Volume 2, Number 4 | Winter 2007

Japanese Acupuncture - Current Research
Acupuncture for Respiratory Disease in Japan: A Review

Masao Suzuki

Department of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Meiji University of Integrative Medicine

Background: In Japan, studies on acupuncture andmoxibustion therapy for respiratory disease haverarely been reported. Additionally, most of thereports are difficult for overseas researchers toaccess because they are written in Japanese andcannot be located using Medline.
Purpose: To review studies on acupuncture andmoxibustion

therapyforrespiratory

diseaseconducted in Japan.
Data Sources: The results of a literature searchusing ‘Igaku Chuo Zasshi Web’ (Japana Centra
Revuo Medicina) and the Medical Online Library,both of which are Japanese databases, covering theperiod between 1983 and 2008.
Study Selection: We reviewed references cited in
retrieved documents and selected original articles
and case reports on acupuncture and moxibustion
therapy for respiratory disease.
Data Excluded: Animal studies, surveys, excerpts
and news articles were excluded.
Data Extraction: The search terms used were
“acupuncture” and “respiratory disease”, along with“respiratory”, “asthma”, “COPD”, “bronchitis” and“common cold”.
Result: We retrieved 38 papers on acupuncture
treatment

forrespiratory

diseasewritteninJapanese (9 full papers, 22 case reports and 7 caseseries). The papers dealt with such conditions asasthma (14 trials), cough variant asthma (CVA; 3
trial), chronic cough (2 trials), chronic obstructive
pulmonarydisease(COPD;

7

trials),chronic

bronchitis (1 trial), diffuse pan bronchitis (DBP; 1
usual/idiopathic

interstitial

pneumonia(UIP; 1 trial), and the common cold (2 trials). We
also found 8 trials dealing with cold prevention. The
effects of acupuncture treatment on respiratory

2

Conclusions:

A smallacupunctureandnumbermoxibustionofreportsontreatment

forrespiratory disease were found in the Japanesedatabases.

Somereported

that

acupuncture

treatment was conducted for refractory respiratory

Abstract

trials),disease were reported in 33 papers.

disease, such as COPD, for which modern medicine
has, to date, found no remedy. However, we foundonly inadequate evidence for its effectiveness.
Future studies must use more rigorous evaluation
methods, such as RCT, to measure the effectivenessof

acupunctureandmoxibustion

therapyfortreating respiratory diseases.
Key

words:

respiratory

disease,acupuncture,

moxibustion, asthma, COPD.
Introduction
Acupuncture, a non-invasive therapy based on
traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), may be avaluable modality in managing symptoms (1).
Moreover, the World Health Organization has
recognised that acupuncture may be effective intreating chronic pulmonary disorders (2), and it is
widely used in Japan for the treatment of chronic
disease. The theory behind the use of acupuncture isto restore the balance of “vital flows” by inserting
needles at particular points on the body surface
where the “meridians” of these flows lie. The specificpoints can also be stimulated with pressure or laser
application (3).
In

many

advancedpatients,

particularly

pulmonarydisease,

those

with

symptomatic

measures are required in addition to other therapies,
and may even be the mainstay of treatment (4).
Acupuncture

is

one

of

the

most

popularalternative therapies. Needle acupuncture has beenused to treat various complaints for hundreds ofyears in Japan and has been reported to be oftherapeutic benefit in controlling pain. However, inJapan, reports on respiratory disease patients who
have

received

acupunctureandmoxibustion

therapy are rare and clinical trials intended toassesstheeffectiveness

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

of

the

therapyforVolume 2, Number 4 | Winter 2007

respiratory disease are even rarer. Moreover, mostResultsof the papers on acupuncture published in Japan

We found a total of 38 Japanese papers on

are written in Japanese and cannot be retrieved

acupuncture that was applied to respiratory diseaseusing major English-language medical databases.

(22 case repots, 7 case series and 9 full papers).

Thus, the purpose of this review was to evaluate(1) Case reports and case series

and introduce the current status of clinical trials

1.

conducted in Japan on acupuncture in treating
respiratory disease.

