Prostatitis / Pelvic Pain Syndrome

New, comprehensive research has just been published concluding that acupuncture works better than standard Western medicine to relieve chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). The Raleigh Acupuncture Chronic Prostatitis treatment can relieve your pain.

The Problem

CPPS is inflammation of the prostate that triggers pain in the pelvic region and perineum (area between the anus and scrotum in men). This is a chronic condition not due to bacterial infection. Pain levels ranges from mild to severe. The classic symptom is pain after ejaculation. Other symptoms can include painful urination, abdominal pain, back pain, muscles soreness, rectal pain and pain in the penis.

Study Objective

The study systematically reviewed all the published randomized control trials that compared the acupuncture with both sham (fake) acupuncture and standard Western medical treatment for CP/CPPS. A study like this is more trustworthy because it evaluates all the research done to this date (2017).

Method of Study

A systemic search way made on PubMED®, Embase, Airiti Library, and China Journal Net for all randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy of acupuncture with alpha-blockers, antibiotics, or anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with CP/CPPS. These are huge research databases that collect information about clinical trials conducted in the United States, Europe and China.

Two investigators conducted the literature search, quality assessment, and data extraction. The data were analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager (RevMan®, version 5.3). Cochrane is the gold standard for reviewing clinical trial research. The study endpoints included response rate, the National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Index (NIH-CPSI), and the International Prostate symptom score (IPSS) reduction.

Results

Three randomized controlled trials compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture. Four trials compared acupuncture to standard Western medical treatment. The results showed that acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture (OR: 5.15, 95%CI: 2.72-9.75; P < 0.01), proving there was no placebo effect. More importantly, when compared to standard Western medical treatments, acupuncture also had a significantly higher response rate (OR: 3.57, 95%CI: 1.78-7.15; P < 0.01).

How Acupuncture Works

The studies demonstrated that acupuncture reduces CPPS pain by lowering the biochemical levels associated with this condition. The researchers stated, “the levels of Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in prostate fluid were detected and the correlation between those changes and [the] pain score was analyzed.”

Acupuncture reduced pain levels in patients with CPPS by 89.4 percent. As acupuncture lowered the pain levels, the levels of the cytokines (IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha) lowered. The studies therefore concluded that acupuncture reduced CPPS by reducing cytokine levels.

Acupuncture Points Used

The following acupuncture points were used in the studies. We use these same points in our treatment for CPPS at Raleigh Acupuncture. They include Zhongji (CV 3), Guilai (ST 29), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Shuidao(ST 28), Xuehai (SP 10) and Taichong (LR 3).

Conclusion

The researchers concluded, “Acupuncture has promising efficacy for patients with CP/CPPS. Compared to standard medical treatment, it has better efficacy. Thus, it may also serve as a standard treatment option when available.” Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:474-481, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Raleigh Acupuncture Chronic Prostatitis Treatment: Next Steps

If you suffer from pain related to CPPS or have been diagnosed with prostate pain or pelvic pain, try the Raleigh Acupuncture prostatitis treatment. It is safe, natural and provides long lasting relief.

BOOK NOW to schedule an appointment online. Or call us at 919-819-8113 and we will schedule an appointment for you.

To learn about other men’s health issues we treat click MEN’S HEALTH ISSUES WE TREAT WITH ACUPUNCTURE.

References

• Neurourol Urodyn. 2017 Feb;36(2):474-481. doi: 10.1002/nau.22958. Epub 2016 Jan 6.
• Linsen Chinese Medicine Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Intitute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
• Division of Urology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, School of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi University, New Taipei City, Hualien, Taiwan.
• Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2011 Jan;31(1):11-4. Acupuncture for chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CPPS) and its effect on cytokines in prostatic fluid. Yuan SY, Qin Z, Liu DS, Yin WQ, Zhang ZL, Li SG. Male Department of Zhuhai Branch of Guangdong Provincial TCM Hospital, Zhuhai, China.

For more information about the Raleigh Acupuncture Chronic Prostatitis treatment give us a call at 919-815-8115.