| Summary: | 碩士 === 中國醫藥大學 === 針灸研究所碩士班 === 101 === Background
Acupuncture is increasingly applied in people with epilepsy. It remains unclear whether existing evidence is compact enough to support its use.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in people with epilepsy and to analysis the potential mechanisms supported by all kinds of animal models of epilepsy.
Methods
We searched the Pubmed, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Chinese literature databases (1997~). Randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture with placebo, sham treatment, or antiepileptic drugs; or comparing acupuncture as add-on treatment with antiepileptic drugs, involving people of any age with any type of epilepsy were included. Any animal models of epilepsy treated with acupuncture were included.
Results
Total 25 clinical trials were analyzed. Most trials showed benefits of acupuncture for treating epilepsy. Total 23 groups studying the efficacy of acupuncture in animal models of epilepsy were gathered. The most common acupoints used in animal models were acupoints of Du meridian. Acupuncture including electroacupuncture, manual acupuncture, and acupoint embedding could decrease the frequency, intensity, or duration of seizures and increase the survival rate. The mechanisms covered CCK, NOS, GABA, glutamate, dynorphin, melatonin, and taurine.
Conclusion
Acupuncture had benefits on treating epilepsy. Advanced study design for clinical trails will be needed in the future for stronger evidences for clinical application of acupuncture for the treatment of epilepsy.
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