The effect of acupuncture on pain relief is so small that it “seems to lack clinical relevance and cannot be clearly distinguished from bias,” a new study shows. Researchers from the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen published their results in the BMJ yesterday.
The systematic review examined 13 acupuncture pain studies that included 3,025 patients. The conclusion stated: “Whether needling at acupuncture points, or at any site, reduces pain independently of the psychological impact of the treatment ritual is unclear.”
Historically, acupuncture is based on the principles of tradition Chinese medicine which states that biology of the human body is controlled by a vital force called “qi” (pronounced, BMJ informs us, “chee”). Supposedly, qi circulates around the body using hidden channels acupuncturists call “meridians”.
Last year, however, researchers proved – to the horror of traditional Chinese medicine enthusiasts – that there was no such thing as “qi” or, for that matter, invisible currents in our bodies. But the fact remained: acupuncture seemed to reduce back pain.
So what’s going on? BMJ helpfully sums up, telling us that while acupuncture can help relieve pain, it is largely psychological:
The effects of acupuncture, particularly on pain, are at least partially explicable within a conventional physiological model. Acupuncture is known to stimulate A delta fibres entering the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. These mediate segmental inhibition of pain impulses carried in the slower, unmyelinated C fibres and, through connections in the midbrain, enhance descending inhibition of C fibre pain impulses at other levels of the spinal cord. This helps explain why acupuncture needles in one part of the body can affect pain sensation in another region.
It is important to note, as Adrian White and Mike Cummings tell us in their BMJ editorial today, that the idea of specific “acupuncture points” is hazy to say the least. There are no special zones on the body where acupuncture works better – as Ben Goldacre puts it, when you bung “needles in any old place with a bit of ceremony” acupuncture works just as well as “proper, posh, theatrical, ‘genuine’ acupuncture.”
Aside from comparing “traditional acupuncture” with “sham acupuncture”, today’s paper has caused controversy in the British and American media for claiming that the alternative medicine is effectively useless. But let’s hear what Dr White and Dr Cummings conclude.
[Today’s review] looks at the question of whether acupuncture has a specific effect beyond a placebo one—that is, a biological effect—and therefore whether it should be used at all. As we have seen, the evidence is open to interpretation.
An open verdict, in other words. Watch this space.
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13 responses
The article mentions a study from last year which disproves meridians and chi. Which study was that?
Will, the conclusion is pretty damning to say the least, for the effectiveness of acupuncture. Adrian White and Mike Cummings make it sound like a more open issue because it is their profession! They are both members of the British Medical Acupuncture Society! Apparently “a registered charity established to encourage the use and scientific understanding of acupuncture within medicine for the public benefit. AW is part time journal editor and MC is medical director.”
Seems to me acupuncture came out pretty well in the grand scheme of things. Unlike other “alternative” medicines, it is shown to have an effect on pain - and now we better understand how that effect works. No magical qi needed.
Okay, so the placebo effect is useful for explaining acupuncture, which sounds fine by me since I’ve always been skeptical. But what about racehorses? Is that the same explanation?
Acupuncture does work. it helps me deal with my allergies and also i use acupunture for relaxation /
Acupuncture has been known in China for ages, my mom introduced me to acupunture and i am since been amazed how it can reduce my migraine.
oh again, wow, so you concluded that it mildley reduced pain, Accupuncture is not traditionall used for the treatment of pain. What about a study in the treatment of other disorders, or how accupuncture is actually used in surgury alone without pain relief and it all works well there. Or how mid wifes are taught accupuncture points to help with labour. Yes thats right acupuncture used by western medical practitioners.
Could it possiably be that this study was paid for and conducted by those in the employment of drug companies? The journal this piece was published in certainly is. I too am very interested in the study that “proved” qi does not exist.
I have been taken to task on my assertion that BMJ is largely funded by drug companies. I admit that this assertion is based on hear say and not an accurate accounting of BMJ revenue. I will however contact them and see what can be had.
Acupuncture is a great stress reliever on me. it is also great for headaches “
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