April 10th, 2010 | Posted in Male Problems
MALE DISORDERS RESEARCH © JCM Ltd
Acupuncture & Chronic Pelvic Pain In Men
This Japanese study treated ten men suffering from chronic pelvic pain syndrome (eight of whom had previously received pharmacological medicines without benefit) at a single acupuncture point, Zhongliao BL-33, with the needle retained for ten minutes whilst being rotated manually. Treatment was given weekly for five weeks. At the end of the treatment period, there was significant improvement in chronic prostatitis symptoms and quality of life scores, and intrapelvic venous congestion was significantly improved in four of the patients. (Int J Urol 2004; 11: 607-12).
Acupuncture Relieves Prostate Pain
Electroacupuncture (EA) can relieve symptoms in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and is particularly effective for pain relief. In the first randomised controlled trial of EA for this condition, Korean researchers randomised 39 men into three treatment groups: advice and exercise plus 12 sessions of EA (EA); advice and exercise plus 12 sessions of sham EA (SEA); and advice and exercise alone (A&E) for six weeks. A total of six acupuncture points (bilateral Ciliao BL-32, Zhongliao BL-33 and Huantiao GB-30) were used to stimulate the sacral nerve and release the piriformis muscle, using an electrical pulse generator. At six weeks, prostatitis symptom scores had decreased significantly in the EA group compared with SEA and A&E groups. The EA group showed significant decreases in pain-related symptoms compared with the SEA and A&E groups. All EA participants experienced at least a six-point decrease in prostatitis symptom scores, compared with 16.7% SEA participants and 25% of A&E participants. In addition, levels of proinflammatory prostaglandin E2 in urine samples decreased significantly in the EA group, while it increased in the other two groups. This suggests that EA might be beneficial in the treatment of this condition by reducing inflammation of the prostate. (Electroacupuncture relieves pain in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: three-arm randomized trial. Urology. 2009 May;73(5):1036-41).
Acupuncture For Chronic Prostatitis
A pilot study has assessed the use of body and auricular acupuncture in men suffering from chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Ten men who were refractory to conventional therapies were given 30 minutes of body and auricular acupuncture twice weekly for six weeks. A standardised set of acupuncture points, based on traditional Chinese medicine principles, was used. The body points given at each visit included Waiguan SJ-5, Zulinqi GB-41, Taichong LIV-3, Hegu L.I.-4, Diji SP-8 and Sanyinjiao SP-6. The auricular acupuncture points needled at each visit (alternating ears with each treatment) included Shenmen, Kidney, Liver, Lung and Spleen. Decreases in total prostatitis symptom scores at three and six weeks from baseline were significant and remained so after an additional six weeks of follow-up. Changes in quality of life scores were also significant. (A pilot study on acupuncture for lower urinary tract symptoms related to chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain. Chin Med. 2007 Feb 6;2:1).
Acupuncture And Impotence
29 patients with psychogenic (non-organic) impotence were treated by doctors in the Urology and Anaesthesiology Departments of Ankara University, Turkey. All patients were needled at points Ciliao BL-32, Dadun LIV-1, Yinlian LIV-11, Neiguan P-6, Tiaokou ST-38, Qugu REN-2 and Baihui DU-20 for a total of ten treatments. Successful results (two satisfactory sexual activities in a week) were achieved in 20 (69%) patients (Eur Urol 1994;26:52-55).