Diagnosis
A list of 29 case reports and case series is shownin Table 1. The conditions examined in these types

We are sending before more and used to alsoof papers were asthma (13 trials) (5–17), coughupdate this paper for the information on an

variant asthma (CVA) (2 trials) (18-19), chronic

acupuncture and moxibustion therapy over a

cough (2 trials) (20,21), COPD (5 trials) (22–26),

respiratory ailment to this.

chronic bronchitis (1 trial) (27), diffuse pan

Methods

bronchitis (1 trial) (28), UIP (1 trial) (29) and theAccessing the literaturecommon cold (2 trials) (30,31). We also found studies

A computer-assisted search was used to examine
the Igaku Chuo Zasshi (Japana Centra Revuo
Medicina)

andMedicalOnlinedealing with cold prevention (2 trials) (32,33).
2.

Intervention

Library

Twenty-one of 29 case reports used TCM as the(Meteointergate, Inc.) databases. The period covered

standard method of acupuncture treatment. Of thewas from January 1983 to December 2008. We also

rest, some applied special acupuncture treatments,

investigated the references that were cited in eachsuch as electric acupuncture treatment (7,14), roller

retrieved document and selected relevant papers.

acupuncture (30), skin implant needles (15), Doushi

The keywords used in the database searches were(17) and ryoudouraku (8).

"respiratory

3.

Duration of treatment

disease","acupuncture","asthma",obstructive

pulmonarydisease",The duration of treatment observation for"bronchitis", "common cold", "pulmonary disease"respective research was over 1 month for 13 reports,and "clinical trial". The search was limited to

but only 1 day in 4 reports (13,15,17,21). The rest

original papers and case reports.

did not report the period of treatment observation

Study selection criteria(5,8,9,16,20,31,33).

"chronic

Clinicaltrials(casereports,

parallel-or4.

Outcome measurescrossover-designed trials and controlled clinical

The main outcome was not measured bytrials (CCTs)) that assessed the efficacy of needle

commonly validated methods in 16 papers. These

acupuncture were included. Experimental studies,

papers measured their outcomes by conducting

animal studies and duplications of published papers

unstructured individual interviews of the patients.

were excluded.

The rest carried out reliable examinations, such as

Data extraction

testing

For each study, the following items were

improvementin

respiratory

keeping asthma diaries or measuring exercise

reviewed: trial design, randomization, blinding,tolerance (6,7,12,14,18,19,22-26,28).

handling of dropouts, publication year, health5.

condition

examined,treatment

andfunction,

Results

control

All trials but one indicated positive results (24),procedures, number of participants, main result,although unusual techniques of acupuncture were

number of treatments, type of control used, mainused in some case reports. In one study, the common

outcome measure, descriptions of informed consent,

cold was treated with roller acupuncture (30). In

affiliations of authors and publication types.

another study, the Acupoint (suitotsu; ST10) was

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

3

Volume 2, Number 4 | Winter 2007

applied to the frontal cervix to treat bronchialtests, such as respiratory function inspection andasthma (Japanese: Doushi) (17).

exercise tolerance. Similarly, one measuring the(2) Full papers: Controlled clinical trials

effects

1. Diagnosis

measurements, such as requiring patients to keep

We found a total of nine papers regarding CCTs

onbronchialasthmausedvalidatedasthma diaries and conducting respiratory function

on acupuncture in treating respiratory disease andinspections.

in cold prevention. One of the first CCT papers on

7. Results

acupuncture was published in 1996 (34). A list of

The results were positive in five trials (55.6%)

these CCTs is shown in Table 2. The conditions(35-37,39,40). In these trials, it was suggested thatexamined in these CCTs were asthma (1 trial) (35)

acupuncture treatment for COPD (36,37) andand COPD (2 trials) (36,37). We also found 6 trials

asthma (35) was very effective. TCM acupuncture

on cold prevention (34,38-42).

was used in all these positive trials for COPD and2. Study design

asthma.

