Does Integrative Medicine Enhance Balance in Aging Adults? Proof of Concept for the Benefit of Electroacupuncture Therapy in Parkinson's Disease A comparative study on the immediate effects of electroacupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6), Xuanzhong (GB39) and a non-meridian point, on menstrual pain and uterine arterial blood flow, in primary dysmenorrhea patients. A systematic appraisal of allegiance effect in randomized controlled trials of psychotherapy Effect and Potential Mechanism of Electroacupuncture Add-On Treatment in Patients with Parkinson's Disease [Cumulative analgesic effects of EA stimulation of sanyinjiao (SP 6) in primary dysmenorrhea patients: a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial]. Electroacupuncture at Jing-jiaji points for neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis: a study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial Effects of electroacupuncture and fluoxetine on the density of GTP-binding-proteins in platelet membrane in patients with major depressive disorder. The role of treatment timing and mode of stimulation in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with acupuncture: An exploratory randomised controlled trial Electroacupuncture relieves pain in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: three-arm randomized trial. Feasibility Trial of Electroacupuncture for Aromatase Inhibitor—Related Arthralgia in Breast Cancer Survivors The Short- and Long-Term Benefit in Chronic Low Back Pain Through Adjuvant Electrical Versus Manual Auricular Acupuncture Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing the Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture and Tens for Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Study for a Pragmatic Trial [Effects of instant electroacupuncture at the different acupoints on IP3 in the uterus tissue of dysmenorrhea model rats]. Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea in Canada. Dense Cranial Electroacupuncture Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder—A Single-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Study The effect of high and low frequency electroacupuncture in pain after lower abdominal surgery Electroacupuncture inhibits chronification of the acute pain of knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial [Efficacy comparison of different stimulation therapies for periarthritis of shoulder]. The effect of electroacupuncture on opioid-like medication consumption by chronic pain patients: a pilot randomized controlled clinical trial. Effect of Perioperative Electroacupuncture as An Adjunctive Therapy on Postoperative Analgesia with Tramadol and Ketamine in Prostatectomy: A Randomised Sham-Controlled Single-Blind Trial Electroacupuncture is not effective in chronic painful neuropathies. Electroacupuncture improves cardiac function and remodeling by inhibition of sympathoexcitation in chronic heart failure rats. Pain relief during oocyte retrieval with a new short duration electro-acupuncture technique--an alternative to conventional analgesic methods.
Background : Postural balance and potentially fall risk increases among older adults living with neurological diseases , especially Parkinson 's disease ( PD ) . Since conventional therapies such as levodopa or deep brain stimulation may fail to alleviate or may even worsen balance , interest is growing in evaluating alternative PD therapies . Objective : The purpose of the current study was to assess improvement in postural balance in PD patients following electroacupuncture ( EA ) as an alternative therapy . Methods : 15 aging adults ( 71.2 ± 6.3 years ) with idiopathic PD and 44 healthy age-matched participants ( 74.6 ± 6.5 years ) were recruited . The PD participants were r and omly assigned ( at a ratio of 2:1 ) to an intervention ( n = 10 ) or to a control group ( n = 5 ) . The intervention group received a 30-min EA treatment on a weekly basis for 3 weeks , while the control group received a sham treatment . Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after the final therapy . Measurements included balance assessment , specifically the ratio of medial-lateral ( ML ) center-of-gravity ( COG ) sway to anterior-posterior ( AP ) sway ( COGML/AP ) and ankle/hip sway during eyes-open , eyes-closed , and eyes-open dual-task trials , the Unified Parkinson 's Disease Rating Scale ( UPDRS ) , as well as quality of life , concerns for fall , and pain question naires . Results : No difference was observed for the assessed parameters between the intervention and the control group at baseline . After treatment , an improvement in balance performance was observed in the intervention group . Compared with the healthy population , PD patients prior to treatment had larger COGML/AP sway with more dependency on upper-body movements for maintaining balance . Following EA therapy , COGML/AP sway was reduced by 31 % and ankle/hip sway increased by 46 % in the different conditions ( p = 0.02 for the dual-task condition ) . The clinical rating revealed an overall improvement ( p < 0.01 ) in mentation , behavior , and mood ( UPDRS part I , 49 % ) , activities of daily living ( UPDRS part II , 46 % ) , and motor examination ( UPDRS part III , 40 % ) . There was a significant reduction ( p < 0.02 ) in the specific items regarding UPDRS fall status ( 67 % ) and rigidity ( 48 % ) . Changes were small and nonsignificant in the controls ( p > 0.29 ) . Conclusions : This pilot study demonstrates improvement in rigidity and balance following EA . These preliminary results suggest EA could be a promising alternative treatment for balance disturbance in PD OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare the effects of Sanyinjiao ( SP6 ) , Xuanzhong ( GB39 ) , and an adjacent non-meridian point on menstrual pain and uterine arterial blood flow in primary dysmenorrhea patients . DESIGN The design of the study was a prospect i ve , r and omized controlled trial . SETTING The setting of the study was the Sh and ong Institute of Medical Imaging , Jinan , China . PATIENTS The patients were 52 women with primary dysmenorrhea . INTERVENTIONS Women received electroacupuncture ( EA ) at SP6 ( n=13 ) , GB39 ( n=14 ) , and an adjacent non-meridian point ( n=12 ) , respectively , for 10 minutes when scored ≥40 on a 100-mm visual analog scale ( VAS ) , and for 30 minutes on the next 2 days . There was no EA in the waiting list group ( n=13 ) . OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes were menstrual pain , resistance index ( RI ) , and the ratio between peak systolic to end-diastolic flow velocity ( S/D ) in uterine arteries . Secondary outcomes included verbal rating scale ( VRS ) and retrospective symptom scale ( RSS ) . RESULTS The SP6 group had a highly significant reduction in VAS scores compared with the waiting list group ( -23.19 mm , 95 % confidence interval [CI]-32.06 to -14.33 , P<0.0001 ) , GB39 group ( -18.58 mm , 95 % CI -27.29 to -9.88 , P<0.0001 ) and the non-meridian point group ( -20.78 mm , 95 % CI -29.82 to -11.73 , P<0.0001 ) , respectively . A significant reduction in VRS scores was found in the SP6 group compared with the GB39 group ( P=0.034 ) and the non-meridian point group ( P=0.038 ) . There were no significant differences of RI , S/D-values and RSS scores among the four groups ( P>0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS EA at SP6 can immediately relieve menstrual pain and minimize the influence of pain on daily life compared with GB39 and an adjacent non-meridian point . The data preliminarily show the specificity of SP6 for the immediate pain relief of primary dysmenorrhea Background Experimenter ’s allegiance ( EA ) refers to a personal confidence of the superiority of a specific psychotherapy treatment . This factor has been linked with larger treatment effects in favor of the preferred treatment . However , various studies have displayed contradictory results between EA and the pattern of treatment effects . Aims Using a systematic approach followed by meta- analysis , we aim ed to evaluate the impact of an allegiance effect on the results of psychotherapeutic studies . Method We considered the meta-analyses of r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) of different types of psychotherapies in the Cochrane Data base of Systematic Review s. Eligible articles included meta-analyses of RCTs with at least one study showing evidence of EA ( i.e. , allegiant study ) . Effect sizes in allegiant RCTs were compared with non-allegiant using r and om and fixed models and a summary relative odds ratio ( ROR ) were calculated . Heterogeneity was quantified with the I2 metric . Results A total of 30 meta-analyses including 240 RCTs were analyzed . The summary ROR was 1.31 [ ( 95 % confidence interval ( CI : 1.03–1.66 ) P = 0.30 , I2 = 53 % ] indicating larger effects when allegiance exists . The impact of allegiance did not differ significantly ( P > 0.05 ) when we compared psychiatric versus medical outcomes . Allegiance effect was significant for all forms of psychotherapy except for cognitive behavioral therapy . Moreover , the impact of allegiance was significant only when the treatment integrity of delivered psychotherapy was not assessed . Allegiance effect was even stronger where the experimenter was also both the developer of the preferred treatment and supervised or trained the therapists . No significant differences were found between allegiant and non-allegiant studies in terms of overall quality of studies . Conclusions Experimenter ’s allegiance influences the effect sizes of psychotherapy RCTs and can be considered non-financial conflict of interest introducing a form of optimism bias , especially since blinding is problematic in this kind of research . A clear reporting of EA in every single study should be given an opportunity to investigators of minimizing its overestimation effects Objectives . To explore effectiveness and mechanisms of electroacupuncture ( EA ) add-on treatment in Parkinson 's disease ( PD ) patients . Methods . Fifty PD patients were r and omly assigned to drug plus EA ( D + EA ) group and drug alone ( D ) group . Subjects in D + EA group received stimulation in points of bilateral fengfu , fengchi , hegu , and central dazhui . Participants were evaluated by scales for motor and nonmotor symptoms . Levels of neuroinflammatory factors and neurotransmitters in serum were detected . Results . EA add-on treatment remarkably reduced scores of Unified Parkinson 's Disease Rating Scale ( UPDRS ) III and its subitems of tremor , rigidity , and bradykinesia and conspicuously decreased UPDRS III scores in patients with bradykinesia-rigidity and mixed types and mild severity . Depression and sleep disturbances were eased , which were reflected by decreased scores of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale , Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index , and elevated noradrenaline level . Effects of EA add-on treatment on motor symptoms and sleep disturbances were superior to drug alone treatment , markedly improving life quality of PD  patients  . EA add-on treatment decreased nitric oxide level in serum . Conclusions . EA add-on treatment is effective on most motor symptoms and some nonmotor symptoms and is particularly efficacious in PD patients at early stage . Antineuroinflammation may be a mechanism of EA add-on treatment OBJECTIVE To compare the cumulative analgesic effect of electroacupuncture ( EA ) stimulation of Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) , Xuanzhong ( GB 39 ) and non-acupoint for primary dysmenorrhea patients . METHODS A total of 200 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were r and omly assigned to Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 , a dysmenorrheal-relieving related acupoint ) group , Xuanzhong ( GB 39 , an unrelated acupoint ) group , non-acupoint group and control group , with 50 cases in each group . The participants were administered with EA ( 2 Hz/100 Hz , 0.5 - 1.6 mA ) at SP 6 , GB 39 and non-acupoint for 30 min , once daily for 3 consecutive days . The intensity of the pain was ranked from 0 ( no pain ) to 100 ( intolerable ) using visual analogue scale ( VAS ) and RSS ( Cox retrospective symptom scale ) severity rating scores ( RSS-COX 2 ) before and after three interventions . RESULTS In comparison with the control group , VAS and RSS-COX 2 scores were significantly lower in the SP 36 , GB 39 and non-acupoint groups ( P < 0.001 , P < 0.05 ) , suggesting an alleviation of the pain severity after EA treatment . No significant differences were found among the three treatment groups in both VAS and RSS-COX 2 scores ( P > 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION EA stimulation of SP 6 , GB 39 and non-acupoint has a good cumulative analgesic effect in patients with primary dysmenorrhea Background Neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis ( CS ) has become one of the most common health problems around the world . Electroacupuncture ( EA ) has been employed to relieve CS neck pain , but there is limited clinical evidence for its effectiveness . Methods / Design This study consists of a r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) with two parallel arms : an acupuncture group and an EA group . Both groups will receive acupuncture at Jing-jiaji points for 30 minutes each time , for five sessions per week for a total of 20 sessions during this four-week period . In addition , the EA group will be connected with EA apparatus . The following outcome measurements will be used in examination of subjects : the Northwick Park Neck Pain Question naire ( NPQ ) , McGill Pain Question naire ( MPQ ) , and Short-Form 36 ( SF-36 ) scale . All these outcomes will be examined at the start of the study , at the end of the second week , at four weeks after r and omization , and one and three months after treatment cessation respectively . Discussion This study aims to assess the efficacy of EA , compared with acupuncture intervention at Jing-jiaji points for the CS neck pain . Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trials Register : ChiCTR-TRC-13003422 BACKGROUND Electroacupuncture ( EA ) has been used to treat Major Depressive Disorder ( MDD ) . However , its efficacy is inconclusive and the mechanism is still unclear . Thus , the objective of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of EA on GTP-binding-protein ( G protein ) in platelet membrane using fluoxetine as a comparison . METHODS A r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) was performed on 90 MDD patients , who were divided into three groups treated with fluoxetine , EA and sham EA respectively . Antibodies were utilized to quantify the levels of G protein alpha subtypes in the platelet membrane before and after 6-week anti-depressive treatment .  Thirty age and sex-matched normal individuals were used as controls . RESULT All the treatments had the same therapeutic effects in treating moderate depression . Both levels of Galphai and Galphaq in depression patients were significantly higher than those in controls and were not reduced by treatments , although the severity was considerably relieved . LIMITATIONS The duration of treatment was limited to six weeks only . CONCLUSION EA might be served as an alternative treatment for moderate depression and we further demonstrate that the abnormal levels of Galpha protein in platelet membrane might be a potential risk factor for MDD Objectives We examined the effect of changing treatment timing and the use of manual , electro acupuncture on the symptoms of  primary dysmenorrhea .  Methods A r and omised controlled trial was performed with four arms , low frequency manual acupuncture ( LF-MA ) , high frequency manual acupuncture ( HF-MA ) , low frequency electro acupuncture ( LF-EA ) and high frequency electro acupuncture ( HF-EA ) . A manualised trial protocol was used to allow differentiation and individualized treatment over three months . A total of 74 women were r and omly assigned to one of the four groups ( LF-MA n = 19 , HF-MA n = 18 , LF-EA n = 18 , HF-EA n = 19 ) . Twelve treatments were performed over three menstrual cycles , either once per week ( LF groups ) or three times in the week prior to menses ( HF groups ) . All groups received a treatment in the first 48 hours of menses . The primary outcome was the reduction in peak menstrual pain at 12 months from trial entry . Results During the treatment period and nine month follow-up all groups showed statistically significant ( p < .001 ) reductions in peak and average menstrual pain compared to baseline but there were no differences between groups ( p > 0.05 ) . Health related quality of life increased significantly in six domains in groups having high frequency of treatment compared to two domains in low frequency groups . Manual acupuncture groups required less analgesic medication than electro-acupuncture groups ( p = 0.02 ) . HF-MA was most effective in reducing secondary menstrual symptoms compared to both – EA groups ( p<0.05 ) . Conclusion Acupuncture treatment reduced menstrual pain intensity and duration after three months of treatment and this was sustained for up to one year after trial entry . The effect of changing mode of stimulation or