Acupuncture detoxification is the use acupuncture on the outer ear as part of standard drug and alcohol detoxification programs. Evidence supporting the use of auricular acupuncture (including a Cochrane Collaboration review) to treat addictions is largely based on anecdotal and clinical reports. Reviews of randomized controlled studies have concluded that there is insufficient evidence and/or a lack of properly-designed trials that demonstrate i...
more
Acupuncture detoxification is the use acupuncture on the outer ear as part of standard drug and alcohol detoxification programs. Evidence supporting the use of auricular acupuncture (including a Cochrane Collaboration review) to treat addictions is largely based on anecdotal and clinical reports. Reviews of randomized controlled studies have concluded that there is insufficient evidence and/or a lack of properly-designed trials that demonstrate its effectiveness. A randomized placebo trial found no benefit to the treatment and raised concerns over its widespread use.
The technique was pioneered at the Lincoln Memorial Hospital in New York City by psychiatrist Michael Smith during a period of high heroin use in the 1970s.
less
