[escepticos] Acupuntura.

["Aure y/o Carlos" <aureycarlos@...>]

Tras la homeopatía, la acupuntura. Por fortuna, y en contra de lo que nos
quieran hacer creer, algún médico hay que no se lo cree demasiado. Ahí van
algunas publicaciones. En general la acupuntura sale peor parada que la
homeopatía, a pesar de que (¡oh, sorpresa), existen, al menos, tres
publicaciones dedicadas a ella en exclusiva, y no sé si...del todo fiables
por razones obvias. estas curiosas revistas son:

	- American Journal of Chinese Medicine
	- British Journal of Chinese Medicine
	- Acupuncture Electrotherapy Research (¡!)

	En estas hay abundante material a favor (¡cómo no!).

	Sorprende la aparición de acupuntura, electroacupuntura, y acupuntura
láser (¡ Las ciencias avanzan que es una barbaridad!). ¿Se basan todas en
los mismos principios? ¡ Esto sí que es interesante!

En contra, pneumotorax secundario al tratamiento, pobre calidad de los
ensayos, reacciones adversas tras tratamientos acupuntores con amenaza a la
supervivencia, y dos artículos curiosos del Am. J. of Chinese Medicine: Uno
de ellos a favor de la curación de la úlcera (¡ Oh, antes de Helicobacter
pylori !) y otro que aconseja tres puntos para el tratamiento, el tercero
de los cuales viene a ser algo así como "el soporte psicológico es
importante en la terapia acupuntora" (ya lo sabíamos, en realidad para las
otras también).

	También un artículo de British medical Journal en el que se indica que
muchos hospitales tradicionales chinos sobreviven infrautilizados por
ayudas del gobierno. Y otros, en general, bastante "escépticos".

Saludos

[Quality assurance in acupuncture therapy]
Kubiena G
Z Arztl Fortbild (Jena) 1996 Apr 90:2 159-62

Abstract
Quality assurance for acupuncture therapy requires a good basic and
on-going training in both conventional western medicine as well as in the
theory and practice of acupuncture There is a lack of standardised
experimental methods (e.g. 28 different placebos in 28 different studies!).
Especially German acupuncture journals have a disturbed relation to
failures. To hide or deny failures is of no benefit neither to acupuncture,
science to the relationship between the physician and the patient since the
practitioner must be able to rely on the information in the literature.
Furthermore, one should be open minded to alternative methods even if this
means to refer a patient to a colleague.


Pneumothorax following acupuncture.
Olusanya O, Mansuri I
J Am Board Fam Pract 1997 Jul-Aug 10:4 296-7


Life-threatening adverse reactions after acupuncture? A systematic review.
Ernst E, White A
Pain 1997 Jun 71:2 123-6


Methodological investigations for a multisite trial of auricular
acupuncture for cocaine addiction: a study of active and control auricular
zones.
Margolin A, Avants SK, Birch S, Falk CX, Kleber HD
J Subst Abuse Treat 1996 Nov-Dec 13:6 471-81

Abstract
We evaluated objective criteria for defining points for needle insertion
prior to conducting a multisite clinical trial of auricular acupuncture for
cocaine addiction. (...) At present, there seems to be little scientific
basis for the preselection of specific points for needle insertion within
auricular zones.



[Research in alternative medicine. What is documented, and what is
documentation?]
Borchgrevink CF
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 1997 Jun 30 117:17 2469-73

Abstract
A study of the literature describing research on alternative medicine
showed that, in general, the research was of poor quality.  The data do not
support the claim that acupuncture is effective for asthma or addiction. In
the case of homeopathy the evidence from clinical trials is positive but
not sufficient to draw a definite conclusion, for example, is it better
than placebo? The majority of studies seems to disregard the principle of
homeopathy, i.e. that the treatment should be individualised.The term
"alternative medicine" should be replaced by "complementary medicine".


Health in China. Traditional Chinese medicine: one country, two systems.
Hesketh T, Zhu WX
BMJ 1997 Jul 12 315:7100 115-7

Abstract
 Traditional Chinese medicine has a unique theoretical and practical
approach to the treatment of disease, which has developed over thousands of
years. Traditional treatments include herbal remedies, acupuncture,
acupressure and massage, and moxibustion. They account for around 40% of
all health care delivered in China. The current government policy of
expansion of traditional facilities and manpower is being questioned
because many hospitals using traditional Chinese medicine are already
underutilized and depend on government subsidies for survival. Research
priorities include randomised controlled trials of common treatments and
analysis of the active agents in herbal remedies. 



Acupunct Electrother Res 1994 Jun-Sep 19:2-3 81-8


[The laser therapy and laser acupunture of patients with chronic recurrent
aphthous stomatitis]
Mikhailova RI, Terekhova NV, Zemskaia EA, Melkadze N
Stomatologiia (Mosk) 1992 May-Dec3-6 27-8

Abstract
Laser therapy and laser acupuncture of the biologically active sites were
administered to 24 patients with chronic recurrent aphthous stomatitis. 




Electro-acupunture and endogenous morphines [letter].
Sjölund B, Eriksson M
Lancet 1976 Nov 13 2:7994 1085


Acupuncture and gastric acid studies.
Sodipo JO, Falaiye JM
Am J Chin Med 1979 Winter 7:4 356-61


[L-Dopa discoverer Birkmayer "unmasks" acupunture]
Santner-Cyrus I
Zahnarzt 1976 Jan 20:1 32-4

Three essential factors in effective acupunture therapy.
Bresler DE, Kroening RJ
Am J Chin Med 1976 Spring 4:1 81-6

Abstract
Three essential factors for achieving effective therapeutic results
utilizing acupuncture are described: (1) Immune/inflammatory reactions are
mobilized when any area of the skin is sufficiently stimulated. (2)
Peripheral neural stimulation occurs when specific acupuncture loci are
mechanically, electrically, chemically, or thermally activated. (3)
Psychological support is well known to be an important factor in 
acupuncture therapy.