title: Hypnosis and acupuncture (hypnopuncture) for prurigo nodularis: a case report.
abstract: Prurigo Nodularis (PN) is a chronic pruritic skin condition for which current conventional therapies are of limited benefit and with potentially toxic effects. Acupuncture--the insertion of thin needles at specific points on the skin--has been shown to alleviate itching through a number of itch-associated mediator effects. Hypnosis has been shown to modify and reduce the intensity of itching as well. A 44 year-old woman presented with a 30-year history of a diffuse itchy rash diagnosed as PN. She had tried various antihistamine and corticosteroid medications, to no avail. A treatment regimen using hypnosis and acupuncture (hypnopuncture) was initiated, with significant reduction in the itching, size and number of skin lesions. Hypnopuncture may offer a synergistic and augmented response to treatment, though further research is needed to understand the true benefits of this combined regimen.
authors: Center for Integrative Complementary Medicine, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, P.O.B. 3235, Jerusalem 91031, Israel. refplus@netvision.net.il
authors: Noah
authors: N
authors: Samuels
authors: Efraim
authors: E
authors: Sagi
authors: Shepherd Roee
authors: SR
authors: Singer
authors: Menachem
authors: M
authors: Oberbaum