Inspired by Hang et al 2026.[1] Relevant pages from the BMAS Chronic Pain Protocols book from 2021.Note that this is not exactly the same protocol used in the trial highlighted. EA – electroacupunctureOA – osteoarthritisOAK – OA of the kneeRCT – randomised controlled trialMRI – magnetic resonance imagingMA – manual acupunctureWOMAC – Western Ontario and … Continue reading EA for OAK 2026
Stimulated by Chen et al 2026.[1] Taken from Figure 2 in Chen et al 2026.[1] EA – electroacupuncturePHN – postherpetic neuralgiaIF – impact factorNRS – numerical rating scaleSD – standard deviationMCID – minimum clinically important differenceNMA – network meta-analysisPSQI – Pittsburgh sleep quality index – key to acronyms This is the largest (n=448) study on … Continue reading EA for PHN 2026
Stimulated by Zhang et al 2026.[1] Figure 1 from Yu et al 2023.[2] EA – electroacupunctureIF – impact factorWDR – wide dynamic rangeSD – Sprague DawleyCFA – complete Freund’s adjuvant (an oily antigenic mixture including heat-killed mycobacteria)PWR – paw withdrawal thresholdAAV – adeno-associated virusRVM – rostral ventromedial medullaGABA – gamma amino butyric acidChR2 – channel rhodopsin … Continue reading Contralateral EA and descending controls 2026
Stimulated by Lester et al 2026.[1] From Figure 1 of Lester et al 2026.[1] IF – impact factorCD – cluster of differentiation (classification for surface antigens on white blood cells) – key to acronyms I have been waiting a long time for an adverse event report of infection following acupuncture in a patient undergoing chemotherapy. … Continue reading Septic arthritis during chemotherapy
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 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 Reindorf et al and Song et al 2025.[1,2] Figure 1 from Reindorf et al 2025.[1] The red arrow is indicating a small right apical pneumothorax. According to the text of the case report, you are also supposed to be able to see the needle fragment, but they have not given us an arrow … Continue reading Punctured lungs and eyeballs 2025
Stimulated by DeBar et al 2025.[1] Photo of Multnomah Falls in Oregan by Makayla Asuncion from Pexels. cLBP – chronic low back painIF – impact factorEA – enhanced acupuncture (rather confusing I’m afraid)SA – standard electroacupunctureUMC – usual medical careRMDQ – Roland-Morris Disability QuestionnaireMCID – minimal clinically important differencePEG – pain, enjoyment, and general activity … Continue reading Acupuncture for cLBP 2025
Stimulated by Li et al 2025.[1] Photo by Matthew Zheng on Pexels.com EA – electroacupunctureIF – impact factorAPC – article publishing charge (cost to the authors or their institution for publishing a paper)SEA – sham electroacupunctureWL – waiting listNPQ – Northwick Park neck pain questionnaireMCID – minimal clinically important differenceSF-MPQ – short form McGill pain … Continue reading EA for chronic neck pain 2025
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