I have recently found that the Examiner.com is a great resource for articles on alternative medicine. Here is another favorable article about acupuncture By Jeanne Grunert of The Norfolk Alternative Medicine Examiner
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture
"With acupuncture's growing acceptance in Western medicine, the body of research support its use has also grown. Although the Chinese have used acupuncture successfully for over 2,000 years, Western medicine insists upon scientific proof. Hundreds of studies on the use of acupuncture demonstrate its effectiveness, although researchers are just beginning to understand how acupuncture affects the human body.
1. Breath through your nose. Yes, the beginning can be that simple! Breathing through your nose increases your intake of nitric oxide. Nitric Oxide causes your blood vessels to relax and to widen, thereby opening up your arteries. This decreases your blood pressure, allows better blood flow to your heart and other important organs. To read more about the health benefits of Nitric Oxide click here.
2. De-clutter your home and workspace. It will lower your stress level and increase your efficiency at home and work. Organize your child's workspace as a good way to increase his or her productivity as well.
Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement and space. Think of it in western terms as putting your house in order. In Feng Shui, having a cluttered home blocks the energy flow through the structure. In Chinese Medicine, blocked energy can lead to both emotional and physical pain.
3. Try yoga. For those of you here in Chicago, Dave Norfleet offers a great FREE yoga class at Belmont Harbor every Tuesday night throughout the summer. For more information, check yogadave.com.
If you are short on time, get a yoga DVD and do 15 minutes at home. It is worth it. Rodney Yee tends to provide good instruction on his DVDs.
4. Give up perfectionism. Keep realistic standards for yourself.
5. Ask for help before you need it so it will be available when you need it.
6. Learn to say NO. You cannot take responsibility for everything and everyone.
7. Get sleep and some relaxation. If you are rested and relaxed, you have more energy to cope with life demands.
8. Eat foods and/or take supplements that are rich in Essential fatty acids. These are considered anti-inflammatory. EFA's (Essential fatty acids) help with depression, stress, pain, arthritis and menopause.
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include: salmon, sardines, tuna and other cold water fish; nuts and seeds, notably flaxseeds, hemp seeds and walnuts; and soybeans and winter squash. To read more about EFA's click here.
9. If you are married or have a partner, make it a priority to find time for just the two of you alone every week.
10. And of course acupuncture is always a great way to balance your qi!
From Acufinder.com
By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM
Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman's life. Many women report feeling healthier than they have ever felt before; however, the physical growth of the baby and changes in hormone levels can bring about pain, discomfort and a variety of health problems.
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can provide a safe, effective alternative for many of the health complications that may arise before, during and after pregnancy. A growing number of women are choosing acupuncture to use throughout their pregnancy and as an optional treatment for an overdue or difficult labor.
Planning for a Healthy Baby
Healthy parents produce healthy babies. With acupuncture and Oriental medicine, parents can improve their health to create the most optimal environment for their unborn child. In addition to their ability to strengthen, support, and balance overall health and well-being, acupuncture and Oriental medicine are an effective treatment for regulating menstruation and hormone levels, reducing stress and addressing any pre-existing medical conditions or concerns that a woman may have.
Acupuncture during Pregnancy
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can play a vital role in the comfort of a pregnant woman. There is strong evidence to support that acupuncture is highly effective at treating some of the most common problems experienced during pregnancy including morning sickness, heartburn, insomnia, water retention and sciatica.
Here is a list of some of the problems that an acupuncturist often treats during pregnancy:
This informative article is from The Examiner.com
Scientific validation of acupuncture - the science of alternative medicine part IV
By Tracey Planinz
Orlando Alternative Medicine Examiner
This week's series has explored the science behind several alternative therapies, including herbs and homeopathy. Today's focus is acupuncture. Acupuncture is part of a system of medicine from China dating back, by some accounts, 8,000 years. The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor, which is the basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of the oldest known medical texts. During an acupuncture treatment, the practitioner inserts fine needles along energy channels, called "meridians" to stimulate the flow of Qi - the body's vital force.
