Using Acupuncture To Treat Asthma

Acupuncture has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 3,000 years and employs needles strategically placed in "points" on the body. These needles balance the yin (passive) and yang (active) forces and attempt to restore health by increasing energy (known as qi) flow through the body's meridians or channels. Sometimes a small electric current is passed through the acupuncture needle to enhance this effect. There are about 365 specific acupuncture points— with several thousand additional points located bodywide—located mainly on the hands, head, and ears. While acupuncture is used in China to treat virtually any illness, in the West it is primarily employed in the treatment of chronic pain and substance abuse.

 

Studies have found that acupuncture can help people with asthma; however, results are mixed. One study from Denmark examined acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture in seventeen patients with stable bronchial asthma. The treatment group experienced an average 22 percent increase in morning peak flow, with a 53 percent reduction in beta-agonist use. These results differed significantly from the placebo group for the first two weeks of this study, but after two weeks similar results were observed. Of particular interest, the authors reported a significant decrease in IgE antibodies in the treatment group.14 The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, an evidence-based medical database, published an examination of seven studies involving 174 subjects, which concluded that "there is not enough evidence to make recommendations about the value of acupuncture in asthma treatment." The author continued to state that "further research needs to consider the complexities and different types of acupuncture."

 

There remains a lack of consistent findings regarding acupuncture and asthma. While a strong recommendation cannot be made, if you have successfully used acupuncture, continue your treatments.