[Complementary Medicine in ENT: How Evidence-Based is Acupuncture?]

Area of Science:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Integrative Medicine
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Acupuncture, originating from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), involves applying needles to specific body points to harmonize Qi flow.
• Its application aims to prevent or treat diseases by balancing the body's energy meridians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the evidence-based data and study standards for acupuncture in Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) conditions.
• To review the current research landscape, including clinical and basic science investigations.

Main Methods:

• A literature search was conducted using PubMed (Medline).
• Included studies were randomized, clinical, and controlled trials adhering to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, published in English.
• The search focused on acupuncture in ENT, yielding 60 studies from 47,741 initially identified.

Main Results:

• Over 87% of publications occurred between 2005 and 2025, indicating significant recent research interest.
• Research encompasses clinical trials and basic science exploring acupuncture's effectiveness and mechanisms.
• Promising research approaches are emerging in acupuncture therapy.

Conclusions:

• While research is expanding, the application of 'evidence-based' to acupuncture studies is questionable.
• Issues with control group selection, including the existence of ineffective acupuncture points and the feasibility of double-blinding, limit current evidence.
• The control group remains a critical limitation in establishing definitive evidence for acupuncture's efficacy.