ACUPUNCTURE PROVEN SUCCESSFUL FOR SORE THROAT IN AMERICAN TRIAL

A study by authors of the US air force has shown that acupuncture treatment can reduce the symptoms of acute sore throat and reduce the use of pain medication.

The protocol used was an auricular acupuncture treatment that is referred to as Battlefield Auricular Acupuncture (BFA). It involves placing needles in five specific points in the ear to provide acute pain relief.

In a randomised controlled trial, fifty-four patients received standard treatment alone or standard treatment plus BFA, and their responses were followed for forty-eight hours. In this trial, the subjects had semi-permanent needles placed in all or some of the BFA points in one or both ears, depending upon their clinical response. If a subject reported resolution of pain, the acupuncture protocol was ceased.

Patients receiving auricular acupuncture reported lower pain scores at every stage of the process and also reported taking fewer doses of pain medication.

Ear Acupuncture for Acute Sore Throat: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Am Board Farm Med. 2015 Nov-Dec;28(6): 697 – 705

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26546644