Acupuncture Research
Structure
Density
Rigidity
Evidence
We would like to share with you our personal view, beliefs and approach about the research that is presented on these pages.
We both value the research of modern science and the many developments that have been discovered.
We also value the depth of wisdom and knowledge of traditional and classical five element acupuncture, which integrates the many aspects of body and mind.
We acknowledge the information gained from research, and we endevaour to use it where appropriate when meeting the needs of an individual who is suffering in health.
We hope later to share more information on the five elements of acupuncture.
Classical Acupuncture
(2017) Effect of Acupuncture and Clomiphene in Chinese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Conclusions and Relevance. Among Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome, the use of acupuncture with or without clomiphene, compared with control acupuncture and placebo, did not increase live births. This finding does not support acupuncture as an infertility treatment in such women.
This is a well powered large trial of 1000 women however the acupuncture treatment applied is formulaic and not tailored to each individual person. It is much easier to carry out a large trial with using formulaic acupuncture than individualised acupuncture. Would the results have been different if the acupuncture had been tailored to each person via the five element acupuncture approach?
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this site is accurate. It is not the intention to mislead or misinform anyone.
(2017) Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome: A systematic review and meta-
‘RESULTS: We found a low level of evidence that acupuncture is more likely to improve ovulation rate (MD 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14-
CONCLUSION: There is limited evidence to judge the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on key reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS. Large-
(2016) PCOS-
‘Materials and methods: 90 PCOS patients were allocated into acupuncture combined with Clomiphene Citrate (CC) group (group A), acupuncture group (group B) and CC group (group C) randomly, 30 cases in each group. The acupoints were Ganshu (BL18), Shenshu (BL23), Zhongwan (CV12), Shuifen (CV9), Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongji (CV3). Back-
Results: 3 cases dropped out in the trail. The SAS scores declined both of group A and B after treatment. The ovulation rates of group A, B and C were as follows: 86.21%, 66.67% and 69.64%. The clinical efficacy of group A was higher than the other groups (P<0.05).
Discussion: Acupuncture therapy can enhance ovulation rate of PCOS patients effectively as well as CC therapy. But it is a better method to improve the anxiety disorder than CC therapy. The combined application of acupuncture therapy and CC therapy has better curative effect, which should be widely spread in clinics.’
(2016) The effects of acupuncture on polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-
Abstract
Introduction: To assess the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Methods: A systematic review and meta-
Results: A total of nine RCTs (531 women) met criteria for inclusion into the systematic review. Using the random effects model, pooling of the effect estimates from all RCTs showed recovery of menstrual cycles (OR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.41, P < 0.01), BMI
(SMD = −0.63, 95% CI: −1.04 to −0.21, P=0.04), and LH (SMD = −0.39, 95% CI: −0.65to −0.12, P < 0.01) which favored the acupuncture group. No significant differences were observed for FINS, FPG, FSH and the ratio of LH/FSH between acupuncture and control
groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Acupuncture appears to significantly improve the recovery of the menstrual cycles and decrease the levels of BMI and LH in women with PCOS. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited methodological quality of included RCTs.
(2013) Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Effect and Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Ovulation Induction.
‘Improved menstrual and ovulatory patterns are indeed beneficial, both for women not trying and women who are attempting to conceive. Further studies are needed to investigate whether acupuncture improves pregnancy and live birth rate in women with PCOS.’