frequency of treatment on menstrual pain was not significant . This may be due to a lack of power . The role of acupuncture stimulation on menstrual pain needs to be investigated in appropriately powered r and omised controlled trials OBJECTIVES To investigate the clinical effect of electroacupuncture ( EA ) for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome ( CP/CPPS ) . METHODS We recruited 63 participants meeting the U.S. National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) consensus criteria for CP/CPPS . After the inclusion /exclusion criteria were applied , 39 men were r and omized to 3 treatment groups : group 1 , advice and exercise plus 12 sessions of EA ; group 2 , advice and exercise plus 12 sessions of sham EA ( SEA ) ; and group 3 , advice and exercise alone ( A&E ) for 6 weeks . A total of 6 acupuncture points were used to stimulate the sacral nerve and release the piriformis muscle using an electrical pulse generator . Symptoms related to CP/CPPS were assessed using the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index ( NIH-CPSI ) . Prostagl and in E(2 ) and beta-endorphin levels in postmassage urine sample s were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . RESULTS At 6 weeks , the NIH-CPSI total score had decreased significantly in the EA group compared with the SEA and A&E groups ( P < .001 ) . On a subscale analysis of the NIH-CPSI , the EA group showed significant decreases in pain-related symptoms compared with the SEA and A&E groups ( P < .01 ) . All 12 EA participants experienced at least a 6-point decrease in the NIH-CPSI total score compared with 2 of 12 SEA participants ( 16.7 % ) and 3 of 12 A&E participants ( 25.0 % ; P < .0001 ) . The mean prostagl and in E(2 ) level in the postmassage urine sample s had significantly decreased in the EA group ( P = .023 ) . In contrast , it had increased in the other 2 groups . CONCLUSIONS In a 3-arm r and omized trial investigating the clinical effects of EA on CP/CPPS , EA therapy proved to have independent therapeutic effects , particularly for pain relief superior to SEA or A&E therapy Background . Arthralgia affects postmenopausal women receiving aromatase inhibitors ( AIs ) for breast cancer . Given the existing evidence for electroacupuncture ( EA ) for treatment of osteoarthritis in the general population , this study aims to establish the feasibility of study ing EA for treating AI-related arthralgia . Patients and Methods . Postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer who reported AI-related arthral gia were enrolled in a single-arm feasibility trial . EA was provided twice a week for 2 weeks followed by 6 weekly treatments . The protocol was based on Chinese medicine diagnosis of “ Bi ” syndrome with electrostimulation of needles around the painful joint(s ) . Pain severity of the modified Brief Pain Inventory was used as the primary outcome . Joint stiffness , joint interference , and Patient Global Impression of Change ( PGIC ) were secondary outcomes . Paired t tests were used for analysis . Results . Twelve women were enrolled and all provided data for analysis . From baseline to the end of intervention , patients reported reduction in pain severity ( from 5.3 to 1.9 ) , stiffness ( from 6.9 to 2.4 ) , and joint symptom interference ( from 4.7 to 0.8 ) , all P < .001 ; 11/12 considered joint symptoms “ very much better ” based on the PGIC . Subjects also reported significant decrease in fatigue ( from 4.4 to 1.9 , P = .005 ) and anxiety ( from 7.1 to 4.8 , P = .01 ) . No infection or development or worsening of lymphedema was observed . Conclusion . Preliminary data establish the feasibility of recruitment and acceptance as well as promising preliminary safety and effectiveness . A r and omized controlled trial is warranted to establish the efficacy of EA for AI-related arthralgia in breast cancer survivors Acupuncture is an established adjuvant analgesic modality for the treatment of chronic pain .  Electrical stimulation of acupuncture points is considered to increase acupuncture analgesia . In this prospect i ve , r and omized , double-blind , controlled study we tested the hypothesis that auricular electroacupuncture ( EA )  relieves pain more effectively than conventional manual auricular acupuncture ( CO ) in chronic low back pain patients with insufficient pain relief ( visual analogue scale [ VAS ] ≥5 ) treated with st and ardized analgesic therapy . Disposable acupuncture needles were inserted in the auricular acupuncture points 29 , 40 , and 55 of the dominant side and connected to a newly developed battery-powered miniaturized stimulator worn behind the ear . Patients were r and omized into group EA ( n = 31 ) with continuous low-frequency auricular EA ( 1 Hz biphasic constant current of 2 mA ) and group CO ( n = 30 ) without electrical stimulation ( sham-electroacupuncture ) . Treatment was performed once weekly for 6 wk , and in each group needles were withdrawn 48 h after insertion . During the study period and a 3-mo follow-up , patients were asked to complete the McGill question naire . Psychological well being , activity level , quality of sleep , and pain intensity were assessed by means of VAS ; moreover , analgesic drug consumption was documented . Pain relief was significantly better in group EA during the study and the follow-up period as compared with group CO . Similarly , psychological well-being , activity , and sleep were significantly improved in group EA versus group CO , the consumption of analgesic rescue medication was less , and more patients returned to full-time employment . Neuropathic pain in particular improved in patients treated with EA . There were no adverse side effects . These results are the first to demonstrate that continuous