Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society
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Central neuropathic pain is a common debilitating symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis. Side effects of analgesics often limit reaching therapeutic dosages. ⋯ However, after adding the natural compound palmitoylethanolamide, a glial modulator and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α agonist, pain reduction was more pronounced and the interval between acupuncture sessions could be increased. A multimodal stepped care approach is demonstrated, with acupuncture and palmitoylethanolamide both influencing non-neuronal cells, such as activated glial cells, which are key factors in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): a pilot study using neurography.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) can produce severe neurological deficits and neuropathic pain and is a potential reason for terminating or suspending chemotherapy treatments. Specific and effective curative treatments are lacking. ⋯ The data suggest that acupuncture has a positive effect on CIPN. The encouraging results of this pilot study justify a randomised controlled trial of acupuncture in CIPN on the basis of NCS.