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Laura

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What’s Cookin at Laura’s house

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This summer I have half of a CSA share and it is a LOT of veggies for the two of us. One of the most common veggies I am getting is Kohlrabi.

Have you ever seen one? Eaten one? Cooked with one?

And why would a person eat a kohlrabi?

Well I’ve ended up with 6 of them this summer and did not have the heart to put them in the compost, so I had to figure out what to do with it.

The good news is that Kohlrabi is a member of the brassica family, which includes broccoli, kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and more. You have probably heard that these are super nutrition veggies, so it is always good to add a new one to your rotation.

Here is what I’ve learned:

  • Kohlrabi is great sliced and dipped into hummus or ranch dressing. It has hardly any flavor and tastes a bit like a broccoli stem. So that is a nice alternative to chips for your next cookout. Nobody will know what it is, and it is a great neutral carrier for other yummy stuff.
  • Kohlrabi is perfect for slaw. I’ve been peeling it and shredding it, then adding other nice slaw stuff like red onion, grated carrot, and thinly sliced red pepper strips. Then just dress with lemon juice, white wine or rice vinegar, and your favorite oil with perhaps some salt and pepper or soy sauce. We are eating this a lot.
  • Kohlrabi can be roasted alone or with other favorite roasting veggies. This can be done in the oven or the air fryer. I supposed it could even go on the grill next to your other veggies. It is pretty firm so it can take some cooking.

SO, next time you are at the store and you see this strange green or red ball. Pick some up and try it.

We know that feeding our gut bacteria the widest variety of vegetables is about the best thing we can do for ourselves. SO get crackin.

Have a good summer!

Seasonal Allergy Solutions

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Acupuncture of Iowa Iowa City Blogs header foodEvery blooming thing is blooming right now. In Iowa we are having perfect weather and the increase in biomass daily is awesome. And nature is in the mood for reproduction. So we have pollen. Pollen and more pollen. And allergies.

In our clinic we are using a group of products that are proving to be very helpful for allergies and here they are:

Natural D-Hist from Orthomolecular products. Take 2 twice daily for basic prevention. You can take more or less as needed. It containes quercitin, stinging nettles and Vitamin C, along with N-acetyl cysteine to support the liver.

Rootology Breathe Free, nasal, sinus, eye health.  This is an american “remake” of an old standard Chinese herb formula called Bi Yan Pian (open up stuffy nose pills, I used to call it). It contains magnolia flower, xanthium fruit, platycodon root, angelica sinensis root (the one for noses), forsythia fruit, cinnamon twig, schizonepeta stem, ledebouriella root, schizandra fruit, phellodendron bark, and licorice root to harmonize them all. This formula has the property of clearing “wind”, opening the nasal orifice, helping with sinus pain, supporting the lungs, anti-inflammatory and a little anti-viral support, and immune support. You can take this one as needed, two pills when you need them, or take two 1, 2, 3, or 4 times daily. It is safe to use alongside claritin or any other kind of OTC allergy medicine. It is safe for kids and really works.

The last thing to mention is anti-oxidants like Vitamin C, Selenium, Vitamin E and so on. These helpful nutrients assist your liver in getting rid of toxins that might be adding to the burden on your immune system and making you more allergy prone. You can get these types of nutrients from an anti-oxidant blend like Resvoxitrol or a good multivitamin like Alpha Base from Orthomolecular Products.

Call us for more information and a video consultation on how you can get help for your allergies.

319-41-0031 Acupuncture of Iowa

Aspirin can Reduce Serious Outcomes of COVID-19

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Hi I read an article yesterday that said that aspirin can reduce risk of ICU admissions and death, covid-19 researchers say. They were talking about the low dose aspirin that people already take as they age to reduce risk of heart attack. This was kind of cool news. I assume it is due to the effect of aspirin reducing clotting of the blood, and microscopic blood clots have been found in many organs of people who have died of covid 19.

Of course, just taking low dose aspirin is really not sufficient to guarantee a good outcome if you might become infected with covid 19. We know, based on solid research, that a number of other nutrients can be helpful to prevent infections or help prevent serious outcomes of infection. This information has been put out by the Institute for Functional Medicine, IFM, on their COVID information page. Those supplements include:

Vitamin C

Zinc

Vitamin D

Selenium (not too much please)

Garlic

probiotics

Vitamin A

Boosting Immunity: Functional Medicine Tips on Prevention & Optimizing Immune Function During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak

Check out the article.