Although the practice of acupuncture was used anciently in China and is still one of the main methods of treatment in China today, scientific research in this area has only begun to emerge over the past few decades. Studies and clinical trials are numerous, but many Western physicians and researchers question some of these trials, claiming there is insufficient evidence to support the use of acupuncture in complementary medicine. Additionally, some OMD's and practitioners point out that some of the studies may be flawed. However, there are still a number of noteworthy trials which provide scientific validation for acupuncture. Below is a sample of recent research:
Chronic neck pain - A review published in 2006 by Kein Trinh, found that "individuals with chronic neck pain who received acupuncture reported, on average, better pain relief immediately after treatment and in the short-term than those who received sham treatments".
Migraines - A review published in January of this year by Klaus Linde of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed, "there is consistent evidence that acupuncture provides additional benefit to treatment of acute migraine attacks only or to routine care".
Insomnia - Another study from 2007 by Daniel Cheuk and his group found that, "Based on the findings from individual trials, the review suggested that acupuncture and acupressure may help to improve sleep quality scores when compared to placebo (95%)".
Chemotherapy induced nausea/vomiting - In 2009 Jeanette Ezzo and a research group concluded that, "Electroacupuncture has demonstrated benefit for chemotherapy-induced acute vomiting", and that "Self-administered acupressure appears to have a protective effect for acute nausea and can readily be taught to patients". Although these were not compared to placebos, and further trials are needed.
Asthma - In a scientific review of the study of acupuncture for respiratory ailments, published in The Journal for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, by Dr. Kim Jobst"...Dr. Jobst re-evaluated the "Sham" treatment [and] he says 80% of the research shows acupuncture may work". He also noted that acupuncture as a treatment was safer than long-term use of medications.
Cancer associated pain - A remarkable study done in London, England in 1986, published by Drs. J. Filshie and D. Redman, reported the following; "The effect of acupuncture was assessed in 183 patients attending the Pain Clinic in a cancer hospital. Early results were promising with 82% of patients obtaining benefit for hours or days... Acupuncture was most helpful for vascular problems, muscle spasm and dyaesthetic problems. Acupuncture was significantly helpful for a number of patients with malignant pain problems".
Acupuncture and assisted conception - Another promising study from 2008 by Dr. Ying Cheong in the UK, found that acupuncture was a beneficial treatment to aid women receiving fertility treatments, stating that, "acupuncture performed on the day of [embryo transfer] shows a beneficial effect on the live birth rate".
While further studies are warranted, this sample demonstrates there are measurable, therapeutic benefits from the use of acupuncture. In recent news the United States Air Force has begun using acupuncture on soldiers and is now training military doctors to use it. Anyone who is seriously investigating alternatives to conventional medicine should consider acupuncture and TCM. An OMD may use acupuncture, herbs and other modalities as treatment options. Look for a practitioner who is an OMD or LAc.
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Strawberries are at their peak now and will remain so through July. In addition to being an appealing valentine-shaped fruit that you can eat fresh or in pies and desserts, strawberries are good for you in special ways.
In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) terms, strawberries are cooling in nature which make them the perfect summer food. They are good if you have a dry cough or sore throat. Strawberries lubricate the lungs, promote production of body fluids, strengthen spleen, and, for those regrettable evenings, detoxify alcohol intoxication.
Eat strawberries at room temperature. Like other foods that are rich in vitamin C, strawberries enhance the absorption of iron from foods and having enough iron is important for nourishing your blood.
Strawberries are touted to have other healthy properties including anti-inflammatory properties which makes them useful in the fight against rheumatoid arthritis. One study has linked strawberry consumption to lower cancer rates in the elderly and other reports remind us that strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, manganese, dietary fiber,iodine, potassium, folate, vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, copper, and vitamin K.
Enjoy!
Deepak Chopra
An article about acupuncture appeared just before the 40,000 runners took off in the Flora London Marathon. The author noted that serious runners “leave no stone unturned in their quest for speed, and the latest trend is acupuncture to ease weary limbs, niggling injuries and post-race fatigue. “
Runners use acupuncture because it is believed that the needles stimulate the brain to release endorphins, boosting mood and relieving tiredness. We know that acupuncture aids the immune system to fight off injuries, and that it effectively reduces soreness and joint pain.
