British researchers have found that acupuncture reduces anxiety in patients awaiting neurosurgery. After measurement of baseline anxiety scores, 128 patients were randomly allocated to receive either acupuncture or no intervention. After 30 minutes, median anxiety scores in the acupuncture group were significantly lower, with no change observed in the control group. There were no adverse events in either group.
(A randomised controlled trial examining the effect of acupuncture at the EX-HN3 (Yintang) point on pre-operative anxiety levels in neurosurgical patients. Anaesthesia, March 2017.)