Acupuncture Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Acupuncture, including details on alternative medicine, uses, benefits, treatment, chinese medicine.

Comparison of traditional Chinese acupuncture, minimal acupuncture at non-acupoints and conventional treatment for chronic sinusitis.

Rössberg E, Larsson PG, Birkeflet O, Söholt LE, Stavem K

Balder-Klinikken, Oslo, Norway. eroessbe@c2ni.net

OBJECTIVES: To compare traditional Chinese acupuncture, minimal acupuncture at non-acupoints and conventional treatment for chronic sinusitis. DESIGN: A three-armed single blind randomised controlled study. SETTING: In an outpatient specialist clinic, we recruited 65 patients with symptoms of sinusitis >3 months and signs of sinusitis on computed tomography (CT). INTERVENTIONS: We randomised patients to one of three study arms: (1) 2-4 weeks of medication with antibiotics, corticosteroids, 0.9% sodium chloride solution, and local decongestants (n=21), (2) 10 treatments with traditional Chinese acupuncture (n=25), or (3) 10 treatments with minimal acupuncture at non-acupoints (n=19). OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in sinus soft tissue swelling on CT, symptoms of sinusitis, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), using the two component summary scales of the Short Form 36 and a rating scale. RESULTS: In the conventional treatment group, sinus soft tissue swelling was reduced over 4 weeks (p=0.04), and HRQoL improved over 12 weeks (p=0.01-0.05). Pairwise comparisons of changes in total symptom score between the groups showed signs of a difference between conventional medication and sham over 4 weeks (p=0.06). CONCLUSION: Sinus soft tissue swelling was reduced in the conventional treatment group over 4 weeks, and HRQoL improved over 12 weeks. Only a non-significant difference in symptom score change over 4 and 12 weeks was shown between conventional medication and traditional Chinese acupuncture.

Published 23 May 2005 in Complement Ther Med, 13(1): 4-10.
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