9 Scientific Research
A Chinese prospective, randomised, single-blinded, experimen-
tal trial (n20) compared the effect of transcutaneous electric
nerve stimulation (TENS) at L.I.-4on the heat pain threshold
and vibration thresholdin humans with a placebo control
point. In the study group, after TENS at L.I.-4, the pain thresh-
old for heat was higher for up to half an hour compared to the
control group. There was no effect on the threshold for feeling
vibration. Wang et al, Chin Med J (Engl) 2003
A Korean prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled trial
(n35) evaluated the efficacy of electro-acupuncture (EA) and
moxibustion on L.I.-4, L.I.-10, L.I.-11andT.B.-5on spasticity
due to stroke. The control group was treated with routine
acupuncture. Only the EA group experienced a significant,
immediate and lasting reduction in spasticity (using a modified
Ashworth scale). Moon et al, Am J Chin Med 2003
A German prospective, randomised, controlled, non-blinded trial
(n29) investigated if acupuncture at L.I.-4, T.B.-5, ST-36,
P-6, Du-20and Ex-UE-9(baxie) had a vasospasmolytic effect
on patients with Raynaud’s syndromeduring the winter season.
There was no significant difference regarding the number and
intensity of episodes, nor was there a significant effect on skin
microcirculation between the acupuncture group and the
placebo group before and after treatment. Hahn et al, J Dtsch
Dermatol Ges 2004
A Japanese prospective, randomised, controlled study (n21)
investigated the effect of L.I.-4, ST-36 and SP-6on objective
and subjective parameters regarding exhaustionin elite female
soccer players during a competition period. Only the subjects
treated with acupuncture experienced a better rating for both
subjective and objective parameters. Akimoto et al, Med Sci
Sports Exerc 2003
A Chinese prospective, randomised, controlled trial (n89)
researched the effect of L.I.-4, ST-36, BL-18andBL-23com-
bined with CT positioning scalp circum-needling (SCN) and
herbal therapy in patients with poly-infarctional vascular
dementia. The control group received herbal treatment only.
The treated group had a significantly better short-term result
(96.5%) than the control group (75%) regarding changes of clin-
ical symptoms, intelligence and haemorrheological characteris-
tics. Lun et al, Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 2003
A Chinese prospective, randomised, controlled experimental
trial (n11) investigated the changes in brain activation pat-
ternsevoked by stimulating L.I.-4manually versus stimulation
with electro-acupuncture (EA). These were assessed by func-
tional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Results showed that
EA mainly produced fMRI signal increases in precentral gyrus,
postcentral gyrus/inferior parietal lobule and putamen/insula; in
contrast, manual needle manipulation produced prominent
decreases of fMRI signals in posterior cingulate, superior tem-
poral gyrus, putamen/insula. These results suggest that different
brain mechanisms may be recruited during manual and EA.
Kong et al, J Altern Complement Med 2002
An American prospective, randomised, controlled, non-blinded
experimental trial (n13) evaluated the effect of transcutaneouselectric acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on L.I.-4and P-6on tonic
paininduced with the cold-pressor test. While TEAS alone had
a significant analgesic effect, this could be increased by combin-
ing TEAS analgesia with low-dose morphine. Yuan et al, J Clin
Pharmacol 2002
A Taiwanese prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled experi-
mental study (n13) investigated the effect of manual acupunc-
ture as well as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
with 2 Hz and 100 Hz respectively at L.I.-4on the spinal cord by
measuring the H-reflex. While the application of TENS with both
2 Hz and 100 Hz changed the amplitude of the H-reflex, it was
retained longer with the 100 Hz stimulation. These findings sug-
gest that TENS enhances the excitability of the motoneuron pool
in the spinal cord. Chang et al, Acupunct Electrother Res 2001
An Austrian prospective, randomised, controlled study (n45)
evaluated whether acupuncture at L.I.-4and SP-6at term can
influence cervical ripening, induce labourand thus reduce the
need for postdate induction. Compared to the control group, the
study group showed a significantly shorter time span (three days)
between estimated date of confinement (EDC) and actual time of
delivery. Medical induction of labour 10 days after EDC was also
significantly lower in the acupuncture group (20%) than in the
control group (35%). Rabl et al, Wien Klin Wochenschr 2001
An Israeli prospective, randomised, double-blinded controlled
trial (n25) investigated the effect of acupuncture in the treat-
ment of irritable bowel syndrome. True acupuncture was per-
formed at LI-4and sham acupuncture at BL-60during a total of
two sessions. There was no significant difference between the two
groups. However, the choice of acupuncture points seems some-
what peculiar. While both points are Ma Dan Yang points (the 12
most important points), they have no specific action for intestinal
disorders. Obviously the authors chose the points according to the
channel (Large Intestine). Furthermore, only two treatments does
not seem sufficient. Fireman et al, Digestion 2000
A British prospective experimental trial (n14) investigated
the effect of acupuncture at L.I.-4on the resting EEGof
healthy subjects. Acupuncture did not induce any changes in the
resting EEG. Rosted et al, Complement Ther Med 2001
An Irish prospective, randomised, controlled trial (n30)
applied transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) either at
L.I.-4or over the median nerve, in order to investigate cutaneous
blood flow. The control group received no treatment. Only TENS
over the median nerve showed a significant increase in cutaneous
blood flow. Cramp et al, Acupunct Electrother Res 2001
A Japanese prospective, randomised, controlled, non-blinded
trial (n22) investigated the effect of acupuncture at L.I.-4,
ST-6and ST-7on pain after mandibularwisdom tooth extrac-
tion. Compared to the control group there was a significant
reduction in pain in the treatment group. Kitade et al,
Acupunct Electrother Res 2000
A Swedish prospective, randomised, controlled experimental trial
(n12) investigated if acupuncture at L.I.-4induced changes
in the sympathetic and/or parasympathetic nervous system
in healthy subjects. For this purpose, regular and superficial