Clinical Trials in which main treatment is acupuncture

Abstract

Acupuncture is a medical treatment, part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine which is based on applying small needles on the specific points of the human body called acupoints. As explained in the Traditional Chinese Medicine, the acupuncture is influencing the vital energy called qi, and is harmonizing the Yin and Yang in the human body. The aim of acupuncture is to open blockage if there is one or to reduce the flow of the Qi energy. Although the origins of the acupuncture are from People’s Republic of China, a lot of countries are accepting it as a treatment for some diseases, however only in few countries the health care system accepts acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as a legit treatment. A lot of trials have shown the efficacy of acupuncture in treatment of numerous of diseases such as: back pain, cancer pain, headaches and migraine, facial nerve paralysis, etc. From most of the patients the response after acupuncture is positive. The number of adverse events that have occurred after acupuncture is low if the acupuncture is made by educated acupuncturist. In lot of countries, it is as an essential alternative treatment for numerous diseases. A lot of materials have been collected regarding the efficacy of the Acupuncture as a treatment, and a lot of clinical trials which are involving acupuncture as a treatment have been conducted, however the number of high quality organized clinical trials is not that big. The clinical trials in which the patients are receiving acupuncture are Interventional and observational. Organizing this kind of clinical trials is showing the desire of the professionals that are working with acupuncture to show to the world that it Is effective, and it should be taken in consideration as a treatment for diseases. If not like a primary treatment but as a combination of previously approved treatments and acupuncture can give excellent result in treatment of lot of diseases.

Keywords: Acupuncture, Clinical Trials, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupoints, Qi energy