Acupuncture for prostatitis seems to be an effective intervention, according to the results of a Cochrane systematic review of non-pharmacological treatments for chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Three of the studies included in the review, covering 204 patients, suggested that acupuncture reduces prostatitis symptoms in an appreciable number of patients, when compared against either standard interventions or a sham control procedure. Furthermore, the use of acupuncture resulted in little or no increase in adverse events, compared to standard medical therapy.
(Non-pharmacological interventions for treating chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Cochrane Database Systematic Review, 26 January 2018.)
A systematic review by Korean authors investigating acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease, suggests it may hold promise as a useful and safe adjunctive treatment. The review examined 42 studies involving 2625 patients. Subjects treated using acupuncture alongside conventional medicine showed significant clinical improvements compared with those treated with conventional medicine alone. Electro-acupuncture appeared particularly useful. The authors state that more rigorous and well-designed placebo-controlled trials should be conducted.
A small qualitative study in the US of older adults with several co-existing medical conditions, has found that they value acupuncture as a means of reducing medication use, and maintaining physical and mental health. Fifteen patients aged 60 or older, and with at least two chronic medical conditions, were recruited from a no-cost, college-affiliated San Diego acupuncture clinic for low-income older adults. Patients had been having acupuncture treatment for at least one year, usually on a weekly basis.