Co-occurrence of pain syndromes

Stimulated by Affaitati et al 2019.[1] Photo by Aiony Haust on Unsplash. This paper popped up on a very recent search, but not because it mentions acupuncture, in fact it doesn’t. I also search every day for the latest research in myofascial pain. I had a look at this one because of the last author … Continue reading Co-occurrence of pain syndromes

Sensory testing again

Stimulated by Dimitrova et al 2019 & Zheng et al 2019.[1,2] Photo by Aliona Gumeniuk on Unsplash. I first came across the acronym QST some years ago in one of the big national or international pain conferences where there are always numerous companies exhibiting extraordinarily expensive pieces of kit. QST devices appeared to be just … Continue reading Sensory testing again

Phantom acupuncture for back pain

Stimulated by Lee et al 2019 & Wei et al 2019.[1,2] Photo by Brad Lloyd on Unsplash. Back pain was a regular topic on this blog at its inception in March 2016 – around the time that the draft of NG59 was published. NG59 is the current NICE guideline for back pain and sciatica, although … Continue reading Phantom acupuncture for back pain

Acupuncture versus clomiphene controversy

Stimulated by Gao et al 2019.[1] Photo by The Honest Company on Unsplash.Well this little chap looks a little oriental to me, so as all the trials in the highlighted SR were performed in China, he seemed most appropriate. Much as I would have liked to let this one slide by unannounced, I feel obliged … Continue reading Acupuncture versus clomiphene controversy

Do sham devices impede real acupuncture?

Stimulated by Kim et al 2019.[1] Photo by Iai_man_nung on Unsplash. I have been waiting for this network meta-analysis to be published since reviewing it 18 months ago. It introduces data to support an idea that I have had in my head for some time but never thought to actually try to quantify. This paper … Continue reading Do sham devices impede real acupuncture?

The problem with sham

Inspired by an invitation to present on the topic to politicians in Madrid who apparently want to stop the practice of acupuncture by doctors in Spain - 18 January 2019. I have been lecturing on the scientific perspectives of acupuncture around the globe for over two decades. I have numerous PowerPoint slides to call upon, … Continue reading The problem with sham

Aromatase inhibitors, joint pain and acupuncture 2018

This blog was first published on 2nd August 2018 on a BMJ blog, and re-posted here when the former post was expunged ;-). Effect of Acupuncture on Joint Pain Related to Aromatase Inhibitors Among Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer - Hershman et al JAMA 2018 A large rigorous and statistically positive trial published in a prestigious … Continue reading Aromatase inhibitors, joint pain and acupuncture 2018

Acupuncture and IVF

– no clear effect on live birth rate This blog was first published on 18th June 2018 on https://blogs.bmj.com/aim/ Acupuncture has become very popular within the field of assisted reproduction, and particularly as an intervention within IVF (In-Vitro Fertilisation). In an editorial from 2015 in Acupuncture in Medicine, David Carr lists 12 meta-analyses on the subject … Continue reading Acupuncture and IVF

Rewiring the brain with acupuncture

– does sophisticated MRI data point us to optimal treatment? This blog was first published on 25th January 2018 on BMJ Blogs, this blog has been removed, so it was reproduced here. For some time, a group on the US east coast have been quietly scanning brains with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and related techniques … Continue reading Rewiring the brain with acupuncture

EA for chronic severe functional constipation

– it seems to work after a prolonged course This blog was first published on 28th November 2017 on BMJ Blogs, but it was subsequently removed. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com About a year ago I was surprised to see a sham controlled RCT of electroacupuncture (EA) published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1] I was surprised … Continue reading EA for chronic severe functional constipation