The German acupuncture trials (German: GERAC-Studien[1]) were a series of nationwide acupuncture trials set up in 2001 and published in 2006 on behalf of several German statutory health insurance companies because of a dispute as to the usefulness of acupuncture.[2] They consisted of one observational study on acupuncture side effects, and four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating acupuncture treatment for low back pain, knee osteoarthritis, migraine prophylaxis, and tension-type headache. The trials are considered to be one of the largest clinical studies in the field of acupuncture.[2]
As a result of the GERAC trials, the German Federal Joint Committee ruled in April 2006 that the costs of acupuncture treatment for chronic back pain and knee osteoarthritis would be covered by public health insurers in Germany,[3] though no coverage was offered for headache or migraine.[4] However, because of the outcome of these trials, in the case of the other conditions, insurance corporations in Germany were not convinced that acupuncture had adequate benefits over usual care or sham treatments.[5] No significant differences between acupuncture and sham acupuncture were found in any trial.[6] However, the trials also found that for chronic low back pain, the "effectiveness of acupuncture, either verum or sham, was almost twice that of conventional therapy."[7]
According to Schweizer Fernsehen, the total cost of the trials amounted to 7.5 million Euros.[8] Several years after the committee's decision to incorporate acupunctural treatment into the healthcare of Germany was passed into law, the number of regular users of acupuncture in the country surpassed one million.[9]
^Wenzel, K.-W (2005). "Akupunktur: Was zeigen die gerac-Studien?" [Acupuncture: What of the GERAC studies?]. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift (in German). 130 (24): 1520. doi:10.1055/s-2005-870855. PMID 15942849.
^ abHackenbroch, Veronika (2004-10-25). "Die eingebildete Heilung" [The Imaginary Healing]. Der Spiegel (in German).
^Cite error: The named reference FJC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Hinrichs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Stuart B. Porter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Novella, Steven (June 19, 2013). "Acupuncture Doesn't Work". Science-Based Medicine. Referencing this study: "Verum (or true) acupuncture and sham acupuncture treatments are no different in decreasing pain levels."
^Haake, Michael; Müller, Hans-Helge; Schade-Brittinger, Carmen; Basler, Heinz D.; Schäfer, Helmut; Maier, Christoph; Endres, Heinz G.; Trampisch, Hans J.; Molsberger, Albrecht (2007). "German Acupuncture Trials (GERAC) for chronic low back pain: randomized, multicenter, blinded, parallel-group trial with 3 groups". Archives of Internal Medicine. 167 (17): 1892–8. doi:10.1001/archinte.167.17.1892. PMID 17893311.
^"Akupunktur" [Acupuncture]. Schweizer Fernsehen. 2003-03-10.
^"Frauen häufiger mit Akupunktur behandelt" [Women treated more often with acupuncture]. Rheinische Post (in German). 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
and 26 Related for: German acupuncture trials information
pre-registered records of acupuncturetrials with their published results found that it was uncommon for such trials to be registered before the trial began. This study...
performed or prescribed by a doctor or practitioner. Following the Germanacupuncturetrials from 2006 to 2007, the Federal Joint Committee (an agency similar...
review of four trials using acupuncture and nine studies using acupressure to control pain in childbirth concluded that "acupuncture or acupressure may...
Prozac for treating major depression, and that Germantrials of the herb tend to be more positive than do trials from other countries. He is also known for...
further into a cigar-shaped stick. They can use it indirectly, with acupuncture needles, or burn it on the patient's skin. Moxibustion is promoted as...
correlates the MTrP "tender points" to acupunctural "ah shi" ("Oh Yes!") points, and the "local twitch response" to acupuncture's "de qi" ("needle sensation"),...
ISBN 9781453867600. NIN Consensus Development Panel on Acupuncture (4 November 1998). "Acupuncture". JAMA. 280 (17): 1518–1524. doi:10.1001/jama.280.17...
of traditional Chinese medicine, it is often used in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, fire cupping, Chinese herbalism, tai chi or other Chinese...
was reported that a 55-year-old woman died after receiving "live bee acupuncture", suffering a severe anaphylactic episode which the apitherapy practitioner...
While acupuncture leads to improvements in pain relief, this improvement is small and may be of questionable importance. Waiting list–controlled trials for...
exercise. Weak recommendations are given to mindfulness, psychotherapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and meditative exercise such as qigong, yoga, and tai...
patient expectations on outcomes in four randomized controlled trials of acupuncture in patients with chronic pain". Pain. 128 (3): 264–71. doi:10.1016/j...
methodological quality of randomized controlled trials of homeopathy, herbal medicines and acupuncture". International Journal of Epidemiology. 30 (3):...
Japanese mogusa) – to perform moxibustion, that is, to burn on specific acupuncture points on the patient's body to achieve therapeutic effects. There is...
1935 – 2 July 2017) was a German former physician and the originator of Germanic New Medicine (GNM), also formerly known as German New Medicine and New Medicine...
Ernst cites as evidence the phenomenon whereby 100% of a sample of acupuncturetrials originating in China had positive conclusions. David Gorski contrasts...
inactive as of May 2024 (link) Novella S (March 30, 2011). "EMDR and Acupuncture – Selling Non-specific Effects". Science Based Medicine. Society for...
decrease in headache frequency In both studies, acupuncture was not the only treatment. Trials show that acupuncture can cause "relevant improvements" for people...
case of the Healer of Berne (German Heiler von Bern) involves an Italian-Swiss music teacher and owner of an acupuncture practice which operated without...
"The use of expertise-based randomized controlled trials to assess spinal manipulation and acupuncture for low back pain: a systematic review". Spine. 33...
that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of migraine. The use of "true" acupuncture seems to be slightly more effective than sham acupuncture, however...
Traditional Japanese medicine uses most of the Chinese methods, including acupuncture, moxibustion, traditional Chinese herbology, and traditional food therapy...
qualified as a doctor in Germany in 1978 where he also completed his M.D. and Ph.D. theses. He has received training in acupuncture, autogenic training, herbalism...
[is] evidence that both real acupuncture and sham acupuncture [are] more effective than no treatment and that acupuncture can be a useful supplement to...
Non–medication based treatments include superficial heat, massage, acupuncture, or spinal manipulation. If these are not sufficiently effective, NSAIDs...