The marathon superwoman, Paula Radcliffe, admits to being a fan. Athletes in other sports, including the tennis player Maria Sharapova, also use it.
Quote is from the British TimesOnline April 20, 2009
Here is an excerpt from yet another article talking about the increasing popularity of acupuncture for pets and their owners.
from The Philadelphia Inqurier
Although some in the veterinary profession are skeptical, Americans' growing fascination with alternative medicine is influencing the kind of care their pets get. Veterinarians once shunned because of their belief in therapies such as acupuncture and herbs are finding growing acceptance from peers and an eager reception from pet owners.
"Anything you can treat with Western medicine you can also treat holistically," said Jordan Kocen, a veterinarian who specializes in alternative therapies at SouthPaws in Fairfax, Va.
Like their human counterparts, dogs, cats, and rabbits are all good candidates for alternative treatments, Kocen said. He has used acupuncture to help a dog suffering from arthritis, and homeopathy to treat a cat's asthma.
The interest in alternative care is fueled in part by owners who have tried alternative therapies themselves. But sometimes, it's the humans who end up taking a cue from their animals.
"People see how acupuncture works for their pets, and suddenly," Kocen said, "they're asking if I can recommend a good acupuncturist for them."
to read the entire article click here
A few days ago I posted Nitric Oxide and Your Health. I talked about the important role Nitric Oxide plays in cardiovascular health. This past May a new study came out indicating that acupuncture may enhance the levels of Nitric Oxide in the body. Check it out...
A study done at UCLA Medical Center in California concludes that one reason acupuncture is effective is because the needles increase the release of nitric oxide. The study tested 24 volunteers with electroacupuncture – one group having electroacupuncture on meridian points and the control group having electroacupuncture on non-meridian areas. They collected samples of nitric oxide throughout the study and found the enhancement.
Source
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California. “Responses of Nitric Oxide-cGMP Release in Acupuncture Point to Electroacupuncture in Human Skin In Vivo Using Dermal Microdialysis.” In Microcirculation, 2009 May 26:1-10.
This post is from www.chinesemedicinetimes.com
Acupuncture can help relieve the symptoms of indigestion in pregnancy, new research suggests.
A small study involving 36 women found "significant improvements" among those treated with acupuncture.
Digestive disorders are one of the most frequent complaints in pregnancy, with 45% to 80% of women reporting things like heartburn, pain or discomfort, regurgitation, belching and bloating. Such symptoms tend to get worse as a pregnancy progresses, said researchers from Sao Paulo University in Brazil.
Their study, published in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine, included women aged 15 to 39 who were 15 to 30 weeks into their pregnancy. All were suffering from symptoms of indigestion and none had had acupuncture in the previous year.
None of the women had an underlying condition that could have caused the symptoms and none had a history of similar problems before they fell pregnant.
The researchers used heartburn as a measure of indigestion and asked women to rank the severity and frequency of their symptoms from one to 10, with 10 being the greatest imaginable. Their ability to eat and sleep due to their discomfort was also measured.
The women were split into two groups - with one group receiving acupuncture and the other receiving conventional treatment, including counselling on dietary changes and indigestion remedies.
The acupuncture group underwent treatment once a week, or twice a week if necessary, over an eight-week period. The women had a minimum of eight and a maximum of 12 sessions each. On average, 12 needles were used and were left in the body for about 25 minutes per session.
The study found that average heartburn intensity fell by at least a half in 15 out of 20 (75%) women receiving acupuncture compared with seven out of 16 (44%) women not receiving it.
The authors added: "After treatment 15/20 (75%) of the members of the study group reported an improvement of at least 50% in respect to eating compared to only 5/16 (31%) of the control group. In respect to sleeping, 14/20 in the study group and 4/16 in the control group also reported improvements of 50%. In our cohort, acupuncture proved to exert a great influence in minimising the heartburn in pregnancy during treatment." They called for the research to be replicated in a larger study group.
Source: http://www.channel4.com/news/article...mptoms/3201367
Nitric oxide is a colorless, odorless gas. A decade ago, discoveries about nitric oxide led to the development of the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra and earned three scientists a Nobel Prize . There are plenty of other reasons to know about nitric oxide.