Of them, three were regarded as genuine RCTs
(38-40). No subjects were blinded. Dropouts or

Discussion

withdrawals from the studies were indicated in〈Design〉
Wethree trials (35,38,39).

examined

acupuncture

3. Intervention

thetreatment

methodologicalquality,characteristics

andThe method of acupuncture used was TCM (3respiratory outcome of nine CCTs on acupuncture

trials) (35-37), specific acupoint needles (4 trials)

for respiratory disease in Japan. For most, the(34,39,40,42) and moxibustion (2 trials) (38,401).

research

4. Control

inappropriate (i.e., not randomized, controlled

methods

used

were

inadequateorRegarding controls, no trial used sham or placebo

and/or blinded, and without any quantitative

procedures, six trials employed drugs or vaccine

measurement). Furthermore, even the CCTs that a

injections (343-37,41,42) and three trials employedthird person had assessed them, and thus theno treatment (38-40) (Table 2).

validity of their results cannot be guaranteed to be

5. Duration and frequency of treatments

high.

The duration of all trials was over 1 month. The
mean frequency of treatments was 16.8 times (range〈Duration and frequency of treatment〉
Most case reports and case series dealt with

8–32).

chronic disease, such as bronchial asthma, COPD

6. Outcome measuresand UIP. Chronic diseases require relatively long

Of six papers that intended to measure theperiods of acupuncture treatment and monitoring.

effects of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on

However, several these case reports and case series

cold prevention, two required research participants

conducted treatment and monitoring for only short

to maintain diaries to record changes in cold

periods of time. Thus, we cannot know the long-term

symptoms and three conducted blood tests that

effects, beyond the periods covered by the respective

revealed

particularstudies. The validity of acupuncture treatment inbiomarkers (CD4, CD8 and CD53) and patients’ coldthese studies must be gauged in this light.

symptoms. However, one paper measured the effects

Nevertheless, a few studies have carried out

based

relatively long periods of acupuncture treatment

relationships

solelyon

betweenself-reports

byparticipating

andpatients.

monitoring.

Thesestudies

are

of

great

Two papers measured the effects of acupuncture

importance in assessing the realistic effects ofand moxibustion therapy for COPD using validated

acupuncture treatment on these chronic diseases.

4

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 2, Number 4 | Winter 2007

Japanese citizen to seek mainstream modern〈Results〉
Because only 3 complete RCTs were found out of38

papers,wecannotstronglyargue(Western) medicine treatments offered by medicalthat

institutions at relatively low cost. Because mostacupuncture was effective in treating respiratory

CAM treatments are not covered by insurance, it isdisease. As Martin et al. argued, the effect of aunlikely that Japanese patients with respiratory

treatment can be systematically assessed only by

disease would choose acupuncture or moxibustion

improving study quality (43). In this review, thetherapy as their first choice of treatment. In someresult was positive in 28 papers (case reports andWesterncase series). However, in 15 of these 28 papers, thetreatments for respiratory diseases have beenassessment was based solely on patients’ complaints,

reported to be more effective and less costly than

indicating that these results are weak in terms oftreatments by modern medicine (46-48).

countries,

however,

acupuncture

validity and reliability. This result suggests the

It is, of course, true that acupuncture has been

publication bias was present, in the sense that only

practiced much more widely in Japan than in thepositive outcomes tended to be published.

West. Of 2,000 respondents, 6.5% had received

Our review clarified that weaker study designs

acupuncture treatment in Japan (49), whilst the

may bias study results and overestimate positive

number was only 2% in Australia (50) and 1% in theeffects of the treatment consistent with the findings

Unitedof Martin et al. (43). Despite the weaknesses

treatment has been used primarily for relievingobserved, some studies demonstrated the potential

pains, such as back pains and stiff shoulders inof acupuncture in the sense that it may be effective

Japan,

in treating certain diseases, such as COPD and UIP,

Czechoslovakia, the treatment has been used morewhich are currently incurable by modern medicine.

for bronchial asthma, allergy or mental disorders,

Likewise, some papers suggested a possibility ofthan for pain relief (52,53). Particularly interesting

using acupuncture in health promotion, such as coldis that whilst 3.1% of respondents had received

prevention. These cold prevention studies, alongacupuncture treatment for respiratory diseases inwith the RCT study of 326 subjects reported by

the United States, none had done so in Japan.

