The Effect of Acupuncture on Asthma
The Effect of Acupuncture on Asthma
Are there any studies assessing the effect of acupuncture on asthma, or is acupuncture research taboo?
The results from studies investigating the effect of acupuncture on asthma have largely been contradictory, with some studies suggesting a beneficial effect and others suggesting a detrimental effect. Perhaps one of the best documented sources of evidence on the effect of acupuncture on asthma is the systematic review and meta-analysis by Martin and colleagues, which reviewed all randomized clinical trials in the published literature that have compared acupuncture at real and placebo points in asthma patients. In this review, acupuncture was studied in 11 randomized control trials for its effect on the control of the physiology and symptoms associated with asthma. The trials were relatively short in duration -- 3 days to 1 month -- and involved between 12 and 31 patients.
Overall, the meta-analysis did not find any evidence of an effect of acupuncture in reducing asthma symptoms, although the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was shown to increase by less than 2%. The study also evaluated quality of life, and inconclusive changes in symptoms were found with acupuncture.
With these results, there is no clear evidence at this time that acupuncture has a substantial role in the management of asthma. However, a large randomized controlled trial, probably on the order of 500 patients, is needed to clearly understand whether this intervention may be helpful.
Are there any studies assessing the effect of acupuncture on asthma, or is acupuncture research taboo?
The results from studies investigating the effect of acupuncture on asthma have largely been contradictory, with some studies suggesting a beneficial effect and others suggesting a detrimental effect. Perhaps one of the best documented sources of evidence on the effect of acupuncture on asthma is the systematic review and meta-analysis by Martin and colleagues, which reviewed all randomized clinical trials in the published literature that have compared acupuncture at real and placebo points in asthma patients. In this review, acupuncture was studied in 11 randomized control trials for its effect on the control of the physiology and symptoms associated with asthma. The trials were relatively short in duration -- 3 days to 1 month -- and involved between 12 and 31 patients.
Overall, the meta-analysis did not find any evidence of an effect of acupuncture in reducing asthma symptoms, although the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was shown to increase by less than 2%. The study also evaluated quality of life, and inconclusive changes in symptoms were found with acupuncture.
With these results, there is no clear evidence at this time that acupuncture has a substantial role in the management of asthma. However, a large randomized controlled trial, probably on the order of 500 patients, is needed to clearly understand whether this intervention may be helpful.
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