Jobst et al (1986) [1] studied the effect of acupuncture on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They found that 12 patients receiving true acupuncture showed significantly greater benefit than a placebo acupuncture group (n=12) in terms of subjective scores of breathlessness and six–minute walking distance.
Fung et al (1986) [2] found that real acupuncture was significantly superior to sham acupuncture in protecting against exercise–induced asthma in nineteen children.
References:
1 Jobst, K. Chen, J.H., McPherson, K., Arrowsmith, J., Brown, V., Efthimiou, J.,
Fletcher, H.J., Maciocia, G., Mole, Shifrin, K., et. al.
Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for Disabling Breathlessness
Lancet 1986 (Dec 20-27); 2 (8521–8522): 1416–1419
2 Fung, K.P., Chow, O.K, So, S.Y.
Attenuation of Exercise-Induced Asthma by Acupuncture.
Lancet 1986 (Dec 20–27); 2(8521–22): 1419–22.