We examined the effect of acupuncture on epileptic seizures in humans in a
controlled clinical setting. Treatment was administered by two Chinese prof
essors of acupuncture. Effect was measured by change in seizure frequency.
Twenty-nine patients with chronic intractable epilepsy completed the study.
They were randomized in two groups; 15 were given classical acupuncture an
d 14 were given sham acupuncture. There was a reduction in seizure frequenc
y in both groups, which did not reach a level of statistical significance.
There was also an increase in the number of seizure-free weeks in both grou
ps, which reached a level of significance in the sham group. Thus, we have
not been able to prove a beneficial effect of acupuncture in chronic intrac
table epilepsy.