Stimulated by Zheng et al 2026.[1] View of Kaohsiung from the Bird’s-eye View Observation Deck. Photo by a local guide whose name translates as Red Iris. PSD – post-stroke dysphagiaPSA – post-stroke aphasiaRA – rheumatoid arthritisPPI – proton pump inhibitorIF – impact factorPSM – propensity score matchingHR – hazard ratio (aHR – adjusted HR)mRS – … Continue reading Acupuncture for stroke 2026
Stimulated by Wang et al 2026.[1] Image by Cristian Newman on Unsplash. PF – plantar fasciitisPHP – plantar heel painIF – impact factorCACMS – China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesRCT – randomised controlled trialEA – electroacupunctureMA – manual acupunctureCI – confidence interval – key to acronyms It has been almost 6 years to the day … Continue reading Plantar fasciitis 2026
Stimulated by Pinheiro et al and Yi et al 2026.[1,2] Image retrieved by ChatGPT 5.2, but of unknown origin. MSK – musculoskeletalIF – impact factorMRI – magnetic resonance imaging – key to acronyms This week I have chosen a couple of recent anatomical papers that examine innervation patterns in the two lower limb muscles named … Continue reading Gluteus medius and soleus – innervation patterns 2026
Stimulated by Eucker et al 2025 and Neilsen et al 2026.[1,2] Photo by Charles Givens on Unsplash. ED – emergency departmentIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialMSK – musculoskeletalBFA – battlefield acupunctureNRS – numerical rating scaleEA – electroacupunctureABVN – auricular branch of the vagus nerveNTS – nucleus tractus solitarius – key to acronyms This … Continue reading Acupuncture in the ED 2026
Stimulated by Sato et al 2026.[1] Photo by Lindsey Franzke on Unsplash. BMS – burning mouth syndromeRCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorACUSAR – acupuncture for seasonal allergic rhinitisARC – acupuncture in routine care (part of the Modellvorhaben Akupunktur)BDI-II – Beck Depression Inventory IIVAS – visual analogue scaleANOVA – analysis of variance – key … Continue reading Acupuncture for BMS 2026
Stimulated by Gong et al 2026.[1] C57BL/6J mouse EA – electroacupunctureOXT – oxytocinOXTR – oxytocin receptorIF – impact factorOFT – open field testEPM – elevated plus maze testPVR – pseudorabies virus (which is actually a herpes virus)EGFP – enhanced green fluorescent proteinPVN – paraventricular nucleus (of the hypothalamus)ip – intraperitoneal – key to acronyms I … Continue reading GV20 EA for OXT-driven anxiolysis 2026
Stimulated by Yu et al 2025.[1] Image from part of Figure 1 in Yu et al 2023.[2] EA – electroacupunctureCACMS – China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesIF – impact factorJIM – Journal of Integrated MedicineJCIM – Journal of Chinese Integrated MedicineCJIM – Chinese Journal of Integrated MedicineCFA – complete Freund’s adjuvant (an oily antigenic mixture including heat-killed mycobacteria)SD … Continue reading EA for muscle tenderness 2026
Stimulated by Herman et al 2026.[1] This is the visual abstract from the main paper reporting the trial (DeBar et al 2025).[2] cLBP – chronic low back painIF – impact factorCEA – cost-effectiveness analysisCUA – cost-utility analysisEA – enhanced acupuncture (rather confusing I’m afraid)SA – standard electroacupunctureUMC – usual medical careRMDQ – Roland-Morris Disability QuestionnaireMCID … Continue reading Acupuncture saves costs in cLBP 2026
Stimulated by Schlaeger et al 2026.[1] Acupuncture protocol for vulvodynia used in Schlaeger et al 2026,[1] and Schlaeger et al 2015.[2] RCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorTYN – Takakura and Yajima needleMPQ – McGill pain questionnaire (computerised version)PINS – pain intensity number scale (0–10)API – average pain intensity (mean of current, least and … Continue reading Acupuncture for vulvodynia 2026
Stimulated by Zhang et al 2025.[1] Visual abstract from Zhang et al 2025.[1] EA – electroacupuncturePVCs – premature ventricular complexesMI – myocardial infarctionIF – impact factorVF – ventricular fibrillationECG – electrocardiogramAAV – adeno-associated virusDREADD – designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugM1L5 – lamina 5 of the primary motor cortexRVLM – rostral ventrolateral medullaZI – … Continue reading EA for PVCs post-MI 2025
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