I can also visit with you through our telemedicine portal most days at 9 am. Please phone the office at 319-341-0031 to make that appointment, or use our online scheduler to sign up.

 

 

Post-Viral Symptoms Helped

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We are beginning to see a number of patients requesting help with post-covid long haul syndrome. Those symptoms may include fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, headache, and more. Acupuncture is being found to be helpful to these people, as is Chinese herbs and nutritional supplements. We are tracking current research in the field of professional Chinese medicine to learn specific techniques and herb formulas that are especially helpful. Laura is available by telehealth for consultation. Call our office to set up a visit by video chat. We do those visits first thing in the morning on weekdays. 319-341-0031

When you feel sick, what to do

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What will you do when you feel a sore throat, fatigue  or fever?

It is so important to have tools at home in case you feel something coming on and need to treat yourself. With appropriate care you might well be able to stop the virus or at least make your illness much more mild and shorter. So what do you need to have on hand?

I am recommending 5 things to be used at the first sign of an infection:

  • Golden Flower Chinese herb tea (Wei Labs)
  • High dose Vitamin D3 (any brand is fine)
  • Elderberry syrup (many brands are good)
  • Viracid (Orthomolecular products)
  • Lauricidin (Monolaurin pellets)
  • Zinc in a lozenge

You can add:

  • Liposomal Vitamin C
  • Liposomal Glutathione
  • Higher dose Melatonin, 10-20 mg in sublingual tablets
  • Biocidin TS (Throat Spray)
  • Curcumin or Turmeric.Look for a newer one with higher absorption rates. This is especially important to lessen the likelihood of a severe inflammatory reaction. (Turiva from Orthomolecular is good, or Turmeric Forte from Standard Process)
  • Quercitin, 1000 mg daily (can be found in D-Hist from Ortho)
  • Resveratrol 100-150 mg twice daily
  • Green tea 4 cups daily (Costco has an excellent Japanese green tea)

Here is my protocol for if I get sick. At the first sign of a sore throat, unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, or fever, begin treatment. You might just stop the virus in a day or two. You will certainly reduce the severity and the length of an infection.

  • Take 5000-10,000 units of Vitamin D3 daily until your symptoms improve.
  • Start taking Golden Flower tea, 3 cups per day. This can stop an early stage infection. Continue with this tea throughout the time you feel sick.
  • Biocidin TS Throat spray, as desired, 3 spritzes 2-3 times daily
  • Elderberry syrup. As directed. 500 mg per day
  • Viracid, 2 capsules every 4 hours till your symptoms improve
  • Lauricidin 1/8 tsp 3-4 times daily
  • Zinc-glycinate, -gluconate, -citrate, or -picolinate lozenges 30-60mg  daily
  • Liposomal Vitamin C, 1-3000 mg daily, at least
  • Liposomal Glutathione, 2-3 doses of 500 mg daily
  • Turmeric, 1000-2000mg per day in extract form

And for if the infection progressess with high fever, extreme fatigue:

  • Silver Flower Chinese herb formula from Wei Labs
  • Custom Chinese herbs formulated just for you by a professional herbalist
  • Stop the elderberry syrup and Biocidin TS
  • Continue the Zinc, melatonin, turmeric, Vitamin C, and Glutathione to reduce the likelihood of a serious blood clotting event.
  • Add Myogen from Wei Labs to prevent clotting disorders from inflammation

I have openings immediately for telemedicine consultation to address all of your concerns. I can advise you on what to do if you feel sick and how to address your exact challenges. And if you have had the virus and are struggling to recover, I have ideas about how to treat yourself to enhance your energy.

Call us at 319-341-0031 to schedule.

Or follow this link to schedule your visit today!

https://aoi.janeapp.com/locations/acupuncture-of-iowa/book#/telemedicine-health-coaching

Meet Laura
Laura specializes in treating pain, but has tools to treat most any health issue. She loves helping people figure out how best to get help,and is a premiere practitioner in the Iowa City area. She can work with you on what to eat, how to move, and who besides her might be a good person to have on your health care team.

Quit Smoking with Acupuncture Help

Still Smoking even with the threat of COVID?

Quit smoking with acupuncture help today. I know you have certainly heard that COVID is a respiratory disease, and it has been shown to be much more dangerous and fatal for people with all types of lung conditions. This makes it more important than ever to stop smoking. Perhaps you have a loved one who still smokes and has not been successful stopping.

