A recent study carried out by German researchers looked at how acupuncture can affect the itching of atopic eczema, the most common form. The test looked at 30 people who were tested under three conditions. The first condition saw people exposed to an allergen and then given genuine acupuncture immediately after.

The second condition saw people exposed to an allergen and then give fake acupuncture and the third they received no treatment after being exposed to the allergen. The results showed that the itchiness ratings were significantly lower when genuine acupuncture was received compared to both fake acupuncture and no treatment.

The test subjects were then exposed to the allergen a second time after treatment had finished and the results showed that skin flare ups were less severe after acupuncture had been administered. The results of the test showed that under the controlled conditions acupuncture can help reduce itchiness. It does not determine whether acupuncture will be valuable in real life situations but that it could be something worth more investigation.