et

al.

showingwhilst(51).

in

However,

Britainand

acupuncture

theformersignificant

Another difference is that in Euro-American

improvements in preventing colds in the treatment

countries, doctors practice acupuncture treatmentgroup, are seminal in that they examined theat hospitals, whilst in Japan doing so is illegal. That

possibility of applying acupuncture and moxibustionis, when patients seek acupuncture treatment fortherapy as preventive medicine.

respiratory diseases in the West, they actually have<Comparison between situations in Japan andeasier access than their Japanese counterparts whooverseas>must seek treatment from acupuncturists who

Kawakita(44)

StatesThe Japanese CCTs that measured the effects oflargely do not work at hospitals, but at CAM clinics.

acupuncture in treating respiratory diseases lag far

Moreover,behind in quality compared to those conducted intreatments in Japan are not covered by thethe West. Whilst studies in the West began to apply

universal health insurance, which does cover most

RCTs in the 1980s (45), the Japanese counterparts

modern medicine, making it relatively harder for

did not do so until 2000 (40).

Japanese patients to seek acupuncture treatment.
Japanese acupuncture has developed some
culturally unique methods whilst being practiced for
hundreds of years. Some papers reviewed here dealt
with such unique methods as roller acupuncture

The overall scarcity of reports on acupuncture
and moxibustion therapies for respiratory disease inJapan is probably due to the medical insurance
system. The system enables practically everyasstatedThe Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

previously,

most

CAM

5

Volume 2, Number 4 | Winter 2007

(Roller-shin in Japanese). For roller acupuncture
treatment, practitioners apply a roller with a warty
surface across a patient’s skin, which stimulates
cutaneous vessels and results in their dilation.
Because no needle penetrates the skin, roller
acupuncture is considered to be easier to practicethan the orthodox method. Yamashita reported thatroller acupuncture was a safe and effective method
for cold prevention (30).
〈Conclusion〉
In conclusion, future trials should have larger
sample sizes, more rigorous methods and reflect
principles and practices of acupuncture as appliedin practice today. Furthermore, to complete
systematic reviews on acupuncture, we encourage
researchers in Japan and elsewhere to publish
relevant results of RCTs in English, so that they will
be listed in major English-language databases. We
believe that conducting English reviews of Japanese
papers on RCTs in a collaborative effort amongst
researchers from different countries would promotea more thorough scientific evaluation ofacupuncture treatments.

bronchialasthmathat

improvementofvariegated whole body symptom was effective to
reduction of respiratory organ symptom. Jap
Joun Acup Moxi Thera. 2003;718(9):61-66.
(in Japanese)*
7.

Nakano T, Yamashita H, Sawada Y, Nishijoh K.
Exampleofenforcingnewacupuncture

moxibustion program to bronchial asthma
treatment.

Clinicalacupuncture.

2002;17(2):32-40. (in Japanese)*8.

Gotou K. Treatment results of asthma andexaminationof

Ryoudouraku

chart.

Jap

Medical Ryoudouraku. 2000;45(3):198-206.
(in Japanese)*
9.

Matsuzawa M, Kaneko S, Sai S, Oho G, Sugiura
H, Go S, Nigel W, Ka K, Shuku, S, Aikawa, Y.
Examination of infant bronchial asthma
treatment of ST36 and inhalation of oxygen.
Oriental Medicine. 1995;21(8):85-87.
(in Japanese)*

10. Su, Y, Ozaki T, Nonoi K, Adati S. Two cases ofbronchialasthma.

Clinicalacupuncture.

1995;10(3):19-25. (in Japanese)*
11. Hashimoto K, Kamino H, Oyagi T, Okumura Y,

References
1. Shiow LT, Juei CW, Kuan CL, Ue-Lin C. Effectsof acupressure therapy for patients having
prolonged mechanical ventilation support. J
Advan Nurs; 52, 142-150.
2. National Institute of Health (1997) Acupuncture(Consensus Statement). Available at:
3.
4.

