Editor’s Note: Several PRP patients have for acupuncture to be helpful in the treatment of pityriasis rubra pilaris. The PRP Survival Guide has included an overview presented by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.What’s the Bottom Line?
How much do we know about acupuncture?
There have been extensive studies conducted on acupuncture, especially for back and neck pain, osteoarthritis/knee pain, and headache. However, researchers are only beginning to understand whether acupuncture can be helpful for various health conditions.
What do we know about the effectiveness of acupuncture?
Research suggests that acupuncture can help manage certain pain conditions, but evidence about its value for other health issues is uncertain.
What do we know about the safety of acupuncture?
Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by an experienced, well-trained practitioner using sterile needles. Improperly performed acupuncture can cause serious side effects
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body–most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. It is one of the practices used in traditional Chinese medicine.
What the Science Says About the Effectiveness of Acupuncture
Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic such as low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis/knee pain. It also may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches. Therefore, acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider. However, clinical practice guidelines are inconsistent in recommendations about acupuncture.
The effects of acupuncture on the brain and body and how best to measure them are only beginning to be understood. Current evidence suggests that many factors–like expectation and belief–that are unrelated to acupuncture needling may play important roles in the beneficial effects of acupuncture on pain.
What the Science Says About Safety and Side Effects of Acupuncture
❏½ Relatively few complications from using acupuncture have been reported. Still, complications have resulted from use of nonsterile needles and improper delivery of treatments.
❏½ When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections, punctured organs, collapsed lungs, and injury to the central nervous system.
NCCIH-Funded Research
NCCIH funds research to evaluate acupuncture’s effectiveness for various kinds of pain and other conditions, and to further understand how the body responds to acupuncture and how acupuncture might work. Some recent NCCIH-supported studies are looking at:
❏½ If acupuncture can reduce the frequency of hot flashes associated with menopause
❏½ Whether acupuncture can reduce pain and discomfort that may accompany chemotherapy
❏½ Objectively determining if actual acupuncture is more effective than simulated acupuncture or usual care for pain relief, and (if so) by how much.
More to Consider
❏½ Don’t use acupuncture to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem.
❏½ If you decide to visit an acupuncturist, check his or her credentials. Most states require a license, certification, or registration to practice acupuncture; however, education and training standards and requirements for obtaining these vary from state to state. Although a license does not ensure quality of care, it does indicate that the practitioner meets certain standards regarding the knowledge and use of acupuncture. Most states require a diploma from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine for licensing.
❏½ Some conventional medical practitioners–including physicians and dentists–practice acupuncture. In addition, national acupuncture organizations (which can be found through libraries or by searching the Internet) may provide referrals to acupuncturists. When considering practitioners, ask about their training and experience.
❏½ Ask the practitioner about the estimated number of treatments needed and how much each treatment will cost. Some insurance companies may cover the costs of acupuncture, while others may not. For more information, see NCCIH’s fact sheet Paying for Complementary Health Approaches.
❏½ Help your health care providers give you better coordinated and safe care by telling them about all the health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health.
Source: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction
The following was posted to the PRP Facebook Support Group on February 8, 2020
Brenda M, Kent, England, UK
I have not posted here for a long time but I have had PRP Adult onset Type 2 since 2012. In it’s acute phase it is as bad as any outbreak but will then ‘smoulder’ on for about 20 years and may flare from time to time. I have not taken any medications to control it but have had acupuncture regularly for most of this time.
In January my Chinese Doctor and Acupunturist went home to her family in Shanghai to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Inevitably she has been caught up in the Coronovirus situation and whilst she is now back in the UK she has to undergo a period of isolation. I am telling you this because I am now three weeks since my last session and I am beginning a flare. I hope this may help those of you considering acupuncture as an alternative to harsh drug regimes, I have never before been so sure that it has helped! Do give it a try.
Chinese medicine takes an individual holistic approach. You would need to find a properly trained Chinese doctor. They would then examine you to see which of your systems is out of balance. If you tell them that PRP is an autoimmune condition and your personal medical history they would build a picture and treat accordingly. Chinese medicine is not like Western medicine where individual conditions are treated in isolation but treats the whole body and mind as one.
