
Acupuncture for Period Pain & Endometriosis.
Period pain is experienced by most women throughout their menstrual years. While many women take painkillers to manage their period pain, Chinese medicine regards that a healthy period should not be painful.
Minor cramps and discomfort from time to time is not uncommon, however, experiencing strong pain that affects day-to-day activities is not normal.
Period pain without any identifiable medical cause may be diagnosed as primary dysmenorrhoea or caused by endometriosis and less commonly fibroids or adenomyosis.
What Does The Research Say?
The following insights are obtained from systematic reviews and analysis of clinical trials investigating the efficacy of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for period pain & endometriosis.
2021 Cureus Journal of Medical Science
Based on beneficial effects and minimal side effects, ginger may be a potential adjunct treatment for primary dysmenorrhea.
This review has shown that ginger can minimize pain in one or two periods. The present analysis provides compelling proof of the impact of ginger on relieving menstrual pain.
The finding in this study has verified the possibility of ginger efficacy in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, though no/small side effects have been identified and its use is associated with health benefits. Ginger is easily accessible due to its low cost. It can also be commonly used in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. The use of ginger is very useful and effective as NSAIDs because of the increasing trend in the use of traditional medicine and herbal medicine, particularly for people who do not want to use chemical drugs with more side effects. We strongly recommend that further research be performed with a greater number of patients regarding the effectiveness and protection of various doses of ginger.
Efficacy of Ginger in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Negi R, Sharma DS, Gaur DR, Bahadur A, Jelly P
2021 Cureus Journal of Medical Science
A systematic analysis indicates that ginger has a higher safety profile than NSAIDs for pain relief, with a smaller number of gastric side effects and fewer kidney risks.
The use of ginger is very useful and effective as NSAIDs because of the increasing trend in the use of traditional medicine and herbal medicine, particularly for people who do not want to use chemical drugs with more side effects.
Efficacy of Ginger in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Negi R, Sharma DS, Gaur DR, Bahadur A, Jelly P
2021 Frontiers in Medicine
Adding acupuncture to conventional therapy may decrease the subsequent endometriosis risk in female rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Between 1998 and 2010, female subjects with RA were recruited from a nationwide database (5,736 patients; age ≥20 years). Enrolled patients included 2,407 acupuncture users and 2,407 nonusers randomly selected using propensity scores. The occurrence of endometriosis was recorded through the end of 2012. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) associated with acupuncture use.
Results: During the follow-up period, 35 acupuncture users and 94 non-users developed endometriosis, with incidence rates of 2.36 and 4.91 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Acupuncture use was associated with a 55% lower endometriosis risk. Those who received high intensity acupuncture (≥15 packages) had the greatest benefit.
The results of multivariable analysis demonstrated that the use of acupuncture was related to a significantly reduced risk of endometriosis. In the subgroup analysis, the medium- to high-level intensity acupuncture use was found to possibly lessen the risk of having endometriosis for more than 70%. We discovered that the post-rheumatoid arthritis acupuncture use would significantly reduce the risk of endometriosis in a dose-dependent manner.
The Relationship of Acupuncture Use to the Endometriosis Risk in Females With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Real-World Evidence From Population-Based Health Claims Chen Wei-Jen, Livneh Hanoch, Hsu Chien-Hui, Hu Ying-To, Lai Ning-Sheng, Guo How-Ran, Tsai Tzung-Yi
2021 Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine
Fennel intake decreased significantly the intensity of dysmenorrhea compared to placebo and was similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as mefenamic acid.
Meta-analysis of these trials showed that F. vulgare intake decreased significantly the intensity of dysmenorrhea compared to the placebo. However, the effect of Mefenamic acid with F. vulgare was not different from each other.
The F. vulgare alleviates dysmenorrhea. Regarding the same effect of F. vulgare with NSAIDs, it is highly recommend to the women suffered from dysmenorrhea specifically the ones who have high tendency toward herbal medicine.
Effect of fennel on primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis Hadis Shahrahmani, Masumeh Ghazanfarpour, Nasim Shahrahmani, Fatemeh Abdi, Robert D. E. Sewell and Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei
2020 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The current evidence suggests that acupuncture and moxibustion is more effective than ibuprofen or Fenbid in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea.
This overview provided a comprehensive overview of the evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion for PD. Evidence of moderate quality suggested that acupuncture and moxibustion had a positive effect on indomethacin or Fenbid in treating PD. Low-quality evidence showed that compared to NSAIDs, acupuncture and moxibustion could relieve PD related pain with less adverse effects, which needs to be further researched. The adverse effects related to the acupuncture and moxibustion were mild, and they included dizziness, fainting, or minimal bleeding after acupuncture.
Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Primary Dysmenorrhea: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Jun Yang, Jun Xiong, Ting Yuan, Xue Wang, Yunfeng Jiang, Xiaohong Zhou, Kai Liao, Lingling Xu
2020 Journal of Maternal and Child Health
Acupuncture therapy can affect pain reduction in dysmenorrhea patients.
7 articles from South Korea, Taiwan, Spain, China, India, and Hong Kong were reviewed in this meta-analysis. This study showed that acupuncture therapy was -1.16 better in reducing pain in dysmenorrhea patients.
Effect of Acupuncture Therapy on Pain Reduction in Dysmenorrhea Patients: A Meta-Analysis Novitasari, E., Soemanto, R., & Prasetya, H.
2020 Nutrients
Fennel is as effective as conventional drug therapies in alleviating pain in primary dysmenorrhea.
A total of 12 studies were included in this review. The pooled results of seven trials showed that the effect of fennel is similar to that of conventional drug therapies in alleviating pain. In comparison with placebo, fennel was seen to have favorable effects on reducing pain in primary dysmenorrhea. Only three studies assessed adverse events (AEs), and one study reported minor AEs. Although the risk of bias for all the included studies was moderate, potential publication bias was observed due to the presence of a greater number of small studies with favorable effects.
Fennel for Reducing Pain in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Hye Won Lee ,Lin Ang ,Myeong Soo Lee ,Zainab Alimoradi and Eunseop Kim
2020 Journal of International Medical Research
For primary dysmenorrhoea, cinnamon/fennel/ginger effectively reduced pain intensity, and cinnamon shortened the duration of pain.
Nine studies with 647 patients were selected. Compared with the results in the control group, pain intensity was significantly relieved in the trial group when assessed by the intervention, observation period, and study quality. Pain duration was significantly shorter in the trial group. No publication bias was observed for either outcome.
Efficacy of herbal medicine (cinnamon/fennel/ginger) for primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Xu Y, Yang Q, Wang X
2018 Medicine
Acupuncture might reduce menstrual pain and associated symptoms more effectively compared to no treatment or NSAIDs.
