A randomized, controlled pilot study of acupuncture treatment for menopausal hot flashes

Avis, Nancy E.; Legault, Claudine; Coeytaux, Remy R; Pian-Smith, May C. M.; Shifren, Jan L.; Chen, Wunian; Valaskatgis, Peter

doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e31816d5b03

Cited by 90 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…A similar method was also used in a previous study. 31 32 Analyses were conducted using the SAS statistical package, version 9.1.3, and two-sided p<0.05 was considered signifi cant.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acupuncture for Hot Flushes in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: A Randomised, Sham-Controlled Trial

et al. 2011

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Objectives To determine the effect of acupuncture in treating hot fl ushes in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women. Methods The study was a randomised single-blind sham-controlled clinical trial. Perimenopausal or postmenopausal women with moderate or severe hot fl ushes were randomised to receive real or sham acupuncture. Both groups underwent a 4-week run-in period before the treatment. The real acupuncture group received 11 acupuncture treatments for 7 weeks, and the control group underwent sham acupuncture on non-acupuncture points during the same period. Both groups were followed for 8 weeks after the end of treatment period. Changes from baseline in the hot fl ush scores at week 7, measured by multiplying the hot fl ush frequency and severity, were the primary outcome. Hot fl ush frequency, severity and menopause-related symptoms measured with the Menopause Rating Scale Questionnaire were regarded as secondary outcomes. Results 54 participants were randomised into the real acupuncture group (n=27) and the sham acupuncture group (n=27). The mean change in hot fl ush scores was −6.4±5.2 in the real acupuncture group and −5.6±9.2 in the sham group at week 7 from values at the start of the acupuncture treatment (10.0±8.1 vs 11.7±12.6), respectively (p=0.0810). No serious adverse events were observed during the whole study period. Conclusions Compared to sham acupuncture, acupuncture failed to show signifi cantly different effects on the hot fl ush scores but showed partial benefi ts on the hot fl ush severity. Further consideration is needed to develop appropriate strategies for distinguishing non-specifi c effects from observed overall effectiveness of acupuncture for hot fl ushes. Whether acupuncture has pointspecifi c effects for hot fl ushes should be also considered in designing future researches.

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“…A similar method was also used in a previous study. 31 32 Analyses were conducted using the SAS statistical package, version 9.1.3, and two-sided p<0.05 was considered signifi cant.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acupuncture for Hot Flushes in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: A Randomised, Sham-Controlled Trial

et al. 2011

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“…Estudos realizados sob uma perspectiva ocidental, envolvendo novos mé-todos de pesquisas, têm colaborado para esse fim 27 . A acupuntura em ginecologia e obstetrícia é uma prática considerada recente 4 , um dos trabalhos mais antigos encontrados (datado de 1960), especificamente para transtornos da mulher, faz citação sobre a aplicação da acupuntura com eletroestimulação para curar pacientes com transtornos de anovulação (esterilidade) 8 . Atualmente, essa especialidade tem trabalhado no sentido de evidenciar os fatos clínicos e promover maior bem estar para os transtornos de patologias exclusivamente femininos, dentre elas sintomas do climatério.…”

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Acupuntura Nas Ondas De Calor

Lima

Silva²,

Foletto³

2013

Cad. naturol. terap. complem.

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RESUMOObjetivo: Descrever as técnicas de acupuntura aplicadas para alívio de ondas de calor decorrentes do período do climatério. Método: Revisão sistemática na base de dados Medline, pelo método P.I.C.O, onde P=Postmenopausal, I=Acupuncture e O= Hot Flashes. Foram selecionados artigos científicos controlados e randomizados sobre o tema em questão. Um total de 12 artigos preencheu os critérios de inclusão; mulheres saudáveis na fase pré e pós-menopausa e mulheres com risco para utilização de terapia hormonal, relatando ondas de calor, submetidas às técnicas de acupuntura sistêmica e eletroacupuntura. Resultados: Estudos analisados indicam alívio dos sintomas para ondas de calor nas variantes severidade (média 50%) e frequência (média 45%), porém a eletroacupuntura, quando observada em longo prazo, apresenta melhor resultado em relação à acupuntura sistêmica. Conclusões: Estudos sugerem que a prática da acupuntura é segura e eficaz para amenizar ondas de calor, tanto em mulheres saudáveis como em mulheres com contra indicação para a reposição hormonal.

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“…6 In multiple studies, acupuncture has reduced vasomotor symptoms, irrespective of needle placement, depth or type of stimulation. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] This non-specifi city of the acupuncture intervention has led critics to state that acupuncture effectiveness does not have a specifi c physiological basis beyond that of a placebo, expectation or non-specifi c response. 14 15 This argument needs to be taken seriously, as the placebo effect is varied and potent, 16 and could conceivably be the mechanism by which acupuncture ameliorates menopausal symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvement of Menopausal Symptoms with Acupuncture Not Reflected in Changes to Heart Rate Variability

Wright

Aickin

2011

Acupunct Med

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Hypothesis Studies indicate that menopausal symptoms are relieved by acupuncture. Additional studies have suggested that acupuncture may affect heart rate variability (HRV). This paper reports a pilot study that investigated whether menopausal symptoms responded to acupuncture, and if changes in the spectral analysis of HRV, either suppression of low frequency or augmentation of high frequency bands, corresponded with symptom report. Methods/interventions 12 healthy menopausal subjects were enrolled in this feasibility study. At baseline, subjects were experiencing moderately distressing menopausal symptoms, scoring at least 22 of a possible 44 points on the Menopausal Rating Scale. 10 traditional Chinese medicinebased, protocol acupuncture treatments were administered over a 4 week period, three times a week for 2 weeks, followed by twice a week for 2 weeks. Outcome measures Menopausal Rating Scale questionnaire, 11 menopausal symptoms were evaluated on a zero to four severity scale via self-administered daily checklist for 4 weeks. Dynamic measures of HRV (autoregressive model) were captured before, during and after acupuncture at each session. Spectral analysis of the heart rate was used to compute power in the low frequency and high frequency bands, and their ratio. Results All subjects complied fully with the protocol without any reported adverse events. While all 11 symptoms showed signifi cant improvement, and one HRV measure changed, on average over the study period, there was essentially no support for a relationship between HRV, menopausal symptom report and acupuncture intervention.

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A randomized, controlled pilot study of acupuncture treatment for menopausal hot flashes

Abstract: These results suggest either that there is a strong placebo effect or that both traditional and sham acupuncture significantly reduce hot flash frequency.

Cited by 90 publications

References 39 publications

Acupuncture for Hot Flushes in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: A Randomised, Sham-Controlled Trial

Acupuncture for Hot Flushes in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: A Randomised, Sham-Controlled Trial

Acupuntura Nas Ondas De Calor

Improvement of Menopausal Symptoms with Acupuncture Not Reflected in Changes to Heart Rate Variability

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