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Research

Female infertility

Study on Treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome with Infertility by combined therapy of Chinese herbal medicine and compound cyproterone acetate

Conclusions: Using combined therapy of TCM and composite CPA followed by ovulation promoting agents of TCM and WM to treat patients of non-obesity PCOS could relieve the clinical symptoms, improve the abnormal blood level of sex hormones and significantly elevate the pregnancy rate.

Tao Li-li, Chen Xiao-ping and Gu Zheng-tian, Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Volume 9, Number 2 / June, 2003
Acupuncture Normalizes Dysfunction of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis

Conclusions: Observations reveal that acupuncture may regulate the abnormal function of HPOA in many ways.

J.L. Fratterelli, M.R. Leondires, K.Fong, A Theall, S. Locatelli, R.T. Scott, Reproductive Medicine Associates of new Jersey, Morristown, NJ
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Primary Dysmenorrhea

CONCLUSIONS: The review found promising evidence supporting the use of Chinese herbal medicine for primary dysmenorrhoea

Zhu X, et al, Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Apr 16;(2):CD005288.
Low-frequency Electro-Acupuncture and Physical Exercise Decrease High Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Conclusions: For the first time we demonstrate that low-frequency EA and physical exercise lowers high sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS.

Elisabet Stener-Victorin1*, Elizabeth Jedel2, Per Olof Janson, and Yrsa Bergmann Sverrisdottir3
Diet and Lifestyle in the Prevention of Ovulatory Disorder Infertility

Conclusions: Following a "fertility diet" pattern may favorably influence fertility in otherwise healthy women. Further, the majority of infertility cases due to ovulation disorders may be preventable through modifications of diet and lifestyle.

Jorge E. Chavarro, MD, ScD1,2, Janet W. Rich-Edwards, MPH, ScD2,3,4, Bernard A. Rosner, PhD2,5 and Walter C. Willett, MD, DrPH1,2,4

Male infertility

Age-related decline in sperm DNA integrity in patients evaluated for male infertility

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of male age and DNA integrity in men presenting for investigation of infertility. We found that men 45 years and older had significantly greater DNA fragmentation than younger men.

Fertil Steril. 2006 Feb;85(2):496-9. Moskovtsev SI, Willis J, Mullen JB.
Effects of glycol ethers on male fertility

Conclusions: Glycol ether exposure was related to low motile sperm count in men attending fertility clinics. This suggests that, at the time of the study, glycol ethers continued to be a hazard for male fertility. 

Nicola Cherry, Harry Moore, Roseanne McNamee, Allan Pacey, Gary Burgess, Julie-Ann Clyma, Martin Dippnall, Helen Baillie, Andrew Povey
Soy food and isoflavone intake in relation to semen quality parameters among men from an infertility clinic

Conclusions: These data suggest that higher intake of soy foods and soy isoflavones is associated with lower sperm concentration.

Jorge E. Chavarro, Thomas L. Toth, Sonita M. Sadio and Russ Hauser
Acupuncture boosts sperm quality in infertile men

Conclusions: In conjunction with ART or even for reaching natural fertility potential, acupuncture treatment is a simple, noninvasive method that can improve sperm quality.

Fertility and Sterility 2005; 84: 141-7
Carnitine therapy promising in idiopathic azoospermia

Conclusions: long-term carnitine therapy is effective in improving sperm function and fertilization capacity and merits further investigation.

Fertility and Sterility 2005; 84: 662-71

Pregnancy

Acupuncture for depression during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

Conclusions: The short acupuncture protocol demonstrated symptom reduction and a response rate comparable to those observed in standard depression treatments of similar length and could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy.

Manber R, et al, Obstet Gynecol. 2010; 115 (3): 511-20

Success of Acupuncture and Acupressure of the Pc 6 Acupoint in the Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Conclusions: Acupuncture (p < 0.0001) and acupressure (p < 0.1) are effective, nonpharmacologic methods for the treatment of HG.

D. Habek et al, Research in Complementary and Classical Natural Medicine 2004;11:20-23
Observation on therapeutic effect of scalp acupuncture analgesia on labor

Conclusions: Scalp acupuncture has a better analgesic effect in vaginal delivery with no adverse effect on the mother and infant.

Bo QX, Zhang JX., Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2006 Sep;26(9):659-61.
Study on effect of electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) on the uterotonic time in parturients of uterus inertia

Conclusions: Elecoroacupuncture at Hego (LI 4) can be adopted for treatment of dystocia due to abnormality of force of labor.

Wang et al, Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2006 Dec;26(12):843-6.
A randomized controlled trial of acupuncture for initiation of labor in nulliparous women

Conclusions: Acupuncture is well tolerated among term nulliparous women and holds promise in reducing interventions that occur in post-term pregnancies.

