Complementary therapies in medicine
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Complement Ther Med · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialNon-penetrating sham needle, is it an adequate sham control in acupuncture research?
This study aimed to determine whether a non-penetrating sham needle can serve as an adequate sham control. ⋯ A non-penetrating sham needle may successfully blind participants and thus, may be a credible sham control. However, the small sample size, the different needle sensations, and the degree and direction of unblinding across acupuncture points warrant further studies in Korea as well as other countries to confirm our finding. Our results also justify the incorporation of formal testing of the use of sham controls in clinical trials of acupuncture.
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Complement Ther Med · Jun 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialEffectiveness of subcutaneous injections of a cartilage preparation in osteoarthritis of the knee--a randomized, placebo controlled phase II study.
Articulatio Genus D5 (AG5), a cartilage preparation, is widely used within anthroposophic medicine to treat osteoarthritis of the knee (OA). To evaluate its efficacy 91 OA patients were randomized to receive either AG5 (46) or placebo (45) following a fully sequential study design. For a period of 4 weeks AG5 or placebo were injected subcutaneously 3 times a week in the predominantly affected knee. Outcome parameters were the Western Ontario and Mc. Masters University Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores and the use of concomitant pain medication during a follow up period of 2 months. ⋯ For the primary outcome parameter pain AG5 was not superior to placebo after 4 weeks of treatment but the equal reduction of pain in combination with higher reduction of pain medication suggests an effect of the preparation. The long term effect of AG5 on sparing pain medication should be further investigated.
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Complement Ther Med · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialTherapeutic effects of Chiljehyangbuhwan on primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.
This clinical study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of an oriental herbal medicine native to Korea, Chiljehyangbuhwan, in treating primary dysmenorrhea. ⋯ The results suggest that Chiljehyangbuhwan is effective and safe in treating primary dysmenorrhea when prescribed appropriately under Korean Oriental medical diagnosis.
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Complement Ther Med · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialDifferent frequencies of acupuncture treatment for chronic low back pain: an assessor-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial.
To examine the feasibility of a main RCT to compare the effectiveness of two frequencies (2 versus 5 times/week) of acupuncture treatment for chronic low back pain (LBP). ⋯ It is feasible to conduct a main RCT, to compare different frequencies of acupuncture for LBP, using sensitive measurements. Also the trend for early clinically important improvement within a minimum of four measurements is worthy of further study.
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Complement Ther Med · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEffectiveness of traditional bone setting in treating chronic low back pain: a randomised pilot trial.
The aim of this trial was to establish the effectiveness of traditional bone setting (TBS) compared with conventional physical and exercise therapy (PhT) in treating chronic low back pain (cLBP). ⋯ Most cLBP patients found the treatments to be beneficial. Although the long-term dynamics of pain and disability did not differ between the groups, the subjective benefits appeared to be more significant after TBS.