The results of this study suggest that acupuncture might reduce menstrual pain and associated symptoms more effectively compared to no treatment or NSAIDs, and the efficacy could be maintained during a short-term follow-up period. Despite limitations due to the low quality and methodological restrictions of the included studies, acupuncture might be used as an effective and safe treatment for females with primary dysmenorrhea.
The efficacy and safety of acupuncture in women with primary dysmenorrhea Woo HL, Ji HR, Pak YK, Lee H, Heo SJ, Lee JM, Park KS
2018 International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
Acupuncture showed a significant benefit in pain reduction for women with endometriosis as compared with placebo.
The complementary interventions studied were acupuncture, exercise, electrotherapy, and yoga. All were inconclusive in affirming benefit, but demonstrated a positive trend in the treatment of symptoms of endometriosis. Meta-analysis of acupuncture showed a significant benefit in pain reduction as compared with placebo.
Numerous complementary treatments have been used to alleviate the symptoms of endometriosis, but only acupuncture has demonstrated a significant improvement in outcomes.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of complementary treatments for women with symptomatic endometriosis Mira, T.A., Buen, M.M., Borges, M.G., Yela, D.A. and Benetti-Pinto, C.L.
2018 Reproductive Health
Traditional Chinese medicine that is often used for infertility treatment has shown successful results in controlling the recurrence of endometriosis following surgery thereby providing symptomatic pain relief and improving Health Related Quality of Life.
Traditional Chinese medicine is used in Chinese patients to control the recurrence of endometriosis following surgery, provide symptomatic pain relief, and improve Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). It is also often used to treat infertility.
Though several treatment regimens are available for the management of patients with endometrial lesions, alternative strategies are used in China. In conclusion, although Western medicine has been studied and validated more extensively for the treatment of endometriosis, both TCM and Western medicine are used equally in the treatment of endometriosis in Chinese women.
A review of the risk factors, genetics and treatment of endometriosis in Chinese women: a comparative update Dai Y, Li X, Shi J, Leng J
2018 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Acupuncture may help to alleviate pain caused by primary dysmenorrhea.
While five systematic reviews reported contradictory results, the three of higher quality suggested that individuals who received acupuncture experienced lower levels of pain than their counterparts who received sham treatments. And two studies on acupressure also reported positive results and improved pain measured with VAS. The highest quality study showed that EA at SP6 was better in pain relief compared to EA at GB39. Cho et al. found that acupuncture was associated with a significant reduction in pain compared with pharmacological treatment or herbal medicine. Besides, one study found acupuncture at different acupoint had no difference in the mean VAS score reduction. Due to the study design, it only demonstrated the effects of difference meridian acupoints on primary dysmenorrhea, which, however, could not rule out the role of acupuncture therapy for the disease.
Only two studies reported adverse events, such as fainting during acupuncture, a hematoma, and a needling sensation after acupuncture. There were no serious adverse events. But these can be avoided with caution. Therefore, with the correct management and application, acupuncture is a safe technique for PD treatment.
Acupuncture for Primary Dysmenorrhea: An Overview of Systematic Reviews Zhang F, Sun M, Han S, Shen X, Luo Y, Zhong D, Zhou X, Liang F, Jin R
2017 PLOS One
The current literature suggests that acupuncture reduces endometriosis-related pain and serum CA-125 levels, regardless of the control intervention used.
Of the 10 studies included, only one pilot study used a placebo control and assessed blinding; the rest used various controls (medications and herbs), which were impossible to blind. The sample sizes were small in all studies, ranging from 8 to 36 patients per arm. The mean difference (MD) in pain reduction (pre- minus post-interventional pain level—measured on a 0–10-point scale) between the acupuncture and control groups was 1.36. Acupuncture had a positive effect on peripheral blood CA-125 levels, as compared with the control groups. Similarly, the effect of acupuncture on clinical effective rate was positive, as compared with the control groups.
Effects of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis Xu Y, Zhao W, Li T, Zhao Y, Bu H, Song S
2017 BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Acupoint-stimulation can relieve pain effectively in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea and offers advantages compared with treatment by NSAIDs.
The current evidence reveals that acupoint-stimulation in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea has some obvious advantages compared with treatment by NSAIDs. The advantages are that acupoint-stimulation can alleviate the symptoms of dysmenorrhoea, reduce the level of peripheral blood PGF2α and has fewer side effect, so it can be used to treat primary dysmenorrhea patients, especially individuals with NSAIDs contraindication.
Effects of acupoint-stimulation for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea compared with NSAIDs: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 RCTs Xu, Y., Zhao, W., Li, T. et al.
2017 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Electroacupuncture can provide considerable immediate analgesia effect for primary dysmenorrhea.
Our findings indicated that EA at SP6 can provide considerable immediate analgesic effect for primary dysmenorrhea and its immediate effect of pain relieving seems to be superior to control interventions. Moreover, there was greater prevalence of curative rate in the EA treatment group compared with the pharmacological treatments after a course of treatment. These results appear to be encouraging, but it should be considered at the same time that they are based on relatively low number of trials and relatively poor methodological quality of the primary studies. Hence, future research should be designed strictly and comprehensively to provide unbiased evidence about the efficacy of EA in the treatment of PD.
Electroacupuncture is Beneficial for Primary Dysmenorrhea: The Evidence from Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Si-yi Yu, Zheng-tao Lv, Qing Zhang, Sha Yang, Xi Wu, You-ping Hu, Fang Zeng, Fan-rong Liang, Jie Yang
2016 Journal of Pain Research
Acupuncture could be tried as a complement in the treatment of pain in endometriosis as it is an overall safe treatment.
Based on the analysis in the presented review, there are grounds to believe that acupuncture can relieve pain in some patients. The effects of acupuncture as a pain-relieving treatment has in various studies been presented as an overall safe alternative treatment with very few and small (harmless) side effects, and furthermore with no effect on the environment. It could therefore also be regarded as a ‘sustainable’ treatment. In the future, studies designed for evaluating effectiveness between different types of treatment strategies, rather than efficacy design would be preferred to analyze treatment effects in individual patients.
Is acupuncture effective in the treatment of pain in endometriosis? Lund I, Lundeberg T
2016 Maturitas
Meta-analysis showed that Danggui Shaoyao San had superior effects compared to analgesics for treating primary dysmenorrhea.
A total of 746 potentially relevant studies were identified, and four RCTs met our inclusion criteria. All of the included RCTs had a high risk of bias across their domains. Three RCTs showed favourable effects of DSS on response rate compared with conventional medicine, and a meta-analysis showed that DSS had superior effects compared to analgesics. One RCT showed a beneficial effect of DSS on pain compared with placebo control. Our systematic review and meta-analysis provided suggestive evidence of the superiority of DSS over analgesics or placebo for dysmenorrhea. The quality of evidence for this finding was low to moderate because of a high risk of bias.
