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A
Randomized Treatment-Placebo Study of the Effectiveness of Acupuncture for
Benign Vocal Pathologies.
Yiu
E, Xu JJ, Murry T, Wei WI, Yu M, Ma E, Huang W, Kwong EY.
From
the Voice Research Laboratory, Division of Speech & Hearing Sciences, The
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
SUMMARY:
Acupuncture is a widely accepted treatment option for many medical ailments in
China. Some reports claim that acupuncture is effective for treating dysphonia
associated with benign pathological tissue changes. However, many of these
reports are based on anecdotal evidence that lacks a scientific experimental
design. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of
intensive acupuncture therapy for dysphonias associated with benign
pathological changes with a randomized, control design. Twenty-four subjects
aged between 19 and 51 years were randomly assigned to either an experimental
group or a placebo group.
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The experimental group received acupuncture on
acupoints Renyin (Stomach Channel 9), Lieque (Lung Channel 7), and Zhaohai
(Kidney Channel 6), which are all related to improving throat problems and
vocal function, whereas the placebo group received acupuncture on acupoints
Houxi (Small Intestine Channel 3) and Kunlun (Bladder Channel 60), which are
not related to voicing. All subjects received 10 intensive acupuncture sessions
within a 20-day period. Acoustic analysis of voice range profile, perceptual
analysis of voice quality, and self-perceptions of quality-of-life (QOL)
measurement by patients were the outcome measures for determining treatment
efficacy. Results revealed significant improvement in the treatment group in
all three aspects when compared with the placebo group. The acupuncture effect
was maintained into the second week after the completion of acupuncture
treatment.
PMID:
15925483 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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