Acupuncture Treats Sleep Apnea - New Research

[roster]

A recent study shows that acupuncture as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has immediate effects in reducing nocturnal respiratory events, sleep disruptions, and desaturations (low oxygen levels in the blood). The researchers hypothesize that this improvement is due to acupuncture’s effects on serotonergic pathways and also acupuncture’s anti-inflammatory effects. .... The researchers note that the acupuncture points of the neck are of specific interest because they stimulate the genioglossus muscle (secondarily, the mylohyoid muscle) on deep insertion. They note that stimulation of this lingual muscle affects airflow dynamics and may be a key reason as to why acupuncture is effective for improving the symptoms of patients with sleep apnea.


Full article: http://www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acup ... pnea294575

Whadda you geniuses think?

[pitrow]

I think they're not getting anywhere near me with those needles!

[BlackSpinner]

Acupuncture is a very different animal from western medical treatment. And extremely difficult to create double blind studies with. However many western techniques descend from it - like TENS machines and a lot of "trigger point" massage treatments for pain relieve. A combination of western techniques and acupuncture are used in many eastern hospitals. It is also something that requires the patient to be really involved and dedicated too.

If there was a dedicated and really excellent practitioner near me that I could afford I would try to over come my phobia to try it. But like using cpap machine it would need dedication since it would be required to be repeated frequently.

[The Texan]

I have used acupuncture for pain after auto accidents, several times as a LEO, and it worked where other medical procedures did not. It would not be surprising that they have figured out the procedures needed to at least help, if not cure sleep apnea.

[DreamLady]

No thanks. I've done acupuncture for years. The "deep insertion" they talk about really HURTS! Tried it for two years for back and leg pain, with zero results. Minimal improvement, if any.

[elena88]

I had accupuncture a lot for a sports related hip injury, it only treated the symptom of pain, and then only for a few minutes, once I picked up my purse to write the check, pain was back! plus once the guy stuck the needle in the center of my injury, and I screamed so loud two of the people there left the office!

I can see that is a very useful treatment in the appropriate context, but I would need the pins to pin up my tongue to get it to work for me..

[LinkC]

I think if you stick needles in yourself all night, you WON'T experience apnea events. Once every 30 seconds or so should do it...

[donnafowler]

Using my noninvasive CPAP also has "immediate effects in reducing nocturnal respiratory events, sleep disruptions, and desaturations (low oxygen levels in the blood)" No needles, no pain, no risk of infection...this one is a no-brainer for me! I will stick to what I've got!

[jazzer4]

I tried it before my sleep study.....I had not slept but a few hours in 3 days.
It worked, as I fell asleep on the table. I looked like shit when I arrived, so they just let me sleep for an hour.

But, now I know why it helped. They put me on my stomach. On my stomach I could breath better, so I went to sleep. I didn't even know I had apena, I just couldn't go to sleep.
So I guess It workes as well as sleeping on your stomach.
If I couldn't sleep again I would try it again...ANYTHING TO SLEEP, but first I would lay on my stomach and try to sleep.

[Muse-Inc]

Using my noninvasive CPAP also has "immediate effects in reducing nocturnal respiratory events, sleep disruptions, and desaturations (low oxygen levels in the blood)" No needles, no pain, no risk of infection...this one is a no-brainer for me! I will stick to what I've got!

Me too!

[TheDuke]

Count me as completely unconvinced. Yes, acupuncture "treats " sleep apnea, but I do not believe that the "treatment" will have any genuine benefit. I know from long personal experience that xpap treatment has benefited me enormously, and although xpap is a big nuisance to use, it works. I was initially diagnosed and fitted with a machine over 22 years ago, and I certainly won't go back to the misery I experienced before treatment.

TheDuke

[adksleepygal]

I have had acupuncture tx for neckpain from an auto accident and found it to be very helpful after several tx's. It was not painful to me hardly at all - but I cannot see how it would be a tx for OSA really. I did find it VERY relaxing and actually fell asleep during the tx which for me is a minor miracle - I find it very difficult to relax. But I think I will try to conquer this cpap thing and not try anything new - just waiting for the new machine now - encouragement here has gotten me through this very trying week. Thanks everyone!

[roster]

I received this response from Dr. Steven Park,

Thanks for sharing. These are the same doctors that published the original article a few years ago on acupuncture for sleep apnea where the overall AHI was lowered about 50%. Just goes to show that acupuncture can significantly alter your nervous system. It cured my knee pain when traditional options didn't work.

Of course 50% reduction is not good enough for dedicated CPAPers. However, acupuncture potentially could be a good adjunct treatment with CPAP the main therapy. It might lower the AHI even further and it might also allow the CPAPer to lower his pressure and still receive good therapy.

Of course I am going to want to do my own acupuncture (electro acupuncture) and have my own electro-acupuncture stimulation device.

Looks like the devices don't require a prescription, http://www.google.com/search?q=Electro- ... 1I7SUNA_en