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Source: Health CMi
http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1458-7-star-acupuncture-lowers-cholesterol
Acupuncture combined with plum blossom needling reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels in obese patients with hyperlipidemia. Researchers discovered an additive effect when combining the two protocols. The total effective rate in the acupuncture combined with plum blossom needling group was higher than in a group receiving only acupuncture. 7 star plum blossom needle. Other clinically significant changes documented in the study were improvements in body mass index and body fat percentages.
Plum blossom needling, often referred to as seven star needling, refers to a group of needles attached to a wand. The flexible wand is manually manipulated to tap the needles to the surface of the skin. The researchers investigated the synergistic and additive effects of combining plum blossom needling with standard acupuncture protocols. One group received manual acupuncture and the other group received a combination of manual acupuncture plus plum blossom needling. Acupuncture was applied to acupoints including:
Qimen (LV14)
Taichong (LV3)
Zhangmen (LV13)
Taibai (SP3)
Zusanli (ST36)
Geshu (UB17)
Ganshu (UB18)
Pishu (UB20)
In the plum blossom group, the seven star needle was applied to the acupoints in addition to standard manual acupuncture. Acupuncture treatments were provided one time per two days for a period of three continuous months. The total effective rate in the acupuncture with plum blossom group was 96.2% and the acupuncture only group had a total effective rate of 84.6%. The researchers conclude that acupuncture combined with plum blossom needling is more effective than acupuncture as a standalone procedure for the treatment of hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and triglycerides).
Sun et al. had related findings when testing the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. They discovered that acupuncture combined with the drug Lipitor is more effective for the treatment of hyperlipidemia than using only Lipitor. The Lipitor only group had a 73.3% total effective rate whereas the acupuncture plus Lipitor group had a 93.3% total effective rate. Close-up of a 7 star needle
Lipitor was given to hyperlipidemia patients in both groups, one 20 mg tablet per day for six weeks. Manual acupuncture was applied in the acupuncture group to the following acupuncture points with a forty minute needle retention time at a rate of two times per day, five days per week, for six weeks:
Baihui (GV 20)
Zhongwan (CV 12)
Zusanli (ST 36)
Sanyinjiao (SP 6)
Yinlingquan (SP 9)
Fenglong (ST 40)
Measurements of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were recorded. The researchers note that combining acupuncture with Lipitor delivers superior positive patient outcomes than using Lipitor as a standalone procedure.
In a related study, Shen et al. find acupuncture effective for lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), the researchers examined how acupuncture point LV3 (Taichong) lowers blood pressure. They discovered that LV3 activates the anterior cingulated gyrus and its connection with surrounding areas of the brain. The researchers note that LV3 regulates the parasympathetic nervous system and lowers blood pressure through this pathway.
Source: The Epoch Times
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1338333-acupuncture-alleviates-parkinsons-disease/
Acupuncture relieves Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Researchers document the ability of acupuncture to reduce pain, anxiety, depression, hot flashes and abnormal sweating in a clinical case history. The patient responded with significant positive patient outcomes after a 2 week regime of acupuncture treatments given at a rate of five days per week.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder affecting movement. Changes include the onset of tremors, slowness of movements, shuffling, difficulty swallowing, fainting, reduced arm sway, rigidity and dysfunction of speech and gait. There is no known biomedical cure but medications including levodopa, COMT inhibitors, MAO-B inhibitors, dopamine agonists and other medications are used to control symptoms. Surgical interventions include the implantation of deep brain stimulators.
Acupuncture successfully reduces pain, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and mental illness in Parkinson’s disease patients. Researchers from the Aizu Medical Center (Fukushima Medical University) delivered the patient care and collected the data. Additional support and came from an investigator at the Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetology (Yamagata University).
The case history documents acupuncture’s ability to address specific concerns of an 81 year old female patient suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Complications included a history of hypertension and lumbar fracture. The patient had been prescribed medications including anti-inflammatory and psychiatric drugs. Her symptoms persisted and acupuncture was initiated.
Manual acupuncture was applied at acupuncture points: LR3, LI4, KI5, KI7, SP6, GB34, BL18, BL15, GB20. Needles were retained for ten minutes per session. Electroacupuncture at 1 Hz for 7 minutes was applied to: KI10, LR9, BL23, BL25. The researchers note that the electroacupuncture was applied to relax the muscle tension. Seirin brand acupuncture needles of 40 – 50 mm length and 0.14 – 0.18 diameter were used. The researchers note that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory guided the needle selection process. UB15, LR3, and SP6 were chosen for their ability to treat both depression and anxiety. LR3, KI7, BL18, and GB34 were chosen for their ability to treat hot flashes and paroxysmal sweating.
