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Laura

About Laura

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New U of I course next semester

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Laura has been chosen by the University of Iowa to teach “Studies in Complementary and Alternative Medicine” starting in January. It is a survey course, taught in the Global Health Studies Program. This course will be an overview of many of the major ideas and approaches that make up Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the world. There will be readings on the history of medicine, particularly CAM, and guest speakers at most classes, speaking on their area of practice within CAM. Additionally there will be readings in each of the areas presented. The course will also include an overview of the majority of the theoretical model of Oriental Medicine, so that students have a chance to look in depth at one model within the CAM methodologies. At each session there will also be a time for practice of mindfulness meditation, and for students to share their experiences in meditation.

For Laura, this is a dream-come-true because she has hoped for 30 years to someday bring her education and experience to the University of Iowa as an educator.

Acupuncture and Exercise Helpful for Breast Cancer Support

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Two new studies from the Abramson Cancer Center and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania offer hope for breast cancer survivors struggling with cancer-related pain and swelling, and point to ways to enhance muscular strength and body image. The studies appear in a first of its kind monograph from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs focusing on integrative oncology, which combines a variety of therapies, some non-traditional, for maximum benefit to cancer patients.

For information on the acupuncture study, skip down to the underlined portion of text below.

Exercise Research

In the first study, A Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of an Evidence-Based Exercise Intervention for Breast Cancer Survivors, Penn researchers assessed patients participating in “Strength after Breast Cancer,” a Penn Medicine-developed, evidence-based exercise and education program for breast cancer survivors. The study was intended to investigate the ease and effectiveness of transporting a research-based treatment into a practice setting. The primary goal of the study was to demonstrate program effectiveness for patients after transition from research to a practice setting. The secondary goal was to understand the implementation process and identify barriers to implementation.

Building upon the team’s previous research, results of the new study show several benefits of exercise for participants, including reduced symptoms of lymphedema – a swelling condition in the upper body after that can be caused by the removal of or damage to the body’s lymph nodes. Results also showed a lower proportion of women with lymphedema onset (eight percent) or the need for therapist-delivered treatment (19 percent), improvements in upper and lower body strength (13 and 9 percent, respectively), and improvements in body image (16 percent). There were no adverse effects noted for the intervention.

The second aim of the study allowed the team to take the research into a new direction. Led by first author, Rinad Beidas, PhD, assistant professor of Psychiatry, the team sought to identify barriers to implementation of the program. The researchers were able to identify a number of factors that potentially hindered the implementation process, including: intervention characteristics, payment, eligibility criteria, the referral process, the need for champions, and the need to adapt during implementation of the intervention.

“The results of this study are exciting because they demonstrate that an evidence-based exercise and education program for breast cancer survivors can be translated to a new setting while still remaining effective and safe” says Beidas. “Importantly, we were also able to identify the types of barriers that should be addressed when taking this program to scale, which provides important information translating research into practice, which historically has taken up to 17 years.”

Strength after Breast Cancer was developed by the study’s senior author Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH, professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and a member of the Abramson Cancer Center, based on a 2011 study showing that contrary to what was previously believed, exercise and weightlifting can be extremely beneficial for . Administered by physical therapists, Strength after Breast Cancer includes group based exercise classes, and an exercise program for patients to continue at home or a gym.

The program is now available at a broad variety of venues across the Delaware Valley region and beyond. Schmitz also plans to develop an online training course for physical therapists to be able to make the Strength after Breast Cancer program available to survivors across the United States.

Acupuncture Research

In the second study, Expectancy in Real and Sham Electroacupuncture: Does Believing Make It So? researchers at Penn Medicine and other institutions found that electro- (“real” acupuncture) helped reduce joint pain by as much as 40 percent in women with breast cancer, whether the patient expected it to work or not. The study also found that “sham” acupuncture – which involves nonpenetrative needles and no electrical stimulation – provided pain reduction as high as 80 percent if patients had a high degree of expectation that it would work. The study results provide important implications for future treatment of breast cancer patients with joint pain.