You can quit smoking with Acupuncture help now, and we know more than ever about how best to help you. Using acupuncture rather than just stopping by itself has been found to be much more effective. In a large review of several research papers on acupuncture for stopping smoking, it was found that acupuncture alone worked well, but when combined with counseling and other supports it was even more effective. This is heartening to hear, and is the foundation of my treatment protocol where I combine acupuncture with coaching.

You may have a friend who never smoked again after an acupuncture treatment in a hotel ballroom where 600 people listened to a presentation and then had the amazing treatment. I have heard that story time and time again. And that person never smoked again. I have not seen such amazing results in my practice and imagine that the powerful placebo effect as well as some well done hypnosis might have been the main thing making the change in those people.

I probably don’t have the abilities of that person leading 600 people in a hotel ballroom, but I have recently had additional training in ear acupuncture, and have obtained a new protocol that, in addition to helping stop cravings, also helps the body get rid of toxins associated with smoking. This really helps the person feel better fast while in the early stages without cigarettes. This protocol holds enormous hope for helping more people stop smoking.

In my new program, the person would be expected to attend a series of treatments, with the first one being devoted to a careful evaluation and comprehensive coaching session on smoking cessation. I have lots of experience as an addictions counselor, so I am uniquely qualified to do this. At each session there will be a brief coaching session to help sustain the momentum of the behavior change and offer new skills.

The first week of the program the person would come for an initial visit of about an hour and a half. After that, short sessions every day for 4 days. The second week they’d come three times a week, the third week twice, and the fourth week once. Between sessions, there will be either magnets, beads or needles placed in the ears that will greatly assist with the program.

As part of the counseling aspect, we will discuss triggers, hints for success, and learning alternative behaviors to replace smoking. We will also talk about other kinds of issues that may be making quitting smoking difficult.

The total cost of the program is $400 paid at the outset.

I feel very comfortable saying that this program would be successful for anyone who follows the recommendations and attends all the sessions.  I look forward to helping more people win their health back and prevent serious effects of COVID infection.

To schedule, call the office at 319-341-0031

or email at acupuncture.of.iowa@gmail.com

I have openings immediately for telemedicine consultation to address all of your concerns. There I can advise you on what to eat, as well as carefully chosen effective supplementation or Chinese herbs to address your exact challenges. Follow this link to schedule your visit today!

https://aoi.janeapp.com/locations/acupuncture-of-iowa/book#/telemedicine-health-coaching

Laura’s Grilled Vegetable Salad

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Grilled Vegetable Salad is great to do after you have cooked your meat and your grill is still hot, either charcoal or gas. Can be served warm/room temperature or chilled. Makes great leftovers. If cooking on gas, have the flame medium to low. If on charcoal, the fire should be cooler

The amounts in this recipe are approximate, as you will make as much as you like. Same goes for the vinegar and lemon juice.

Grilled Vegetable Salad
  • 2-4 red, green, or yellow bell peppers, cut in 2 inch wide strips, end to end
  • 2-4 large red onions, sliced in 1/2 t0 3/4 inch slices
  • 3-4 large portobello mushroom caps, brushed clean and kept whole
  • 4-6 medium zucchini or summer squash, cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices, lengthwise
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, more or less
  • 2-4 T Balsamic vinegar
  • lemon juice from 1 fresh lemon
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • optional green or black olives
  • salt and pepper
  • microplane grater to zest your lemon into really fine shreds
  • Large cookie sheet or baking tray
  • Tongs for grill
  • 4-5 Bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 1 hour
  • Gas or charcoal grill
Thread each slice of red onion onto a thin bamboo skewer to keep the rings together. Don’t worry if they break up a little.
Prep your veggies and put them on a large cookie sheet.
Rub all veggies with olive oil on both sides using your fingers.
Place them on the grill and watch closely so things don’t burn. Turn them when you like. I like to keep things from getting too soft.
When done to your liking, place back on baking tray and bring in the house.
Take onions off skewers and separate the rings. Rough chop onions, mushrooms, zucchinis, and bell peppers as needed. Place all into a large mixing bowl.
Sprinkle balsamic vinegar and fresh lemon juice over everything, as well as salt and pepper to your liking.
Finish by grating lemon zest over the whole thing and tossing. I’d add the olives at this point and taste to correct seasoning.

