Acupuncture

This research aims to understand how thumb-tack needle therapy affects sleep and recovery after surgery in patients who have undergone general anesthesia for breast cancer surgery. The study focuses on improving postoperative sleep quality, preventing sleep disorders, and promoting recovery following surgery. Participants are women aged 18 to 55 years with no history of chronic insomnia or recent use of sedative-hypnotic drugs. Participants in this observational study will undergo thumb-tack needle therapy as part of their postoperative care. The therapys impact will be monitored without assigning different treatment groups. The study will follow patients before and after anesthesia exposure to observe changes in sleep quality and recovery. During the study, researchers will assess sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index PSQI one or two days before anesthesia and on days 1, 3, and 7 after anesthesia. Recovery will also be evaluated with the QoR-40 questionnaire on the third day after surgery. The study monitors patient progress to explore the clinical significance of thumb-tack needle therapy in improving postoperative outcomes.

Parkinsons disease PD is a condition where symptoms worsen over time, and medications may become less effective, significantly lowering patients quality of life. Recent findings suggest a close link between PD symptoms and intestinal health, especially in patients with chronic appendicitis. Acupuncture targeting points related to constipation and chronic appendicitis has shown promise in improving both motor and non-motor symptoms of PD, such as anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction. This study aims to further understand acupunctures role in treating PD comprehensively, particularly focusing on intestinal acupuncture. Participants in this randomized, double-blind trial will receive acupuncture treatment at specific points including Tianshu, Zusanli, Hegu, Taichong, Shangjuxu, Jigou, Zhaohai, Lanwei, and Shousanli. The interventions involve comfort needle and comfort embedding needle techniques. The study compares an experimental acupuncture group with a control group receiving sham acupuncture, where the needle only touches the skin without penetration. Treatment schedules and methods are designed to assess acupunctures effects on PD symptoms in patients with chronic appendicitis. During the study, participants will be evaluated using the MDS Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale III over three months to measure motor symptom changes. Researchers will monitor symptom improvements and adverse events while ensuring participants maintain stable anti-PD medication if used. The trial includes informed consent, clinical examinations, imaging for appendicitis confirmation, and other assessments to ensure safety and data accuracy. The total participation spans the treatment and follow-up periods up to the studys end in 2026.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of traditional Chinese medicine combined with intradermal acupuncture on girls with idiopathic precocious puberty, a condition characterized by early onset of puberty without an identifiable cause. This phase 3 randomized controlled trial aims to determine if combining acupuncture point stimulation with herbal treatment can improve symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. The study focuses on girls with mild to moderate precocious puberty and explores whether this combined approach offers benefits beyond traditional herbal medicine alone. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive Ziyin-Xiehuo traditional Chinese medicine granules twice daily along with intradermal acupuncture point stimulation targeting specific points, applied three times daily with needles changed every two days, for a duration of six months. The other group will receive only the traditional Chinese medicine granules twice daily for the same six-month period. This design allows comparison between combined therapy and herbal medicine alone. During the study, researchers will monitor participants breast development changes, particularly the reduction or disappearance of mammary nucleus size at three months. They will also assess bone age changes compared to chronological age over six months. Various evaluations such as ultrasound measurements of uterus and ovary size, Tanner staging, and hormone treatment history will be collected. Safety and efficacy will be carefully observed throughout the six-month treatment period.

This research aims to evaluate whether acupuncture-type transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation acu-TENS can reduce pain by half during transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval TUGOR in women undergoing IVF treatment. The study is a prospective randomized controlled trial involving 144 women, designed to assess pain intensity and related stress and anxiety levels during the procedure. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either acu-TENS treatment, where electrical stimulation is applied to specific acupuncture points during TUGOR, or a sham acu-TENS without electrical current as a control. The treatment uses electrode pads connected to a TENS machine delivering specific pulse rates and current intensities during the procedure. Ultrasound guidance and ovum aspiration needles or catheters will be used for oocyte retrieval. Throughout the study, pain scores will be recorded before, during, and after TUGOR at multiple time points using a visual analog scale. Secondary measures include patient satisfaction, cooperation, anxiety, depression, saliva cortisol levels, and safety assessments. Data will be collected via questionnaires and clinical evaluations, with follow-up extending to several hours post-procedure to monitor outcomes and adverse events.

