Understanding Acupuncture

Understanding Acupuncture

An example of this newer approach was undertaken within an established system of pain relief. In this investigation, the experimental groups consisted of normal rats, rats with a particular pain condition, and rats with the pain condition treated with an electroacupuncture protocol shown to reduce pain from that condition. Tissue samples from each group were analyzed for the expression of 8,400 genes, and a sub-set of genes was identified which was altered between normal rats and rats in pain, but which returned to normal expression levels post-acupuncture. Confirming earlier findings, the researchers found that expression of an opioid receptor dropped in the rats with pain but returned to normal levels after acupuncture treatment. In addition, 67 other genes were found to follow such a pattern of disruption in pain and restoration to normal with acupuncture treatment, suggesting a multi-factorial response to acupuncture.²
More complex questions have been running concurrently with the older model of research for the last 15 years or so, and today we have a staggering list of possible players in acupuncture's mechanism. A recent review cites bioactive molecules in cerebrospinal fluid, blood serum, organs, and the acupoints themselves.³ Meanwhile, the acupoints and meridians have been studied as anatomical structures distinct from the nervous system. They are now sometimes thought of as being primarily composed of connective tissue, with the winding of this connective tissue around needles creating mechanical stress which activates surrounding cells to mobilize or signal more widely.⁴ As an example of the level of complexity emerging from this type of research, a recent paper utilizing this model of mechanical stress and subsequent chemical signaling was entitled, "Acupuncture modulates the neuro-endocrine-immune network."⁵ In Part 2 of this article, I will explore some ways in which we could leverage our current knowledge and methods to ask complex questions in simple systems, a relatively unexplored possibility for acupuncture research, but one that holds a particular interest for me since I was trained to do research at the level of cells rather than on whole organisms.

The source of this article  is from Acupuncture Today.

Studies Validate Traditional Chinese Cancer Medicine

Studies Validate Traditional Chinese Cancer Medicine

A new scientific analysis of dozens of studies of traditional Chinese medicine and other non-drug treatments has found they improve cancer patients' overall quality of life and help alleviate depression, fatigue, pain, anxiety, insomnia, and gastrointestinal problems.

The techniques — including acupuncture, Tai chi, Qigong, therapeutic massage, and five therapies involving musical intervention — were found to be highly beneficial, the researchers report in the journal Oncotarget.

"The meta-analysis confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine enhanced global quality of life for Chinese cancer patients," said University of Illinois animal sciences and pathology professor emeritus Keith Kelley, an author of the study.

Dr. Qiang (Quentin) Liu, a former student of Kelley's who now is at Dalian Medical University in China, called the analysis “the most comprehensive study of traditional Chinese medicine … and the quality of life of cancer patients published to date."

He added: "Our findings will promote more investigations into how the body and mind are connected during disease development, and will facilitate better cancer treatments."

The team evaluated 6,500 studies published in journals in China and 23,000 studies from Western journals examining non-pharmacological interventions involving adult Chinese cancer patients.

After eliminating duplicate or substandard studies, the researchers ended up with a total of 67 studies, with 16 of them focused on traditional Chinese medicine, involving more than 6,800 patients. The other studies examined non-drug approaches such as stress management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and physical training.

"Traditional Chinese medicine has been practiced for 2,500 years in China," Kelley said. "But what is the scientific evidence that it improves quality of life in cancer patients? This paper establishes that it does.

"Unfortunately, we were not able to determine what specific components of traditional Chinese medicine are the most effective."

Read more: Studies Back Traditional Chinese Cancer Medicine

Acupuncture Reported in Time Magazine

Acupuncture Actually Works for Neck Pain, Study Says

Two alternative therapies get a boost of scientific legitimacy in a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Acupuncture, the ancient practice of needle insertion, and the Alexander Technique, a program that teaches people how to avoid unnecessary muscle tension throughout the day and improve posture, coordination, balance and stress, are two complementary therapies often used to help treat neck pain. Treating it is often difficult, and it’s common for people to seek out alternative therapies.

The researchers wanted to see how well two of these worked. They assigned 517 people, all of whom had neck pain for at least three months (and sometimes many years), to the standard care for neck pain, which involves prescription medications and physical therapy. Some of the patients were assigned to also receive one of two extra treatments: a dozen 50-minute acupuncture sessions or 20 private Alexander Technique lessons—which focus on teaching people how to move their body to avoid or correct muscular pain.

