Designing an acupuncture study: the nationwide, randomized, controlled, German acupuncture trials on migraine and tension-type headache

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy
Albrecht MolsbergerMichael Zenz

Abstract

In the nationwide German Acupuncture Trials (GERAC) verum acupuncture, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), was to be tested against sham acupuncture for the entities classified in the West as "migraine" (MIG) and "tension-type headache" (TTH). However, there were no generally accepted guidelines on how to perform a consistent verum or sham treatment. To design broadly consensual verum and sham acupuncture treatment protocols for MIG and TTH for the GERAC. Extensive literature study and consultation with acupuncture experts. Personal interviews, both free and structured, e-mail discussions, and phone conferences were used. Broadly consensual acupuncture protocols for MIG and TTH for verum and sham acupuncture were developed. They included semi-standardized point combinations with clearly described point selection rules based on TCM acupuncture diagnoses. A procedure was developed to help ensure homogenous treatment quality in a large multicenter trial. The GERAC study design allowed acupuncture to be tested in a naturalistic environment. The rigorous study design and the large number of physician investigators guaranteed a high external validity for the results. The results will help determine the significance of Chines...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 22, 2012·Der Orthopäde·A Molsberger
Oct 13, 2006·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Albrecht F MolsbergerMichael Haake
Oct 29, 2008·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Albrecht F MolsbergerWolfgang Teske
Aug 15, 2012·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Thomas-Martin WallaschPeter Kropp
Oct 19, 2012·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Xinyu Alan HaoZhen Zheng
Jul 23, 2008·Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache·H-C Diener
Jan 30, 2008·Scoliosis·Hans-Rudolf WeissSandra Pleines
Oct 20, 2012·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Karen J Sherman
Nov 17, 2009·Explore : the Journal of Science and Healing·Albrecht Molsberger
Oct 24, 2007·The Journal of Headache and Pain·Heinz G EndresMartin Tegenthoff
Apr 20, 2016·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Klaus LindeAdrian R White
Jul 5, 2012·Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·Nithima PurepongPrawit Janwantanakul
Sep 11, 2012·Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·Eliane Cristina FerroJosie Resende Torres Silva
Jul 2, 2008·Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·Adrian WhiteClaudia Witt
Jun 29, 2016·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Klaus LindeAdrian R White
Nov 5, 2019·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Frauke Musial
Feb 2, 2021·Acta Neurologica Scandinavica·Philipp SchröderAlbrecht Molsberger

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