OBJECTIVE: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture is a suitable treatment for complex chronic diseases such as bronchial asthma. In a randomized, controlled study we investigated immunologic effects of Chinese acupuncture on patients with allergic asthma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The effects of acupuncture treatment given according to the principles of TCM (TCM group, n = 20) were compared with those of acupuncture treatment using points not specific for asthma (control group, n = 18). All patients were treated 12 times for 30 minutes over a time period of 4 weeks. Patients' general well-being and several peripheral blood parameters (eosinophils, lymphocyte subpopulations, cytokines, in vitro lymphocyte proliferation) were determined before and after acupuncture treatment. RESULTS: In the TCM group, significantly more patients indicated an improvement in general well-being (79% in the TCM group versus 47% in the control group; p = 0.049) after acupuncture treatment. The following changes were found in the TCM group: within the lymphocyte subpopulations the CD3+ cells (p = 0.005) and CD4+ cells (p = 0.014) increased significantly. There were also significant changes in cytokine concentrations: interleukin (IL)-6 (p = 0.026) and IL-10 (p = 0.001) decreased whereas IL-8 (p = 0.050) rose significantly. Additionally, the in vitro lymphocyte proliferation rate increased significantly (p = 0.035) while the number of eosinophils decreased from 4.4% to 3.3% after acupuncture (p > 0.05). The control group, however, showed no significant changes apart from an increase in the CD4+ cells (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: The results imply that asthma patients benefit from acupuncture treatment given in addition to conventional therapy. Furthermore, acupuncture performed in accordance with the principles of TCM showed significant immune-modulating effects.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture is a suitable treatment for complex chronic diseases such as bronchial asthma. In a randomized, controlled study we investigated immunologic effects of Chinese acupuncture on patients with allergic asthma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The effects of acupuncture treatment given according to the principles of TCM (TCM group, n = 20) were compared with those of acupuncture treatment using points not specific for asthma (control group, n = 18). All patients were treated 12 times for 30 minutes over a time period of 4 weeks. Patients' general well-being and several peripheral blood parameters (eosinophils, lymphocyte subpopulations, cytokines, in vitro lymphocyte proliferation) were determined before and after acupuncture treatment. RESULTS: In the TCM group, significantly more patients indicated an improvement in general well-being (79% in the TCM group versus 47% in the control group; p = 0.049) after acupuncture treatment. The following changes were found in the TCM group: within the lymphocyte subpopulations the CD3+ cells (p = 0.005) and CD4+ cells (p = 0.014) increased significantly. There were also significant changes in cytokine concentrations: interleukin (IL)-6 (p = 0.026) and IL-10 (p = 0.001) decreased whereas IL-8 (p = 0.050) rose significantly. Additionally, the in vitro lymphocyte proliferation rate increased significantly (p = 0.035) while the number of eosinophils decreased from 4.4% to 3.3% after acupuncture (p > 0.05). The control group, however, showed no significant changes apart from an increase in the CD4+ cells (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: The results imply that asthmapatients benefit from acupuncture treatment given in addition to conventional therapy. Furthermore, acupuncture performed in accordance with the principles of TCM showed significant immune-modulating effects.
Authors: Rom Brustin; Martine Toledano; Tal Geffen; Raia Goona; Malka Hochberg; Bilha Kreisberg; Sari Murad; Jacob Pitcovski Journal: Med Acupunct Date: 2017-06-01
Authors: Ting Bao; Olga Goloubeva; Colleen Pelser; Neil Porter; James Primrose; Lisa Hester; Mariola Sadowska; Rena Lapidus; Michelle Medeiros; Lixing Lao; Susan G Dorsey; Ashraf Z Badros Journal: Integr Cancer Ther Date: 2014-05-26 Impact factor: 3.279
Authors: Ola A Dabbous; Mona M Soliman; Nagwa H Mohamed; Magda Y Elseify; Mai S Elsheikh; Asmaa A A Alsharkawy; Manal M Abd Al Aziz Journal: Lasers Med Sci Date: 2016-10-05 Impact factor: 3.161
Authors: Yousry Moustafa; Hala G El Nady; Maha M Saber; Ola A Dabbous; Terez Boshra Kamel; Khaled G Abel-Wahhab; Sara F Sallam; Dina A Zaki Journal: Open Access Maced J Med Sci Date: 2019-06-30