The journal of alternative and complementary medicine : research on paradigm, practice, and policy
-
J Altern Complement Med · Mar 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialIs the diurnal profile of salivary cortisol concentration a useful marker for measuring reported stress in acupuncture research? A randomized controlled pilot study.
This pilot study on the use of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) to treat chronic stress explored the use of the diurnal salivary cortisol profile as a potential outcome measure. ⋯ This pilot study suggests that TCA could reduce stress and increase the morning rise of the cortisol profile; however, this was not distinguishable from the effect of attention only. Further work with a larger sample is necessary to provide a definitive answer regarding whether this could be sustained with more TCA treatments. The morning cortisol increase could be a useful outcome measure for monitoring the effects of treatment on perceived stress.