy (48.6%). Overall, rank tests and safety analyses indicate that electro-acupuncture/acupuncture may be recommended for the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

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