6

needles. Oriental medicine

and thepain

clinic.1994;24:236-244. (in Japanese)*
12. Shinohara M, Yamauchi N, Nobuara H, Sato T.
A case of bronchial asthma improved byacupuncture therapy. Jounal Japa Soci Acup
Moxi. 1990;12(1):383-389. (in Japanese)*

Macioca G. The practice of Chinese Medicine,

13. Hayasaki Y. Acupuncture treatment to asthma

ed 1. New York, Churchill Livingstone, 1994.

attack.

Davis

1989;18(2):7-9. (in Japanese)*

CL.

ABC

of

palliative

Care

Jap

MedicalRyoudouraku.

14. Tsukada Y, Baba M. Acupuncture treatment toproblems.” BMJ 1997; 315: 931-4.

child

Oyagi T. Clinical trial report of acupuncture

1987;9:151-154. (in Japanese)*treatment by small number of acupoints. Jap

6.

patient treated by acupuncture with a few

http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/cons/107/107_statement.htm.

“Breathlessness, cough and other respiratory
5.

Fujimoto R. Differentiation of asthma and abronchialasthma.

J

Pediatpract.

15. Fu Y, Haruki E. Treatment of acupuncture of

Joun Acup Moxi Thera. 2004;731(9):96-100.

the inside of the body burial to asthma in(in Japanese)*childhood. J Pediat pract. 1987;1:145-146.

Egawa M, Yano T. One example of obstinacy(in Japanese)*

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 2, Number 4 | Winter 2007

16. Sugiura R, Katou T, Gotou K. Examination by

Pulmonary

Disease(COPD)

electric acupuncture to bronchial asthma. J

TreatedAcupuncture.

Clin Anesthesia 1982;8(6):1074-1076.

2000;51(2):233-240. (in Japanese)*(in Japanese)*
17. Takishima

T.

bySuccessfully
Kampo

Med.

27. Rin S, Rin G, Ri S. Diagnosis method by the
Acupuncture

treatment

tobronchial asthma. Japan Medical Journal.
1979; 2905: 15-19. (in Japanese)*

Orient medicine of chronic bronchitis. Oriental
Medicine. 1993;21(8):85-87. (in Japanese)*
28. Suzuk M, Ohno Y, Ohno T, Egawa M, Nanura K,

18. Egawa M. Cough and acupuncture treatment.

Yano T, Akao S, Fujiwara H. A Case of

Jap Joun Acup Moxi Thera. 2006;758(12):43-49.

Successful(in Japanese)*

Pan-Bronchiolitis. J Jap Soci Acupu Moxi.

19. Uematsu Y, Egawa M, Yano T, Namura K. A
case of cough variant asthma successfully

Acupuncture

Diffuse2007;57(5):621-632.
29. Uematsu Y, Egawa M, Yano T, Namura K. One

treated by acupuncture. Jap Joun Acup Moxi

case

Thera. 2004;723(1):118-123. (in Japanese)*

acupuncture treatment. Jap Joun Acup Moxi

20. Tokuchi J. Two cases of cough that effect is seenin acupuncture treatment. Jap Joun Acup Moxi
Thera. 2006;758(12):50-56. (in Japanese)*
Hokusinkai method. Jap Joun Acup Moxi Thera.
2006;758(12):35-42. (in Japanese)*
H, Sawada M, Akao S, Gotou K, Fujuwara H. A
chronic

obstructive

disease(COPD)

successfully

acupuncture.

J

pulmonarytreatedJap

Respiracupuncture

treatment.

Clinical.

2006;35(4):40-41. (in Japanese)*
31. Seki K. Examination of effect of acupuncture
to

cold.

OrientalMed.

1992;20(4):71-73. (in Japanese)*
32. Tokuchi

J,

Tanzawa

S.

Remarkable

Improvement of Chronic Cold Syndrome by theSoci.

Parient with “fei qi ying liang xiu zhen”. J Jap
Soci Acupu Moxi. 2000;50(3):463-469.

