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Effect of Zhubin (KI9) acupuncture in reducing alcohol craving in patients with alcohol dependence: A randomized placebo-controlled trial

  • Acupuncture Research
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To examine the effect of acupuncture on Zhubin (KI9) in reducing alcohol craving in alcohol-dependent patients.

Methods

Twenty male alcohol-dependent patients were randomly assigned to two groups, a treatment group (10 cases, age 43.0±6.8 years) and a placebo group (10 cases, age 44.5±7.9 years). The treatment group was treated with real needle acupuncture on Zhubin (KI9) twice a week for 4 weeks, and the control group was treated with placebo needle acupuncture. Both groups were given acupuncture treatment using Park Sham Device (PSD). Alcohol craving was measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before treatment to establish a baseline, and after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine the main and interaction effects of time and on the outcome measure (VAS).

Results

There was a significant effect of time on VAS score (df=3, F=13.3, P<0.01). Main effect of group on VAS score was significant (df=1, F=10.9, P<0.01) and the time×group interaction was also significant (df=3, F=4.7, P<0.01).

Conclusions

Real-needle acupuncture therapy on Zhubin (KI9) showed effectiveness in reducing alcohol craving. These results strongly suggest the usefulness of acupuncture therapy on Zhubin (KI9) in preventing a relapse in alcohol dependent patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, 626-770, South Korea

    Jin-Seong Lee, Sung-Gon Kim & Woo Young Jung

  2. Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan, 602-739, South Korea

    Sung-Gon Kim

  3. Jang-Cheon Korean Medicine Clinic, Pusan, 607-020, South Korea

    Taek-Geun Jung

  4. Division of Management Information Science (S-YK), Dong-A University, Pusan, 604-714, South Korea

    Seong-Yeon Kim

Authors
  1. Jin-Seong Lee
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  2. Sung-Gon Kim
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  3. Taek-Geun Jung
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  4. Woo Young Jung
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  5. Seong-Yeon Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sung-Gon Kim.

Additional information

Supported by Medical Research Institute Grant (No. 2008-03), Pusan National University, Korea

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Lee, JS., Kim, SG., Jung, TG. et al. Effect of Zhubin (KI9) acupuncture in reducing alcohol craving in patients with alcohol dependence: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 21, 307–311 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-014-1851-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-014-1851-1

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