Harper et al, J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2006 Aug;19(8):465-70.

Injuries and pain

Acupuncture versus metoprolol in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized trial of trigger point inactivation.

Conclusions. Trigger point inactivation by dry needling is a valuable supplement to the list of migraine prophylactic tools, being equipotent to metoprolol in the influence on frequency and duration (but not severity) of attacks, and superior in terms of negative side-effects.

Hesse J, Mogelvang B, Simonsen H. Journal of Internal Medicine. 1994; 235: 451-456. 
Acupuncture Effective For Chronic Headaches

Conclusions: Acupuncture can lead to persisting, clinically relevant benefits for primary care patients with chronic headache, particularly migraine.

Vickers AJ, et al. BMJ Epub 2004 Mar 15.

Source: http://www.acupuncture.com/newsletters/m_may04/res.htm#1#1
Acupuncture and Tibial Stress Syndrome (Shin Splints)

Conclusions: Athletes in the study group receiving only acupuncture and athletes in the study group receiving acupuncture and sports medicine received the most pain relief, were least hindered by pain during sporting and non-sporting activities, and felt overall that the treatments were more effective than those reporting in the group receiving Sports medicine only.

Matt Callison, M.S., L.Ac. works at the University of California, San Diego RIMAC Athletic Training Center.
Acupuncture in Chronic Epicondylitis

Conclusions: In the treatment of chronic epicondylopathia lateralis humeri, acupuncture in which real acupuncture points were selected and stimulated was superior to non-specific acupuncture with respect to reduction in pain and improvement in the functioning of the arm. These changes are particulary marked at early follow-up.

M. Fink, E. Wolkenstein1, M. Karst2 and A. Gehrke

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany, 1Ludwig Botlzmann Institute for Acupuncture, Vienna, Austria and 2Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
Acupuncture for Migraine and Recurrent Headaches

Conclusions: Acupuncture fared most favorably when compared to sham treatments. Nine of the 14 trials comparing true and sham acupuncture in migraine and tension-type headache patients either "showed trends in favor of acupuncture" or had patients who "did significantly better than those in the sham acupuncture group."

General Health

The efficacy of acupuncture in treating urge and mixed incontinence in women: a pilot study

Conclusions:  Subjects randomized to the true acupuncture group had a mean 63.30% (median = 65.99%) reduction in daytime accidents/day at 1 week postacupuncture and 67.47% reduction (median = 75.76%) at 4 weeks postacupuncture. In contrast, the mean reduction in daytime accidents was 18.88% (median = 19.64%) at 1 week and 16.67% (median = 0%) at 4 weeks post-sham acupuncture.

J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2009 Nov-Dec;36(6):661-70. 
 
The ACTIV Study: Acupuncture Treatment in Provoked Vestibulodynia

Conclusions. Effect sizes and qualitative analyses of practitioner-initiated interviews showed overall positive effects of acupuncture, but there were statistically significant improvements only in pain with manual genital stimulation and helplessness. These findings require replication in a larger, controlled trial before any definitive conclusions on the efficacy of acupuncture for PVD can be made. Curran S, Brotto LA, Fisher H, Knudson G, and Cohen T.

Stephanie Curran, R TCM P,* Lori A. Brotto, PhD,† Harris Fisher, R TCM P,* Gail Knudson, MD,‡ and Trevor Cohen, MD§

November 2009 Journal of Sexual Medicine
Acupuncture for the Treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Hormone Suppression Treatment

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that adding acupuncture to breast cancer treatment regimens may establish an integrative approach that is more effective in managing symptoms due to treatment with fewer side effects than conventional pharmacotherapy treatment.

E. M. Walker1, A. I. Rodriguez2, B. Kohn2, J. Pegg1, R. M. Bell2, R. A. Levine2
A randomized controlled pilot study of acupuncture for postmenopausal hot flashes: effect on nocturnal hot flashes and sleep quality

Conclusions: Acupuncture significantly reduced the severity of nocturnal hot flashes compared with placebo. Given the strength of correlations between improvements in sleep and reductions in nocturnal hot flashes, further exploration is merited.

Fertility and Sterility: September 2006, Volume 86, Issue 3, p700-710
Depression and Acupuncture: A Controlled Clinical Trial

Conclusions: In this study, based on a small outpatient sample of women with major depression, it appeared that acupuncture provided significant symptom relief at rates comparable to standard treatments such as psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy. The effect sizes observed in this small sample were at least as large or larger than those seen in trials of antidepressant medication or psychotherapy, and they suggest that a larger clinical trial is warranted.

by John J.B. Allen, Ph.D.

March 2000, Vol. XVII, Issue 3

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