PRURITIS
In one descriptive study of eight patients with severe uremic pruritis, acupuncture achieved virtually total relief of itch within the first four treatments in seven out of eight. The eight required ten sessions. The relief lasted over 4 months in all cases (Shapiro, Stockard & Schank 1988). Another study of acupuncture for uremic pruritis related to end-stage renal failure showed significant improvement in severity and frequency of itch and disturbance of sleep. The benefits lasted more than a month (Huang et al 1987). Acupuncture has also been reported to bring relief to sufferers of chronic pruritis vulvae and chronic urticaria (Huang et al 1987, Gao 1991).
Shapiro R S, Stockard H E, Schank A 1988 Uremic pruritus successfully controlled with acupuncture. Dialysis and Transplantation 17(4):180-183,189.
Huang W, Guo Z, Yu J, Hu X 1987. 56 cases of chronic pruritus vulvae treated with acupuncture. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 7(l):1-3.
Gao H 1991 Clinical observation of 65 cases of chronic urticaria treated with acupuncture. International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture 2(4):415-417.
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