Researchers are investigating the role of acupuncture in managing pain and improving outcomes after total knee replacement surgery TKA for patients with primary osteoarthritis. This study aims to assess whether acupuncture can help control acute pain, prevent chronic pain, improve joint function, and increase patient satisfaction. The research also examines how acupuncture influences inflammation by measuring specific biomarkers, which may relate to recovery and long-term joint stiffness. Participants will receive standard anesthesiology care including sedation, regional nerve blocks, and pain medications. They will be randomly assigned to either a standard treatment group or an acupuncture group, which receives additional acupuncture and auriculotherapy sessions before and after surgery. The acupuncture treatment targets specific body and ear points over multiple sessions during the first three days post-surgery. Throughout the study, participants will be monitored regularly for pain levels, medication use, vital signs, joint mobility, and rehabilitation progress. Blood samples will be taken before surgery and at set intervals afterward to measure inflammation markers. Patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction will be collected up to one year post-surgery. Evaluations will be done in person or by phone if necessary, with the entire follow-up extending through one year after the operation.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a self-administered acupressure intervention on cough and related symptoms in lung cancer survivors. The study aims to see if acupressure can reduce cough, lessen a symptom group involving dyspnea, cough, and fatigue, and improve overall symptom burden, functional capacity, and quality of life for these patients. This is a randomized controlled trial focusing on supportive care for lung cancer survivors. Participants are randomly assigned to either an 8-week acupressure program or an education group. Those in the acupressure group attend two training sessions at the hospital during the first week to learn proper techniques. They then perform acupressure daily on 15 specific points at least twice a day and during coughing episodes. The education group receives a booklet about lung cancer, cough causes, and management strategies. Trainers follow up with acupressure participants twice weekly to support and assess their practice. Participants will keep diaries recording their acupressure practice and symptoms. They are assessed at four times before treatment, after 1 week, after 8 weeks, and 8 weeks post-intervention. Researchers evaluate cough severity, cough-related quality of life, the dyspnea-cough-fatigue symptom cluster, fatigue, symptom burden, functional capacity, and health-related quality of life. The study runs from baseline through an 8-week intervention and an 8-week follow-up period, with ongoing monitoring via diaries and trainer contacts.

Researchers are evaluating acupuncture as a treatment for children aged 6 to 12 years with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD. The study uses a mixed-methods approach combining data mining of acupuncture points, quantitative assessments of treatment outcomes, and qualitative interviews to explore patient experiences. The goal is to understand acupunctures potential benefits alongside traditional Chinese herbal medicine for managing ADHD symptoms. Participants will be assigned to one of two groups one receiving acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese herbal treatment, and the other receiving herbal treatment alone. Acupuncture involves the use of fine needles inserted with specific techniques guided by acupoint data mining. Treatments and assessments occur over an 8-week period, focusing on symptom changes and quality of life. Throughout the study, children will undergo various evaluations including standardized ADHD symptom rating scales such as SNAP-IV, Conners 3-P, and BRIEF-2, as well as quality of life and sleep quality measures. Qualitative interviews with children, parents, and clinicians will provide insights into treatment satisfaction and perceived changes. The study spans approximately 12 months from start to finish, including follow-up assessments to monitor outcomes and safety.

Researchers are evaluating whether acupuncture, specifically the Dragons protocol, can help reduce chronic pelvic pain in women aged 21 to 65. This study focuses on non-endometriosis pelvic pain and includes women both with and without a history of sexual assault. The Dragons protocol acupuncture aims to address both physical pain and emotional trauma by combining external and internal acupuncture treatments to reprocess traumatic memories and potentially calm the nervous system. Participants will first undergo 4 weeks of standard pain care such as physical therapy, psychotherapy, or usual medical management. Then, the same women will receive acupuncture treatments once weekly for 4 weeks using the Dragons protocol. The acupuncture involves placing needles on both the back external dragons and front internal dragons of the body during each session, aiming to balance traumatic memories and pain responses. Throughout the study, participants will complete pain assessments using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale DVPRS and the Female Genitourinary Pain Index GUPI at multiple visits from week 0 to week 11. Women with a history of sexual trauma will also complete the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 PCL-5 to evaluate changes in PTSD symptoms. Visits include screening, baseline, weekly acupuncture sessions, and follow-ups, some of which may be virtual. Researchers will monitor pain levels and quality of life to understand the impact of the acupuncture treatment.

Researchers are evaluating acupuncture as a treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with long Covid, aiming to provide guidance for non-drug therapies. This pragmatic, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial will include 160 participants diagnosed by a registered Chinese medicine practitioner. The study will compare acupuncture to conventional therapy over a 12-week period to understand its effects on symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment, memory loss, and insomnia. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups one receiving acupuncture and one receiving conventional treatment without acupuncture. The acupuncture group will have 24 sessions over 12 weeks, with treatments tailored based on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation related to their main symptoms. Follow-up assessments will occur at week 18 to monitor changes after treatment ends. Throughout the study, participants will undergo various evaluations including cognitive testing with the Mini-Mental State Examination MMSE, depression rating scales, insomnia severity, fatigue questionnaires, anxiety assessments, and traditional Chinese medicine symptom scales. These will be measured at baseline, during treatment at 6 and 12 weeks, and at the 18-week follow-up. The study aims to assess the impact of acupuncture on these neuropsychiatric symptoms and monitor participants progress over time.

Researchers are studying post-stroke dysphagia difficulty swallowing after a stroke by examining the effects of acupuncture treatments. This study uses a nested design with two parts a prospective multicenter cohort study and an embedded partially randomized preference trial. The goal is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and health economic value of different acupuncture protocols combined with Western medicine, aiming to provide evidence-based guidance for treating this condition. The study includes two acupuncture approaches. One group receives the Tongguan Liqiao acupuncture method, following international and national standards for point selection and operation. The other group receives conventional acupuncture protocols specific to each research center. Patients with a preference for one method choose that group, while those without preference are randomly assigned to either group. Treatments focus on specific acupuncture points and follow strict protocols that cannot be altered once set. Participants will be enrolled between April 2026 and December 2027 and followed through the treatment period. Researchers will assess swallowing function as the primary outcome, measuring the proportion of participants responding to treatment within 14 days. Patients vital signs, ability to cooperate, and overall health will be monitored. The study emphasizes both clinical effects and the economic value of integrating acupuncture with Western medical treatments for post-stroke dysphagia.