Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flashes
Authors: Nobuari Takakura, Miho Takayama, Hiroyoshi Yajima
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2016)

Letters20 September 2016Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot FlashesNobuari Takakura, PhD, Miho Takayama, PhD, and Hiroyoshi Yajima, PhDNobuari Takakura, PhDFrom Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences and Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.Search for more papers by this author, Miho Takayama, PhDFrom Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences and Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.Search for more papers by this author, and Hiroyoshi Yajima, PhDFrom Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences and Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L16-0200 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Ee and colleagues (1) concluded that needle insertion offers no additional benefit over blunt needling for menopausal hot flashes (HFs) in women who met criteria for signs of kidney yin deficiency. In the real acupuncture group, penetrating needles were applied to unilateral acupoints and the patients had de qi. In the sham acupuncture group, nonpenetrating needles were applied to bilateral sites that were not acupoints and de qi was not sought. We consider intergroup differences in acupoints a possible cause of the lack of a difference in benefits between real and sham acupuncture.To determine whether needle ...References1. Ee C, Xue C, Chondros P, Myers SP, French SD, Teede H, et al. Acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2016;164:146-54. [PMID: 26784863]. doi:10.7326/M15-1380 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Takakura N, Takayama M, Kawase A, Yajima H. Double blinding with a new placebo needle: a validation study on participant blinding. Acupunct Med. 2011;29:203-7. [PMID: 21402558] doi:10.1136/aim.2010.002857 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Stux G. Technique of acupuncture. In: Stux G, Berman B, Pomeranz B, Kofen P, eds. Basics of Acupuncture. New York: Springer-Verlag; 2003:243-4. Google Scholar4. Isa T, Kurosawa M, Sato A, Swenson RS. Reflex responses evoked in the adrenal sympathetic nerve to electrical stimulation of somatic afferent nerves in the rat. Neurosci Res. 1985;3:130-44. [PMID: 3837862] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Akiyoshi M, Kato K, Owa Y, Sugiyama M, Miyasaka N, Obayashi S, et al. Relationship between estrogen, vasomotor symptoms, and heart rate variability in climacteric women. J Med Dent Sci. 2011;58:49-59. [PMID: 23896786] MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences and Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L16-0200. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAcupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flashes Carolyn Ee , Charlie Xue , Patty Chondros , Stephen P. Myers , Simon D. French , Helena Teede , and Marie Pirotta Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flashes John Varner Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flashes Ana Maria Lopez , Angela Presson , Annie Budhathoki , and Shelley White Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flashes Carolyn Ee , Charlie Xue , and Marie Pirotta Metrics Cited byPatient blinding with blunt tip placebo acupuncture needles: comparison between 1 mm and 2 mm skin press 20 September 2016Volume 165, Issue 6Page: 448-449KeywordsAcupunctureDisclosureKidneysNervesSedationThorax ePublished: 20 September 2016 Issue Published: 20 September 2016 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2016 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...