Nitric Oxide causes your blood vessels to relax and to widen, thereby opening up your arteries. This allows better blood flow to your heart and your other important organs. Aging requires attention to cardiovascular health and increasing your levels of nitric oxide is an easy way to improve blood pressure and heart health.
From Acufinder.com
By: Sam Gaines, Staff Writer
Acupuncture is now officially recommended for lung cancer patients experiencing fatigue, dyspnea, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, or to soothe symptoms of pain or nausea and vomiting.
Evidence-based guidelines published by the American College of Chest Physicians in September recommend acupuncture for lung cancer patients experiencing fatigue, dyspnea, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, or to soothe symptoms of pain or nausea and vomiting. Massage therapy is recommended for patients experiencing anxiety or pain.
The new edition of these standard guidelines represent the first time complementary and integrative medicine has been addressed in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, causing more fatalities than the next four most common types of cancer combined.
The new guidelines were developed and reviewed by 100 multidisciplinary panel members and have been endorsed by the American Association for Bronchology, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, American College of Surgeons Oncology Group, American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Asian Pacific Society of Respirology, Oncology Nurses Society, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the World Association of Bronchology.
Source: Chest, September 2007
This post is from Delicious Living Magazine
by Kathryn Leavitt
According to traditional Chinese medicine, maintaining your body's vital energy, or qi (pronounced "chee"), will ward off low energy and sickness. Here's how.
Acupuncture
Fertility therapy via acupuncture has been practiced for over 2,000 years by the Chinese, and can be used to treat both men and women. It is usually combined with herbal therapy, and has been shown in scientific studies to boost IVF (in-vetro fertilization) and ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) by as much as 40% (enlightenedbody.com/fertility). The Berkeley Center for Reproductive Wellness reports that a combination of acupuncture, traditional medicines and herbs provide for the best chance at pregnancy for struggling couples (American Pregnancy Association).
Acupuncture increases your chance for fertility by doing the following:
• improving blood circulation to reproductive organs, including the endometrium, building a stronger lining
• boosting production of neurotransmitters, which contributes to an overall healthy brain and body
• helping to stabilize the nervous system, which enables your body to handle stress better
• acupuncture can de-spasm spasmed tubes from multiple tube spasm disorders
~ The APA warns that if the needles are inserted into the wrong pressure point a chance of miscarriage is present. Ensure your acupuncturist is board certified and licensed by visiting www.ncaaom.org
to read the full article click here
This article is from China Daily
By Shan Juan
6/02/09
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is being widely used to treat A(H1N1) flu patients in China, a senior health official confirmed Monday.
"China has been, so far, the only country worldwide to introduce traditional medicine, particularly the TCM, which had been practiced for thousands of years in the nation in the treatment of diseases," said Ren Minghui, director of the international cooperation department of the Ministry of Health (MOH).
As of late yesterday, health authorities had announced 39 confirmed A(H1N1) flu cases and one additional suspected case on the Chinese mainland.
The latest six confirmed cases were reported yesterday - three in Beijing, two in Fujian province and one in Guangdong province.
"Currently, TCM has shown certain efficacy in all confirmed patients under treatment and a total of nine have already fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital," said Jiang Liangduo, a TCM expert at the Beijing-based Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
Jiang is part of a MOH-initiated special taskforce comprising dozens of TCM experts charged with looking for ways to contain the flu through a TCM approach.
"A great variety of both the ready-to-use and unprocessed TCM, mainly herbals, has been used in the treatment," he noted.
Personal conditions of the patients, including gender, age, and symptoms, would be considered in deciding specific treatment method in terms of dosage and choices of different herbs, he said.
Shortly after China uncovered its first confirmed case last month, the MOH released guidelines for treating A(H1N1), which made Western medicine combined with TCM the primary course of treatment, he added.
It's not the first time a combination of Western and TCM medicines has been used to fight an epidemic, said Wang Xiaopin, director of the international cooperation department at the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
During the SARS outbreak in 2003, China used a combination approach.
"Among more than 5,000 SARS patients, up to 60 percent received such treatment, mostly with proven efficacy," she said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) later recognized China's efforts for its efficacy, safety and quality.
