Acupuncture For Women Research Articles

Effectiveness and safety of the combination of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Effectiveness and safety of the combination of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Simulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve by acupuncture in women with fibromyalgia with severe pain and other functional and emotional problems: study protocol for a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial

Simulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve by acupuncture in women with fibromyalgia with severe pain and other functional and emotional problems: study protocol for a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial

Acupuncture for Women with Overactive Bladder: Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Related Mechanism.

Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is one of the most common diseases in urology and affects quality of life. Although the current treatment for OAB is based on oral medications, there are limitations and many patients have difficulty accepting drug-induced adverse effects. This review aimed to analyze the efficacy of acupuncture and its related mechanisms and provide a preliminary therapeutic regimen. Two authors independently searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to April 2022. They searched related English literature and extracted the data under a standard form based on the search strategy. Clinical trials which included OAB women with the treatment of acupuncture were included. Common acupuncture alone without other pharmacotherapy, external treatments was in the treatment group. The control interventions may include any active treatments, sham placebo, or no establishment of a control group. Outcomes included 3-day or 24-hour voiding diary, overactive bladder symptom score, etc. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was also used to assess the methodological quality of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We analyzed five RCTs and one comparative study on acupuncture for OAB to review and discuss the acupoint location, treatment course, and retention time based on clinical evidence and treatment ideas in traditional Chinese medicine. Additionally, we used the available evidence to reveal and discuss the acupuncture mechanisms for OAB. Acupuncture may regulate bladder function by inhibiting C-fibers, modulating nerve growth factors and reducing spontaneous contractions of the detrusor muscle. Combined with the available evidence, the combination of local acupoints and distal acupoints should be necessary to consider, especially the lumbosacral acupoints, the small abdomen acupoints and the lower limb acupoints. Among them, acupuncture at SP4, CV4 and KI3 are strongly recommended. The treatment course of acupuncture should be no less than 4 weeks and maintain the frequency of acupuncture no less than once a week. The duration of each session should be no less than 20 minutes. In addition, investigations remain necessary to verify acupuncture's efficacy and precise mechanism for OAB treatment in further exploration.

Acupuncture in Women with Human Polycystic Ovary/Ovarian Syndrome: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

(1) Background: Human polycystic ovary/ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is linked to endocrine, metabolic, and psychological complications. We propose a randomized controlled pilot study for an acupuncture protocol regarding the management of PCOS symptoms based on TCM diagnosis; (2) Methods: We will randomly allocate 120 women diagnosed with PCOS into two groups. The study group will be treated with acupuncture for points known to act upon the autonomous regulation of the hormonal, metabolic and emotional components. (3) Results and Conclusions: We expect to provide evidence of high methodological quality related to the effects and safety of an acupuncture protocol based on the perspective of a TCM diagnostic.

Efficacy of contralateral acupuncture in women with migraine without aura: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionMigraine is a common neurological disorder with a higher prevalence occurring in women. Migraine without aura (MwoA) is the most common type of migraine. In recent years, the safety and...

The changing clinical landscape in acupuncture for women\u2019s health: a cross-sectional online survey in New Zealand and Australia

BackgroundAcupuncture is a popular treatment for women’s health. Several trials and meta-analysis have been published in recent years on key women’s health conditions but it is unclear if this has led to any changes in clinical practice or referrals from other health professionals. The aim of this survey was to explore if, how, and why, aspects of acupuncture practice have changed since our survey in 2013.MethodAn online cross-sectional survey of registered acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine practitioners in Australia and New Zealand. Questions covered the practitioner demographics and training, women’s health conditions commonly treated, modalities used, sources of information and continuing education (CE) (e.g. webinars), changes in clinical practice, and referral networks.ResultsOne hundred and seventy registered practitioners responded to this survey, with 93% reporting treating women’s health in the last 12 months. The majority of respondents were from Australia (60%), held a bachelors level qualification (60%), and used a traditional Chinese medicine framework (86%). Most practitioners incorporated other modalities in addition to acupuncture. Most practitioners’ referral networks were predominantly based on word of mouth for menstrual, fertility and pregnancy related conditions, with referrals from medical practitioners being much less common. More than half (57%) reported having changed their women’s health practice in the past 12 months; just over a quarter of those who changed treatment (27%) reported it was due to research findings. The most commonly used sources of information/CE used to inform treatment were webinars and conferences, while peer-reviewed journal articles were the least commonly used source.ConclusionAcupuncture practitioners in Australia and New Zealand commonly treat women’s health conditions, but this is usually the result of women seeking them out, rather than being referred from a medical practitioner. The majority of practitioners did report changing their women’s health practice, but peer reviewed academic articles alone are not an ideal medium to convey this information since practitioners favour knowledge obtained from webinars and conferences. Academics and other clinician researchers should consider alternative means of disseminating knowledge beyond traditional academic publications and conferences, special interest groups may assist in this and also help improve research literacy.

