Acupuncture analgesia. I. Review of clinical studies.

Recent clinical studies, both uncontrolled and controlled, of the use of acupuncture for the relief of chronic pain are reviewed. The success rate demonstrated by controlled trials is markedly lower than that claimed in reports of the clinical use of acupuncture in which no attempt is made to control factors which influence the placebo response. Although on balance of evidence it appears that acupuncture has a place in the management of chronic pain resistant to orthodox therapeutic measures, more research is needed both to establish objective criteria for the assessment of the effect, or lack of effect, of acupuncture on chronic pain as well as to delineate clearly the patient groups and the conditions where acupuncture analgesia is indicated.