Jennifer H — Toronto, Ontario, Canada
We are also using acupuncture and homeopathic remedies for my daughter. No drugs. it’s been one month since we started and just her scalp is little dry. She was covered. Also Highly recommend colloid silver.
The following comments have been harvested from the archives of the PRP Facebook Support Group. Predictably, some say that acupuncture helped in the treatment of their PRP, others said acupuncture didn’t help at all. And there were some that felt that acupuncture helped their general wellness. Just underscores what we have learned since James Shooter walked into St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in 1828: What works for one doesn’t work for all.
Tasha G — Corvalis, Oregon
I did get regular acupuncture during my acute phase, but did not find that it helped with the itching. It was good for general relaxation and keeping my anxiety manageable when things were at their worst.
Todd E — Baltimore, Maryland
Acupuncture did not help me
Laurie M — New York
Yes. And it has helped a lot.
Brenda M — Kent, England, UK
Yes I had acupuncture for at least 2 years. It certainly calmed the itching, reduced the oedema and the dilated capillaries, heat and redness. I was told my internal heat was too high and to eat cooling foods and avoid heating foods. I would recommend you try it but with a fully qualified Chinese doctor who can properly diagnose via tongue and pulses.
Erin M — Boulder, Colorado
I saw an acupuncturist and feel that the Chinese tea he ‘prescribed’ for me made a huge difference in eliminating inflammation from my body and cooling me from the inside out as well. The acupuncture helped calm the central nervous system to reduce stress on the body. I took no western drugs and stopped all prescription creams shortly after being diagnosed. I pretty much got to remission in a year from my diagnosis date
http://www.chinesemedicinedoc.com/long-distance-chinese…/
Jolee P —San Jose, California
My husband has not tried acupuncture for his PRP. I have had acupuncture but for other things and I have had great results with it
Deborah B — Deep Gap, North Carolina
I do almost six weeks of light acupuncture. I had to stop because of excema and MRSE on ankles. I know my skin and itching was worse when they worked in an area I had problems with.
Jandina G — Ketchum, Idaho
I started with a naturopath about a month ago that also does acupuncture. I’ve had 4 treatments. His primary focus is to get the blood to circulate back through my body and not stay up at the skin level. I was 100% covered week 1 and 2. By the end of week 3 my face and chest started to clear. By the end of this last week I’m seeing clearing on my back too. My arms and legs are still screaming red but not as swollen as they have been. I feel like the acupuncture played a big part.
Full disclosure: I am also taking 25mg of Acitretin daily, changed my diet to the AIP diet 3 weeks ago, and saw a hypnotist that gave me an incredible session in finding relief from anxiety that has helped me sleep, which is when our body heals. I also cut the swelling in my legs and feet by 70% by doing some exercises I heard about on this site from Barry R — Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. I’m pulling out all the stops. Western, Eastern, all of it. I was raised a good Catholic girl so that’s in the mix too. I wanna get this show on the road. Just short of snake oil and witch doctors, I’m in.
Burton U — Kenady, Texas
Tried about ten session– no results for myself. When your bad enough you will try anything–I did– each person is different– there is still so much to be learned about prp– each persons study maybe a road map to recovery– we need much more education and research into PRP.
Mary C — Ireland
I tried acupuncture and made no improvement
Tierney R, Virginia Beach, Virginia — I tried acupuncture for a while and it did nothing for my PRP. Maybe there are others who have benefited from it and can share their story.
Kathleen T ‚ Dunedin, Florida
I did acupuncture for 15 years and it didn’t directly help the PRP, but probably strengthened my general constitution. Lasers – be careful. My dermatologist wouldn’t do lasers on me because it can trigger a flare up. Linda B — Oswestry, Shropshire, England
Well, I can only afford 2 x acupuncture sessions per month atm! No change really tho legs slightly less red.
Abbie C — San Antonio, Texas
I had acupuncture weekly for almost a year. It just made me feel better. My acupuncturist had never seen this and after I quit and later resolved a lot, she called me to come in to see her acupuncturist colleague from China. Everyone is interested in this rare and “unique” condition.