Use of acupuncture in women surviving breast cancer: an integrative review

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The human suffering associated with this disease is vast and complex, including physical, mental, and spiritual aspects, which last even after the end of cancer treatment. Acupuncture is an integrative practice with solid evidence for treating and managing symptoms related to cancer and its treatments. In this sense, this study aimed to carry out an integrative literature review on the benefits of acupuncture for the symptoms of women survivors of breast cancer. This is an integrative review carried out through the scientific databases PubMed and SciELO. The search strategy used was “survivorship” AND “breast cancer” AND “acupuncture”, respecting the period between 2017 and 2022. In all, 220 articles were located. Studies that considered other types of cancer and that did not focus on acupuncture in cancer survivors were excluded from the analysis. In the end, 26 articles related to the proposed theme remained, which were read and analyzed in full. Results were discussed separately on the evidence-based use of acupuncture on symptoms and long-term side effects related to breast cancer and its treatments. The material analyzed in this review showed that acupuncture is relatively safe and effective, when used properly and by trained and certified acupuncturists, and it is essential that health services and professionals involved in cancer treatment be trained in cancer survival programs and guide patients about the benefits of acupuncture and how to use it properly.

Effectiveness and Safety Of the Combination of Chinese Herbal Medicine And Acupuncture For Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials

Effectiveness and Safety Of the Combination of Chinese Herbal Medicine And Acupuncture For Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials

Effect of acupuncture and metformin on insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance: a three-armed randomized controlled trial.

STUDY QUESTIONDoes acupuncture improve insulin sensitivity more effectively than metformin or sham acupuncture in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance (IR)?SUMMARY ANSWERAmong women with PCOS and IR, acupuncture was not more effective than metformin or sham acupuncture in improving insulin sensitivity.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYUncontrolled trials have shown that acupuncture improved insulin sensitivity with fewer side effects compared with metformin in women with PCOS and IR. However, data from randomized trials between acupuncture and metformin or sham acupuncture are lacking.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONThis was a three-armed randomized controlled trial enrolling a total of 342 women with PCOS and IR from three hospitals between November 2015 and February 2018, with a 3-month follow-up until October 2018.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSWomen aged from 18 to 40 years with PCOS and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥2.14 were randomly assigned (n = 114 per group) to receive true acupuncture plus placebo (true acupuncture), metformin plus sham acupuncture (metformin, 0.5 g three times daily) or sham acupuncture plus placebo (sham acupuncture) for 4 months, with an additional 3-month follow-up. True or sham acupuncture was given three times per week, and 0.5 g metformin or placebo was given three times daily. The primary outcome was change in HOMA-IR from baseline to 4 months after baseline visit. Secondary outcomes included changes in the glucose AUC during an oral glucose tolerance test, BMI and side effects at 4 months after baseline visit.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEAfter 4 months of treatment, the changes of HOMA-IR were –0.5 (decreased 14.7%) in the true acupuncture group, –1.0 (decreased 25.0%) in the metformin group and –0.3 (decreased 8.6%) in the sham acupuncture group, when compared with baseline. True acupuncture is not as effective as metformin in improving HOMA-IR at 4 months after baseline visit (difference, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.1–1.1). No significant difference was found in change in HOMA-IR between true and sham acupuncture groups at 4 months after baseline visit (difference, –0.2; 95% CI, –0.7 to 0.3). During the 4 months of treatment, gastrointestinal side effects were more frequent in the metformin group, including diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting and stomach discomfort (31.6%, 13.2%, 11.4%, 8.8%, 14.0% and 8.8%, respectively). Bruising was more common in the true acupuncture group (14.9%).LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONThis study might have underestimated the sample size in the true acupuncture group with 4 months of treatment to enable detection of statistically significant changes in HOMA-IR with fixed acupuncture (i.e. a non-personalized protocol). Participants who withdrew because of pregnancy did not have further blood tests and this can introduce bias.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSTrue acupuncture did not improve insulin sensitivity as effectively as metformin in women with PCOS and IR, but it is better than metformin in improving glucose metabolism (which might reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes) and has less side effects. Metformin had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects than acupuncture groups, and thus acupuncture might be a non-pharmacological treatment with low risk for women with PCOS. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture combined with metformin on insulin sensitivity in these women.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)This work was supported by grants 2017A020213004 and 2014A020221060 from the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province. The authors have no conflicts of interest.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERClinicaltrials.gov number: NCT02491333.TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE8 July 2015.DATE OF FIRST PATIENT’S ENROLLMENT11 November 2015.