A year after the start of the study, people in the groups doing acupuncture and the Alexander Technique had significant reductions in neck pain—pain was assessed by questionnaire—compared to those who just got usual care. Both groups reported about 32% less pain than they had at the start of the study, which is far greater than the 9% typically associated with physical therapy and exercise. The interventions also gave people in the groups more self-efficacy, which were linked to better pain outcomes.

The study adds to growing evidence suggesting that acupuncture is effective against pain; a landmark review in 2012 involving almost 18,000 people with chronic pain concluded that acupuncture was better than standard care and sham acupuncture (which proved the effect is not due to placebo of simply sticking needles in the body.)

 “You get a two-fold effect with acupuncture for pain: a natural pain-relieving effect and an anti-inflammatory effect,” says Jamie Starkey, lead acupuncturist at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine, who was not involved in the new study.

Acupuncture manipulates the nervous system, she says, activating the release of pain-relieving endorphins. “With neck pain patients, a lot will get steroid injections or take a non-steroidal anti inflammatory, like ibuprofen or a prescription medication,” says Starkey. “Those medications or injections have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, but the acupuncture needles can do that naturally.”

The influx of new research has helped legitimize alternative therapies like acupuncture, says Starkey. “That’s really brought acupuncture to the forefront of people’s minds and attention, and physicians are a lot more willing to refer their patients to an acupuncturist.”

Acupuncture in Hollywood

Kim Kardashian’s Baby In Breech Position: Trying Hypnosis & More To Get Baby To Move

Kim Kardashian is doing everything humanly possible to get her baby out of breech position and avoid getting a painful C-section. With the guidance of her doctor, Kim’s trying some very unusual methods to attempt to turn her little boy around in her belly — like hypnosis! What?

Her baby is due any day now, and Kim Kardashian, 35, is fighting with all her might to make sure his birth is perfect. Though her baby is in a dangerous breech position, meaning his head is facing up instead of down, she may not need to have a C-section. That is, if the unusual rituals she’s currently going through allow her to have a natural birth! Click through to learn what she’s doing!

Kim wrote on her personal website that she’s been lying awake at night researching anything and everything that can help her have the birthing experience she wants, and make sure that baby West is born safely. She’s started undergoing intensive chiropractic sessions, and given a few other procedures a shot.

 “I, of course, will try anything to still turn the baby,” Kim wrote. “I lay practically upside down three times a day for 15 minutes. I play music in the right position and ice my belly in certain spots to get him to squirm out of the breech position. I even started acupuncture where I burn moxa (mugwort) on my pinky toe every day! I am even attempting hypnosis!”

Whatever it takes! Kim has experienced difficulties through this pregnancy, and during her first, so she’s doing all she can to alleviate more problems. Another method of reversing the baby’s breech position is something called external cephalic version (ECV), and Kim wrote that she’ll be doing that as well.

“It looks so painful and scary and has to be done in the hospital,” Kim said. “Obviously, if it’s an emergency and for the safety of my son, I will get a C-section — but if I don’t need one, I’d rather not. This whole delivery gives me anxiety, not gonna lie. I hope the baby turns and all goes well but I’m prepared for anything!”

Source of the story is here.

TCM for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

TCM for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

To evaluate whether the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM; zhōng yī) influences symptoms or functional outcomes in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee ( xī guān jié yán). A systematic review of randomized control trials was conducted. Searches for studies in PubMed that were performed between 1965 and August 2013, and retrieved studies were subjected to reference screening. The types of studies included in our review were 1) placebo-based or comparative studies; 2) open label, single-blinded or double-blinded studies; 3) studies evaluating the efficacy of TCM for treating OA of the knee; and 4) studies evaluating only TCM or combination preparations. Trials were conducted with participants over 18 years of age with knee pain and at least three of the following characteristics: 1) an age greater than 50 years; 2) morning stiffness lasting for fewer than 30 min; 3) a crackling or grating sensation; 4) bony tenderness of the knee; 5) bony enlargement of the knee; or 6) no detectable warmth of the joint to the touch. Studies were rated for risk of bias and graded for quality. After screening, 104 studies that satisfied the eligibility requirements were identified, and only 18 randomized control trials were included in the quantitative and qualitative synthesis. Upon review, we found "moderate-quality" evidence of effects from acupuncture ( zhēn jiǔ) on pain, which was measured using a visual analogue scale, and physical function, which was measured using qigong ( qì gōng) with motion. "Low-quality" evidence was found regarding the effects of acupuncture on physical function, and no evidence was found regarding the effects of herbal medicine on pain or physical function. Herbal patches ( yào bù) appeared to affect pain and physical and function, but these effects were not found to be significant. The initial findings included in this review suggest that acupuncture is a promising intervention according to the primary outcome measure, pain, and qigong with motion is an effective method for treating physical function. However, according to the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria, only moderate-quality evidence was found in these studies. Further rigorous studies are warranted to investigate the application of TCM in treating OA of knee.

