Forty-eight patients experiencing acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma participated in this randomized trial. They were divided into two groups: one received acupuncture alongside conventional western medicine therapy, while the other received conventional therapy alone. The acupuncture sessions targeted specific points related to the lung and large intestine, lasting 20 minutes and occurring three times a week for two weeks.
The study measured several lung function and symptom scores. Results showed that patients receiving acupuncture had greater improvements in peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume compared to their own baseline and compared to the control group. Additionally, scores for asthma control and traditional Chinese medicine symptoms decreased more significantly in the acupuncture group.
No serious adverse events were reported, though a few patients discontinued the study. Because the sample size was small and the study duration was short, these findings suggest a potential benefit but do not yet prove that acupuncture is a standard, proven treatment for acute asthma. More research is needed before this approach can be widely recommended.