There is relatively little research to support the use of acupuncture, traditional or modern, and very little comparative research comparing various approaches.

The most commonly proposed placebo control has been "sham acupuncture" to control for different aspects of traditional acupuncture.

Electroacupuncture uses a mild electric current passed through traditional acupuncture needles placed lightly into specific points on the body.

What distinguishes dry needling from traditional acupuncture is that it does not use the full range of traditional theories of Chinese Medicine.

However, lasting effects were seen only in study participants who received traditional acupuncture.

Three months after treatment, people who received traditional Chinese acupuncture continued to report a reduction in migraine days, frequency, and intensity.

Twenty-seven women received traditional Chinese acupuncture twice a week for 10 sessions from an experienced and licensed acupuncturist.

The women who received traditional acupuncture had significantly lower scores on the scale of menopausal symptoms after 10 weeks, compared to those in the sham treatment group.

Electroacupuncture is quite similar to traditional acupuncture in that the same points are stimulated during treatment.

As with traditional acupuncture, needles are inserted on specific points along the body.