The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
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J Altern Complement Med · Nov 2006
Clinical TrialA pilot study of external qigong therapy for patients with fibromyalgia.
Although qigong is an important part of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) based on a philosophy similar to acupuncture, few studies of qigong exist in the Western medicine literature. To evaluate qigong therapy as a modality in treating chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), we report a pilot trial of 10 women with severe FMS who experienced significant improvement after external qigong therapy (EQT). ⋯ Treatment with EQT resulting in complete recovery for some FMS patients suggests that TCM may be very effective for treating pain and the multiplicity of symptoms associated with FMS. Larger controlled trials of this promising intervention are urgently needed.
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J Altern Complement Med · Nov 2006
Variability in the diagnosis and point selection for persons with frequent headache by traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturists.
The aim of this study was to compare Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pattern diagnosis and acupuncture point selection for persons with frequent headache, as ascribed by three highly trained, licensed acupuncturists. ⋯ Headache is a heterogeneous condition represented by a wide variety of TCM diagnoses. There is variability among acupuncturists in the diagnosis of TCM patterns and the selection of acupuncture points for needling. These data suggest, however, that most persons with frequent headache appear to have liver Yang and Qi disharmonies for which needling of Liver 3, Large Intestine 4, and/or Governing Vessel 20 may be appropriate. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which variability in the diagnosis or acupuncture point selection among acupuncturists affects clinical outcomes.
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J Altern Complement Med · Nov 2006
Beyond needling--therapeutic processes in acupuncture care: a qualitative study nested within a low-back pain trial.
In the medical and scientific literature, there is a dearth of reports about how acupuncturists work and deliver care in practice. An informed characterization of the treatment process is needed to support the appropriate design of evaluative studies in acupuncture. ⋯ This study suggests that acupuncture care for patients with chronic conditions such as low back pain is likely to be a complex intervention that utilizes a number of patient-centered strategies to elicit longterm therapeutic benefits. Research designed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture as it is practiced in the UK needs to accommodate the full range of therapeutic goals and related treatment processes.