“Our study is the first to provide evidence that expectancy has no effect on whether real acupuncture works or not, but that high expectancy does appear to have a positive effect on patients who receive sham acupuncture,” said the study’s senior author Jun J. Mao, MD MSCE, an associate professor of Family Medicine and Community Health and director of the Abramson Cancer Center’s integrative oncology program, who served as editor of the special monograph. “This issue extends beyond acupuncture and is important to all trials involving pain management that use placebos, such as drugs, procedures, and natural products.”

The findings are the result of an investigation that sought to evaluate the relationship between response expectancy and treatment outcome for joint stiffness or joint pain in real and sham acupuncture among 41 ; a control group received neither intervention. Joint stiffness and are side effects of aromatase inhibitor, a hormonal therapy used to help treat .

In addition, patients who reported pain relief had increased expectancy that it would continue to work over the course of their acupuncture treatment as compared with nonresponders, suggesting that positive responses during the process of real acupuncture increased the expectations of further positive outcomes—what the authors call a “bottom-up” result.

“These findings certainly challenge the notion held by some that acupuncture is ‘all placebo,'” said the study’s lead author Joshua Bauml, MD, an assistant professor of Medicine in the Abramson Cancer Center. “If it were ‘all placebo,’ patients receiving real acupuncture who had low expectations that it would work would report little or no reductions in pain. But that’s not the case.”

Sham acupuncture only produced clinically important pain reduction for those with high onset expectancy. But patients with the highest expectation that it would work reported as much as 80 percent reductions in pain – twice the rate of patients receiving real acupuncture. (The authors call this a “top-down” result.) Sham acupuncture patients with low baseline expectancy scores did not report any significant pain reduction.

The strong response seen in patients with high expectancy for raises the question of whether such could benefit from the nonpenetrative use of needles without electro-stimulation.

Laser Acupuncture Relieves Temporomandibular Joint Pain

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Laser acupuncture alleviates pain for patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Laser acupuncture employs the use of cold lasers and does not burn the skin or involve the use of needles. TMD disorders include structural abnormalities and muscular disorders of the temporomandibular joint region. TMD is a major cause of orofacial pain. Researchers demonstrate that noninvasive laser acupuncture therapy applied to acupuncture points on the face and hand significantly reduce pain levels.

The acupuncture laser therapy not only reduced pain levels but also improved range of motion. The maximal mouth opening demonstrated clinically significant improvements. There were no side effects. The researchers conclude that “TMD symptoms improved with LAT (laser acupuncture therapy).” The beneficial effects were in both acute and chronic patients with treatment-resistant temporomandibular disorders.

Researchers from China Medica University Hospital (Taiwan), Kaohsiung Medical University College of Medicine (Taiwan), et. al., note that laser acupuncture’s analgesic effects are “mediated by peripheral opioid receptors.” They add that low level cold laser therapy increases pain tolerances by inducing biological changes to cellular membranes. The researchers note other biological responses induced by low level laser therapy (LLLT) including vasodilation, increasing intracellular metabolism and decreasing edema. The researchers also cite important biomodulatory effects of LLLT; it “improves local microcirculation and oxygen supply to hypoxic cells in the painful areas…, tissue asphyxia is reduced…, it restores the normal physiological condition of the tissue.”

Low level laser acupuncture therapy was applied to patients three times per week for four weeks in this investigation. Protective goggles were worn by the practitioner and patient. Yangming channel acupuncture points ST7 (Xiaguan), ST6 (Jiache), and LI4 (Hegu) plus local Ashi points were stimulated using pulsed waves. Five seconds of stimulation was applied to the stomach and large intestine Yangming points and forty seconds of LLLT stimulation was applied to each Ashi point. The researchers note that the treatment principle was based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concept that “pain results from blood stasis due to qi stagnation.” The goal was to “restore internal homeostasis” by restoring the “flow of qi and blood.”

TMD is a widespread illness that can be very painful and impacts the quality of life. Symptoms include facial pain, jaw clicking and popping, locking and catching of the jaw, decreased mouth opening and pain upon chewing. Other symptoms associated with TMD include headaches and neck pain. This study suggests that a simple, noninvasive application of laser acupuncture significantly benefits patients with treatment-resistant type TMD.

Reference:
Hu, Wen-Long, Chih-Hao Chang, Yu-Chiang Hung, Ying-Jung Tseng, I-Ling Hung, and Sheng-Feng Hsu. “Laser Acupuncture Therapy in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Temporomandibular Disorders.” PLOS ONE 9, no. 10 (2014): e110528.

