Effects of acupuncture, applied relaxation, estrogens and placebo on hot flushes in postmenopausal women: an analysis of two prospective, parallel, randomized studies

Zaborowska, Ewa; Brynhildsen, Jan; Damberg, Sara; Fredriksson, Mats; Lindh-Åstrand, Lotta; Nedstrand, Elizabeth; Wyon, Yvonne; Hammar, Mats

doi:10.1080/13697130601165059

Cited by 51 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…28 In some studies signifi cant decrease has been reported not in frequency but in severity of hot fl ushes with acupuncture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…29 Acupuncture has been suggested as an alternative to HRT, based on the fact that acupuncture increases central β-endorphin activity and therefore may make the thermoregulation more stable and decrease hot fl ushes and sweating. 28 In some studies signifi cant decrease has been reported not in frequency but in severity of hot fl ushes with acupuncture. 14 30 Like several other studies, in this study the severity of hot fl ushes was signifi cantly decreased in the acupuncture group after treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Acupuncture on Postmenopausal Symptoms and Reproductive Hormones: A Sham Controlled Clinical Trial

et al. 2011

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Background Acupuncture is commonly used to treat menopausal symptoms and other gynaecological conditions. In this study, the authors aimed to investigate whether acupuncture has an effect on menopausal symptoms and to explore whether this effect is related to changes in hormone levels. Materials and methods A total of 53 postmenopausal women were alternately assigned into two treatment groups: acupuncture (n=27) and sham acupuncture (n=26). Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). The serum oestradiol, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) levels were measured at baseline and again after the fi rst and last sessions. The Student t test was used for normally distributed data and the Wilcoxon signed rank test for not normally distributed data. The group differences in MRS scores were assessed using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Results After treatment, total MRS, and the somatic and psychological subscale scores were signifi cantly lower in the acupuncture group than the sham group (all p=0.001). The severity of hot fl ushes was found to be signifi cantly decreased after treatment in acupuncture group (p=0.001). In the acupuncture group LH levels were lower and oestradiol levels were signifi cantly higher than sham group (p=0.046 and p=0.045, respectively) after treatment, but there was no difference in FSH levels. Conclusion Acupuncture was effective in reducing menopausal complaints when compared to sham acupuncture and can be considered as an alternative therapy in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. INTRODUCTIONPerimenopause syndrome, referred also as climacteric syndrome, results from the changing of relationship among the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary during women's ageing process. Those changes take place fi rst in the ovary, then in the hypothalamus and pituitary, which are refl ected as the functional changes in the endocrinological and central nervous system, accompanied with a series of psychological symptoms.1 Oestrogen, either by itself or with progestins is the most consistently effective therapy for these symptoms. However, the Women's Health Initiative and Million Women Study have identifi ed important risk factors (coronary heart disease, stroke, breast and endometrial cancer) associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). [3][4][5][6] Those fi ndings have led to an expanded interest in non-hormonal therapies for managing menopausal symptoms. However, there are only limited data to support their use. The common conclusion in reviews regarding to complementary and alternative therapies for the management of menopause related symptoms was that the data were insuffi cient to recommend any alternative therapy and further investigation was still needed.7 8 In the area of complementary and alternative therapies, acupuncture and acupressure treatments are promising, however, the results of published randomised controlled trials of the effect of acupuncture on hormone levels and symptoms in postmenopausal women have been ...

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“…28 In some studies signifi cant decrease has been reported not in frequency but in severity of hot fl ushes with acupuncture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Acupuncture on Postmenopausal Symptoms and Reproductive Hormones: A Sham Controlled Clinical Trial

et al. 2011

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“…Acupuncture studies in the treatment of healthy women suffering from hot flashes due to vasomotor instability brought on by a natural post-menopausal reduction in oestrogen levels, have shown promising, however somewhat conflicting results [5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients, a randomized, controlled trial

Hervik

Mjåland

2008

Breast Cancer Res Treat

112

119

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Acupuncture has been used to treat the problem of hot flashes in healthy postmenopausal women. The object of this study was to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in women with breast cancer suffering from hot flashes as a result of anti-oestrogen medication. In a prospective, controlled trial, 59 women suffering from hot flashes following breast cancer surgery and adjuvant oestrogen-antagonist treatment (Tamoxifen) were randomized to either 10 weeks of traditional Chinese acupuncture or sham acupuncture (SA). Mean number of hot flashes at day and night were recorded prior to treatment, during the treatment period as well as during the 12 weeks following treatment. A validated health score (Kupperman index) was conducted at baseline, at the end of the treatment period and at 12 weeks following treatment. During the treatment period mean number of hot flashes at day and night was significantly reduced by 50 and almost 60%, respectively from baseline in the acupuncture group, and was further reduced by 30% both at day and night during the next 12 weeks. In the sham acupuncture group a significant reduction of 25% in hot flashes at day was seen during treatment, but was reversed during the following 12 weeks. No reduction was seen in hot flashes at night. Kupperman index was reduced by 44% from baseline to the end of the treatment period in the acupuncture group, and largely maintained 12 weeks after treatment ended. No corresponding changes were seen in the sham acupuncture group. Acupuncture seems to provide effective relief from hot flashes both day and night in women operated for breast cancer, treated with Tamoxifen. This treatment effect seems to coincide with a general health improvement measured with the validated Kupperman index.

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“…One report compared transdermal estrogen versus placebo in one trial and then compared electroacupuncture versus superficial needling (sham) versus oral estrogen in another trial. 26 The authors then went on to perform a statistical analysis by combining the sham and electroacupuncture arms and compared them to the placebo arm from the other trial, something which is not considered to be a statistically valid approach. A recently reported trial, involving 267 postmenopausal women, randomized participants to receive either acupuncture or a self-care pamphlet.…”

Section: Acupuncture As a Hot Flash Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

On hot flash mechanism, measurement, and treatment

Loprinzi

Barton

2009

Menopause

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Effects of acupuncture, applied relaxation, estrogens and placebo on hot flushes in postmenopausal women: an analysis of two prospective, parallel, randomized studies

Cited by 51 publications

References 31 publications

The Effect of Acupuncture on Postmenopausal Symptoms and Reproductive Hormones: A Sham Controlled Clinical Trial

The Effect of Acupuncture on Postmenopausal Symptoms and Reproductive Hormones: A Sham Controlled Clinical Trial

Acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients, a randomized, controlled trial

On hot flash mechanism, measurement, and treatment

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