Yano T, Fujiwara H. A case of successful
with

by

Application of Acupuncture Therapy to a

23. Suzuki M, Ohno Y, Akao S, Egawa M, Asai T,
emphysema

improvedby

2005;43(5):289-295. (in Japanese)*

acupuncture

symptom

30. Yamashita Y. A case whom cold improved bytreatment

22. Suzuki M, Ohno Y, Namura K, Asai T, Yuugetu
of

UIP

Thera. 2003;715(6):71-76. (in Japanese)*roller

21. Murai K. Acupuncture treatment of cough by

case

whom

bronchial(in Japanese)*
33. Tanioka M. Two cases who treat acupunctureforinfanttobronchialasthma.

ClinicalAcupuncture. 1998;14(1):58-59. (in Japanese)*

asthma. Kampo Med. 2005;56(4):567-575.

34. Kobayashi(in Japanese)*Y,

AkitsuM,

OhoyamaF,

24. Tsuru H, Egawa M, Takahashi N, Matsumoto T,

Kuribayashi H, Kondou T, Shinohara M, et al.

Kenzi N. A case of pulmonary emphysema of

Infection prevention effect of vaccine nose

severe grade treated by acupuncture in a healthvaccination and acupuncture treatment. J

care facility for the elderly. J Jap Soci Acupu

Oriental school Medicine. 1996;20:38-43.

Moxi. 2005;55(2):150-158. (in Japanese)*(in Japanese)*

25. Katayama Y, Egawa M, Yano T, Namura K. A

35. Suzuki M, Namura K, Egawa M, Tano T. Effectcase of emphysema that breathing difficultiesof Acupuncture Treatment in Patients withandBronchial Asthma. J Jap Soci Acupu Mox].

state

of

nourishment

improvedbyacupuncture treatment. Jap Joun Acup Moxi
Thera. 2004;727(5):53-58. (in Japanese)*
26. Suzuki M, Egawa M, Yano T, Namura K,
Yamamura Y. A Case of Chronic Obstructive

2006;56(4):616-627. (in Japanese)*
36. Egawa M, Yano T, Namura K. Case whom
symptomofemphysema

improvedbyacupuncture treatment. Jap Joun Acup Moxi

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

7

Volume 2, Number 4 | Winter 2007

Thera. 2005;745(11):85-90. (in Japanese)*

45. Jobst K, Chen JH, McPherson K, et al.

37. Suzuki M. The Effects of Acupuncture in
Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease.

Bull

Meiji

Univ

OrientMed.

2004(33);83-97. (in Japanese)*

Controlled trial of acupuncture for disablingbreathlessness. Lancet 1986; 20: 1416-9.
46. Branco K, Naeser A. Carpal tunnel syndrome;
Clinical

38. Takahashi N, Tsuru H, Egawa M, Matumoto T,

outcomeafter

acupuncture,

low-level

micr ） oamps

laserTranscutaneous

Kawakita K. Effects of Indirect Moxibustion onelectrical

Common Cold Symptoms in Elderly Subjects

alternative therapies; An open protocol syudy. J

LivedAltern and Comple med. 1999; 5: 5-26.

inNursing

Home:Single-caseExperimental Design. J Jap Soci Acupu Moxi.
2005;55(5):706-715. (in Japanese)*

stimulation

and

other

47. Johansson K, Lindgreen I, Widner H, Wiklund I,
Johansson

39. Shichidou T, Isobe Y, Yu S, Kozima T, Inoue E,

nerve

BB.

Can

sensory

stimulation

improve the functional outcome in stroke

Kawakita K, Tannzawa S. Protective efficacy ofpatients?. Neurology. 1993; 43: 2189-2192.

cold that uses acupuncture treatment by

48. Liguori A, Petti F, Bangrazi A, Camaioni D et al.

randomized controlled trial. Jap Joun of Acup

Comparison

Moxi

versus acupuncture treatment for migraine

Thera.

2001;695(12):130-143.

(inJapanese)*of

without

40. Isobe Y, Yu S, Inoue E. Protective efficacy ofcold that uses acupuncture treatment byrandomized controlied trial. J Oriental School

pharmacologicalaura:

treatment

Analysisofsocio-medicalparameters. J Trad Chin Med.
2000; 20:231-240.
49. Ishizaki N, Iwa M, Yano T, Ono N, Nisimura S,

Medicine. 2000;24:94-97. (in Japanese)*

Kawakita K, Tanzawa S. Survey research on

41. Tanaka J, Satou Y, Ouji I, Konisi T, Kondou J,

prevalence, aim and image of acupuncture andSayama O, et al. Infection prevention effect ofmoxibustion in Japan(1): Prevalence and aim ofvaccine nose vaccination and moxibustion

acupuncture and moxibustion. JJSAM. 2005;

treatment.

