Recent Acupuncture Research 2023

Acupuncture is a key part of traditional Chinese medicine. It’s used worldwide to treat a range of health issues. In 2023, many new studies on acupuncture were published. These studies explored its use in various health conditions. This article will share ten of these recent acupuncture research publications so far in 2023. We’ll look at their findings and what they mean for the field of acupuncture. Each study will be summarised, providing a clear understanding of the research. This will help us see how acupuncture is evolving and improving health outcomes. So, let’s dive into these exciting developments in acupuncture research from 2023.

Here are 10 recent research publications on acupuncture from 2023:

1. Acupuncture for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Yuqian Yan, J. López-Alcalde, Linxin Zhang, A. Siebenhüner, C. Witt, J. Barth. Published on 24th May 2023. This study assesses the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), with a specific intention of exploring sources of between-study variation in treatment effects. The results showed promising potential for acupuncture as a complementary treatment in cancer care.
2. Acupuncture for Major Depressive Disorder: A Data Mining-Based Literature Study by M. Tu, Sangsang Xiong, Shengxia Lv, Xiaoting Wu, Hantong Hu, Renjie Hu, J. Fang, Xiao-mei Shao. Published on 1st May 2023. This study aimed to explore the characteristics and principles of acupuncture for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) by analyzing clinical trials of acupuncture for MDD using data mining techniques. The findings suggested that acupuncture could be an effective treatment for MDD.
3. Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Essential Hypertension: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses by Maoxia Fan, G. Dai, Runmin Li, Xiaoqi Wu. Published on 18th April 2023. This overview is aimed at summarizing current systematic reviews of acupuncture for Essential Hypertension and assessing the methodological bias and quality of evidence. The results indicated that acupuncture could be a beneficial treatment for patients with Essential Hypertension.
4. Research Hotspots and Trends on Acupuncture for Anti-Inflammation: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2011 to 2021 by Bing Chen, Di Liu, Tao Li, Li Zheng, Ling Lan, N. Yang, Yinlan Huang. Published on 1st April 2023. This study explores the research status, research hotspots, and development trend of acupuncture against inflammation from both quantitative and qualitative aspects through bibliometrics. The study found that acupuncture could potentially be used as an anti-inflammatory treatment.
5. Acupuncture therapies for cancer-related fatigue: A Bayesian network meta-analysis and systematic review by H. Tian, Yunhui Chen, Mingsheng Sun, Liuyang Huang, Guixing Xu, Chunyang Yang, Q. Luo, Ling Zhao, Zheng Wei, F. Liang. Published on 27th March 2023. This study evaluated and compared the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatments for cancer-related fatigue. The results showed that acupuncture could be an effective treatment for this condition.
6. The Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture on Suicidal Behavior: A Systematic Review by Chan-Young Kwon, Boram Lee. Published on 27th March 2023. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of suicidal behaviours. The findings suggested that acupuncture could potentially be used as a treatment for suicidal behaviours.
7. Acupuncture improved hepatic steatosis in HFD-induced NAFLD rats by regulating intestinal microbiota by Haiying Wang, Qiang-Qiang Wang, Cuimei Liang, Liang Pan, Hui Hu, Hongjuan Fang. Published on 16th March 2023. This study explores the potential beneficial effects of acupuncture on intestinal microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results showed that acupuncture could potentially improve hepatic steatosis in NAFLD.
8. Acupuncture treatment for Covid-19-associated sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus by Hantong Hu, Xiaoqi Lin, Lijuan Fan, Lian-qiang Fang, Jie Zhou, Hong Gao. Published on 6th March 2023. This study suggests that acupuncture may offer potential therapeutic benefits for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and tinnitus prevalent among COVID-19 patients and post-COVID-19 individuals.
9. Acupuncture in Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy-Related Complaints: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial by J. Dietzel, I. V. Habermann, S. Höder, K. Hahn, G. Meyer-Hamme, M. Ortiz, K. Hua, B. Stöckigt, M. Bolster, Weronika Grabowska, S. Roll, S. Binting, S. Willich, S. Schröder, B. Brinkhaus. Published on 1st March 2023. This study demonstrated that acupuncture leads to a significant and lasting reduction in diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN)-related complaints when compared to routine care and is well tolerated, with minor side effects.
10. Research progress on acupuncture treatment in central nervous system diseases based on NLRP3 inflammasome in animal models by Hai-ming Zhang, Dan Luo, Rui Chen, Shu-Han Wang, Yajun Zhao, Jin-Xiao Li, Min-feng Zhou, Zhao-Min Yu, Jun-Li Zhang, F. Liang. Published on 28th February 2023. This study confirmed that the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome promotes the development of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, and inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is a potential key target for the treatment of CNS diseases. It also concluded that acupuncture alleviates neuroinflammation by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, thereby improving the progression of CNS diseases.

In conclusion, the field of acupuncture continues to evolve, with research uncovering new applications and benefits for a range of health conditions. The ten studies we’ve explored from 2023 highlight the versatility of acupuncture as a treatment modality, from managing physical ailments such as chemotherapy-induced nausea, essential hypertension, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, to addressing mental health disorders like major depressive disorder and suicidal behaviours.

Moreover, the potential of acupuncture in mitigating the impacts of global health crises, such as COVID-19, is an emerging area of interest. The research also points to the role of acupuncture in influencing biological pathways, such as the NLRP3 inflammasome, which could open new avenues for treating central nervous system diseases.

While these studies provide promising insights, they also underscore the need for ongoing research to fully understand the mechanisms behind acupuncture’s effects and to establish standardised treatment protocols. As we continue to explore the potential of this ancient practice, it’s clear that acupuncture holds significant promise as a complementary therapy in modern healthcare.