Positive Health Online

Abstract

LEWITH and colleagues, Complementary Medicine Research Unit, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton, UK, GL3@soton.ac.uk, have tested acupuncture in the treatment of disabling breathlessness.

Background

Disabling breathlessness is difficult to treat. This study aimed to evaluate a standardized acupuncture protocol to alleviate the condition.

Methodology

In a single-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover design, a standardized acupuncture technique versus an appropriately validated control treatment (mock transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) was evaluated. 24 patients received six treatments each in each phase of the study by a trained nurse acupuncturist. A two-week wash-out period was interposed between the two treatment phases. The primary outcome measure was worst breathlessness on a 100 mm-VAS.

Results

Breathlessness improved significantly during the study, but there were no significant differences between the acupuncture treatment and the mock TENS placebo.

Conclusion

This study shows no acupuncture-specific improvement of breathlessness, but patients who participated experienced significant improvement of their condition both from the acupuncture and from the placebo control treatment.

References

Lewith GT, Prescott P, Davis CL. Can a standardized acupuncture technique palliate disabling breathlessness: a single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Chest 125 (5): 1783-1790, May 2004.

Comment

This study illustrates the difficulty in entangling effects between treatment and placebo.