55: 697-705.

J

Oriental

SchoolMedicine.

2000;23:112-117. (in Japanese)*

50. MacLennan AH, Wilson

42. Kaneko I, Asayasu Y, Kaneko T, Kondou A,
Saitou K, Saitou H, et al. Infection prevention
effectofvaccinenose

vaccination

AW.

Prevalence and cost of alternative medicine inAustralia. Lancet. 1996; 347: 569-573.

and51. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S,

acupuncture treatment. J Oriental School

Wilkey S, Rompay MV et al. Trends in

Medicine. 1998;21:72-77. (in Japanese)*

alternative medicine use in the United States,

43. Martin J， Donaldson ANA， Villarroel R，etal ： Efficacyofacupunctureinasthma:1990-1997. JAMA. 1998; 280; 1569-1575.
52. Tsuru H, Ishizaki N, Taniguchi K. Analysis ofof2967 patients who visited acupuncture clinic ofpublished data from 11 randomized controlled

Meiji College of oriental medicine in thetrials．Eur Respir J 2002；20：846-852．

U.S.A.(1996-1999). Bulletin of Meiji Univer

systematic

review

andmeta-analysis

44. Kawakita K, Shichidou T, Inoue E, Nabeta T,

Orient Med.2003; 33: 61-81.

Kitakouji H, Aizawa S, et al: Preventive and

53. White A, Ernst E. Public usage of acupuncture

curative effects of acupuncture on the common

in the West. In: Ernst E and White A (ed).

cold: a multicentre randomized controlled trial

Acupuncture: a scientific appraisal. Oxford.

in

Butterworth Heinemann. 1999: 5-7.

Japan.

CompleTherapMed.

2004;12:181-188.

8

DH, Taylor

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 2, Number 4 | Winter 2007

Table 1 Summary of case reports on acupuncture and moxibustion in the Japanese literature.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVA, cough variant asthma; DBP, diffuse pan bronchitis; UIP,
usual interstitial pneumonia; +, positive; -, negative.
Authoryears

DiagnosisnStudydesignIntervention

Duration

No.oftreatment

Outcome Measures

ResultReferences
No.

Suzuki M

2007

DPB

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

50 weeks

50 times

symptom, Respiratory
function, blood test+

28

Tokuchi J

2006

Chronic
couhg

2

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

unenrolled

unenrolled

sympotm+

20

Egawa M

2006

CVA

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

12 weeks

12 times

categorical scale+

18

Murai K

2006

Chronic
couhg

4

Case series

medication add on
acupuncture(TCM)

1 to 20 days

1 to 40 times

sympotm+

21

Yamashita
Y

2006

Common cold

1

Case report

Roller acupuncture

104 weeks

160 times

symptom+

30

Suzuki M

2005

COPD

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

10 weeks

10 times

exercise tolerance test,
Respiratory function, attack+

22

Suzuki M

2005

COPD

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

10 weeks

10 times

exercise tolerance
test,Respiratory function+

23

Tsuru K

2005

COPD

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

20 weeks

33 times

exercise tolerance
test,Respiratory function-

24

Katayama
Y

2004

COPD

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

7 weeks

33 times

nutrition, symptom+

25

Uematsu Y

2004

CVA

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

9 weeks

10 times

Asthma diary, PEFR+

19

Oyagi T

2004

Asthma1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

nodescription

no description

symptom+5

Uematsu Y

2003

UIP

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

50 weeks

50 times

exercise tolerance,
Respiratory function, symptom+

29

Egawa M

2003

Asthma1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

72 weeks

60 times

attack diary, PEFR+

6

Nakano T

2002

Asthma10

Case series

Electroacupuncture,acupuncture

10 weeks

10 times

attack diary, Medicine+

7

Tokuchi J

2000

Cold
prevention

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

4 weeks

8 times

symptom+

31

Suzuki M

2000

COPD

1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

61 weeks

60 times

attack diary, PEFR, symptom+

26

Gotou K

2000

Asthma17

Case series

acupuncture(ryoudouraku)

nodescription

13 timesryoudouraku, symptom+(availableness:
9, nvariability:7)