Goodbye Stacy

We are sad to report that Stacy Kluck has ended her work here at Acupuncture of Iowa. She has done excellent treatment with all her patients, and she has contributed enormously to the clinic.  We are not sure where she’ll end up next, but we miss her and wish her well on her life’s adventures.

Laura will be very happy to continue the work that Stacy has been doing with her patients. She will be making space in her schedule for everyone

New Perspectives on Japanese Acupuncture

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Laura has just returned from a 3-day seminar with a renowned Japanese acupuncturist, Tsuyoshi Shimamura, from Osaka Japan. The seminar was held in Portland, OR, where Laura has been attending similar seminars all of this year. This seminar was a great reminder of how very simple, focused interventions can sometimes make a bigger change than 40 needles left in the body for an hour. This is surely going to change the style of acupuncture that Laura is doing, and immediately. Call us to schedule. 319-341-0031

Laser Acupuncture for Weight Loss, New Research

Laser acupuncture helps metabolic syndromes patients lose weight, achieving reductions in hip and waist circumferences. This type of needle-free acupuncture also reduces cholesterol and insulin levels. These results were documented in a study of obese post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome. Laser acupuncture and control groups were randomly divided to avoid bias and the results were confirmed with objective measurements: anthropometric, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, homeostatic insulin resistance, lipid profile.

Laser Acupuncture
Laser acupuncture evolved from the study of photobiology, how light affects living beings. Low level lasers, known as cold lasers, are used for this type of acupuncture in most applications. Cold lasers are used in 635 nM red, 450 nM blue and 532 nM green laser acupuncture. They do not produce heat and do not burn the skin. The use of 700-1000 nM heat producing infrared lasers may also be employed but are less common.

This latest research demonstrates that laser acupuncture significantly enhances the therapeutic value of diet and exercise interventions for obese post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome. Weight loss is very difficult with metabolic syndrome because the insulin-glucagon pathway does not function properly. Laser acupuncture helps to correct this imbalance and facilitates weight loss.

Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors. Central obesity, excess body fat on the upper and middle parts of the body, is one of the primary symptoms. Insulin resistance is also present and results in increased blood sugar and fat levels. High cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure are indicators of metabolic syndrome. This disorder may lead to excessive blood clotting, systemic inflammation, diabetes, stroke, heart and kidney disease, and poor blood circulation in the legs. Conventional therapeutic approaches include pharmaceutical drugs, dietary modifications and exercise programs.

The research team notes that needle acupuncture is effective in reducing BMI and abdominal fat by decreasing abdominal visceral adipose tissue. This new clinical investigation was designed to measure the effects of laser acupuncture on lipid metabolism and insulin-glucose homeostasis. The diet and exercise programs for the control group and the laser acupuncture group were identical, anthropometric measurements were taken by a therapist that was blinded to group assignments and patients were randomly divided into each group. Anthropometrics included measurements of hip and waist circumference. Biochemical analyses were based on blood samples and included measurements of glucose, insulin, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

Diet
The dietary modifications included caloric restriction to daily energy intake of 1000 kcal/day. Carbohydrates were set to 55%, protein was set to 15% and fat was set to 30% of total dietary intake (55:15:30). An interesting choice of percentages, this differs from the popular Zone diet that uses a ratio of 40:30:30 for carbohydrates, protein and fat respectively.

Exercise
The training program used a treadmill for exercise at a rate of 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Warm-ups were performed for 5 minutes at a 0% grade at a velocity of 4-5 km/h. Next, there was a thirty minute period of increased activity using heart rate controls, monitored by a Polar heart rate monitor. Heart rate monitors and other fitness devices are becoming more accessible including introductions by Samsung and now Apple, thought to be released under the name iWatch. Many heart rate monitors allow for calculations of heart rates, heart rate variability, heart resting rate and related measurements. Treadmill velocity and incline were adjusted to maintain a target heart rate based on the Karvonen equation.

