A manual acupuncture treatment attenuates common cold and its symptoms: a case series report from South Korea

OBJECTIVE: To investigate beneficial effects of manual acupuncture on common cold periods and its symptoms depended on the difference onset time of common cold, within 36 h or over than that. To prove effects of manual acupuncture on common cold, a retrospective chart review was conducted. METHODS: Chart data for patients with common cold who were treated with only manual acupuncture with fulfilling Jackson scales and satisfaction at the end of each treatment were collected via multi-centers of Oriental hospitals, Oriental medicine clinics and covalent hospital in South Korea. Totally 187 patients were divided into two groups, Group I (115 patients, within 36 h) and Group II (72 patients, onset time of cold over than 36 h). Finally 120 patients were observed until entire resolution of cold symptoms. RESULTS: Group I showed significant decreases the median durations of completely recovery (3 days; 95% CI 3.0-4.0) as compared with Group II (6 days; 95% CI 4.0-7.0, P < 0.001). The manual acupuncture beneficially worked for reduction rate of common cold symptoms by 50% after initial treatment, decreased cold symptoms, and reduced cold duration. CONCLUSION: Manual acupuncture beneficially affected common cold and its symptoms. Moreover it is more susceptibility on the early time of onset cold.