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Research: The NIH CONSENSUS STATEMENT
Listed in Issue 44
Abstract
The NIH CONSENSUS STATEMENT presents the biomedical research and clinical practice communities with the results of the NIH Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture, providing the latest information regarding the appropriate use of acupuncture, identifying areas of study deserving further investigation for family practitioners, medical acupuncturists, psychiatrists and specialists in pain medicine.
Background
Methodology
Participants were a non-Federal, nonadvocate, 12-member panel from the fields of acupuncture, pain, psychology, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, drug abuse, family practice, internal medicine, health policy, Epidemiology, statistics, physiology, biophysics and the public. In addition, 25 experts from these fields presented data to the panel and a conference audience of 1,200. A Medline literature search was performed, an extensive bibliography of references provided, as well as abstracts with relevant citations. Scientific evidence was given precedence over clinical anecdotal experience.
Results
Conclusion
Acupuncture is widely practised as a therapeutic intervention in the United States. Although there have been many studies of its potential use, many of these studies provide equivocal results due to design, sample size and other factors. There are further complications regarding the use of appropriate controls, including placebos and sham acupuncture groups. Promising results have emerged, showing efficacy for acupuncture in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain . Acupuncture may also be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative to be included in a comprehensive management programme for other conditions including addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma . Further research will likely reveal additional areas where acupuncture is therapeutically effective.
References
NIH Consensus Statement 15(5): 1-34. Nov 3-5 1997.