Herbal medicine (Danggui Shaoyao San) for treating primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Hye Won Lee, Ji Hee Jun, Ki-Jung Kil, Byong-Seob Ko, Choong Hwan Lee, Myeong Soo Lee
2016 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
The review found limited consistent evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for relieving menstrual pain compared to sham treatments or other interventions.
This passage provides a summary of the main results of a review on the effectiveness of acupuncture and acupressure in managing primary dysmenorrhoea (menstrual pain) in women. The review includes 42 trials involving 4640 women. The primary outcome, which is pain relief, showed no consistent difference between women receiving acupuncture and those receiving a sham control (simulated treatment). However, limited evidence suggested a benefit for acupuncture compared to NSAIDs, Chinese herbs, and other treatments. Acupressure had limited evidence of benefit compared to a sham control. Secondary outcomes, including menstrual symptoms and quality of life, did not consistently show a benefit from acupuncture. The trials had various limitations, such as incomplete reporting of outcomes, short follow-up periods, and variations in eligibility criteria. The quality of reporting was generally poor, and many trials were at high risk of bias. The overall quality of evidence for pain relief and menstrual symptoms was considered low. Other reviews on this topic found promising evidence for acupuncture, but results were influenced by methodological flaws in the trials.
Acupuncture for dysmenorrhoea Smith CA, Armour M, Zhu X, Li X, Lu ZY, Song J
2015 Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
Acupressure showed evidence of pain relief while acupuncture improved both the mental and the physical components of quality of life associated with primary dysmenorrhea.
This study involved three reviewers who dependently and independently performed study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction and management. Several interventions indicated statistical significance. Insights into the efficacies of the interventions were identified in correlation to themselves and with one another. The systematic review highlighted promising evidence in the form of studies done to establish the effectiveness of acupuncture and acupressure in the management of primary dysmenorrhea. However, the results were limited and had methodological flaws. The review and the meta-analysis indicated that acupressure significantly reduced the pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea and that acupuncture improved both the physical and the mental components of quality of life. The magnitude of these effects may or may not be clinically worthwhile, but as the costs and the risks of these interventions is low, these results may be clinically useful.
As Acupressure Decreases Pain, Acupuncture May Improve Some Aspects of Quality of Life for Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis Abaraogu UO, Tabansi-Ochuogu CS
2013 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Our findings suggest that acupressure at the SP6 acupoint may provide more effective pain relief than that of control treatment.
This is the first systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture or acupressure at the SP6 acupoint for relieving pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea. Our findings suggest that acupuncture at the SP6 acupoint may not be more effective than acupuncture at an unrelated (GB39) acupoint for the relief of dysmenorrhea-associated pain (assessed using a VAS). In contrast, our findings suggest that acupressure at the SP6 acupoint may provide more effective relief from dysmenorrhea-associated pain than control interventions.
Clearly, there is a need for high-quality, randomized controlled trials to clarify the effectiveness of acupuncture/acupressure at the SP6 acupoint for the treatment of pain resulting from primary dysmenorrhea.
Acupuncture or Acupressure at the Sanyinjiao (SP6) Acupoint for the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Meta-Analysis Chen MN, Chien LW, Liu CF
2011 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Acupuncture shows potential for reducing dysmenorrhoea scores in endometriosis patients.
Endometriosis is a prevalent gynaecological condition that significantly affects women's lives, often leading to chronic pelvic pain and dysmenorrhoea. However, the current management of pain in endometriosis is inadequate. Acupuncture has been studied in gynaecological disorders, but its effectiveness for pain in endometriosis remains uncertain. Researchers conducted a systematic review to determine the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for pain in endometriosis. Out of twenty-four identified studies on acupuncture for endometriosis, only one trial met the inclusion criteria. The study showed that acupuncture, particularly auricular acupuncture, may reduce dysmenorrhoea scores and be more effective than Chinese herbal medicine. However, due to the limited evidence from only one study, more well-designed, double-blinded, randomized controlled trials comparing various types of acupuncture with conventional therapies are needed to draw stronger conclusions about acupuncture's efficacy in managing pain in endometriosis.
Acupuncture for pain in endometriosis Zhu X, Hamilton KD, McNicol ED
2010 BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Acupuncture shows promise for reducing pain in primary dysmenorrhea compared to pharmacological treatment or herbal medicine.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating primary dysmenorrhea through a review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases up to July 2008, encompassing English, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese sources. The review included 27 RCTs, of which only nine described randomization methods clearly, and none provided details about allocation concealment. Acupuncture demonstrated a significant reduction in pain compared to pharmacological treatment or herbal medicine. While some studies reported reduced pain within groups, two trials found no significant difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture. The review suggests promising evidence from RCTs supporting acupuncture's efficacy in treating primary dysmenorrhea when compared to pharmacological treatment or herbal medicine. However, the results were hindered by methodological limitations. The study emphasizes the need for more rigorous nonpenetrating placebo-controlled RCTs to establish the effectiveness of acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhea treatment.
Acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea: a systematic review Cho SH, Hwang EW
2010 Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Acupuncture-related therapies may have potential as an intervention for primary dysmenorrhea.
This passage provides a systematic review of studies on acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain). The review included 32 trials with a total of 3,910 patients. These trials compared acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion to various control treatments. The results showed conflicting findings regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture-related therapies, with one trial suggesting acupuncture was significantly more effective than control groups. However, the review also identified several limitations in the trials, including issues with study design, outcome measures, trial heterogeneity, and potential publication bias. The authors suggest that while acupuncture-related therapies may hold promise for treating dysmenorrhea, further well-designed trials are needed to provide more definitive evidence. They also recommend improvements in study methodologies and the application of international outcome measures for more accurate and comparable results.
Systematic review of clinical trials of acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea Yang, H., Liu, C.-Z., Chen, X., Ma, L.-X., Xie, J.-P., Guo, N.-N., Ma, Z.-B., Zheng, Y.-Y., Zhu, J., & Liu, J.-P.
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Scientific References
Browse our collection of scientific clinical research on acupuncture for period pain & endometriosis.
It includes recent and reputable papers published by peer-reviewed journals within the last 10 years.

