Acupuncture: Specific and Non-Specific Effects

Endres, Heinz G.

doi:10.1159/000113416

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The reasons for this are unclear, particularly as, to a large degree, physicians considered that the methods had proven efficacy and reported their own experience of benefits. The relative lack of conviction in physicians may result from the fact that they are aware of the results of systematic reviews and meta-analyses which show no convincing evidence for the effectiveness of CAM methods, or suggest that positive outcomes are associated with suggestion or the placebo effect [27][28][29][30][31][32][33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Münstedt

Schröter²,

Brüggmann³

et al. 2009

Complement Med Res

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Background: This nationwide study aimed to assess the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods in German departments of obstetrics. Methods: All German departments of obstetrics were identified and were sent a questionnaire designed to assess which CAM methods, if any, they used during childbirth, how frequently, and why. SPSS software was used for statistical analyses (Spearman’s bivariate correlation, crosstabulation, and Pearson’s chi-square test). Results: The questionnaires were returned by 40.3% (381/946) of the identified departments. The most commonly used CAM therapy was acupuncture (available in 97.3% (366/376) of departments) followed by homeopathy (offered in 93.4%) and aromatherapy (available in 76.6%). Most decisions regarding CAM use were made by midwives; only decisions on acupuncture were taken by obstetricians and midwives. Reasons given for using CAM were patient demand and perceived efficacy of CAM, particularly by midwives. Obstetricians were only partly convinced of the efficacy of CAM methods and their conviction varied with the type of unit they worked in. Conclusions: CAM methods are widely used in German departments of obstetrics despite lacking evidence of effectiveness. Efficacy, side effects and consequences of CAM use should be assessed using the mandatory German quality assurance measures and birth surveys. CAM use elsewhere also merits further study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Münstedt

Schröter²,

Brüggmann³

et al. 2009

Complement Med Res

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“…We conservatively selected low levels of ventilator support because, to our knowledge, this was the first study examining the impact of acupressure on weaning indices of intubated patients in the acute stage of mechanical ventilation. Coma patients were chosen because this permitted controlling for nonspecific effects such as positive or negative patient expectations, anxiety about pain, variability in care intensity by the nurse administering acupressure, healing rituals that reference East Asian culture, and interpersonal dynamics in the nurse-patient relationship [14]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acupressure Improves the Weaning Indices of Tidal Volumes and Rapid Shallow Breathing Index in Stable Coma Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation: Randomized Controlled Trial

Maa

Wang

Hsu

et al. 2013

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Background. Acupressure has been shown to improve respiratory parameters. We investigated the effects of acupressure on weaning indices in stable coma patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Methods. Patients were randomly allocated to one of three treatments: standard care with adjunctive acupressure on one (n = 32) or two days (n = 31) and standard care (n = 31). Acupressure in the form of 10 minutes of bilateral stimulation at five acupoints was administered per treatment session. Weaning indices were collected on two days before, right after, and at 0.5 hrs, 1 hr, 1.5 hrs, 2 hrs, 2.5 hrs, 3 hrs, 3.5 hrs, and 4 hrs after the start of treatment. Results. There were statistically significant improvements in tidal volumes and index of rapid shallow breathing in the one-day and two-day adjunctive acupressure study arms compared to the standard care arm immediately after acupressure and persisting until 0.5, 1 hr, and 2 hrs after adjustment for covariates. Conclusions. In the stable ventilated coma patient, adjunctive acupressure contributes to improvements in tidal volumes and the index of rapid shallow breathing, the two indices most critical for weaning patients from mechanical ventilation. These effects tend to be immediate and likely to be sustained for 1 to 2 hours.

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“…Regarding the fact that the site-specific acupuncture is effective only for a few conditions in clinical medicine [7, 8] it is plausible to explain the observed effects by non-specific physiological and psychological effects of acupuncture. Especially the placebo effect might play a great role, since placebo, in addition to physiological effects, may constitute 30–50% of the entire clinical effect of acupuncture [8–10].…”

Section: Case Reportmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Especially the placebo effect might play a great role, since placebo, in addition to physiological effects, may constitute 30–50% of the entire clinical effect of acupuncture [8–10]. …”

Section: Case Reportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Goal‐Directed Acupuncture in Sports Placebo or Doping?

Usichenko

Gizhko

Wendt

2011

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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The modern pentathlon (MP), sports discipline including fencing, swimming, steeplechase and a cross-country run, requires a rapid change of central nervous and peripheral neuromuscular activity from one sport to another in order to achieve the best possible results. We describe the case where a top MP athlete was supported by a program of acupoint stimulation, which was directed to relieve the symptoms, preventing him from effective performance. Although the fact of acupoint stimulation was associated with improvement of his results, other factors like training effect, placebo and nonspecific physiological effects and their mechanisms in sports are discussed in a literature review. The popularity of complementary and alternative medicine methods among the athletes raises the question of their potential misuse as a doping in competitive sports.

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Acupuncture: Specific and Non-Specific Effects

Cited by 8 publications

References 33 publications

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Departments of Obstetrics in Germany

Acupressure Improves the Weaning Indices of Tidal Volumes and Rapid Shallow Breathing Index in Stable Coma Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation: Randomized Controlled Trial

Goal‐Directed Acupuncture in Sports Placebo or Doping?

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