Stimulated by Milia et al 2026.[1] Photo by Mo Hassanein on Pexels.com T2DM – type 2 diabetes mellitusEA – electroacupuncturePCOS – polycystic ovarian syndromePMOS – polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndromeIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialMA – manual acupuncture – key to acronyms I first heard about the possibility of EA influencing insulin sensitivity in … Continue reading Acupuncture for T2DM 2026
Stimulated by Deng et al 2026.[1] Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com MwoA – migraine without auraVAS – visual analogue scaleRCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorICHD-3 – International Classification for Headache Disorders 3rd editionMA – manual acupuncturePSD – Park sham deviceCIs – 95% confidence intervalsSR – systematic reviewGRADE – Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, … Continue reading Acupuncture for acute MwoA 2026
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
Inspired by Ter et al 2026.[1] Photo by How-Soon Ngu on Unsplash. CIPN – chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathyEA – electroacupunctureMSKCC – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterCTCAE – common terminology criteria for adverse events (from the US NCI)NCI – National Cancer Institute (US)ADLs – activities of daily livingMA – manual acupunctureNPSI – neuropathic pain symptom inventoryVAS – … Continue reading Acupuncture for CIPN 2026
Stimulated by Kong et al 2026.[1] An elderly man gazes thoughtfully at Shanghai's skyline during sunset – an AI generated image. AD – Alzheimer’s diseaseRCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorCDR – clinical dementia ratingMA – manual acupunctureEA – electroacupunctureADAS-cog 12 – AD assessment scale, cognitive subscale, 12 item versionMMSE – mini mental state … Continue reading Acupuncture plus donepezil in AD 2026
Stimulated by Wang et al 2026.[1] AI generated image used in a previous blog post – see SCs in endometriosis pain 2024. DOR – diminished ovarian reserveRCT – randomised controlled trialIF – impact factorCACMS – China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesAMH – anti-Müllerian hormoneAFC – antral follicle countSAS – self-rating anxiety scaleIQR – interquartile range … Continue reading Acupuncture for DOR 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 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 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
The BMAS Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.