Summarizing benefits of acupuncture
Dr. Paul White from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas has reviewed the medical literature and published a summary of the state of the art of acupuncture to manage pain.
Low back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis of the knee
- Effective for short-term management.
- But the response does not result in long-term benefits.
Dental pain, colonoscopy pain, and intraoperative analgesia
- Study results are inconclusive.
Acupuncture during labor
- Might be useful during the early stages.
- Not beneficial throughout the course of labor.
Postoperative pain
- Results are inconclusive.
- Response depends on the timing of treatment and the patient’s level of consciousness.
In the same issue of the journal, Aneshesia & Analgesia, Dr. White and colleagues review the mechanisms behind the pain relief associated with acupuncture.
2/20/08 20:37 JR