EA stimulation of auricular acupuncture points improves the treatment of chronic low back pain in an outpatient population The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of electroacupuncture and TENS for low back pain when the electroacupuncture is applied in a clinical ly realistic manner . The study was design ed as an evaluator-blinded r and omised controlled trial ( RCT ) . The study was performed at the Tsukuba College of Technology Clinic in Japan . Twenty subjects , who suffered from low back pain ( LBP ) without sciatica , were recruited , using leaflets in Tsukuba city . Subjects were allocated to either an electroacupuncture ( EA ) group ( 10 patients ) or a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ( TENS ) group ( 10 patients ) . The procedure for EA was in accordance with st and ard practice at our clinic . The main outcome measures were a pain relief scale ( 100 mm visual analogue scale : VAS ) and a LBP score recommended by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association ( JOA Score ) . Mean VAS value during the 2-weeks experimental period of the EA group was significantly smaller than that of the TENS group ( 65 mm vs 86 mm ; 95 % CI , 4.126 – 37.953 ) . JOA Score in the EA group improved significantly while that in the TENS group showed no change . Although some placebo effect may be included , EA appeared more useful than TENS in the short-term effect on low back pain . We suggest that more realistic acupuncture interventions based on st and ard practice should be employed in pragmatic RCTs OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of instant electroacupuncture ( EA ) at the different acupoints on IP3 in the uterus tissue of dysmenorrhea model rats so as to investigate the specificity of acupoints . METHODS Fifty female SD rats were r and omly divided into a saline group , a model group , a Sanyinjiao ( SF 6 ) group , a Xuehai ( SP 10 ) group and a Hegu ( LI 4 ) group , 10 rats in each group . The rats were given subcutaneous injection of Estradiol Beozoate injection for 10 consecutive days except those in the saline group , and intraperitoneal injection of 2U Oxytocin at 1 h after the last administration to create the dysmenorrhea rats model , and the saline group was given the same dose of saline every day . On the 10th day the rats in each EA group were given EA 20 min , and the rats in the saline group and model group were bound 20 min , and the writhing response was observed at the same time . The uterine IP3 contents were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method . RESULTS ( 1 ) Compared with ( 0.311+/- 0.253 ) in the saline group , the writhing scores per minute of ( 5.867 + /- 3.442 ) in the model group and ( 2.311 + /- 0.957 ) in the Xuehai ( SP 10 ) group were both increased significantly ( P < 0.01 , P < 0.05 ) , and ( 1.833 + /- 1.355 ) in the Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) group and ( 0.743 + /- 0.306 ) in the Hegu ( LI 4 ) group showed no significant differences ( P > 0.05 ) . Compared with that in the model group , the writhing scores per minute decreased significantly ( all P < 0.01 ) in all the EA groups , with no significant differences among all the EA groups ( all P > 0.05 ) . ( 2 ) Compared with ( 2.698 + /- 1.491 ) ng/mg in the saline group , IP3 contents of the uterus of ( 0.813 + /- 0.899 ) ng/mg in the model group , ( 1.740 + /- 0.375 ) ng/mg in the Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) group and ( 0.692 + /- 0.212 ) ng/mg in the Hegu ( LI 4 ) group were all lower significantly ( P < 0.05 , P < 0.01 ) , and ( 0.743+/- 0.306 ) ng/mg in the Xuehai ( SP 10 ) group showed no significant differences ( P > 0.05 ) . Compared with that in the model group , IP3 content of the uterus in the Hegu ( LI 4 ) group showed no significant difference ( P > 0.05 ) , and those in the Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) group and in the Xuehai ( SP 10 ) group increased significantly ( both P < 0 05 ) , which were significantly higher than that in the Hegu ( II 4 ) group ( P < 0.05 , P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSION There are no significant differences among the instant EA groups in improving the dysmenorrhea symptoms , but there is obvious specificity of acupoint effects in the regulation of IP3 .  Electroacupuncture at " Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) " Xuehai ( SP 10 ) " has more marked effect in dysmenorrhea model rats OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence , clinical effect , characteristics , and underlying risk factors of primary dysmenorrhea ( PD ) in Canada . METHODS A stratified , r and om sample of 2721 women 18 years and older was identified , and the women were interviewed by telephone . Data about menstrual symptoms and patterns and socio-demographic factors were obtained . The frequency , severity , and effect of menstrual pain were quantified . Logistic regression analysis was performed in order to identify independent risk factors for PD . RESULTS In the sample , 1546 women were having menstrual periods ; of these , 934 ( 60 % ) met the criteria for PD . Sixty percent of the women with PD described their pain as moderate or severe . Fifty-one percent reported that their activities had been limited , and 17 % reported missing school or work because of PD . The prevalence of PD decreased with increasing age ( P < 0.001 ) and increased with smoking ( P = 0.002 ) . Users of oral contraceptives ( OCs ) tended to have less pain than non-users ( P = 0.005 ) . Socio-economic status , nulliparity , and earlier age at menarche were not independently associated with PD . However , nulliparous women , smokers , and women not using OCs were more likely to report disabling symptoms . CONCLUSIONS