If you get sick with COVID how bad will it be? Support your immune system.

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By now we have all heard about “herd” immunity. They are saying that as many as 60-70% of us will ultimately have this infection before it will slow down. So, you may get sick and it is easy to have a plan to help yourself have a mild case and avoid some of the serious problems that can result.

How can you lessen the severity of an infection? Begin planning and preventing now. That is the most important thing.

There are two categories of support that are important: things to take to support your immune system all the time to prevent infection, and things to take if you get an infection, no matter what virus or bacterium might be involved. Remember, there are still a lot of viruses which are not COVID-19 out there that can give you a “cold”. You should be prepared for those too.

  • I’m recommending people take something with EpiCor in it for immune support. There are several supplements out there that contain it. It is also good to have larch arabinogalactan with it for better effect. Together they make the immune system more responsive to all kinds of things.
  • I like elderberry extract (sambucol). There are lots of brands out there. It also helps fight viral infections and it is very pleasant to take. 500 mg is recommended. Stop this one if you get diagnosed with COVID.
  • Vitamin D-3 of course is essential. 4000 to 5000 IU per day is a good dose for most people.
  • Vitamin C is very important, and a liposomal form is best for supporting immune function. A high dose like 1 to 3 grams daily is best. There has been a good deal of research recently showing that high dose Vitamin C is very helpful for our recent situation.
  • Another thing to keep in mind is that lowering inflammation is key if you get sick, and glutathione is a nutrient that helps detoxify the body and lessen inflammation. Again, a liposomal form is best. Liposomes are tiny fat globules that carry the nutrient into a cell more effectively. Glutathione also helps thin secretions in the lungs, so in an infection things can flow better.
  • A very high quality multivitamin is key, to support all aspects of health.
  • Melatonin is known to support sleep, but is also a potent anti-inflammatory so it can help prevent the serious inflammation that can accompany COVID infections. 5 to 20 mg is a good dose at bedtime.
  • There are a number of therapeutic mushrooms that are known to be strong immune modulators. I take a supplement that contains 5 different mushrooms to work synergistically. Be sure to get one that is very good quality. There is a company in Canada that is excellent, called Real Mushrooms. That is my brand.
  • Antiviral and immune supporting Chinese herbal formulas can be super powerful to be used at the very first sign of a respiratory infection. We have lots of research from China about which formulas have been most successful at different stages of a viral infection. I am stocking several Chinese herb formulas for various manifestations of infections.
  • Zinc is critical to support the immune system in viral infections, and I think eating oysters is a great way to get this, as well as other vegetables that contain it. You can also find zinc lozenges. 30-60 mg daily is good.
  • Green Tea is a wonderful anti-inflammatory and immune support nutrient. You can drink 4 cups daily. I drink green tea iced tea all day every day at work so it is easy to get this done.
  • Quercitin is also a wonderful nutrient that is found in many fruits and vegetables. It is anti-viral, and you may know it as a help for allergies. It is the ingredient in rose hips that we see often in Vitamin C. We recommend 1000 mg twice daily.
  • Custom Chinese herb formulas can also be made up just for you, in case you get sick. For these, I need to see your tongue and get a clear evaluation, so I am using video consultations to make the assessment of what you need. Call at the first sign of an infection of any kind and I will have herbs for you the same day. I will leave them for you to pick up outside in my mailbox.

I have supplements that meet all of the above criteria here at my clinic. You can also find things like these at local health food stores as well. And at my Fullscript online dispensary you can find my Favorites for Immune Support:

Please do call to schedule a video consultation if you need it. My patient management system can support that. Also let me know if you have more questions about the above suggestions.

Most of these suggestions are sourced from the Institute for Functional Medicine and are based on up to date research.

Please call to make an appointment for a nutritional consultation if you’d like more personalized suggestions.

