In episode 486, Mike and James go over the evidence we have for acupuncture in chronic low back pain. We find out that some evidence shows acupuncture will improve chronic low back pain in one in 6 patients. However, the magnitude of the effect seen is importantly less when you look at trials that actually use a sham control or those that are of higher quality or longer duration.

Show Notes

Tools for Practice

Needle in a Pain-Stack: Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain

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In episode 485, Mike and James go over a couple of COVID trials that show two different anti-inflammatories – colchicine and inhaled budesonide – seem to have an effect on reducing hospitalizations or urgent care visits.

Show Notes

1) Colchicine for community-treated patients with COVID-19 (COLCORONA): a phase 3, randomised, double-blinded, adaptive, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial

Lancet Respir Med. 2021 May 27;S2213-2600(21)00222-8.doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00222-8.

2) Inhaled budesonide in the treatment of early COVID-19(STOIC): a phase 2, open-label, randomised controlled trial

Lancet Respir Med. 2021 Jul;9(7):763-772. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00160-0.Epub 2021 Apr 9.