2022, Oct 01
Shoulder Pain and the Potential Role of Acupuncture: A Narrative Review of Clinical Practice and Treatment Guidelines
Perspectives on Integrative Medicine
Acupuncture is safe and may be a cost-effective treatment for shoulder pain. There were 131 statements recommending the use of acupuncture for shoulder pain across 12 subtypes of shoulder pain. The most common statements were for non-specific ‘shoulder pain.’ There were 11 statements against the use of acupuncture for shoulder pain and three subtypes of shoulder pain. The level of evidence in studies of acupuncture treatment for shoulder pain is low, therefore, further research is needed. Recommendations for the use of acupuncture for shoulder pain are increasing but lag behind those for other pain problems such as low back pain.
Birch S, Lee MS, Kim TH, Alraek T Full Article

2022, Sep
Role of acupuncture in the treatment of migraine
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
The review suggests that acupuncture should be integrated into existing migraine therapy protocols.
Endres HG, Diener HC, Molsberger A Full Article

2022, Sep 14
Early intervention with acupuncture improves the outcome of patients with Bell's palsy: A propensity score-matching analysis
Frontiers in Neurology
Acupuncture intervention at the acute stage of Bell's palsy (BP) could shorten the time to recovery and improve the outcome.
Yang LS, Zhou DF, Zheng SZ, Zhao BM, Li HG, Chen QQ, Zhong Y, Yang HZ, Zhang K, Tang CZ Full Article

2022, Aug 18
Electroacupuncture for the treatment of frozen shoulder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Medicine
Electroacupuncture is reported to improve FS pain and function compared with control treatments. Additionally, EA can be used as an adjunct therapy for FS pain. EA could emerge as a potent intervention against FS.
Heo JW, Jo JH, Lee JJ, Kang H, Choi TY, Lee MS, Kim JI Full Article

2022, Jun 23
Efficacy of Acupuncture, Intravenous Lidocaine, and Diet in the Management of Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Healthcare
The acupuncture showed a significant effect in the management of fibromyalgia patients. It reduced pain, depression, and enhanced the quality of life. While physiotherapy showed a significant improvement in the quality of life only. In contrast, intravenous lidocaine and diet showed no significant differences when compared with sham/placebo.
Almutairi NM, Hilal FM, Bashawyah A, Dammas FA, Yamak Altinpulluk E, Hou JD, Lin JA, Varrassi G, Chang KV, Allam AES Full Article

2022, May
Comparative effectiveness of multiple acupuncture therapies for primary insomnia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trial
Sleep Medicine
With moderate to low certainty of evidence, multiple acupuncture therapies showed impressive insomnia improvement, especially acupoints catgut embedding (ACE), auricular acupressure or auricular acupuncture plus manual acupuncture (AP + MA), and electroacupuncture plus acupoint application (EA + APA).
Lu Y, Zhu H, Wang Q, Tian C, Lai H, Hou L, Liu Y, Gao Y, Liu M, Yang F, Ni X, Lin L, Niu J, Tian J, Ge L Full Article

2022, May 31
Electroacupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Journal of Acupuncture Research Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society
Electroacupuncture was reported to have significant treatment results compared with the control group in methods such as total effectiveness, electromyography, and tip pinch strength. However, the quality of the studies (using risk of bias) does not allow reliable conclusions to be made. Many high quality (low risk of bias) randomized controlled trials are needed to examine the efficacy of electroacupuncture treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Park CW, Lim MJ, Lee SW, Yi YH, Song DW, Yu SG, Kim MJ, Oh DY, Choi HJ, Ju AR Full Article

2022, Apr 18
Chinese herbal medicines for hyperthyroidism
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Cochrane
The results suggest that traditional Chinese herbal medicines added to other routine treatment have a therapeutic potential for people with hyperthyroidism.
Zeng X, Yuan Y, Wu T, Yan L, Su H Full Article