319-341-0031

You can also check out our website at: www.acupunctureofiowa.com

Misinformation spread by NBC about Chinese Herbal medicine treatment for COVID-19

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Please enjoy this response, written by a highly qualified and experienced American practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine, to the information put out by NBC about the dangers of using Chinese medicine to treat COVID-19. The opinions shared by NBC are those of one person who has spent the majority of his career shooting down Traditional Chinese Medicine. In fact, enormous amounts of research and experience in China over the past few months are showing that the majority of patients are greatly helped in their recovery from this pandemic, by the use of the state-sanctioned herb treatment that in many cases is delivered to their homes. My associate has done a beautiful job of responding to each of Dr Ernst’s points below.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-encouraging-herbal-remedies-treat-covid-19-scientists-warn-against-n1173041

I recently read the above-referenced article regarding the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and COVID-19. The unfortunate conclusions and one-sidedness of the article have led me to speak out on the ignorance surrounding Chinese Herbal Medicine. The article states that “scientists warn against the use” and that they (Chinese herbs) could be harmful and “pose both direct and indirect risks to patients”, quoted by Dr. Edzard Ernst, a professor emeritus of complementary medicine at the United Kingdom’s University of Exeter. He goes on to state that “TCM mixtures can be toxic, contaminated or adulterated with prescription drugs; they can also interact with prescription drugs,” Ernst said.

First, TCM mixtures should be prescribed only by a licensed TCM practitioner that has spent years learning the medicine. Chinese herbal medicine in granular form is pharmaceutical grade and is tested for adulterants, chemicals, pesticides, and thin-layer chromatography is used to ascertain the correct genus and species of the plant. His argument that Chinese Medicine can be contaminated and or adulterated and that the entire system of medicine should not be used is like saying that because Zantac has recently been pulled off the shelves because it contained NDMA that no one should ever use pharmaceuticals because they can be adulterated.

He also claims that TCM mixtures can be toxic. Yes, a few herbs have some level of toxicity, however, over the 3000-year history of the medicine, the way the herb is prepared and the amount that is given within the formula negates the toxicity and increases the safety of the herb. For example, the herb pinellia (ban xia in pinyin) is toxic when harvested but when prepared with ginger, the toxicity level is negated. Pinellia is sold in the prepared form only, so there is no chance of ever consuming it raw. We have specific guidelines about dosage to ensure safety of the herbs prescribed. Many of our herbs are considered foods, like Reishi mushrooms, goji berries, and longnan fruit. These are incredibly gentle and safe. Anything taken beyond a prescribed dose can be toxic. If you drink too much water, it can actually kill you. If you eat too many carrots, you will turn orange from excess beta-carotene (called carotenemia). In addition, many prescription drugs can be considered toxic, however, they are prescribed because the benefits of the medicine are thought to outweigh the side-effects.

Dr. Ernst goes on to say, “It can also give patients a false sense of security, leading them to neglect proven medications or therapies.” First of all, there are NO proven therapies for COVID-19 right now. If Chinese Medicine can help to bring a fever down, clear some of the glue-like phlegm from the lungs and help the patients recover quicker, than how is this a “false sense of security”? No one is saying to neglect Western Medicine. If a patient is turned away from the hospital saying they aren’t sick enough to be admitted, then what? A telemedicine consult with a licensed practitioner that can prescribe herbal medicine can open up valuable options for many in need.  And if TCM can be used in the hospitals (like they are in China) alongside other as of yet unproven therapies, then why wouldn’t we welcome it as another tool in our armory to fight this and save lives? As long as the practitioner is a licensed herbalist (Dipl. OM, or Dipl. CH) they should be working alongside hospitals to prescribe the correct formulas to the individual patients.

The article goes on to quote, “The lack of detail about the remedies contributes to doubts over their efficacy”, Dan Larhammar, a molecular cell biologist and president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, said in a phone interview. Mr. Larhammar is referencing the pre-packaged herbal pills that are being produced for the masses. TCM practitioners in China developed these specific COVID remedies (such as jinhua qinggan capsules, lianhua qingwen capsules)  because there are not enough TCM practitioners around the world to prescribe custom formulas for the swaths of people in need of such medicinals. Also, there is a shortage of specific herbs that seem to be effective against this virus which makes it more difficult for the private TCM practitioners to prescribe on a large scale. Do I agree with the use of a capsule that could be used to treat everyone? Not really. Chinese medicine is based on treating the individual. The Chinese found a formula that would treat the “typical” symptoms of COVID, although true practice does not work that way. And if the ingredients aren’t listed, then I would be hesitant to trust it as well.

“Recent reports in the Japanese journal BioScience Trends and the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine support the various COVID-19 traditional treatments, but Larhammar said these studies and others like them lack scientific rigor — not having adequate sample sizes, using vague terms and nonpharmacological concepts or testing too many combinations of herbs to parse out their specific effects.”