Effect of acupuncture for diminished ovarian reserve: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDiminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a condition in which the ovary loses its normal reproductive potential, compromising fertility. Although the prevalence and incidence of DOR is increasing, there are currently no effective treatments for this condition. Acupuncture has been reported as an alternative therapy for female infertility. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of acupuncture for women with DOR.Methods/designIn this randomized controlled trial, a total of 120 women with DOR will be randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 12 weeks. The primary outcome will be determined by the mean change from baseline in the antral follicle count (AFC) at week 12. Secondary outcomes include serum levels of FSH, LH, E2, and AMH, the length of menstrual cycle, and the score of Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS).DiscussionThis study is expected to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in improving ovarian reserve for women with DOR.Trial registrationAcupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800014988. Registered on 6 February 2018

PIH11 - Cost-Effectiveness Of Breech Version By Moxibustion Associated With Acupuncture For Women At 33 Weeks Gestation: A Modeling Approach By The Brazilian Public Health Care System Perspective

PIH11 - Cost-Effectiveness Of Breech Version By Moxibustion Associated With Acupuncture For Women At 33 Weeks Gestation: A Modeling Approach By The Brazilian Public Health Care System Perspective

Effectiveness of acupuncture in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). We searched a total of 15 databases through October 2015. The participants were women with PCOS (diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria) undergoing IVF or ICSI. Eligible trials were those with intervention groups receiving manual acupuncture (MA) or electroacupuncture (EA), and control groups receiving sham acupuncture, no treatment or other treatments. Outcomes included the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR), ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) and incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and adverse events (AEs). For statistical pooling, the risk ratio (RR) and its 95% (confidence interval) CI was calculated using a random effects model. Four RCTs including 430 participants were selected. All trials compared acupuncture (MA/EA) against no treatment. Acupuncture significantly increased the CPR (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.71) and OPR (RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.08 to 3.81) and decreased the risk of OHSS (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.94); however, there was no significant difference in the LBR (RR 1.61, 95% CI 0.73 to 3.58). None of the RCTs reported on AEs. Acupuncture may increase the CPR and OPR and decrease the risk of OHSS in women with PCOS undergoing IVF or ICSI. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as an adjunct to assisted reproductive technology in this particular population.

Acupuncture for women under infertility treatment : its possible ameliorating effect on psychological stress

Acupuncture for women under infertility treatment : its possible ameliorating effect on psychological stress

How long do the effects of acupuncture on hot flashes persist in cancer patients?

Acupuncture has been suggested as therapy for hot flashes in women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer. In this systematic review, we sought to evaluate the long-term effects on vasomotor symptoms after the end of a defined treatment period of acupuncture in women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer. A literature search revealed 222 articles within the field. With defined exclusion criteria, we identified 17 studies. We also used the Jadad quality score and identified seven studies with a score of at least 3. Six of seven identified studies qualified for inclusion in an analysis that measured frequency of hot flashes weighted in relation to number of patients (n=172). The average reduction from baseline to end of acupuncture (ranging between 5 and 12 weeks of treatment) showed 43.2 % reduction of hot flashes. At the last follow-up (mean 5.8 months, range 3-9 months) after the end of therapy, the weighted reduction from baseline was sustained at 45.6 % in the 153 of 172 patients (89 %) who were followed up. Data from six prospective analyzed studies indicate at least 3-month effects after the end of acupuncture treatment for flashes in women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer. However, larger randomized trials with long-term follow-up will be needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

A Safety and Efficacy Pilot Study of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Chronic Lymphoedema

BackgroundLymphoedema is a distressing problem affecting many women after breast cancer surgery. There is no cure and existing treatments are marginally beneficial, rarely reducing arm swelling in any meaningful way. Needling and even lifting of objects using the affected arm has been prohibited, but our clinical experience and that of others suggested that acupuncture was safe and that it might be a useful treatment for lymphoedema.ObjectiveWe sought to conduct a pilot study of the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture in women diagnosed with chronic lymphoedema for at least 6 months and less than 5 years.MethodsWomen with chronic lymphoedema (affected arm with >2 cm circumference than unaffected arm) after breast cancer surgery received acupuncture twice a week for 4 weeks. Response was defined as at least a 30% reduction in the difference in size between the affected and unaffected arms. Monthly follow-up calls for 6 months following treatment were made to obtain information about side effects.ResultsStudy goals were met after nine subjects were treated: four women showed at least a 30% reduction in the extent of lymphoedema at 4 weeks when compared with their respective baseline values. No serious adverse events occurred during or after 73 treatment sessions.LimitationsThis pilot study requires a larger, randomised follow-up investigation plus enquiries into possible mechanisms. Both are in development by our group.ConclusionAcupuncture appears safe and may reduce lymphoedema associated with breast cancer surgery.

