(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- An ancient form of treatment is under new inspection.

Acupuncture has been used in China for over a thousand years and more recently in Western countries to treat chronic stroke. Stroke ranks as the third leading cause of death in Western society, and it is the second most common cause of death in China. It is a main reason for disability and dependency in the elderly. New research reveals acupuncture's scientific data fails to provide sufficient evidence it is, in fact, most effective for improving stroke patients' rehabilitation.

Researchers came to this conclusion after a thorough systemic review. Systemic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practices after considering both the content and quality of existing trials on a topic.

Acupuncture has been used to improve patients' motor skills, sensation, speech and other neurological functions. Lead author of the study, Hongmei Wu, M.D., of the West China Hospital in Si Chuan, was very surprised by the findings. "In China, acupuncture has been well accepted by Chinese patients and is widely used for stroke rehabilitation."

The review's intent was to provide evidence that acupuncture should be routinely used to rehabilitate patients with both subacute and chronic stroke. However, the available research failed to offer sound evidence of the effects of this therapy.

Researchers analyzed trials from 368 patients between ages 24 and 86. The hemorrhagic strokes were classified as either subacute -- less than three months since onset, or chronic -- more than three months since onset.

Researchers admit there was some overall improvement after acupuncture treatment, however they warn the results need to be "interpreted with caution" due to the insufficient number and general poor quality of clinical trials.

Wu states "most studies are poor in methodological quality, so the continued recommendation for acupuncture on stroke rehabilitation is uncertain."

SOURCE: The Cochrane Collaboration, The Cochrane Library, 2006, Issue 3