Acupuncture: an evaluation in the painful crises of sickle cell anemia

Co, L. L.

Schmitz, T. H.

Havdala, H.

Reyes, A.

Westerman, M. P.

Pain

1979

7(2)

181-185

RCT

Anemia, Sickle Cell

Hematologic Diseases

TCM Acupuncture Style

Acupuncture

Acu Versus CAM Control

Acu Versus Acu

RCT

Semi-Individualized Acupuncture Protocol

Symptom Based Point Selection

Restricted Modalities, Acupuncture Only

Pain

AcuTrials

Sham Control (488)

An evaluation of acupuncture for pain relief was made in 10 patients with sickle cell anemia during 16 pain crises. A model was developed in which the patient served as his own control and in which both patient and examiner were unaware of whether an acupuncture point or a sham site was treated. The results show (1) that pain relief was obtained in 15 of the 16 painful episodes regardless of whether an acupuncture point or a sham site was treated, demonstrating considerable overlap between the effects of needling acupuncture points and sham sites; (2) that needling at acupuncture points for pain relief is not significantly superior to treatment at sham sites; (3) that needling, per se, whether at acupuncture points of at sham sites can be useful for alleviating pain in sickle cell crises. The model could be useful for evaluation of pain relief by needling in other diseases.

10

Sickle cell crises

10

16