Acupuncture for uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are benign growths within the uterine muscle and are present in 30% of women during their reproductive years. With the exception of hysterectomy, there are no effective medical and surgical treatments for women with uterine fibroids . Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method which has been used for both the prevention and treatment of diseases for over three thousand years. There are many types of acupuncture used to manage UFs, with body acupuncture being the most commonly used. The literature reporting the benefits or harms of acupuncture for the management of UFs has not yet been systematically reviewed. To assess the benefits and harms of acupuncture in women with uterine fibroids The following electronic databases were searched 21st May 2009: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; EMBASE; AMED; the Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group's Specialised Register of Trials; Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM); Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS); Chinese Medical Current Contents (CMCC) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI). Citation lists, experts in the field and grey literature were also referred to. No restrictions such as language were applied. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture management with placebo acupuncture, no management, Chinese medication, Western medication or other managements of uterine fibroids were considered for inclusion. Acupuncture management included either traditional acupuncture or contemporary acupuncture, regardless of the source of stimulation (for example, body, electro, scalp, elongated, fire, hand, fine needle, moxibustion). Acupuncture management without needling was excluded. Two review authors assessed trial risk of bias according to our a priori criteria. No trials were included in this version of the review, therefore no data was collected. No randomized double-blind controlled trials met the inclusion criteria . The effectiveness of acupuncture for the management of uterine fibroids remains uncertain. More evidence is required to establish the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for uterine fibroids.There is a continued need for well designed RCTs with long term follow up.

Lasernadel-Akupunktur bei Frauen mit Dysmenorrhoe: Eine randomisierte kontrollierte doppelblinde Pilotstudie

Hintergrund: Dysmenorrhoe ist eine häufige gynäkologische Erkrankung. Sofern keine organischen Ursachen vorliegen, erfolgt die Therapie symptomatisch. Akupunktur wird bei Menstruationsbeschwerden bereits erfolgreich angewendet, ist aber mit gewissen Nebenwirkungen, insbesondere Schmerzen, verbunden. Das Laserneedle®-Gerät ist ein neues, nicht invasives Instrument, das ein mögliches therapeutisches Äquivalent zur Akupunktur darstellt. Ziel: Das Ziel dieser Studie ist zu untersuchen, ob die Wirkung einer aktiven Lasernadel-Akupunktur einer Placebo-Lasernadel-Akupunktur überlegen ist. Patienten und Methode: In diese randomisierte Doppelblindstudie wurden Frauen im Alter zwischen 18–50 Jahren und einem Menstruationsschmerz von mindestens 4 von 10 Punkten auf der visuellen Analogskala (VAS) eingeschlossen und mittels Lasernadel-Akupunktur (Laserneedle®-Computer-System) behandelt. Alle Patientinnen wurden mit den gleichen 8 Akupunkturpunkten (SP6, LV3 und LI4 je beidseits; CV3 und ST36 rechts) behandelt (8 Sitzungen zu je 20 min, verteilt auf 3 Menstruationszyklen). Primärer Endpunkt war eine erfolgreiche Schmerzreduktion, definiert als 50%-Reduktion der mittleren Schmerzintensität (berechnet aus den 2 Menstruationstagen mit den höchsten VAS-Werten) zwischen Baseline und Behandlungsende. Verglichen wurden Verum-und Placeboakupunktur (keine Laseraktivität). Ergebnisse: Es wurden 48 Patientinnen im Alter von durchschnittlich 29,6 ± 7,5 Jahre (30 Placebo-, 18 Verumakupunktur) in die Studie eingeschlossen. In der Verumgruppe lag die Erfolgsrate bei 16,7% (3/18), in der Placebogruppe bei 20% (6/30). Schlussfolgerung: Wir konnten keinen signifikanten Vorteil der Lasernadel-Akupunktur gegenüber einer Placebo-Lasernadel-Behandlung nachweisen. Weitere Studien sind erstrebenswert, da die Lasernadeltherapie eine nicht invasive Behandlungsmethode darstellt und doppelblinde Vergleiche ermöglicht.

