Acupuncture…In The News

Neck and Shoulder Pain Study

In a Norwegian study of 24 women with chronic neck and shoulder pain, the 14 who received a 4-week course of 10 acupuncture treatments had less pain after 3 years than did the 10 in the placebo group who received sham treatments. Pain levels in the acupuncture group fell by 70% during their treatment, and 3 years later, they reported being in half as much pain as they had been before getting acupuncture. Women in the placebo group reported feeling slightly less pain during treatment than they experienced before it, but after 3 years, they said they felt worse than they had prior to participating in the study.

Acupuncture Cuts Arthritis Pain

The Wall Street Journal reported that acupuncture was found to relieve knee pain and dysfunction caused by osteoarthritis, according to the largest clinical study of the treatment to date, by researchers at the University of Maryland medical school.

Among 570 patients with arthritis of the knee who were studied, those who received traditional acupuncture therapy showed a 45% improvement in both pain and function over those who received no acupuncture therapy or sham treatment. All the patients were also undergoing standard medical treatment at the time. Standard treatment includes use of both anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, which vary in effectiveness and can have serious side effects, researchers said.

“These results indicate that acupuncture can serve as an effective addition to a standard regime of care and improve quality of life for osteoarthritis sufferers” said Stephen Straus, a director at the National Institutes of Health, which funded the study.

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture

The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Glamour Magazine and other news sources have reported the surge in Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture treatment. The technique is being used by models and other Hollywood celebrities who see the treatment as an alternative to Botox, which leaves their faces temporarily stripped of expression. Wary of the “Stepford look”, many in that profession are now turning to L.A.’s hottest treatment, the acupuncture face lift.

Generally, people receive 10 to 15 treatments (typically one or two a week lasting 60 minutes), with monthly visits after that to maintain the effects. Practitioners say results begin to appear after several sessions and become more noticeable as treatment progresses. Proponents of Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation say the treatment increases the blood flow and the production of collagen (which gives the skin its elasticity), improving complexion and reducing lines, sagging cheeks and bags under the eyes. Some people say that it can take as much as 15 years off a person’s appearance.

Cindy E. Levitz, L.Ac., Dipl. OM   212-924-8034