Harmony Point Acupuncture

RECENT STUDIES ON ACUPUNCTURE

Also visit our page on Health Benefits: Acupuncture for Specific Conditions

Acupuncture is both a specific and a holistic treatment. As such it can treat a wide variety of conditions. We practice acupuncture both as a stand alone medical system, and in conjunction with treatments you may be receiving from other practitioners and Medical Doctors.

On this page we will make note of recent studies that have shown the effectiveness of acupuncture for specific conditions. These studies are helpful in showing the value of acupuncture in treating patients, but the studies referenced below are by no means the only studies that have been carried out, nor do they limit the types of conditions that we successfully treat everyday.

A SAMPLING OF RECENT STUDIES OF THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ACUPUNCTURE

British Medical Journal, February 2008
Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis
Seven trials with 1366 women undergoing in vitro fertilisation were included in the meta-analyses. There was little clinical heterogeneity. Trials with sham acupuncture and no adjuvant treatment as controls were pooled for the primary analysis. Complementing the embryo transfer process with acupuncture was associated with significant and clinically relevant improvements in clinical pregnancy.
(BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.39471.430451.BE (published 7 February 2008) Read the Full Article | Click Here

ACUPUNCTURE IMPROVES SYMPTOMS OF FIBROMYALGIA
A recent investigation into the effectiveness of acupuncture for fibromyalgia was conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic. Acupuncture provided significant improvements in a variety of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, with the effects of care often lasting several months. "Our study was performed on patients with moderate to severe fibromylagia. It's my speculation that if acupuncture works for these patients with recalcitrant fibromyalgia -- where previous treatments had not provided satisfactory relief -- it would likely work for many of the millions of fibromyalgia patients," said Dr. David Martin, the study's lead investigator. reference: Martin DP, Sletten CD, Williams BA, et al. Acupuncture Improves Symptoms of Fibromyalgia: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Abstract#1260-P120. Presented at the 11th World Congress on Pain, Sydney, Australia, 2005. Available http://iasp-pain.org See also link at http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/GeneralRheumatology/tb/3564

PATIENTS WITH TENSION HEADACHES BENEFIT FROM ACUPUNCTURE
A large scale study published in the Aug. 13, 2005 issue of the British Medical Journal found significant benefit of acupuncture for the treatment of tension headaches. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) this is the most common type of headache suffered by patients in the US. Treatment by both 'standard' acupuncture practice, and 'minimal' acupuncture treatment provided at least several months relief to patients. Specific acupuncture protocols were tested, giving practitioners a basis for reliable treatment. While acupuncture has long been used to successfully treat migraine type headaches, this study is an important test of acupuncture treatment of the less debilitating, but more chronic and common tension type headache.

References:
Melchar D, Streng A, Hoppe A, et al. Acupuncture in Patients with tension-type headache: randomized controlled trial. British Medical Journal. Aug. 13, 2005; 331:376-382.
Tension Headache <www.nlm.nih.gov/melineplus/ency/article/000797.htm>
Tension Headaches <http://my.webmd.com/hw/migraines/rt1024.asp>

HARMONY POINT ACUPUNCTURE & ORIENTAL MEDICINE
Diagnosis and Treatment
900 NW 8th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida
New patients welcome -- Please call for appointment
Insurance Accepted -- Student Discounts Offered