Acupuncture and Dysmenorrhea
Acupuncture, also known as acupressure, is a treatment based on the principle that disruption of energy flow is a key component of disease. Traditionally, acupuncture is a procedure performed by health care providers in which fine needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points. Other substances may also be used during the treatment.
Recent advances in basic research suggest that acupuncture can have therapeutic effects on a number of diseases. However, there are limited data on its use for other disorders. In addition, the use of acupuncture is not covered by some insurance plans. Nevertheless, it is widely practiced in the United States.
To date, only one study has shown that acupuncture is effective in treating pain in women with endometriosis. However, the results are limited by unknowns regarding the blinding of trials, as well as methodological flaws. Therefore, future studies are needed to assess whether acupuncture can be beneficial in IPD.
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture, a systematic review of controlled trials was conducted. The authors searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CCRT) and the PubMed database, including non-English language papers. Two review authors independently extracted data from each study. Approximately seven RCTs were identified. Although most of the studies reported a positive effect on acupuncture, a few studies reported adverse effects. Some of the adverse effects reported were crying, hyperactivity, and sleep disturbance.
In addition, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture on infertility. They found that there were no significant differences between acupuncture and usual care for infertility, but there was some evidence that acupuncture had a positive effect on women's quality of life. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in other reproductive indications.
Some of the Acupuncture Benefits is in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. For example, in one study, acupuncture was associated with a reduction in pain intensity, pain-related fear avoidance beliefs, and depression. It was also associated with a clinically significant improvement at 24 months. Moreover, acupressure showed some benefit for global functioning, as well as the ability to function in a variety of activities.
Acupuncture has been studied as an intervention for the treatment of stroke. Five reviews analyzed its use for acute stroke, while three analyzed its use as a treatment for stroke rehabilitation. As with all studies, the results were limited by methodological flaws and by the small number of studies. Additionally, only four studies reported the use of acupressure, while the rest did not mention its use.
Another review examined acupuncture as a treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome. This condition is strongly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and ovulatory dysfunction. In contrast, there are limited data on its effectiveness in the treatment of other women's reproductive disorders. Nevertheless, Acupuncture Services is a promising therapy for infertility and dysmenorrhea.
In addition, some studies have suggested that acupuncture has antipsychotic effects. Nevertheless, a better designed, large-scale study is needed to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Check out this related post to get more enlightened on the topic: https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/divisions-diagnostics-and-procedures/medicine/acupuncture.