Title |
Point specificity in acupuncture
|
---|---|
Published in |
Chinese Medicine, February 2012
|
DOI | 10.1186/1749-8546-7-4 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Emma M Choi, Fang Jiang, John C Longhurst |
Abstract |
The existence of point specificity in acupuncture is controversial, because many acupuncture studies using this principle to select control points have found that sham acupoints have similar effects to those of verum acupoints. Furthermore, the results of pain-related studies based on visual analogue scales have not supported the concept of point specificity. In contrast, hemodynamic, functional magnetic resonance imaging and neurophysiological studies evaluating the responses to stimulation of multiple points on the body surface have shown that point-specific actions are present. This review article focuses on clinical and laboratory studies supporting the existence of point specificity in acupuncture and also addresses studies that do not support this concept. Further research is needed to elucidate the point-specific actions of acupuncture. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United States | 2 | 67% |
Italy | 1 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 3 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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United States | 2 | 2% |
Portugal | 1 | <1% |
Norway | 1 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Spain | 1 | <1% |
New Zealand | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 93 | 92% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 21 | 21% |
Student > Bachelor | 18 | 18% |
Researcher | 14 | 14% |
Other | 8 | 8% |
Student > Postgraduate | 6 | 6% |
Other | 20 | 20% |
Unknown | 14 | 14% |
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Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 2 | 2% |
Other | 14 | 14% |
Unknown | 19 | 19% |