AcupunctureIrina Bubnova, Camryn Fisher, Erica Navarro, Stephanie Knippa

What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a method of encouraging

the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. This is done by inserting needles and applying heat or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points.

History of Acupuncture Acupuncture has

existed since the Han Dynasty in China over 2,000 years ago.

Introduced in Europe in the 17th century.

During the Warring States Era (421 -221 B.C.), metal needles replaced the stone needles.

History continued... From 260-265 A.D.,

physician Huang Fu Mi, organized all of the ancient literature into his classic text.

Acupuncture was used exclusively during the long march (1934-35). It helped maintain the

health of the army.

NCCAM Acupuncture is studied on its effect on specific health

conditions and how it affects the brain and nervous system.

The NCCAM facilitates the research and evaluation of unconventional medical practices such as acupuncture.

NCCAM research has found that: Patients treated with acupuncture after dental surgery had less

intense pain than patients who received a placebo. Older people with osteoarthritis experienced significantly more pain

relief after using conventional drugs and acupuncture together.

What is Acupuncture used for? Acupuncture is a popular

alternative treatment for pain caused by: Injury Arthritis Headaches and

migraines Cancer Fibromyalgia Other chronic conditions

Sciatic Nerve and Lower Back Pain Those who suffer

from back pain can benefit from acupuncture treatments.

The treatment allows the muscles to relax and for the patient to feel relief from lower back pain.

Parkinson's Disease A study found that patients who suffer

from Parkinson's can benefit from receiving acupuncture treatments on a regular basis.

Improvements were seen in: Balance Gait Length stride

Depression, Stress, and Anxiety Limited evidence is available on the effects

of acupuncture on depression due to the inconsistencies in research and studies.

Studies are being performed to determine the efficacy of acupuncture for stress and anxiety, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Further research is needed to determine the benefits of acupuncture in these areas.

Pain Management New study shows acupuncture to be

effective at treating pain in the following conditions: Chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain Migraines Osteoarthritis

Varying Results Relief for cancer

patients on chemotherapy The Society for

Integrative Oncology recommends acupuncture for pain, side effects associated with cancer treatments, as well as nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.

Inconclusive evidence for other illnesses Acupuncture trials

show little evidence to support that acupuncture can help relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and other chronic illnesses.

Why Choose Acupuncture? The hope of relieving pain

and discomfort associated with alternative treatments are becoming more popular.

More and more people want to stray away from pain medication and choose to use alternative methods to reduce their pain and discomfort.

Risks of AcupunctureSorenessBleedingBruising InfectionOrgan injury

Serious Risks of AcupunctureWhile serious risks of acupuncture

are very low, there have been instances of: Necrotizing Fasciitis MRSA Endocarditis Pneumothorax

Acupuncture Opposition Evidence is not conclusive on whether

acupuncture or placebo is better. Many past studies were poorly

designed. Many pro-acupuncture studies made

conclusions based on clinically irrelevant calculations.

IS IT A SCAM?

Chinese History - Debunked Acupuncture was not always

popular in China. One Emperor issued an edict

removing acupuncture from the Imperial Medical Academy.

The Chinese Communist Party ridiculed acupuncture

Acupuncture came to the U.S. in 1972 after President Nixon visited China.

The Future of Acupuncture“The effects of acupuncture on the brain and body and how best to measure them are only beginning to be understood. Current evidence suggests that

many factors—like expectation and belief—that are unrelated to acupuncture needling may play

important roles in the beneficial effects of acupuncture on pain”

-National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

References Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences [ACOS]. 2016, History of

Acupuncture. Retrieved from: http//www.acos.org/articles/history-of-acupuncture/

American Association of Medical Acupuncture [AAMA]. 2016, NCAAM Acupuncture Information, Retrieved from: http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/For-Patients/Articles-By-Physicians-About-Acupuncture/NCCAM-Acupuncture-Information

Colquhoun, D., & Novella, S. P. (2013). Acupuncture is theatrical placebo. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 166, 1360-1363. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e31828f2d5e

Jakes, D., Kirk, R., & Muir, L. (2014). A Qualitative Systematic Review of Patients' Experiences of Acupuncture. Journal Of Alternative & Complementary Medicine,20(9), 663-671.

Kotton, Y., Soboh, S., & Bisharat, N. (2015). Vibrio vulnificus necrotizing fasciitis associated with acupuncture. Infectious Disease Reports, 7, 46-49. doi: 10.4081/idr.2015.5901

References Lee, M. S., Kim, T. H., & Ernst, E. (2012). Is acupuncture or moxibustion better than

a sham or placebo-treatment? Acupuncture and Moxibustion as an Evidence-based Therapy for Cancer, 3, 249-264. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-4833-0_11

Lei, Hong, Nima Toosizadeh, Michael Schwenk, Scott Sherman, Stephen Karp, Saman Parvaneh, Esther Esternberg, and Bijan Najafi. "Objective Assessment of Electro-acupuncture Benefit for Improving Balance and Gait in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease (P3. 074)." Neurology 82, no. 10 Supplement (2014): P3-074.

Lubana, S. S., Alfishawy, M., Singh, N., & Brennessel, D. J. (2015). First reported case of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus vertebral osteomyelitis with multiple spinal and paraspinal abscesses associated with acupuncture. Case Reports in Medicine, 2015, 1-5. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/524241

Mayo Clinic. (2015). Acupuncture: Risks. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/basics/risks/prc-20020778

O'Connor, A. (2012, September 11). Acupuncture provides true pain relief in study. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/acupuncture-provides-true-pain-relief-in-study/?_r=0

References The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2015-a). 6

Things To Know About Mind and Body Practices for Fibromyalgia. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/fibromyalgia

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2015-b). Acupuncture: What You Need To Know. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction#hed3

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2015-c). Complementary and Integrative Approaches for Cancer Symptoms and Treatment Side Effects: What the Science Says. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/cancer-science#acupuncure

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2015-d). Depression and Complementary Health Approaches: What the Science Says. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/depression-science#heading5

Woods, T. (2010). Ten tips to relieve sciatic nerve pain. EmaxHealth. Retrieved from http://www.emaxhealth.com/1357/45/35893/ten-tips-relieve-sciatic-nerve-pain.html