Laser Acupuncture
The laser acupuncture group received gallium Arsenide infrared laser stimulation at 904 nM at 5 mW, 5000 Hz, with a 200 ns pulse. The acupuncture point selections were based on Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles. TCM theory notes that obesity is related to spleen and kidney deficiency combined with stomach heat and qi stagnation. As a result, the following acupuncture points were selected that addressed these concerns: CV4 (Guanyuan), CV9 (Shuifen), CV12 (Zhongwan), ST25 (Tianshu), ST36 (Zusanli), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), ST40 (Fenglong). Laser acupuncture was applied to these acupuncture points at a rate of 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Each point was vertically stimulated with the laser for a period of 2 minutes.

Results
The researchers measured important changes in a comparison of the control group with the laser acupuncture treatment group, “The percentages of changes in the control group versus acupuncture group were as follows: 9.53 vs 10.95% for BW (body weight); 9.52 vs 10.94% for BMI; 8.94 vs 13.41% for waist circumference; 9.21 vs 12.73% for hip circumference; 0.001 vs 1.05% for waist hip ratio; 7.08 vs 9.54% for fasting blood glucose; 16.65 vs 30.08% for fasting blood insulin; 23.51 vs 32.1% for HOMA-IR; 8.68 vs 11.56% for TC (total cholesterol); 2.38 vs 3.54% for HDL-C (HDL cholesterol); 6.41 vs 9.33% for LDL-C (LDL cholesterol); 21.64 vs 24.62% for TG (triglycerides).” Cholesterol results were important. Total cholesterol reduced in the laser acupuncture group, harmful LDL decreased and helpful HDL cholesterol increased. This demonstrates a homeostatic therapeutic action of laser acupuncture on cholesterol levels. In related research, investigators conducted a “double-blind, randomized, and controlled trial was conducted in patients with chronic myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in the neck to evaluate the effects of infrared low level 904 nm Gallium-Arsenide (Ga-As) laser therapy (LLLT) on clinical and quality of life (QoL).” The concluded , “This study revealed that short-period application of LLLT is effective in pain relief and in the improvement of functional ability and QoL in patients with MPS.”

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
TCM encompasses the five branches of traditional medicine: acupuncture, herbs, Qi Gong meditation and movement exercises, tui-na massage and bone medicine, and dietetics. As a result, acupuncture continuing education is not limited to the study of acupuncture points but also extends to other areas including diet and exercise.

Metabolic syndrome patients benefit from acupuncture therapy but requires dietary modifications for effective positive patient outcomes. Take a look at the dietetics courses at HealthCMi.com to learn more about Chinese medicine dietetics for weight loss. A special focus on this topic is given in an upcoming course entitled Chinese Medicine Dietetic Remedies. This acupuncture continuing education course will be available online, expected for release in October, and a text with the same title will be available on Amazon.com in early September. Important recipes for the treatment of obesity, heart disease, headaches, diabetes and more are featured in Chinese Medicine Dietetic Remedies. Currently, there are several other dietetics courses available at HealthCMi.com and the book Chinese Medicine Dietetics #1 is available at Amazon.

References:
El-Mekawy, Hanan S., Abeer M. ElDeeb, and Hassan O. Ghreib. “Effect of laser acupuncture combined with a diet-exercise intervention on metabolic syndrome in post-menopausal women.” Journal of Advanced Research (2014).

H. Zhang, Y. Peng, Z. Liu, S. Li, Z. Lv, L. Tian, et al. Effects of acupuncture therapy on abdominal fat and hepatic fat content in obese children: a magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study, J Altern Complement Med, 17 (5) (2011), pp. 413–420.

Gur, Ali, Aysegul Jale Sarac, Remzi Cevik, Ozlem Altindag, and Serdar Sarac. “Efficacy of 904 nm gallium arsenide low level laser therapy in the management of chronic myofascial pain in the neck: A double?blind and randomize?controlled trial.” Lasers in surgery and medicine 35, no. 3 (2004): 229-235.

– See more at: http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1359-laser-acupuncture-metabolic-weight-loss-new-study#sthash.99YRtQ9u.dpuf

Acupuncture and Herbs Beat Drug for Headache

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A new study concludes that acupuncture combined with herbal medicine is more effective than drugs for the treatment of headaches. This confirms similar results found in a prior study wherein acupuncture was found comparable to drugs for the treatment of migraine headaches. The new study finds acupuncture combined with herbal medicine is effective for the treatment of vascular headaches whereas the prior study found acupuncture, as a standalone procedure, effective for the treatment of migraines. The results agree that acupuncture and/or acupuncture combined with herbs produce positive patient outcomes for headaches.