The “scientific rigor” that is missing from Chinese herbal medicine treatment is due to a few important factors. One, herbs are combined for specific reasons. The herbs work together within a formula and interact with each other on a molecular level to have a specific therapeutic outcome. By researching each individual component rather than seeking the holistic effect of the formula together is a reductionist view that is typical of the pharmaceutical industry. The complex interactions that occur with combining Chinese medicinals have been studied over thousands of years. Secondly, the lack of “scientific rigor” is due to the inherent nature of our individualized medicine. If there are 20 people that have COVID-19, there would likely be 20 different formulas given to each one of them (with some overlap of specific herbs found to be useful with this virus). This makes it difficult for TCM to be shoe-horned into the Western model of placebo-controlled, double-blinded studies. There are no “one-size fits all” remedies. And to neglect its benefits, even as an augment to Western medicine in treating COVID-19, is short-sighted. Yes, TCM terminology and its “vague terms” are not often understood by Western researchers, however, this is because the ancient medicine used terms from the natural world to describe physiologic events occurring in the body. Just because it does not conform to the standards of modern medicine, it does not mean that it is inferior.

“‘It would be fine if the method reduced the symptoms a little bit, and more the better, of course, but if that makes the person take more risks, then we are in deep trouble,’ Larhammar of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. People with the virus may prematurely resume interacting with others thinking they’re no longer infectious by taking traditional Chinese medicine, he explained. Others may take it thinking it prevents them from getting the disease, putting themselves and others at risk.”

If people improve with or without TCM, this argument is completely illogical. If they have the virus and they get better, they should continue with their quarantine for 14 days like everyone else that has a confirmed case. If TCM helps them, it could prevent them from going into the hospital and decrease the risk of their symptoms getting worse and a potential need for a mechanical ventilator, which is in short supply. Again, let’s compare. If a physician prescribes medicine to fight COVID, and the patient feels better and decides to venture out before the 14-day quarantine, the argument to not treat with physician-prescribed medicine because it will give patients a false sense of security now seems quite laughable.

I hope this writing has cleared up some of the misconceptions surrounding an extraordinary medicine. The hospitals in WuHan and the surrounding areas have been forthright with the global Chinese Medicine community by disseminating information to TCM practitioners in how to best treat COVID-19. The amazing community of TCM herbalists across America stands poised and ready to help those in need by doing telemedicine herbal consults. I personally have offered my services to the state of NJ to fight alongside the doctors and nurses in local hospitals to bring TCM to help those in need. I believe that we should all work together to save as many patients as we can using every single tool available. Join me in the embrace of old and new, traditional and modern, and together we can overcome and heal the globe.

Sincerely,

Candace Jania, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.
https://njacucenter.com/practitioners/

Acupuncture reduces mortality from Influenza

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Acupuncture Fights Influenza, Decreases Mortality Rate

 
influenzavirus
image of a virus

Acupuncture reduces mortality from influenza. Two independent investigations confirm acupuncture’s efficacy for fighting influenza. One laboratory investigation tested acupuncture as a monotherapy and determined that acupuncture lowers mortality rates, increases serum interferon levels, and improves the phagocytosis of viruses. Another investigation finds acupuncture effective for enhancing the clinical effictiveness of anti-viral drugs. Let’s start with the integrative investigation and we’ll look at the acupuncture monotherapy next.

Researchers from the Taizhou Municipal Hospital combined acupuncture with standard drug therapy. Patients receiving both oseltamivir and acupuncture in a combined treatment protocol had superior patient outcomes compared with patients receiving only oseltamivir. [1] In an independent laboratory experiment, the researchers proved that acupuncture exerts an antiviral effect by increasing the serum level of interferon (IFN) and improves phagocyte function in rats with influenza virus infections. [2]

The research team of Lang et al. compared a control group receiving only oseltamivir (an antiviral drug, also known by the brand-name Tamiflu) and a treatment group receiving both acupuncture and oseltamivir. The treatment group patients had significantly shorter recovery times for relieving fever, sore throat, and coughing. The researchers conclude that the addition of acupuncture to an oseltamivir treatment regimen increases the effective rate of oseltamivir for the treatment of influenza. Furthermore, the researchers conclude that acupuncture is both effective and safe; acupuncture did not produce any severe adverse effects.

 

Results
Following treatment, the average recovery time from fever was 63.80 hours in the drug monotherapy control group and 57.05 hours in the acupuncture plus drug treatment group. On average, acupuncture reduced fevers by 6.75 hours.