"We've been using TCM to treat influenza, actually, for many years and the A(H1N1) is just one form of flu which can also be treated with TCM," said Jiang, who expressed optimism about curbing the disease.
A resolution initiated by China to promote tradition medicine worldwide was passed at the 62nd International Health Assembly a few weeks ago.
However, international knowledge and understanding of traditional medicine is still quite limited, said Ren, who attended the assembly.
Participants were interested to learn from Chen Zhu, China's Health Minister, that the Star Anise, a star-shaped herbal fruit long used in TCM and Chinese cuisine, was the source of the production of Shikimic acid, a primary feedstock used to create the anti-A(H1N1) flu drug Tamiflu.
"As far as I know, China has long been a major Star Anise supplier for Roche," Ren said. "We are contributing indirectly to the global fight against the epidemic, but few know."
To read the orginal article click here
The following is from Depak Chopra.com
Please spread the word and support Laura Ling and Euna Lee. Vigils for Laura and Euna will be held today, June 3rd in Santa Monica, New York, San Francisco, WDC, Portland, Chicago, Orlando or Birmingham. A link with more info and locations in other cities is here: {website}. Please also sign the petition {online petition} which will be given to the State Department.
for more information click here
This story is from the BBC News
26 May 2009
Patients with persistent low back pain should be offered acupuncture, massages or exercises on the NHS, says guidance.
It is the first time the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has explicitly backed the use of complementary therapies.The rationing watchdog said evidence suggests they help and will be cost effective if doctors stop providing less proven back services like X-rays.
The move was welcomed by some charities and experts but criticised by others.
"Patients whose pain is not improving should have access to a choice of different therapies including acupuncture, structured exercise and manual therapy"
Professor Peter Littlejohns of NICE
Low back pain is a very common problem affecting one in three adults in the UK each year, with an estimated 2.5 million people seeking help from their GP.
For many people the pain goes away in days or weeks. But for some, the pain can persist for a long time and become debilitating.
NICE says anyone whose pain persists for more than six weeks and up to a year should be given a choice of several treatments, because the evidence about which works best is uncertain.
Complementary therapies
In addition to painkillers and regular advice to stay active and carry on with normal activities as much as possible, patients, together with their doctor, can decide to opt one of three complementary treatments.
This includes up to eight exercise sessions or 10 sessions of acupuncture over 12 weeks, or a course of manual therapy, which includes up to nine sessions of spinal manipulation, mobilisation or massage.
Professor Peter Littlejohns, NICE Clinical and Public Health Director said NHS providers now had the opportunity to look at the services they provide and decide what changes are needed.
He said: "There is variation in current clinical practice, so this new NICE guideline means that for the first time we now have the means for a consistent national approach to managing low back pain.
"Importantly, patients whose pain is not improving should have access to a choice of different therapies including acupuncture, structured exercise and manual therapy."
Patients who fail to benefit from their first choice may be offered another of these options, he said.
If that doesn't work, they can try an intensive treatment programme combining exercise and psychological therapy.
Contentious
He said the costs to the NHS would be minimal - in the order of £77,000 - because they are offset by the savings in terms of reducing future disability and healthcare needs and moving away from treatments with little supportive evidence.
The guidelines, which apply to England and Wales, say doctors should no longer offer spinal x-rays or MRI scans or injections of therapeutic substances into the back for non-specific low back pain.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy welcomed the guidelines, as did Dr Dries Hettinga of the charity BackCare.
He said: "This offers a real choice for patients.
"This guideline will help patients understand what treatment and care can help them with their back pain and shows that there can be a positive outlook for treating this condition."
But others were critical of the recommendations.
Professor Edzard Ernst, an expert in complementary medicine at Peninsula Medical School, said he was surprised by the guidance and particularly by NICE's recommendation of spinal manipulation.
"It feels as though the panel was biased in favour of this approach thus over-rating its effectiveness and under-estimating its risks which can be considerable. In my view, a critical risk benefit analysis of the most reliable data fails to come out in favour of chiropractic.
"We must remember that no optimally effective treatment for back pain exists."
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