Cost-Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Women and Men With Allergic Rhinitis: A Randomized Controlled Study in Usual Care

To assess quality of life and cost-effectiveness of additional acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis, patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups; both received usual care, but one group received an additional 10 acupuncture sessions. Quality of life (according to the SF-36 Health Survey), and direct and indirect costs, were assessed at baseline and after 3 months, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of acupuncture treatment was calculated. This German study (December 2000-June 2004) involved 981 patients (64% women, mean age 40.9 years (standard deviation, 11.2); 36% men, mean age 43.2 years (standard deviation, 13.0)). At 3 months, quality of life was higher in the acupuncture group than in the control group (mean Physical Component Score 51.99 (standard error (SE), 0.33) vs. 48.25 (SE, 0.33), P < 0.001; mean Mental Component Score 48.55 (SE, 0.42) vs. 45.35 (SE, 0.42), respectively, P < 0.001). Overall costs in the acupuncture group were significantly higher than those in the control group (Euro (euro; 1 euro = US $1.27) 763, 95% confidence interval: 683, 844 vs. 332 euro, 95% confidence interval: 252, 412; mean difference 432 euro, 95% confidence interval: 318, 545). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 17,377 euro per quality-adjusted life year (women, 10,155 euro; men, 44,871 euro) and was robust in sensitivity analyses. Acupuncture, supplementary to routine care, was beneficial and, according to international benchmarks, cost-effective. However, because of the study design, it remains unclear whether the effects are acupuncture specific.

Acupuncture as an adjunct to standard treatment for pelvic girdle pain in pregnant women: randomised double‐blinded controlled trial comparing acupuncture with non‐penetrating sham acupuncture

To investigate whether acupuncture has a greater treatment effect than non-penetrating sham acupuncture in women with pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during pregnancy. Randomised double-blinded controlled trial. East Hospital, Gothenburg, and 25 antenatal primary care units in the region of Västra Götaland, Sweden. A total of 115 pregnant women with a clinical diagnosis of PGP who scored > or =50 on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Women were randomly allocated to standard treatment plus acupuncture or to standard treatment plus non-penetrating sham acupuncture for 8 weeks. Main outcome measure was pain. Secondary outcomes were frequency of sick leave, functional status, discomfort of PGP, health-related quality of life and recovery of severity of PGP as assessed by the independent examiner. After treatment, median pain decreased from 66 to 36 in the acupuncture group and from 69 to 41 in the non-penetrating sham group (P = 0.493) as assessed on a VAS. Women in the acupuncture group were in regular work to a higher extent than women in the sham group (n = 28/57 versus 16/57, P = 0.041). The acupuncture group had superior ability to perform daily activities measured with the disability rating index (DRI) (44 versus 55, P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in quality of life, discomfort of PGP and recovery from severity of PGP between the groups. Acupuncture had no significant effect on pain or on the degree of sick leave compared with non-penetrating sham acupuncture. There was some improvement in performing daily activities according to DRI. The data imply that needle penetration contributes to a limited extent to the previously reported beneficial effects of acupuncture.

Acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients, a randomized, controlled trial

Acupuncture has been used to treat the problem of hot flashes in healthy postmenopausal women. The object of this study was to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in women with breast cancer suffering from hot flashes as a result of anti-oestrogen medication. In a prospective, controlled trial, 59 women suffering from hot flashes following breast cancer surgery and adjuvant oestrogen-antagonist treatment (Tamoxifen) were randomized to either 10 weeks of traditional Chinese acupuncture or sham acupuncture (SA). Mean number of hot flashes at day and night were recorded prior to treatment, during the treatment period as well as during the 12 weeks following treatment. A validated health score (Kupperman index) was conducted at baseline, at the end of the treatment period and at 12 weeks following treatment. During the treatment period mean number of hot flashes at day and night was significantly reduced by 50 and almost 60%, respectively from baseline in the acupuncture group, and was further reduced by 30% both at day and night during the next 12 weeks. In the sham acupuncture group a significant reduction of 25% in hot flashes at day was seen during treatment, but was reversed during the following 12 weeks. No reduction was seen in hot flashes at night. Kupperman index was reduced by 44% from baseline to the end of the treatment period in the acupuncture group, and largely maintained 12 weeks after treatment ended. No corresponding changes were seen in the sham acupuncture group. Acupuncture seems to provide effective relief from hot flashes both day and night in women operated for breast cancer, treated with Tamoxifen. This treatment effect seems to coincide with a general health improvement measured with the validated Kupperman index.