2022, Mar 31
Effects of Acupuncture Combined with Moxibustion on Reproductive and Metabolic Outcomes in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Among patients with PCOS, using acupuncture combined with moxibustion as a complementary therapy to basic treatments can improve pregnancy, ovulation, and miscarriage rates, the levels some sex hormones, and metabolic indicators, with good safety. Additionally, this combination therapy may have no effect on the FSH, oestradiol, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level.
Li P, Peng J, Ding Z, Zhou X, Liang R Full Article

2022, Feb
Effect of Acupuncture on Pain, Fatigue, Sleep, Physical Function, Stiffness, Well-Being, and Safety in Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Journal of Pain Research American Society of Pain & Neuroscience
Moderate quality of evidence supports acupuncture in reducing pain in patients with FM. Therefore, acupuncture is recommended as a treatment for FM.
Zheng C, Zhou T Full Article

2022, Feb 01
The Effect of Acupuncture on Hand and Wrist Pain Intensity, Functional Status, and Quality of Life in Adults: A Systematic Review
Medical Acupuncture American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
Acupuncture may be effective and safe for short-term pain reduction and functional improvement in hand-and-wrist conditions. Clinicians should interpret the results with caution due to small sample sizes and clinical heterogeneity. Future research is warranted.
Trinh K, Zhou F, Belski N, Deng J, Wong CY Full Article

2022, Jan
Efficacy and safety of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction add-on bisphosphonate medications in patients with osteoporosis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Adding Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (DHJSD) on bisphosphonate medications seems to be an effective and safe strategy in treating patients with osteoporosis.
Huang CY, Cheng CJ, Chiou WF, Chang WC, Kang YN, Lee MH Full Article

2022, Jan
Systematic review and meta-analysis of complementary treatments for women with symptomatic endometriosis
International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
Numerous complementary treatments have been used to alleviate the symptoms of endometriosis, but only acupuncture has demonstrated a significant improvement in outcomes.
Ticiana A.A. Mira, Mariana M. Buen, Murilo G. Borges, Daniela A. Yela, Cristina L. Benetti-Pinto Full Article

2021, Dec 31
Effect of Manual Acupuncture for Mild-to-Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Journal of Pharmacopuncture
Manual acupuncture can be used for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment without serious adverse effects.
Huh JH, Jeong HI, Kim KH Full Article

2021, Oct 31
Effects of Acupuncture after Rotator Cuff Surgery: A Systematic Review
Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
6 RCTs were finally selected, and acupuncture showed positive results for pain relief and functional recovery after rotator cuff surgery. However, the analyzed 6 RCTs showed a high overall risk of bias. In the future, RCTs with a higher level of evidence on the effect of acupuncture after rotator cuff surgery need to be continuously conducted.
Lee SJ, Ko YM, Park JS, Park TY, Lee JH, Cho JH, Hwang EH, Kim KJ, Choi MY, Song YK Full Article

2021, Sep 23
A comprehensive insight into effects of green tea extract in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
This review suggests that green tea extract (GTE) could be considered a potential agent to attenuate PCOS complications mainly due to its effect on weight loss and glycemic levels.
Maleki V, Taheri E, Varshosaz P, Tabrizi FPF, Moludi J, Jafari-Vayghan H, Shadnoush M, Jabbari SHY, Seifoleslami M, Alizadeh M Full Article

2021, Aug 31
Acupuncture Treatment for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Journal of Acupuncture Research Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society
No major side effects were reported. Acupuncture may be an effective and safe treatment for SIS however, further RCTs are required.
Park JE, Kim WY, Lee SJ, Oh DY, Lee MC, Jeon MK, Kim HJ, Ahn JY, Yang SH, Choi YY, Shin NY, Nam HJ Full Article

2021, Jul 27
Herbal therapy for ameliorating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via rebuilding the intestinal microecology
Chinese Medicine International Society for Chinese Medicine
The key roles of CHMs in the regulation of gut microbiota and the gut-liver axis along with their mechanisms (such as modulating intestinal permeability, reducing the inflammatory response, protecting liver cells, improving lipid metabolism, and modulating nuclear receptors), were well summarized. All the knowledge and information presented here will be very helpful for researchers to better understand the applications and mechanisms of CHMs for treatment of NAFLD.
Yang XF, Lu M, You L, Gen H, Yuan L, Tian T, Li CY, Xu K, Hou J, Lei M Full Article

2021, Jun 22
Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia
Orthopedic Reviews
An increasing number of studies support the utilization of acupuncture for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Though no head-to-head comparison was able to show the superiority of acupuncture to other therapies, mounting evidence supports its use as part of multimodal approaches to treatment with additive efficacy to traditional therapy. Further research will likely provide data on effective regimens and combination therapies.
Berger AA, Liu Y, Nguyen J, Spraggins R, Reed DS, Lee C, Hasoon J, Kaye AD Full Article

2021, Apr 15
Effects of massage and acupuncture on the range of motion and daily living ability of patients with frozen shoulder complicated with cervical spondylosis
American Journal of Translational Research
Massage combined with acupuncture can better improve the ROM of joints and daily living ability of patients with frozen shoulder complicated with cervical spondylosis.
Liu M, Liu Y, Peng C, Wang H, Xu Y, Jiao S, Ding Y Full Article

2021, Jan 11
Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicines for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials
Chinese Medicine International Society for Chinese Medicine
There is some evidence from RCTs that supported the effectiveness and safety of TCMs for NAFLD. However, no conclusive recommendations can be made due to the questionable quality of the RCTs. Improvement in the RCT protocol, the use of a larger sample size, a setting of multicenter, and a more focused approach in selecting TCMs are recommended for developing high quality evidence about the use of TCMs in managing NAFLD.
Liang, Z., Chen, X., Shi, J. et al. Full Article

2021, Jan 11
Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicines for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials
Chinese Medicine International Society for Chinese Medicine
Based on this review, the efficacy of TCMs in NAFLD management appears to be promising and the risks associated with the investigated TCMs were reportedly minimal. However, no conclusion can be made so far due to the concerns over the quality of RCTs and the possible risks of bias. Improvement in the RCT protocol, the use of a larger sample size, a setting of a multicenter, a more focused approach in selecting TCMs and measures that allow the investigation of long term safety of TCMs are recommended for achieving a high-level quality of TCMs evidence for NAFLD to be used to inform clinical practice.
Liang Z, Chen X, Shi J, Hu H, Xue Y, Ung COL Full Article