The prior study concluded that acupuncture is “of comparable efficiency to several proven drug therapies for the treatment and prevention of migraine(s).” The meta-analysis examined 25 randomized controlled trials involving a sample size of 3,004 patients. True acupuncture significantly outperformed simulated sham-acupuncture. In addition, true acupuncture was comparable to drug therapy for the treatment and prevention of migraines.

The new acupuncture continuing education research increased the strength of clinical care by adding herbal medicine to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) protocol. By combining acupuncture with the modified herbal medicine formula Huo Xue Qu Feng Tong Luo Tang (Blood Activating Wind Dispelling Meridian Unblocking Decoction), the TCM treatment was significantly more effective than nimodipine. Also referred to by its brand names Nimotop and Nymalize, this drug is a calcium channel blocker that increases blood flow to the brain by widening blood vessels. Originally developed to reduce high blood pressure, this drug is commonly used to prevent complications due to cerebral vasospasm.

Acupuncture combined with modified Huo Xue Qu Feng Tong Luo Tang is more effective than nimodipine for relieving vascular headaches. These headaches include cluster headaches, migraines and toxic headaches. Migraines involve unilateral or bilateral head pain and may combine with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual auras. Toxic headaches occur during fevers. Cluster headaches are focal and recur in severe episodes.

The researchers conducted a randomized acupuncture continuing education investigation of 92 patients with vascular headaches at the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Chongqing Medical University (Sichuan). Group #1 received oral administration of nimodipine at 40 mg per dose, three times per day. Group #2 received acupuncture and a TCM herbal formula based on Huo Xue Qu Feng Tong Luo Tang. A course of treatment for both groups consisted of two weeks and the entire treatment lasted for two courses. After the two courses of treatment, patients in both groups made considerable progress. However, patients in the acupuncture group significantly outperformed those in the drug group.

The Herbs
The primary ingredients in the modified version of Huo Xue Qu Feng Tong Luo Tang for patients in the acupuncture group were:
Tao Ren 12g
Hong Hua 12g
Dang Gui 15g
Chuan Xiong 15g
Chi Shao 12g
Sheng Di Huang 20g
Chai Hu 12g
Zhi Ke 12g
Xiang Fu 12g
Yu Jin 12g
Niu Xi 15g
Jie Geng 6g
Shi Jue Ming 30g
Zhen Zhu Mu 30g
Raw Mu Li 30g
Wu Gong 2 pieces
Quan Xie 10g
Gan Cao 5g

Modifications were made according to TCM differential diagnostics:
Add Di Long 12g for severe cases of stasis blocking collaterals.
Add Raw Long Gu 30g, Gou Teng 15g and Ci Shi 30g for cases of hyperactivity of liver yang.
Add Chen Pi 12g and processed Ban Xia 10g for cases of phlegm dampness.
Add Shan Zhu Yu 20g, Gou Qi Zi 15g and Nu Zhen Zi 15g for yin deficiency in the liver and kidneys.
Add Ren Shen 15g, Dang Gui 15g and Shu Di Huang 20g for cases of qi and blood deficiency.

The Acupuncture Points
The acupoints for acupuncture needling were chosen according to the locations of the headaches, i.e. near the affected regions and along the meridians:
For headaches primarily on the top of the head add Baihui (DU20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Taichong (LR3), Neiguan (PC6) and Yongquan (KI1).
For headaches primarily on the forehead add Yintang (EX-HN3), Touwei (ST6), Yangbai (GB14), Zanzhu (BL2), Hegu (LI4) and Quchi (LI11).
For temporal headaches add Shuaigu (GB8), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB20), Zhukong (SJ23), Waiguan (SJ5) and Yangfu (GB38).
For occipital headaches add Tianzhu (BL10), Fengchi (GB14), Fengfu (DU16), Yuzhen (BL9), Kunlun (BL60) and Houxi (SI3).

