A large study looked at how adding acupuncture to normal hospital care affects adults with severe stomach issues caused by sepsis. The researchers combined data from many different studies to see if this treatment helped patients recover faster or feel better.
The results showed that patients who received acupuncture had lower scores for illness severity and less pressure inside their bellies. Their gut noises returned more often, and levels of a protein that signals infection dropped significantly compared to those who only got standard medical treatment.
However, the study did not find a clear difference in how many people died within 28 days. Some measures of infection and inflammation did not change much between the two groups. The researchers noted that the studies had different methods, which makes it hard to compare them perfectly.
Overall, acupuncture seems to help with stomach function and some sickness markers, but it is not a guaranteed way to save lives on its own. More research is needed to understand exactly how this treatment works and who benefits most from it.