Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Mechanisms: A Systemic Review

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM
Pei-Chi Chou, Heng-Yi Chu

Abstract

The objective of this review is to investigate the detailed existing scientific information about the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) conditions and to reveal the proposed mechanisms. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine), NCCAM (The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases to identify relevant monographs and related references from 1974 to 2018. Chinese journals and theses/dissertations were hand searched. 43 studies were recruited. Each research was analyzed for study design, subject characteristics, intervention, selected acupoints, assessment parameters, proposed mechanisms, and results/conclusions. In our review, we concluded that acupuncture alone or combined with other treatment modalities is beneficial to the clinical conditions of RA without adverse effects reported and can improve function and quality of life and is worth trying. Several important possible mechanisms were summarized including anti-inflammatory effect, antioxidative effect, and regulation of immune system function. However, there is still inconsistency regarding the clinical efficacy and lack of wel...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 13, 2020·Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology·Peter Uchenna AmadiChiamaka Winifred Adumekwe
May 19, 2020·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Xuan XiaQingchun Huang
Apr 3, 2019·The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy·Gary KearnsJacqueline Doidge
Nov 30, 2019·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Monira AlwhaibiAbdulkarim M Meraya
Jul 15, 2021·Lasers in Medical Science·Camila Amaral CoraciniGladson Ricardo Flor Bertolini
Aug 28, 2021·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Eunwoo Cho, Woojin Kim
Sep 28, 2021·International Journal of Nursing Practice·Nermin Kılıç, Serap Parlar Kılıç
Mar 20, 2021·Lasers in Medical Science·Afnan Sedky AdlyHeba Ahmed Ali Abdeen

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
ESR
X-ray

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