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Background <p>Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is the most common disorder of the peripheral nervous system and typically presents as a&#xa0;distal symmetric neuropathy with numbness, paresthesia, neuropathic pain, and functional impairment. Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and chronic alcohol abuse represent the most frequent forms, while essential chemotherapeutic agents cause chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy (CIPN) in more than 90% of patients. Causal treatment options are largely lacking, and pharmacological symptom control often has limited effectiveness. Against this background, acupuncture has gained increasing attention as a&#xa0;complementary therapeutic option, particularly approaches focusing on distal points in the acral regions.</p> Materials and methods <p>The present article examines concepts of classical Chinese medicine (CM) related to PN and integrates these with evidence from clinical studies to develop practice-oriented treatment concepts. Considered sources include systematic information from classical CM texts, review articles, randomized controlled trials, and the authors’ own controlled clinical studies. Particular emphasis is placed on acupuncture protocols using distal extra points and on objective outcome parameters.</p> Results <p>Across different etiologies, clinical studies consistently demonstrate significant reductions in neuropathic symptoms following acupuncture treatment. Several randomized trials also report objectively verifiable improvements in nerve function. Protocols with a&#xa0;distal, acral focus proved particularly effective and feasible in routine care. Clinical benefits were associated with improved quality of life and, in some studies, persisted beyond the end of treatment.</p> Conclusions <p>The available evidence supports a&#xa0;standardized, acral-centered acupuncture approach as the core strategy for treating polyneuropathy, complemented by pattern- and symptom-specific modules. Especially in DPN and CIPN, this approach represents an effective, safe, and patient-centered adjunct to conventional care, offering clinically meaningful symptom relief together with measurable functional improvements.</p>

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Distale Akrenpunkte – der Schlüssel zur Akupunkturbehandlung der Polyneuropathie

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月11日

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  • Sven Schröder,
  • Gesa Meyer-Hamme,
  • Thomas Friedemann

摘要

Background

Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is the most common disorder of the peripheral nervous system and typically presents as a distal symmetric neuropathy with numbness, paresthesia, neuropathic pain, and functional impairment. Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and chronic alcohol abuse represent the most frequent forms, while essential chemotherapeutic agents cause chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy (CIPN) in more than 90% of patients. Causal treatment options are largely lacking, and pharmacological symptom control often has limited effectiveness. Against this background, acupuncture has gained increasing attention as a complementary therapeutic option, particularly approaches focusing on distal points in the acral regions.

Materials and methods

The present article examines concepts of classical Chinese medicine (CM) related to PN and integrates these with evidence from clinical studies to develop practice-oriented treatment concepts. Considered sources include systematic information from classical CM texts, review articles, randomized controlled trials, and the authors’ own controlled clinical studies. Particular emphasis is placed on acupuncture protocols using distal extra points and on objective outcome parameters.

Results

Across different etiologies, clinical studies consistently demonstrate significant reductions in neuropathic symptoms following acupuncture treatment. Several randomized trials also report objectively verifiable improvements in nerve function. Protocols with a distal, acral focus proved particularly effective and feasible in routine care. Clinical benefits were associated with improved quality of life and, in some studies, persisted beyond the end of treatment.

Conclusions

The available evidence supports a standardized, acral-centered acupuncture approach as the core strategy for treating polyneuropathy, complemented by pattern- and symptom-specific modules. Especially in DPN and CIPN, this approach represents an effective, safe, and patient-centered adjunct to conventional care, offering clinically meaningful symptom relief together with measurable functional improvements.