The majority of Canadian women will suffer from dysmenorrhea at some time during their reproductive years . Available prescription treatments are underused . Young age , smoking , and non-use of OCs are independent risk factors for PD Background Previous studies suggest that electroacupuncture possesses therapeutic benefits for depressive disorders . The purpose of this study was to determine whether dense cranial electroacupuncture stimulation ( DCEAS ) could enhance the antidepressant efficacy in the early phase of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor ( SSRI ) treatment of major depressive disorder ( MDD ) . Methods In this single-blind , r and omized , controlled study , patients with MDD were r and omly assigned to 9-session DCEAS or noninvasive electroacupuncture ( n-EA ) control procedure in combination with fluoxetine ( FLX ) for 3 weeks . Clinical outcomes were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HAMD-17 ) , Clinical Global Impression-severity ( CGI-S ) , and Self-rating Depression Scale ( SDS ) as well as the response and remission rates . Results Seventy-three patients were r and omly assigned to n-EA ( n = 35 ) and DCEAS ( n = 38 ) , of whom 34 in n-EA and 36 in DCEAS group were analyzed . DCEAS-treated patients displayed a significantly greater reduction from baseline in HAMD-17 scores at Day 3 through Day 21 and in SDS scores at Day 3 and Day 21 compared to patients receiving n-EA . DCEAS intervention also produced a higher rate of clinical ly significant response compared to n-EA procedure ( 19.4 % ( 7/36 ) vs. 8.8 % ( 3/34 ) ) . The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups . Conclusions DCEAS is a safe and effective intervention that augments the antidepressant efficacy . It can be considered as an additional therapy in the early phase of SSRI treatment of depressed patients . Trial Registration Controlled-Trials.com IS RCT & NA ; In the present study , we examined the effects of preoperative electroacupuncture ( EA ) at classical bilateral acupuncture points ( Zusanli , also known as ST‐36 ) on postoperative pain and opioid‐related side effects . One hundred healthy consenting women undergoing lower abdominal surgery were r and omly assigned to four treatment regimens : Group I ( n=25 ) , control ; Group II ( n=25 ) , sham‐EA ( needle insertion without electrical stimulation ) ; Group III ( n=25 ) , low‐EA ( 2 Hz of electrical stimulation ) ; and Group IV ( n=25 ) , high‐EA ( 100 Hz of electrical stimulation ) . EA groups received needle insertion with or without electrical stimulation 20 min prior to anesthesia . All patients received patient‐controlled analgesia ( PCA ) of morphine postoperation . Postoperative pain was evaluated by recording ( 1 ) the time of the first required analgesic , ( 2 ) the number of PCA dem and s , ( 3 ) the total amount of morphine required by PCA , and ( 4 ) patients ' VAS pain score . We found that the time of first analgesic requested was 10 , 18 , 28 , and 28 min in the control , sham‐ , low‐ , and high‐EA groups , respectively . During the first 24 h , the total amount of morphine required was decreased by 21 , 43 and 61 % in the sham‐ , low‐ and high‐EA groups , respectively . The incidence of nausea and dizziness during the first 24 h after surgery was significantly reduced in both the low‐EA and high‐EA groups compared with the control and sham‐EA groups . We also found that sham‐EA exerts a beneficial effect with respect to its pain relieving quality but not the side effect profiles . Our findings demonstrates that preoperative treatment with low‐EA and high‐EA can reduce postoperative analgesic requirements and associated side effects in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery Background Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture ( EA ) has a significant effect on acute pain , but it has not solved the clinical problem of the chronification of acute pain . Diffuse noxious inhibitory controls ( DNIC ) function as a reliable indicator to predict the risk of chronic pain events . DNIC function in knee osteoarthritis ( KOA ) patients has been demonstrated to gradually decrease during the development of chronic pain . The purpose of this study is to conduct a r and omized , controlled clinical trial to determine if EA can repair impaired DNIC function and thus prevent chronification of the acute pain of KOA . Methods / Design This is a multicenter , single blind , r and omized , controlled , three-arm , large-scale clinical trial . A total of 450 KOA patients will be r and omly assigned to three groups . The strong EA group will receive EA with high-intensity current ( 2 mA < current < 5 mA ) at the ipsilateral ‘ Neixiyan ’ ( EX-LE5 ) , ‘ Dubi’(ST35 ) , ‘ Liangqiu’(ST34 ) and ‘ Xuehai ’ ( SP10 ) . The weak EA group will receive EA with low-intensity current ( 0 mA < current < 0.5 mA ) on the same acupoints . The sham EA group will receive EA with low-intensity current ( 0 mA < current < 0.5 mA ) with fine needles inserted superficially into the sites 2 cm lateral to the above acupoints . The patients will be treated with EA once a day , 30 minutes per session , in 5 sessions per week , for 2 weeks . In order to determine the best stage of KOA for effective EA intervention , patients within the treatment groups also will be divided into four stages . The primary outcomes are Visual Analog Scale ( VAS ) , DNIC function and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index ( WOMAC ) . Clinical assessment s will be evaluated at baseline ( before treatment ) and after 5 to 10 sessions of treatment . Discussion This trial will be helpful in identifying whether strong EA is more effective than weak EA in reversing chronification of acute pain through repairing the impaired DNIC function and in screening for the best stage of KOA for effective EA intervention . Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Number : ChiCTR-ICR-14005411 . The date of registration is 31 October 2014 OBJECTIVE To compare clinical efficacy differences among electroacupuncture ( EA ) , transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ( TENS ) therapy and acupoint massage ( AM ) on periarthritis of shoulder . METHODS One hundred and twenty cases were r and omly divided into an EA group , a TENS group and an AM group , 40 cases in each one . The selection of acupoints in the three groups were all the same , which were Jianqian ( Extra ) , Xiabai ( LU 4 ) , Jianyu ( LI 15 ) , Binao ( LI 14 ) , Jianliao ( TE 14 ) , Naohui ( TE 13 ) , Xiaohai ( SI 8) and Houxi ( SI 3 ) . EA was applied in the EA group with dense-disperse wave for 30 min , TENS therapy with dense-disperse wave for 30 min in the TENS group and AM combined with mobilization manipulation of Tuina on the shoulder in the AM group . All of the treatment was given once a day , six times a week and totally 4 weeks were required . The score of visual analogue scale ( VAS ) and improvement of shoulder joint activities in the three groups before and after the treatment were observed . RESULTS After the treatment , the VAS score and activities of shoulder joint were all improved in the three groups ( all P < 0.001 ) and AM group had more obvious improvement than TENS group and EA group ( all P < 0.05 ) . The effective and curative rate was 61.50 ( 24/39 ) in the AM group , which was superior to 42.9 % ( 15/35 ) in the EA group and 44.4 % ( 16/36 ) in the TENS group ( both P < 0.05 ) . The effective and curative rate of shoulder joint activities in the AM group was 61.5 % ( 24/39 ) , which was superior to 48.6 % ( 17/35 ) in the EA group and 44.4 % ( 16/36 ) in the TENS group ( both P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION The acupoint massage has obvious clinical efficacy on periarthritis of shoulder , which could effectively relieve the pain and improve activities of shoulder joint , and it is superior to EA and TENS therapy Opioid-like medications ( OLM ) are commonly used by patients with various types of chronic pain , but their long-term benefit is question able . Electroacupuncture ( EA ) has been previously shown beneficial in reducing post-operative acute OLM consumption . In this pilot r and omized controlled trial , the effect of EA on OLM usage and associated side effects in chronic pain patients was evaluated . After a two-week baseline assessment , participants using OLM for their non-malignant chronic pain were r and omly assigned to receive either real EA ( REA , n=17 ) or sham EA ( SEA , n=18 ) treatment twice weekly for 6 weeks before entering a 12-week follow-up . Pain , OLM consumption and their side effects were recorded daily . Participants also completed the McGill Pain Question naire ( MPQ ) , SF-36 and Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) at baseline , and at the 5th , 8th , 12th , 16th and 20th week . Nine participants withdrew during the treatment period with another three during the follow-up period . Intention to treat analysis was applied . At the end of treatment period , reductions of OLM consumption in REA and SEA were 39 % and 25 % , respectively ( p=0.056 ) , but this effect did not last more than 8 weeks after treatment . There was no difference between the two groups with respect to reduction of side effects and pain and the improvement of depression and quality of life . In conclusion , REA demonstrates promising short-term reduction of OLM for participants with chronic non-malignant pain , but such effect needs to be confirmed by trials with adequate sample sizes Objectives To study the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture ( EA ) as perioperative adjunctive therapy added to a systemic analgesic strategy ( including tramadol and ketamine ) for postoperative pain , opioid-related side effects and patient satisfaction . Methods In a sham-controlled participant- and observer-blinded trial , 75 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were r and omly assigned to two groups : ( 1 ) EA ( n=37 ; tramadol+ketamine+EA ) and ( 2 ) control ( n=38 ; tramadol+ketamine ) . EA ( 100 Hz frequency ) was applied at LI4 bilaterally during the closure of the abdominal walls and EA ( 4 Hz ) was applied at ST36 and LI4 bilaterally immediately after extubation . The control group had sham acupuncture without penetration or stimulation . The following outcomes were evaluated : postoperative pain using the Numerical Rating Scale ( NRS ) and McGill Scale ( SF_MPQ ) , mechanical pain thresholds using algometer application close to the wound , cortisol measurements , rescue analgesia , Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory ( STAI Y-6 item ) , patient satisfaction and opioid side effects . Results Pain scores on the NRS and SF_MPQ were significantly lower and electronic pressure algometer measurements were significantly higher in the EA group than in the control group ( p<0.001 ) at all assessment s. In the EA group a significant decrease in rescue analgesia was observed at 45 min ( p<0.001 ) and a significant decrease in cortisol levels was also observed ( p<0.05 ) . Patients expressed satisfaction with the analgesia , especially in the EA group ( p<0.01 ) . Significant delays in the start of bowel movements were observed in the control group at 45 min ( p<0.001 ) and 2 h ( p<0.05 ) . Conclusions Adding EA perioperatively should be considered an option as part of a multimodal analgesic strategy OBJECTIVE To investigate the analgesic efficacy of electroacupuncture ( EA ) in patients with chronic painful neuropathy . DESIGN Double-blind , placebo-controlled , cross-over study . Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy , neuropathic pain ( visual analog scale > 4 ) for at least 6 months , and stable analgesic medications for at least 3 months . PATIENTS Sixteen patients were r and omized into two arms to be treated with EA or pseudo-EA ( placebo ) . INTERVENTIONS The protocol included 6 weeks of treatment , 12 weeks free of treatment , and then further 6 weeks of treatment . EA or pseudo-EA was performed weekly during each treatment period . OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the number of patients treated with EA achieving at least 50 % of pain relief at the end of each treatment compared with pain intensity at baseline . Secondary outcomes were modification in patient 's global impression of change , depression and anxiety , and quality of life . RESULTS Eleven patients were r and omized to EA and five patients to pseudo-EA as the first treatment . Only one patient per group ( EA and pseudo-EA ) reported 50 % of pain relief at the end of each treatment compared with pain intensity at baseline . Pain intensity did not differ between EA ( 5.7 ± 2.3 at baseline and 4.97 ± 3.23 after treatment ) and pseudo-EA ( 4.9 ± 1.9 at baseline and 4.18 ± 2.69 after treatment ) . There was no difference between patients who received EA as the first treatment and patients initially treated with placebo . There was no change in the secondary outcomes . CONCLUSIONS Our results do not support the use of EA in this population of painful neuropathy patients . Further studies in larger groups of patients are warranted to confirm our observation Chronic heart failure ( CHF ) is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide , mainly as a result of neurohumoral activation . Acupuncture has been used to treat a wide range of diseases and conditions . In this study , we investigated the effects of electroacupuncture ( EA ) on the sympathetic nerve activity , heart function , and remodeling in CHF rats after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery . CHF rats were r and omly selected to EA and control groups for acute and chronic experiments . In the acute experiment , both the renal sympathetic nerve activity and cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex elicited by epicardial application of capsaicin were recorded . In the chronic experiment , we performed EA for 30 min once a day for 1 wk to test the long-term EA effects on heart function , remodeling , as well as infa rct size in CHF rats . The results show EA significantly decreased the renal sympathetic nerve activity effectively , inhibited cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex , and lowered the blood pressure of CHF rats . Treating CHF rats with EA for 1 wk dramatically increased left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fraction shortening , reversed the enlargement of left ventricular end-systolic dimension and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension , and shrunk the infa rct size . In this experiment , we demonstrated EA  attenuates sympathetic overactivity . Additionally , long-term EA improves cardiac function and remodeling and reduces infa rct size in CHF rats . EA is a novel and potentially useful therapy for treating CHF BACKGROUND Acupuncture previously has proved its pain-relieving effect for ovum pick-up ( OPU ) . The analgesic effect of electro-acupuncture ( EA ) was evaluated when EA was applied for only a few minutes prior to OPU in an attempt to make EA more attractive for clinical use . METHODS Two hundred patients undergoing OPU were r and omized prospect ively using sealed , unlabelled envelopes , to receive pain relief with either EA in combination with a paracervical block ( PCB ) ( n = 100 ) or conventional medical analgesia ( CMA ) in combination with a PCB ( n = 100 ) . A visual analogue scale ( VAS ) was used to evaluate pain and anxiety before , during and after OPU . The primary outcome measure was pain relief ; secondary end-points were costs , time to discharge and clinical outcome parameters . RESULTS There were no differences in any VAS ratings before the procedure . Directly after OPU , the EA group reported significantly higher mean and maximum pain , and ' pain now ' than the CMA group . At 30 min after OPU and thereafter , no significant differences were found between the groups regarding abdominal pain . Time to discharge and costs were significantly lower in the EA group compared with the CMA group . No differences in clinical outcome parameters were seen . CONCLUSION A significant difference was found between the EA and the CMA groups regarding pain during the OPU , probably due to the fact that the CMA group was pre-medicated as part of the study design . Despite a per-operative difference in pain rating , EA , given a few minutes prior to OPU , is a good alternative to CMA . The procedure is well tolerated by the patients , with a shorter hospitalization time and lower costs
EA was superior to pharmacological treatment when the treatment duration lasted for three menstrual cycles , evidence d by significantly higher curative rate .
No statistically significant differences between EA at SP6 and control groups were found regarding the VRS , RSS-COX1 , and RSS-COX2 .
The findings of our study suggested that EA can provide considerable immediate analgesia effect for PD .
Electroacupuncture ( EA ) is considered to be a promising alternative therapy to relieve the menstrual pain for primary dysmenorrhea ( PD ) , but the conclusion is controversial .
Here , we conducted a systematic review and meta- analysis specifically to evaluate the clinical efficacy from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) on the use of EA in patients with PD .