The average recovery time from sore throat was 80.35 hours in the control group and 71.25 hours in the treatment group. Acupuncture improved the pharynx pain recovery time by 9.1 hours.

The average recovery time from coughing and other symptoms was 115.20 hours in the drug monotherapy control group and 104.70 hours in the acupuncture plus drug treatment group; acupuncture produced an improvement of 10.5 hours. The recovery time refers to the time it takes to completely relieve symptoms (including body temperature ≤37.4 degrees Celsius) for at least 24 hours from the start of treatment. The results showed that acupuncture significantly increases the total effective rate of oseltamivir and the combined therapy shortens the development course of H1N1 influenza.

 

Design
Researchers (Lang et al.) used the following study design. A total of 80 patients diagnosed with H1N1 influenza were treated and evaluated They were randomly divided into an acupuncture plus drug treatment group and a drug monotherapy control group, with 40 patients in each group. Inclusion criteria were established and included the following:

  • H1N1 influenza diagnosis
  • Body temperature ≥38 degrees Celsius
  • At least two indicative symptoms (e.g., sore throat, coughing)

Treatment Procedure
Both groups were given identical drug therapy. A total of 75 mg of oseltamivir was administered twice daily, for a total of 5 days as one treatment course. Symptomatic treatment (antipyretic analgesics, antitussives, or expectorants) were also given if necessary.

The treatment group received acupuncture treatment. The following primary acupoints were selected bilaterally for the treatment group:

  • LI11 (Quchi)
  • TB5 (Waiguan)
  • LI4 (Hegu)
  • LU5 (Chize)

Additional secondary acupoints were added based on symptom presentation:

  • High fever: GV14 (Dazhui)
  • Severe cough: LU6 (Kongzui)
  • Sore throat: LU10 (Yuji), LU11 (Shaoshang)

The Taizhou Municipal Hospital researchers determined that acupuncture improves outcomes for influenza patients taking oseltamivir. This includes reductions of fevers and symptomatic relief. Overall, the total recovery time improves when acupuncture is added to the drug therapy treatment regimen.

 

Nanjing University
In another investigation, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) researchers investigated the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on rats infected with influenza virus. They found that both acupuncture and moxibustion decrease the mortality rate and increase the average survival time. In addition, they document that both TCM therapies significantly increase the serum level of IFN and improve phagocytosis of viruses.

Interferon (IFN) plays a major role in defective neutrophil recruitment and influenza virus killing. [3] The researchers conclude that both acupuncture and moxibustion are effective for the treatment of influenza. Notably, acupuncture produced superior outcomes over moxibustion therapy.

Three groups were compared. The first group received acupuncture. The second group received moxibustion. The third group was a control. For the acupuncture treatment group, a needle was inserted into one single point (Dazhui, GV14) and was manipulated with the twisting technique with a frequency of 30–50 times per minute. For the moxibustion treatment group, 10–15 mg of moxa cigar cuttings were applied upon the acupoint Guanyuan (CV4). A total of 4 cuttings were used in one treatment session. The above treatments were conducted daily, for 3 consecutive days in total. The control group received no treatment.

The mortality rate of the acupuncture treatment group was 63.5% and was 78.6% for the moxibustion group. The control group mortality rate was 96.4%. In addition, overall survival times improves in the acupuncture and moxibustion groups.

Summary
The aforementioned independent investigations indicate that acupuncture reduces mortality from influenza and acupuncture is an important treatment option for the treatment of influenza. Acupuncture improves the serum level of IFN and improves phagocytosis of viruses. Patients are encouraged to contact local licensed acupuncturists to consult about treatment options.

 

References
[1] Lang BX, Jin LQ, Liu SN, Liu XR. Clinical observation on the effect of acupuncture combined with conventional therapy on influenza H1N1 [J]. Chinese Archives of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2011, 29(2):411-412.
[2] Chou YF, Cao YM, Wang JL, Yang ZM, Qiu ML. Protective effect of acupuncture on mice infected with influenza virus [J]. China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, 1990(2):16-18.
[3] Wenjing Li, Bruno Moltedo, Thomas M. Moran. Type I Interferon Induction during Influenza Virus Infection Increases Susceptibility to Secondary Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection by Negative Regulation of T Cells [J]. Journal of Virology, Oct 2012, 86 (22) 12304-12312.

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