The effectiveness of acupuncture for treating primary Raynaud’s syndrome was shown in a 1997 study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine. The study had 17 patients receive 7 standard acupuncture treatments, and compared their experience with a control group of 16 patients that didn’t receive acupuncture.
The researchers tested the effectiveness of the acupuncture treatments by having the patients write down the details of their daily vasospastic attacks, including their frequency, severity, and duration. The researchers also used a test commonly used in diagnosing Raynaud’s syndrome called nailfold capillaroscopy that measures the appearance and structure of small veins just behind the fingernails.
The patients that received acupuncture experienced a statistically significant decrease in the frequency, severity and duration of their vasospastic attacks. This contrasts with the patients in the control group, who showed no improvements in their symptoms. Researchers were thus able to conclude the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture for treating the symptoms of primary Raynaud's syndrome.
Source: Appiah, R., Hiller, S., Caspary, L., Alexande, K. and Creutzig, A. (1997), Treatment of primary Raynaud's syndrome with traditional Chinese acupuncture. Journal of Internal Medicine, 241: 119–124. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2796.1997.91105000.x
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About the Author: Vanessa Vogel Batt, L.Ac., MSTOM, studied at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, and practiced acupuncture and Oriental medicine in New York for several years. Vanessa enjoys traveling the world, and has published articles on acupuncture and Oriental medicine and related health topics for websites and publications in both the U.S. and abroad.
