At the Centre we undertake research in various fields of the speciality depending on the varied interests of our students and staff.
Ms Monique Abela: Acupuncture for female infertility Supervisors: Prof. Charles Savona-Ventura & Prof. Zhao Ling
Ms Clara Spiteri: Acupuncture as a method of pain relief during labour Supervisors: Prof. Charles Savona-Ventura & Dr Quinhui (Marianne) Fu
Mr Christopher Borg: Treating Chronic lower back pain with acupuncture Supervisors: Dr Carmel Abela and Prof. Qu Lifang
Mr Ming Guo: The effectiveness of Chinese Acupuncture in non-specific chronic low back pain Supervisors: Prof. Joseph Cacciottolo and Dr Li Yi
Mr Neville Decelis: Exploring the effectiveness of acupuncture in migraine Supervisors: Prof. J. Cacciottolo and Dr Zhao Hailei
Ms Jeanette Dimech: Treating anxiety with acupuncture Supervisors: Dr David Cassar and Dr Li Heng (Henry Li)
Ms Claudia Magro: Acupuncture effectiveness in treating depression Supervisors: Dr David Cassar and Dr Zong Lei
Ms Chunjing Cuschieri: Comparison of different acupuncture and acupuncture combinations to treat tennis elbow Supervisors: Dr Mark Sacco and Dr Chend Ke
Mr Clint Zammit: The effectiveness of acupuncture during ischaemic stroke rehabilitation in motor function restriction Supervisors: Dr Peter G. Ferry and Dr Zhao Hailei
Dr Gorana Pecotic: Incorporating Traditional Chinese Medicine practices in the clinical management of Acne Vulgaris Supervisors: Dr Laurence Scerri and Dr Li Yi
Dr Samir Yousef Ahmed Abou-Hussein: Electro-Acupuncture in treatment of the Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy Supervisors: Prof. Charles Savona-Ventura and Dr Zhao Lin
Mr Kurt Grech: Efficacy of acupuncture in patients with cardiac arrhythmias: A comparison between treatment modalities Supervisors: Dr Oscar Aquilina and Prof. Zao Ling
Dr Shehan Jeremy Wijesingha: Efficacy of TCM in management of insomnia Supervisors: Dr David Cassar and Dr Xu Shifen
Dr Mira Alamr: The role of acupuncture in the management of erectile dysfunction Supervisors: Prof. Charles Savona-Ventura & Dr Xia Yong
Ms Maria Aquilina: The use of auricular acupuncture for the treatment of opioid related withdrawal symptoms Supervisors: Dr Anna Vella and Prof. Zhao Ling
Mr Owen Attard: The role of acupuncture in the management of chronic musculoskeletal heel pain Supervisors: Dr John Xerri de Caro and Prof. Henry Lee
Mr Keith Busuttil Bugeja: Acupuncture and Spastic cerebral palsy in children Supervisors: Prof. Simon Attard Montalto and Prof. Wang Fan
Dr Markos Christidis: The role of acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia Supervisors: Prof. Charles Savona-Ventura and Dr. Lv Bin
Dr Konstantins Osipovs: Bee venom acupuncture for chronic low back pain Supervisors: Prof. Andrew A Borg and Dr. Xu Shifen
There are presently no theses assigned
List of Assignments for Herbal Medicine in Western & Chinese Culture course: LAS1058
Our students have the opportunity to research the literature and prepare assignments relating to a number of medical plants and herbs when certificate course The LAS1058. The plant species we conduct research on are:
The Maltese Fungus – Cynomorium coccineum
The Aloe – Aloe barbadensis
The Chinese thuja – Platycladus orientalis
The Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale
The Chinese Star Anise – Illicium verum
The Pomegranate – Punica granatum
The Nutmeg – Myristica fragrans
The Citron – Citrus medica
The Fennel – Foeniculum vulgaris
The Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis
The Mint – Mentha spicata
The Cinnamon – Cinnamomum verum
We are currently collaborating with a number of clinical departments at Mater Dei Hospital to assess the role of traditional Chinese medicine as adjuvant management in western medicine.
All research clinical-based projects involving patients have been reviewed by the Faculty Research Ethics Committee [FREC] pertaining to the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
We are currently focussing on:
the role of Acupuncture in the management of detrusor instability in women (collaborating with the Obstetrics & Gynaecology department)
the role of TCM in the management of pain due to arthritis (collaborating with the Orthopaedics department).
Another research project being carried out by the Centre is looking at interrelationship between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Maltese Medicine [Central Mediterranean].
Abela M. Acupuncture for female infertility. Abstract published in The Stork – Malta Midwives’ Journal, 2017, 10, 32.
Spiteri Abela C. Acupuncture as a method of pain relief during labour. Abstract published in The Stork – Malta Midwives’ Journal, 2017, 10, 32.
Guo M, Cacciottolo J, Li Y, Savona-Ventura C. Efficacy of acupuncture in treating chronic non-specific low back pain. J Acupunct Tuina Sci, 2021, 19(3): 231-238.
Abou-Hussein SYA. Electro-Acupuncture in treatment of the Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy. Awarded best poster prize presented from the North Mediterranean (European) Bank Mediterranean Group for the Study of Diabetes during the biennial meeting of the Mediterranean Group for the Study of Diabetes Meeting held in Morocco in April 2019. Presented at the 4th Mering Diabetes Technology & Prevention Symposium in Cottbus-Germany on the 10th May 2019.
Murinah MA. The assessment of the safety and efficacy of acupuncture in erectile dysfunction treatment. J Acupunct Tuina Sci, 2021, 19(3): 167-173.
Borg, P; Abela M. Breech Presentation. The Stork – Malta Midwives’ Journal, 2017, 10, 22-24 [discusses the role of moxibustion to manage breech presentations].
Savona-Ventura C. Traditional Maltese Medicine. Chinese Medical Culture 2016, Summer issue, 50-57.
Savona-Ventura C. Adoption of Traditional Chinese Medicine in a Central Mediterranean Island Community. Chinese Medical Culture 2018, 1(2), 51-55.
Savona-Ventura C., Mahmood T. EBCOG Position Statement about the use of Herbal medication during pregnancy. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 2019, 244. 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.10.008.
Savona-Ventura C. Traditional counter-stimulation practices in a Central Mediterranean Island population. Malta Medical School Gazette 2020, 04(01), 96-102.
Savona-Ventura C. The plant Cynomorium in Maltese Materia Medica. Chinese Medicine and Culture, 2020, 3, 205-209.
Savona-Ventura C. Traditional Medicine in a Mediterranean Island Community. Lulu Press Inc., U.S.A., 2021, +91p.
Zhang KW, Savona-Ventura C, Lu JB. Shared wisdom about health preservation in traditional Maltese and Chinese proverbs. Chinese Medical Culture 2021; 4, 194-6