2021, Jan
Efficacy and safety of standardized Ginkgo biloba L. leaves extract as an adjuvant therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
The results of the current study suggested that GBE might be effective and promising as an adjuvant to corticosteroids in the initial treatment of moderate to profound SSNHL
Si X, Yu Z, Ren X, Huang L, Feng Y. Full Article

2020, Dec 17
Effects of manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture for lateral epicondylalgia of musculoskeletal origin: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Acupuncture in Medicine British Medical Acupuncture Society
Low-level evidence suggests positive effects of acupuncture, but not electroacupuncture, for pain, related-disability, and strength, in LE of musculoskeletal origin, in the short term.
Navarro-Santana MJ, Sanchez-Infante J, Gómez-Chiguano GF, Cummings M, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Plaza-Manzano G Full Article

2020, Dec 15
Acupuncture vs. Pharmacological Prophylaxis of Migraine: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Frontiers in Neurology
Based on moderate certainty of evidence, we conclude that acupuncture is mildly more effective and much safer than medication for the prophylaxis of migraine.
Giovanardi CM, Cinquini M, Aguggia M, Allais G, Campesato M, Cevoli S, Gentili F, Matrà A and Minozzi S Full Article

2020, Oct 16
Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture Therapy for Patients with Acute Ankle Sprain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
This study has indicated that acupuncture is effective in relieving acute ankle sprains.
Liu AF, Gong SW, Chen JX, Zhai JB. Full Article

2020, Oct 21
An evaluation of the effects and safety of Zuogui pill for treating osteoporosis: Current evidence for an ancient Chinese herbal formula
Phytotherapy Research
The results showed that Zuogui pill (ZGP), combined with anti-osteoporosis drugs, significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine, Ward's area, and total hip. In terms of markers for improved bone metabolism, ZGP plus conventional drugs dramatically improved the levels of alkaline phosphatase, bone Gla protein, bone alkaline phosphatase, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase.
Li J, Sun K, Qi B, Feng G, Wang W, Sun Q, Zheng C, Wei X, Jia Y Full Article

2020, Oct 06
The Efficacy and Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine Tonifying-Shen (Kidney) Principle for Primary Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Our meta-analysis provides promising evidence to suggest that using the TS (TK) principle combined with conventional Western medicine (CWM) for primary osteoporosis (POP) is more effective than using CWM alone. Also, both of them are safe and reliable for POP.
Liang J, Wang F, Huang J, Xu Y, Chen G Full Article

2020, Sep 18
Systems pharmacology-based approach to investigate the mechanisms of Danggui-Shaoyao-san prescription for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Overall, this study proposed an integrative systems pharmacology approach to disclose the therapeutic mechanisms of DSS against AD, which also provides novel in silico paradigm for investigating the effective substances of complex TCM prescription.
Wu, Q., Chen, Y., Gu, Y. et al. Full Article

2020, Sep 15
Efficacy and Safety of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The pooled estimate suggested that Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (DHJSD) combined with conventional medical therapies has a certain clinical curative effect on postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Li J, Wang W, Feng G, Du J, Kang S, Li Z, Zhu W, Shang H Full Article

2020, Aug 12
Therapeutic Effects and Mechanisms of Herbal Medicines for Treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Herbal medicines are thought to be promising resources in the development of effective therapeutic agents for PCOS. Further studies that include methodological quality assessment and quantitative synthesis of outcomes are recommended.
Kwon Chan-Young, Cho Ik-Hyun, Park Kyoung Sun Full Article

2020, Jun 25
Effectiveness of Soyo-san (Xiaoyao-san) and its Modifications on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
We found that Soyo-san (Xiaoyao-san) and its modifications were effective for improvement of general symptoms and fatigue severity in CFS post-treatment.
Kim J, Song J, Nam D Full Article

2020, Jun 09
Reduced Stroke Risk among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Receiving Chinese Herbal Medicines Treatment: Analysis of Domestic Data in Taiwan
Medicina
The findings of the present study suggest that adding CHMs to conventional therapy could decrease subsequent stroke risk for AF patients. It is also suggested that prospective randomized trials are needed to further clarify if the detected association revealed in this study supports a causal link, and to identify the specific CHMs that may be beneficial to AF patients.
Zheng LC, Livneh H, Chen WJ, Lin MC, Lu MC, Yeh CC, Tsai TY Full Article

2020, May 26
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: Systematic review
Neuropediatrics
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture are a therapeutic option for mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome with a medium level of scientific evidence, tending towards a high level, and with a medium level of recommendation.
Badia M, Santafé MM Full Article

2020, Apr 14
Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on labor and delivery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Meta-Analysis showed that date fruit consumption can significantly reduce active phase of labor, and also it can significantly improve the bishop score. Date fruit consumption had no effects on the duration of first, second, and third stages of labor, and the frequency of cesarean section.
Bagherzadeh Karimi A, Elmi A, Mirghafourvand M, Baghervand Navid R Full Article

2020, Mar
The effectiveness of acupuncture in the management of persistent regional myofascial head and neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
This academic article concludes acupuncture is effective in relieving persistent head and neck myofascial pain.
Farag AM, Malacarne A, Pagni SE, Maloney GE. Full Article

2020, Jan
Danggui-Shaoyao-San for dementia: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis
Medicine
These estimates suggest that DSS provides clinically important reductions in symptoms of AD and VD and can be a promising anti-dementia drug candidate.
Kim Y, Cho SH. Full Article

2020, Jan 15
Getting Well Is More Than Gaining Weight – Patients’ Experiences of a Treatment Program for Anorexia Nervosa Including Ear Acupuncture
Issues in Mental Health Nursing
This study has highlighted the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving symptoms of anorexia nervosa such as reduced stress levels and constipation.
Olsson A, Landgren K Full Article

