Is there evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, supplements, and good nutrition–some of the basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine? Yes. Here are some basic examples of that research, though you can find much, much more via a PubMed online search.
People question whether acupuncture has a true therapeutic effect, or whether it works merely through the placebo effect, the power of suggestion, or the enthusiasm with which patients wish for a cure. There is therefore a need for scientific studies that evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture under controlled clinical conditions. Some of these studies have provided incontrovertible scientific evidence that acupuncture is more successful than placebo treatments in certain conditions. For example, the proportion of chronic pain relieved by acupuncture is generally in the range 55–85%, which compares favourably with that of potent drugs (morphine helps in 70% of cases) and far outweighs the placebo effect (30–35%). In addition, the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia have been studied extensively since the late 1970s, revealing the role of neural and humoral factors.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture enhances generation of nitric oxide and increases local circulation
Acupuncture alters brain stimuli
CT scan reveals acupuncture points
Connective tissue’s role in the benefits of acupuncture
Acupuncture affects opioid receptors to relieve pain
EEG effects of acupuncture
Generally speaking, acupuncture treatment is safe, if it is performed properly by a well-trained practitioner. Unlike many drugs, it is non-toxic, and adverse reactions are minimal. This is probably one of the chief reasons why acupuncture is so popular in the treatment of chronic pain in many countries. As mentioned previously, acupuncture is comparable with morphine preparations in its effectiveness against chronic pain, but without the adverse effects of morphine, such as dependency.
Effectiveness of Acupuncture for pain–chronic, injury, menstrual, headache
Acupuncture for chronic pain ( JAMA Internal Medicine)
Acupuncture to treat chronic migraines
Brain scanning for activity during acupuncture for migraine treatment
Acupuncture and Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Meta-Analysis Acupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis
Chronic neck pain: a comparison of acupuncture treatment and physiotherapy.
Acupuncture for chronic headache in primary care: large, pragmatic, randomised trial
Acupuncture for soft tissue injuries
Acupuncture treats menstrual cramps
Acupuncture to treat neuropathic pain: A meta-analysis
Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Allergies
Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs for Digestive Issues
Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Chinese Herbal Medicine
Effectiveness of acupuncture for IBS pain, fMRI study
Acupuncture for chronic severe functional constipation
Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Sleep
Effects of acupuncture therapy on insomnia
Acupuncture better than sleep drugs for insomnia: A systematic review
Over its 2500 years of development, a wealth of experience has accumulated in the practice of acupuncture, attesting to the wide range of diseases and conditions that can be effectively treated with this approach.
[Note: This report has 293 references!]