Acupuncture

Acupuncture for ‘frequent attenders’ with medically unexplained symptoms: a randomised controlled trial (CACTUS study) Paterson et al. The British Journal of General Practice June 2011

The introduction to this paper states:
"People who have persistent physical symptoms that cannot be explained by current medical knowledge (‘medically unexplained physical symptoms’ [MUPS]) make up 11–19% of UK GP consultations and up to 50% of new referrals to outpatient clinics."

A large proportion of patients in the NHS are being lumped into the box labelled "MUPS". The result of this is expressed well in the same paper:

"In addition to their physical symptoms, such patients, and their doctors, are distressed and frustrated by the lack of explanation, credibility, and acceptable treatment options."

The CACTUS study concluded:
"The addition of 12 sessions of five-element acupuncture to usual care resulted in improved health status and wellbeing that was sustained for 12 months."

"The factor for which least evidence was found was the sharing of acceptable and empowering explanations"

It should be noted that this study used practitioners fully trained in traditional 5-element acupuncture rather than the  minimally trained western medical practitioners within the NHS who adhere to conventional western neurophysiological principles. The findings show very clear benefits to the patients. It is suggested that further work is needed regarding explanations that patients find "acceptable and empowering". It would be interesting to see the difference it makes if the gap between western medical explanations and alternative theories is bridged to allow greater health enablement; this is what the Health Consultant aims to do.