Modifications were also made based on differential diagnostics:
Add Hegu (LI4) and Lieque (LU7) for cases of external infection due to wind cold.
Add Xuehai (SP10), Geshu (BL17) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) for cases of stasis.
Add Taichong (LR3) and Yanglingquan (GB34) for cases of liver yang hyperactivity.
Add Fengrong (ST40) and Yinlingquan (SP9) for cases of wind phlegm invading upwardly.
Add Shenshu (BL23), Taixi (KI3) and Xuanzhong (GB39) for the cases of kidney deficiency.
Add Zusanli (ST36), Ganshu (BL18), Pishu (BL20) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) for cases of qi and blood deficiency.

Acupuncture Techniques
Acupuncture was applied in either the seated or lying posture. Quick insertion of filiform needles was applied with twirling reinforcing and reducing manipulation methods to acupoints on the head. Lifting and thrusting was used for reinforcing and reducing methods at limb acupoints. Manual manipulation was applied every 10 minutes. The retention of needling was 20 minutes for minor cases and 30 minutes for severe cases. Acupuncture needling was applied once daily with 10 days comprising one course. There was a two day break after the first course and the entire treatment consisted of two courses of care.

After two courses of treatment, both groups achieved varied degrees of curative effects in terms of reducing headache attacks, duration of each attack and the intensity degree of headaches. The acupuncture group outperformed the drug group in all of the aforementioned indices. As a result, the researchers conclude that acupuncture combined with Huo Xue Qu Feng Tong Luo Tang is superior to nimodipine for the treatment of vascular headaches.

References:
Zhou, Ping, Huali Luo, Oula Chen, et al. “Clinical Research on Huoxue Qufeng Tongluo Decoction Combined with Acupuncture in Treatment of Vascular Headache.” Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 20.2 (2014).

Scott SW, Deare JC. Acupuncture for migraine: a systematic review. ‘Aust J Acupunct Chin Med’ 2006;1(1):3-14)

From Health CMI: http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1342-acupuncture-herbs-best-pharmaceutical-for-headaches

British Gov. Looking at Chinese Herbs for Nat’l Health Svc.

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Get past ‘ick’ factor for herbal benefits

Melissa Carr TCM

By Melissa Carr, Special to 24 hours

 

A worker prepares traditional Chinese herbal medicines at Beijing’s Capital Medical University Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. (REUTERS)

The British government recently announced it is looking at integrating traditional Chinese medicine into its national health service. A group of experts has been tasked with investigating whether there is sufficient evidence that the herbs involved in TCM are both safe and effective enough to make them available on their national health benefits program, alongside western medicines.

While the practice of acupuncture is regulated in five provinces — British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland — only B.C. also licenses and regulates the herbal practice of TCM under the titles of registered TCM herbalist (R.TCM.H.), registered TCM practitioner (R.TCM.P), and registered doctor of TCM (Dr. TCM).

In the West, acupuncture receives most of the glory and recognition when TCM is considered, but Chinese herbals are an equally important aspect of this long-standing medical system. Just as acupuncture points are selected by considering the whole person, not just the symptoms, so too are herbs. In the West, we often ask questions like, “Which herb can treat headaches?” or “That herb helped my friend’s joint pain. Should I take it?” Research investigates the results of a consistent amount of X given to a group of individuals with Y problem to see how many gain positive results as measured by Z.

The problem is that herbs selected by a TCM professional are chosen based on each individual’s patterns of whole body health and imbalance. Thus, one Crohn’s patient may be given a different combination of herbs than another Crohn’s patient. This causes a real complication when gold standard research is attempted.

Nevertheless, researchers are doing their work, looking for ways to clarify herb effectiveness. The European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences published a study by Li et al demonstrating that berberine, a major constituent in the Chinese herbs huang lian, huang bai, huang qin, long dan cao, and ku shen, can help prevent the intestinal wall cellular damage that occurs with inflammation. Another study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Bensoussan et al had 116 patients take either a Chinese herbal formula or placebo over 16 weeks while being evaluated by a TCM herbalist and a gastroenterologist. Those receiving the herbs found significant benefit.

Though our sweet and salty-seeking taste buds are unaccustomed to bitter flavours, getting past the “ick factor” of the taste of Chinese herbs — especially if you are dealing with digestive, skin, or immune system imbalances — may be worth the effort.

Melissa Carr is a registered doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, caring for patients in an integrative medicine clinic in Vancouver.

