It's Effective
Dyspnea during exercise can be debilitating. This fact coupled with earlier findings that acupuncture has been shown to reduce dyspnea in cancer patients led a team of Japanese scientists to explore whether it would also help people with COPD. They found that, in fact, it does help.
Researchers at Kyoto University conducted a randomized study of 68 patients who were taking standard medications for COPD in various stages. They were randomly assigned to have actual acupuncture or a placebo treatment in which needles did not penetrate the skin. Patients received treatment once a week for 12 weeks.
Results showed a statistically significant improvement in dyspnea ratings. As their dyspnea subsided, patients also demonstrated in tests that they were able to tolerate exercise better and increase the distances they were able to walk.
The study was led by Masao Suzuki, PhD, and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
More information is available at: Suzuki M, et al “A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of acupuncture in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): the COPD-acupuncture trial (CAT)” Arch Intern Med 2012; DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1233.
This article was originally published in Pathways Physician & Health Professional Bulletin - Issue 24. To download this issue in PDF format, or past issues, visit our newsletter archives online at www.pathwayshealth.org/publications.
