In October 2012, JAMA published a study that was a meta-analysis of research about Acupuncture for chronic pain. The sample size was an impressive 18,000 patients, which is quite large for an acupuncture study. And moreover, the results were favorable: acupuncture is indeed an effective treatment for chronic pain.
Conclusions Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option. Significant differences between true and sham acupuncture indicate that acupuncture is more than a placebo. However, these differences are relatively modest, suggesting that factors in addition to the specific effects of needling are important contributors to the therapeutic effects of acupuncture. (JAMA, October 22, 2012)
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