Acupuncture may help women with some menopausal symptoms, Danish researchers say today.
In BMJ Open today (20 February) a team led by Dr Kamma Lund at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, report on their recent study.
They explain that previous research indicated a benefit from acupuncture but is unreliable due to design flaws or quality issues.
They recruited 70 women with moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms. A 15-minute acupuncture session was provided to half of the women, once a week for five weeks, by general practitioners with the relevant training and experience. The remaining group of women were given acupuncture after the first group had finished their course.
Results showed that acupuncture was linked to significantly fewer hot flushes, day-and-night sweats, sleeping problems, emotional symptoms, physical symptoms, and skin and hair symptoms.
A beneficial effect was seen at the first test of outcomes – after three weeks of treatment. After six weeks, 80% of women felt the acupuncture sessions had helped them.
Mild side effects were experienced by four participants, but no major side effects.
The researchers believe: “The standardised and brief acupuncture treatment produced a fast and clinically relevant reduction in moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms during the six-week intervention. No severe adverse effects were reported.”
They also state that: “The applicability of the findings is high and might have a good chance of being implemented, which could lead to new treatment options for menopausal women.”
It could offer a useful alternative for women who cannot, or don’t want to, use hormone replacement therapy.
Lund, K. S. et al. Efficacy of a standardised acupuncture approach for women with bothersome menopausal symptoms: a pragmatic randomised study in primary care (the ACOM study). BMJ Open 20 February 2019 doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023637
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023637
Leave a Reply