2019, Oct 31
Theabrownin from Pu-erh tea attenuates hypercholesterolemia via modulation of gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism
Nature Communications
The lipid and cholesterol-lowering effects of Pu-erh tea have been shown to be of clinical value in treating obesity, fatty liver and NAFLD. Specifically, Pu-erh tea was found to lower TG and TC levels more significantly than green, oolong, or black teas. In this study, mice and human subjects receiving Pu-erh tea exhibited significant decreases in hepatic and serum cholesterol levels. These results confirmed other reported lipid and cholesterol-lowering effects of Pu-erh tea in both mice and human subjects.
Huang, F., Zheng, X., Ma, X. et al. Full Article

2019, Sep 01
Systematic review of treatment methods for the carpal tunnel syndrome
Timisoara Physical Education and Rehabilitation Journal
The results of treatment comparisons have proved that non-invasive therapies are superior to surgical treatments, taking into consideration symptom improvement, the maximum period up to noticeable results, relapse situations, patients’ preferences, etc.
Glazer C, Pantea C Full Article

2019, May
Effect of Gua Sha therapy on patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A randomized controlled trial
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
This RCT showcased that Gua Sha therapy significantly reduced severity of neuropathy symptoms, improved performance of sensory function, reduced peripheral artery disease, and better controlled plasma glucose.
Xie X, Lu L, Zhou X, Zhong C, Ge G, Huang H, Zhang X, Zeng Y Full Article

2019, Mar 19
Acupuncture to Promote Recovery of Disorder of Consciousness after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
This systematic review highlights that acupuncture is effective in improving traumatic brain injury recovery. Acupuncture and other interventions vastly improve clinical outcomes compared to drugs alone.
Tan L, Zeng L, Wang N, Deng M, Chen Y, Ma T, Zhang L, Xu Z. Full Article

2019, Feb
Acupuncture for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis: Acupuncture for SSNHL
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
This systematic review showcased that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment option for SSNHL patients who could not be cured by drugs alone.
Chen S, Zhao M, Qiu J. Full Article

2019, Jan 20
Systematic review and meta-analysis of anti-hyperglycaemic effects of Pu-erh tea
International Journal of Food Science & Technology Institute of Food Science and Technology
The results gleaned from meta-analysis have shown that the intake of Pu-erh tea in diabetic mice has a significant effect on lowering blood glucose after 21 days. Based upon conclusive findings derived from this research, the authors recommend with professional confidence that people drink Pu-erh tea for more than 3 weeks in order to maximise the effect on lowering blood sugar.
Lin, H.-C., Lee, C.-T., Yen, Y.-Y., Chu, C.-L., Hsieh, Y.-P., Yang, C.-S. and Lan, S.-J. Full Article

2018, Dec 30
Clinical Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review
The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine The Society of Internal Korean Medicine
In this meta-analysis, acupuncture relieved hepatic steatosis, and reduced TC, and TG in NAFLD patients. more well-planned studies are still needed due to the heterogeneity and the considerable methodological flaws in the analyzed trials.
Joon Hyun, Joo-bok Lee, So-yeon Kim, Chang-woo Han Full Article

2018, Oct
Oriental herbal medicine and moxibustion for polycystic ovary syndrome
Medicine
According to current evidence, OHM combined with moxibustion might be beneficial for treating PCOS. Moreover, the treatment might improve the therapeutic effects of conventional WMs including clomiphene citrate, oral contraceptives, and/or metformin. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution, owing to poor methodological quality of the included studies. Further larger, high-quality, rigorous RCTs should be conducted in this regard.
Kwon, Chan-Young, Lee, Boram, Park, Kyoung Sun Full Article

2018, Apr 22
Acupuncture at Tiaokou (ST38) for Shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis: What Strengths Does It Have? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
This review suggests that acupuncture at Tiaokou/ST38 (as sole treatment or in combination with shoulder acupoints) achieved statistically significant effects in improving the overall symptoms and the percentage of clinical effectiveness. Nonetheless, despite stringent methodological analyses, these results need to be strengthened by additional RCTs of higher quality.
Yang C, Lv TT, Yu TY, Wong S, Lu MQ, Li YZ Full Article

2018, Apr 26
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: Skin-patch of Chinese herbal medicine for patients with acute gouty arthritis
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Based on the results of this meta-analysis, skin-patches of CHM combined with Western medicine seemed to more effectively relieve pain than Western medicine alone. Skin-patches of CHM had fewer side effects than Western medicine. They may be used as adjunct therapy to the conventional interventions to relieve pain. However, due to the generally low methodological quality and poor reporting of the included studies, our conclusions are necessarily cautious and must be confirmed by additional studies.
Wang HR, Fu Q, Liu Z, Li ML, Zhai SQ Full Article

2018, Feb 6
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Vascular Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of High-Quality Randomized Controlled Trials
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
The findings of the present study support, at least to an extent, that CHM can be recommended for routine use for treatment of VaD.
Xu, Qing-qing et al Full Article

2018, Jan
Chinese Herbal Medicine to Treat Allergic Rhinitis: Evidence From a Meta-Analysis
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
This study suggests that CHM appears to improve the quality of life of AR patients. However, these findings, as well as the findings for the effect of CHM on sneezing, total nasal symptoms, and the symptom of itchy nose, need to be substantiated in larger cohorts of AR patients by further well-designed studies.
Zhang X, Lan F, Zhang Y, Zhang L Full Article

2017, Aug 20
A Review of Research on Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment for De Quervain’s Stenosing Tenosynovitis
The Acupuncture
Although the results of the studies to date provide evidence that acupuncture and moxibustion are effective treatments for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis, the absence of a standard, objective evaluation tool, and a lack of reporting on the negative side-effects associated with treatment remain important factors that should be addressed in future studies.
Kong HJ, Kang JH, Yun GW, Oh SY, Lee H Full Article

