Researchers from the University of Science in Malaysia report improvement in symptoms lasting up to 24 weeks.

First, the details.

• Participants had a total score of at least 15 on the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and symptoms for at least 3 of the preceding 6 months.
• They were randomly assigned to twice-weekly 30-minute sessions of acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 10 weeks.
• No needle stimulation, herbs, or adjuvants were used.

And, the results.

• 32 (73%) of 44 participants responded in the acupuncture group vs 21 (47%) of 45 sham group participants.
• Long-term responses 24 weeks after therapy without additional treatment occurred in 14 (32%) of 44 acupuncture group participants and in 6 (13%) of 45 sham group participants.
• Both findings were statistically significant for acupuncture.

The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “Acupuncture proved almost twice as likely as sham treatment to improve chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain symptoms. Participants receiving acupuncture were 2.4-fold more likely to experience long-term benefit than were participants receiving sham acupuncture.”

In an earlier study, the results were also positive, although little detail was provided in the abstract.

1/13/08 12:56 JR