Ear Acupuncture Works for Obesity

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Auricular (ear) acupuncture successfully treats obesity. A new study concludes that a special 5 point combination of auricular acupuncture points is effective for weight loss in overweight individuals. A one point auricular treatment was also found effective but not to the degree of clinical success as the 5 acupuncture point combination.

A randomised controlled clinical trial of a total of 91 patients with a BMI (body mass index) of 23 or greater were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 received the 5 acupuncture point combination. Group 2 received only one acupuncture point and group 3 received sham acupuncture. At both 4 and 8 weeks following the treatment regime, measurements were taken to determine clinical effectiveness. It was discovered that the 5 acupuncture point combination was the most effective yielding over a 6% reduction in the body mass index. The one point acupuncture treatment regime yielded just under a 6% improvement in BMI. Both groups 1 and 2 showed significant improvements in BMI and weight loss.


(Shutterstock*)

Group 1 received 5 auricular acupuncture points: shenmen, spleen, stomach, hunger, endocrine. Group 2 received only one auricular acupuncture point: hunger. Group 3, the sham group, was needled at the 5 auricular acupuncture points but the needles were then immediately removed. The unilateral application of the acupuncture needles was applied once per week. Both groups 1 and group 2 retained a total needle time of 8 weeks using the ear tacks, tiny acupuncture needles attached by tape. Group 3 only received local auricular stimulation of the acupuncture points to simulate the experience but the needles were not retained.

A special type of tape retained the needles over the 8 week period for groups 1 and 2. The same tape hid the absence of needles in the sham group. The needle depth was 2 millimeters in the auricular acupuncture points. The 5 point acupuncture treatment caused the most significant reduction in waist circumference and BMI. Body fat percentage dropped significantly in the 5 point acupuncture treatment but not in the other groups.

The 5 auricular acupuncture point combination is commonly employed for digestion issues. Gastric and duodenal ulcers are commonly treated with a similar combination. The 5 acupuncture point weight loss combination used in the study includes auricular shenmen.

The spleen auricular point is traditionally used for strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach. It helps to produce yin-blood and benefits the muscles.

The endocrine point used in the 5 acupuncture point combination is located in the cavum concha in the intertragic notch.

The hunger point can be used to up-regulate or down-regulate sensations of hunger. It is used for issues of anorexia, bulimia and digestive disturbances.

At Acupuncture of Iowa we use safe and reliable techniques when we use needles that are left in the ear between visits. Our ear needles are just 1 mm or less in length and can be stimulated by gentle rubbing to reinforce the effect at home. Our weight loss treatment also includes coaching on behavior change and dietary change to support health.

Call Acupuncture of Iowa at 319-341-0031 to schedule a weight loss consultation and treatment!

Acupuncture Myths, Dispelled

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As popular as acupuncture is, some people still regard it with misapprehension. Let’s debunk some common myths surrounding this centuries-old treatment.

Myth #1: Acupuncture is only for pain – While needling can provide relief for virtually every kind of pain, to suggest that its only function is pain-relief is wrong. Acupuncture has been shown to help with a wide variety of chronic health conditions, such as insomnia, anxiety, allergies, asthma and reproductive and digestive issues. It’s also been proven effective for acute conditions like colds, flues, headaches and injuries.

Myth # 2: It’s a needle; it must hurt – The actual insertion of the whisker-thin needles is virtually painless. As the acupuncturist brings the needle to the appropriate depth, a patient may feel slight tingling or a heavy or warm sensation. There is no pain as the needle is removed, though certain acupuncture points may briefly exhibit a residual feeling, as if something is there even though the needle is gone. Rarely, there may be some discomfort after treatment, with muscles sometimes feeling a bit bruised or as though they’ve just had a heavy workout.

Myth #3: Acupuncture doesn’t work. “I did it once and nothing happened” – You wouldn’t say that about joining a fitness club. Like exercise, acupuncture is cumulative. If you’ve had a sore back for six months, it will likely take a few visits before you notice a big change. That said, many people do notice a difference after only one or two visits, with most seeing significant improvement after six to 10. Your acupuncturist will discuss your particular treatment schedule with you after your assessment and first treatment. Regardless of your specific health condition, acupuncture is a safe, effective, drug-free therapy.

 

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