8

Tanioka K

1998

Cold
prevention

2

Case reportchild acupuncturenodescription

no description

symptom+

33

Matsuzawa
M

1995

Asthma30

Case series

acupuncture,
Kampo (TCM)

nodescription

no description

scandding Classification
effective: 90%

+

9

Yu S

1995

Asthma2

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

12 weeks

26 times

symptom+

10

HashimotoK

1994

Asthma1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

28 weeks

47 times

symptom

+

11

Rin S

1993

chronic
broncitis

1

Case reportacupuncture, Kanpo(TCM)

8 weeks

8 times

symptom+

27

Seki Y

1992

Common cold

3

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

nodescription

no description

symptom+

32

Category
scale(+),
Emergency
outpatient(+),
medication(+),
ABG(-)

12

Shinohara
M

1990

Asthma1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

84 weeks

30 times

Category scale, Emergency
outpatient, medication, ABG

Hayasaki Y

1989

Astham3

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

1 day

Once

symptom+

13

14

Tsukada Y

1987

Asthma12

Case series

Electroacupuncture,acupuncture

56 weeks

28 times

symptom, PEFR, blood test

symptom(+),
PEFR(10%
improvement),
blood test (-)

Fu Y

1987

Asthma21

Case series

acupuncture(implant a needl)

1 day

Once

symptom+(Effective: 90%)15Sugiura R

1982

Asthma1

Case reportacupuncture (TCM)

nodescription

no description

symptom+

16

TakishimaT

1979

Asthma10

Case series

acupuncture(Japanese: Doushi)

1 day

Once

symptom+

17

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

9Volume 2, Number 4 | Winter 2007

Table 2 Summary of controlled clinical trials on acupuncture and moxibustion in the Japanese literature.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RCT, randomized controlled trials;
No.of

No

Authoryears

Diagnosis

Study designnIntervention

Control

Duration1

Suzuki M

2006

AsthmaN-of-1

6

A: acupuncture

B: iv (drugs)

40 weeks

20 times

2

Egawa M

2005

COPD

N-of-1

1

A: acupuncture

B: iv (drugs)

64 weeks

32 times

RCT, N-of-1

2

A: moxibation

B: i (waiting lists)

16 weeks

24 times

Parallel37

A: acupuncture

B: iv (drugs)

10 weeks

10 times

RCT

24

A: acupuncture

B: i (waiting lists)

4 weeks

9 times

RCT

24

A: acupuncture

B: i (waiting lists)

4 weeks

8 timesparallel60

A: moxibustion

4 weeks

16 times

4 weeks

16 times

48 weeks

16 times

3

4

5

N

Suzuki M

Shichidou
T

2006

2004

2001

6

Isobe Y

2000

7

Tanaka J

2000

8

9

10

Takahashi

Kaneko I

Kobayashi
Y

1998

1996

Cold
prevention

COPD

Cold
prevention

Cold
prevention

Cold
prevention

Cold
prevention

Cold
prevention

treatment

B: iv(wacchin +moxibustion),
C: iv(wacchin)
B: iv(wacchin +parallel60

A: acupuncture

acupuncture),
C: iv(wacchin)

Outcome Measures

Asthma diary,

ResultReferences
No.

A>B

35

A>B

36

A=B

38

A>B

37

symptom diary

A>B

39

symptom diary

A>B

40

A=B>C

41

A=B>C

42

A=B=C

34

Respiratory function

exercise tolerance,
Respiratory function

symptom

exercise tolerance test,
Respiratory function

sympotom,CD4+, CD8+, CD53

sympotom,CD4+, CD8+, CD53

B: iv(wacchin +parallel40

A: acupuncture

acupuncture),
C: iv(wacchin)

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

virus serum antibody titer