Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flashes
Authors: Carolyn Ee, Charlie Xue, Marie Pirotta
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2016)

Letters20 September 2016Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot FlashesCarolyn Ee, MBBS, Charlie Xue, PhD, and Marie Pirotta, PhDCarolyn Ee, MBBSFrom University of Melbourne, Carlton, and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.Search for more papers by this author, Charlie Xue, PhDFrom University of Melbourne, Carlton, and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.Search for more papers by this author, and Marie Pirotta, PhDFrom University of Melbourne, Carlton, and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L16-0197 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Takakura and colleagues, Dr. Lopez and associates, and Mr. Varner highlight the complexities of performing clinical trials on acupuncture. Dr. Takakura and colleagues suggest that acupuncture points should have been the same in both groups to test the hypothesis that gentle stimulation is more effective for HFs than needle insertion. This idea is interesting; however, previous randomized, controlled trials have not shown a difference between superficial and deep needling (1, 2), whereas a pilot study reported a decrease in the severity of HFs with acupuncture compared with blunt needling (3). These findings contradict their hypothesis. Dr. Takakura ...References1. Avis NE, Legault C, Coeytaux RR, Pian-Smith M, Shifren JL, Chen W, et al. A randomized, controlled pilot study of acupuncture treatment for menopausal hot flashes. Menopause. 2008;15:1070-8. [PMID: 18528313] doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e31816d5b03 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Wyon Y, Wijma K, Nedstrand E, Hammar M. A comparison of acupuncture and oral estradiol treatment of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women. Climacteric. 2004;7:153-64. [PMID: 15497904] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Nir Y, Huang MI, Schnyer R, Chen B, Manber R. Acupuncture for postmenopausal hot flashes. Maturitas. 2007;56:383-95. [PMID: 17182200] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Takakura N, Yajima H. A double-blind placebo needle for acupuncture research. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007;7:31. [PMID: 17925042] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Park J, White A, Stevinson C, Ernst E, James M. Validating a new non-penetrating sham acupuncture device: two randomised controlled trials. Acupunct Med. 2002;20:168-74. [PMID: 12512790] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of Melbourne, Carlton, and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M15-1380. 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 Nobuari Takakura , Miho Takayama , and Hiroyoshi Yajima Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flashes Ana Maria Lopez , Angela Presson , Annie Budhathoki , and Shelley White Acupuncture for Menopausal Hot Flashes John Varner Metrics Cited byEffects of Gua Sha therapy on perimenopausal syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials 20 September 2016Volume 165, Issue 6Page: 450-451KeywordsAcupunctureClinical trialsDisclosurePilot studiesSpecificity ePublished: 20 September 2016 Issue Published: 20 September 2016 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2016 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...