2017, Mar 31
The Effect of Traditional Oriental Herbal Medicine for Anorexia in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review
Journal of Korean Medicine
This review highlighted the significance of 11 RTCs in improving anorexia with chinese medicine in patients with cancer.
Lee JH, Bae K, Yoo HS Full Article

2017, Feb
Guasha improves the rating of perceived exertion scale score and reduces heart rate variability in male weightlifters: a randomized controlled trial
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine The China Association of Chinese Medicine & Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
This article highlighted the efficacy of gua sha to facilitate the parasympathetic nervous activity and modulate the balance between parasympathetic and sympathetic activities in both the healthy men and the weightlifters.
Xingze W, Peijie C, Xingyu H, Yingying W, Jinsheng Y, Eungpinichpong W, Yuming Y, Chatchawan U Full Article

2016, Dec 29
Acupuncture for Functional Dyspepsia: What Strength Does It Have? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Based on current available evidence, acupuncture therapy achieves statistically significant effect for functional dyspepsia in comparison with sham acupuncture and is superior to medication (prokinetic agents) in improving the symptoms and quality of life of functional dyspepsia patients.
Bo Pang, Tao Jiang, Yuan-Hao Du, Jing Li, Bo Li, Ya-Cai Hu, Qiu-Han Ca Full Article

2016, Oct 31
A Review of Western and Traditional Chinese Medical Approaches to Managing Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Therefore, although there is evidence that certain TCM herbs and formulas have an effect on NAFLD, well-designed TCM clinical trials are warranted to better understand the efficacy and safety of TCM drugs as treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Wei-Fan Hsu, Lee-Yan Sheen, Hung-Jen Lin, Hen-Hong Chang Full Article

2016, Mar
Herbal medicine (Danggui Shaoyao San) for treating primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Maturitas European Menopause and Andropause Society
Our systematic review and meta-analysis provided suggestive evidence of the superiority of DSS over analgesics or placebo for dysmenorrhea. The quality of evidence for this finding was low to moderate because of a high risk of bias.
Hye Won Lee, Ji Hee Jun, Ki-Jung Kil, Byong-Seob Ko, Choong Hwan Lee, Myeong Soo Lee Full Article

2016, Mar 30
A Review Study on the Treatment of Eating Disorder in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry The Korean Society of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
The results of our study indicated that TCM clinical studies on eating disorder were being conducted more actively than in Korean medicine
Jo SH, Ahn YJ, Lee SH, Lim JH Full Article

2015, Nov
Practice of traditional Chinese medicine for psycho-behavioral intervention improves quality of life in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Oncotarget
The systematic review study showed the efficacy of Chinese Medicine in improving the quality of lives in cancer patients. The study highlighted patients to have reduced functional impairments, pain relief, depression remission, reduced time to flatulence following surgery and sleep improvement.
Tao W, Luo X, Cui B, Liang D, Wang C, Duan Y, Li X, Zhou S, Zhao M, Li Y, He Y, Wang S, Kelley KW, Jiang P, Liu Q. Full Article

2015, Jun 4
Chinese herbal medicine for treating recurrent urinary tract infections in women
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Cochrane
Evidence from seven small studies suggested that CHM as an independent intervention or in conjunction with antibiotics may be beneficial for treating recurrent UTIs during the acute phase of infection and may reduce the recurrent UTI incidence for at least six months postâ€treatment. CHM treatments specifically formulated for recurrent UTI may be more effective than herbal treatments designed to treat acute UTI. However, the small number and poor quality of the included studies meant that it was not possible to formulate robust conclusions on the use of CHM for recurrent UTI in women either alone or as an adjunct to antibiotics.
Flower A, Wang LQ, Lewith G, Liu JP, Li Q. Full Article

2015, Apr
Acupuncture Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
PLOS One Public Library of Science
This academic article showcased that the effect of manual acupuncture combined with Western medicine comprehensive treatment (WMCT) was better than WMCT alone
Zhang Xc, Xu Xp, Xu Wt, Hou Wz, Cheng Yy, et al. Full Article

2014, Nov 24
The Effect of Herbal Tea Containing Fennel Seed on Breast Milk Sufficiency Signs and Growth Parameters of Iranian Infants
Shiraz E-Medical Journal
This study showcased fennel tea improved breast milk sufficiency signs.
Ghasemi V, Kheirkhah M, Neisani Samani L, Vahedi M Full Article

2013, Dec
Patients with anorexia nervosa receiving acupuncture or acupressure; their view of the therapeutic encounter
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
This study highlighted that participants reported to have a strong therapeutic relationship developed between the practitioner and participants from the acupuncture or acupressure interventions
Fogarty S, Smith CA, Touyz S, Madden S, Buckett G, Hay P. Full Article

2012, Jul
Development of a Chinese Medicine Pattern Severity Index for Understanding Eating Disorders
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Society for Acupuncture Research
This reported highlighted the efficacy of Chinese medicine pattern in evidence-based research
Sarah Fogarty, David Harris, Chris Zaslawski, Andrew J. McAinch, and Lily Stojanovska Full Article

2012, Jun 21
Traditional Chinese medicines benefit to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Molecular Biology Reports
Comparing with western medicines mentioned above, TCM had a better effect on the normalization of alanine aminotransferase and disappearance of radiological steatosis in the treatment of NAFLD. Furthermore, 246 kinds of Chinese herbs were included in our present study, with an average of 10 herbs (range 1–31) in each formulation. Hawthorn Fruit (321 times in 17,670 patients) was the most often used herb in the treatment of NAFLD. In conclusion, TCM is of modest benefit to the treatment of NAFLD.
Shi KQ, Fan YC, Liu WY, Li LF, Chen YP, Zheng MH Full Article

2001, Jan 22
Acupuncture for idiopathic headache
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Cochrane
Overall, the existing evidence supports the value of acupuncture for the treatment of idiopathic headaches.
Melchart D, Linde K, Berman B, White A, Vickers A, Allais G, Brinkhaus B Full Article
