Researchers at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, Maryland tell us acupuncture may be a clinically useful.

First, the details.

• 16 adult male patients with cancer and persistent hiccups were treated with 1 to 3 acupuncture sessions over 1 to 7 days.
• Treatment effectiveness was measured using a hiccup assessment instrument pre- and post-treatment.
• The effects of acupuncture on common symptoms reported by all patients were also evaluated.

And, the results.

• 13 patients experienced complete clearing of persistent hiccups — a significant response.
• 3 patients had decreased hiccups severity.
• Significant improvement was observed in discomfort, distress, and fatigue.

The bottom line?

The authors concluded, “This case series demonstrates that acupuncture may be a clinically useful, safe, and low-cost therapy for persistent hiccups in patients with cancer.”

Sounds good, but how many of these patients would have had an end to their hiccups after 7 days without receiving acupuncture?

Why did the NCCAM not include a placebo control group for comparison?

6/26/10 21:57 JR