Auricular acupuncture treatment significantly reduces
craving and anxiety among military veterans in recovery from substance use
disorder.
Substance use disorder is a complex brain condition and
includes such problems as alcoholism and drug addiction. It occurs when a
person has a dependence on alcohol and or drugs that is accompanied by intense
or sometimes uncontrollable craving and compulsive behaviour to obtain the
substance. Persistence use of substance has dangerous and negative consequence on
personal relationship, employment and public safety.
Drs. BH Chang and E Sommers in the United States
conducted a randomized controlled clinical study to assess the effect of
auricular acupuncture on craving and anxiety of veterans in recovery from
substance use disorder. Twenty-three subjects were treated with auricular
acupuncture at acupoints Shen Men, Sympathetic, Kidney, Lung and Liver for 30 min,
twice a week for 10 weeks. The control group (n=21) were given usual care. Degree
of craving for substance on a scale of 1-10 and anxiety level on a scale of 1-4
were rated by each participant before and after acupuncture session.
It was found that auricular acupuncture produced a
significantly immediate reduction in craving and anxiety after one acupuncture
session compared with baseline, and continued treatment induced a markedly
cumulative reduction in craving and anxiety compared with control group. Relaxation-response
therapy also reduced craving and anxiety.
The study provided scientific evidence of auricular
acupuncture, a non-pharmaceutical approach for treatment of substance use
disorder.
Reference:
Chang BH &
Sommers E, Acupuncture and relaxation response for craving and anxiety
reduction among military veterans in recovery from substance use disorder. Am J
Addict. 2014 Mar;23(2):129-36. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25187049
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