Source: Hou PW, Fu PK, Hsu HC, Hsieh CL. Traditional Chinese medicine in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. J Tradit Complement Med. 2015 Jul 2;5(4):182-196.

Acupuncture Boosts Chances of Getting Pregnant

Acupuncture Boosts Chances of Getting Pregnant

Dr. Matthew Tracey

For many couples, the diagnosis of infertility brings much emotional, physical and financial stress. Couples are left feeling helpless and hopeless. This added stress can further interfere with fertility. More and more of these patients are turning to unconventional, alternative, or complementary approaches to assist in improving their fertility. Acupuncture is one adjunctive treatment that is gaining in popularity.
Recent studies confirm that acupuncture treatment contributes to increase the pregnancy rate in women who undergo IVF treatment. Research suggests that Acupuncture works to increase blood flow to the uterus, reducing uterine contractions and regulating stress hormones which may enhance the chance of implantation of the embryos to the uterine wall and successful pregnancy.
Acupuncture can affect male fertility as well by improving the Spermatogenesis (the production and maturation of sperm cells) process.
One such study was conducted on a group of infertile men with pathological sperm abnormalities and a poor fertilization rate in at least two cycles of IVF. These men were given acupuncture treatment for 8 weeks (two sessions every week) and the IVF cycles were repeated following the acupuncture treatment. The fertilization rate rose significantly from 40% prior to treatment to 66% following acupuncture treatment.
It should be noted that Spermatogenesis takes approximately 75 days. For this reason, the minimum recommended treatment for male factor infertility should be twice per week for 10-12 weeks.
Despite continued research showing efficacy of acupuncture treatment there are many that say it is nothing more than placebo. In the end it doesn't matter that much whether the success of acupuncture is a placebo effect or not. The bottom line is that acupuncture is relatively safe, and if it improves fertility it may be a worthwhile option for many patients.

The best first step to treating any fertility problem is to contact a specialist. If you do decide to try acupuncture, look for a certified, licensed acupuncture physician with experience in treating infertility and working with IVF. Always inform your doctor prior to trying any adjunctive therapies if undergoing IVF procedure.

Click here to see the source of the report.

Chinese Medicine for HIV

Chinese Medicine for HIV

To respond to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in China, the integration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has important implications in health outcomes, especially in China where the use of TCM is widespread. The National Free TCM Pilot Program for HIV Infected People began in 5 provinces (Henan, Hebei, Anhui, Hubei, and Guangdong) in 2004, and quickly scaled up to 19 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China including some places with high prevalence, 26,276 adults have been treated thus far. Usually, people with HIV infection seek TCM for four main reasons: to enhance immune function, to treat symptoms, to improve quality of life, and to reduce side effects related to medications. Evidences from randomized controlled clinical trials suggested some benefificial effects of use of traditional Chinese herbal medicine for HIV infections and AIDS. More proofs from large, well-designed, rigorous trials is needed to give fifirm support. Challenges include interaction between herbs and antiretroviral drugs, stigma and discrimination. The Free TCM Program has made considerable progress in providing the necessary alternative care and treatment for HIV-infected people in China, and has strong government support for continued improvement and expansion, establishing and improving a work mechanism integrating Chinese and Western medicines.

Source: Zou W, Wang J, Liu Y. Effect of traditional chinese medicine for treating human immunodeficiency virus infections and acquired immune deficiency syndrome: Boosting immune and alleviating symptoms. Chin J Integr Med. 2015 Nov 17.