The researchers note that the patient’s lower leg pain decreased. Hot flashes and paroxysmal sweating incidences reduced. The patient showed very significant reductions in depression and anxiety scores. In addition, her “steps became larger” and there was a significant reduction in bradykinesia, a complication often correlated with Parkinson’s disease characterized by slowness and impairment of movements and reflexes.
In related research, University of Arizona doctors find acupuncture effective for the treatment of balance and gait disorders in Parkinson’s disease patients. The research team from the surgery and neurology departments measured significant clinical improvements in overall balance, gait speed and stride length. The results were published in Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Patients were randomly assigned to an acupuncture group or a control group. The acupuncture group received electroacupuncture. The control group received sham acupuncture to rule out variables including the placebo effect. Patients received one treatment per week for three weeks and each treatment duration lasted a total of 30 minutes.
Objective measurements were taken from various positions and during many types of activities. Balance measurements included assessment of the relationship between the mediolateral center of mass sway with the anteroposterior sway. These measurements were taken with the eyes open, closed and during multitasking. Gait measurements were taken during fast walking, postural transitions and related activities.
The researchers tabulated the results and measured an overall improvement in balance by 31% in the acupuncture group. Gait speed improved by 10% and stride length increased by 5% for patients receiving true acupuncture. Control group patients showed no improvements.
Balance, gait and stride length significantly improved due to the application of electroacupuncture. Use of a sham acupuncture control group eliminated the possibility of the placebo effect in the final results. As a result, the University of Arizona doctors conclude, “EA (electroacupuncture) is an effective therapy in improving certain aspects of balance and gait disorders in PD (Parkinson’s disease).”
Source: Pop Sugar
http://www.popsugar.com/beauty/Skin-Care-Benefits-Acupuncture-37224421#photo-37224421
What skin conditions can be treated with acupuncture?
“Acne, wrinkles, dermatitis, and eczema can all be treated with acupuncture,” said Dr. Zhang. “Sagging, dark spots, dullness, and enlarged pores can be improved, and even some types of hair loss respond to acupuncture.” Issues like male-pattern baldness and deeply damaged skin may be harder to treat. In his practice, he frequently treats acne, eczema, psoriasis, and hair loss caused by stress.
How does acupuncture work for skin?
There are two primary reasons to treat your skin with acupuncture therapy — health and beauty — and they are often connected. As you likely know from experience, nearly anything can affect your complexion, from stress, poor sleep, and a bad diet to hormonal imbalances and environmental factors. “An acupuncturist must first diagnose the cause for a patient’s skin problem then select proper acupuncture points for the treatment,” Dr. Zhang explained. The acupuncturist can then treat the skin concern locally (on or around it) and/or via the meridians connected to the concern. To illustrate, Dr. Zhang cited a specific case: “Hormones play an important part in some skin conditions. One female patient was suffering from very bad acne and an irregular period from her birth control medicine. After six treatments of focusing directly on her skin condition and her hormone points, her period became consistent and her acne was tremendously improved.”
How do you treat signs of aging with acupuncture?
Acupuncturists treat concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging with local treatments nicknamed the “acupuncture face-lift.” Dr. Zhang told me that cosmetic acupuncture has been used since the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) and kept the empress looking youthful. By inserting needles into specific points on the face, acupuncturists can stimulate collagen turnover and blood flow to nourish the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Source: Korea Times
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2015/04/319_177802.html
Acupuncture is effective in reducing wrinkles and fine lines, a study showed Sunday.
In the study authored by doctor Cho Jin-hyong at Kwangdong Hospital of Traditional Korean Medicine, she analyzed the treatment of 107 patients including 56 foreigners from May 2011 to 2014.
After a single treatment, patients’ skin elasticity improved at least five percent to nine percent depending on the age and personal genetic of the individual skin cell make-up, according to the study.
The study was published in the Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM), an international peer-reviewed, open access journal for complementary and alternative medicine.
“In the study, I found that inserting needles into certain pressure points on the face, energy and endorphins are released. This minor trauma improves blood flow and stimulates cell re-growth, ultimately helping reducing fine lines and laugh lines,” Cho said.
The treatment encourages production of collagen, a protein which the body uses to keep the skin youthful and elastic, the study author said.
Unlike filler and botox, facial acupuncture is ideal for people who do not want to inject poison into their face, Cho said.
“Acupuncture is minimal in terms of side effects because it does not involve artificial substances. It is getting increasingly popular among women in their 40s or older who are looking for a glowing and fair complexion without surgery,” Cho said.
Acupuncture is a form of ancient Chinese medicine treating illness by inserting fine needles into skin at certain points on the body.
The treatment is known to be effective for headaches, backaches, migraines and fertility problems.
Source: Health CMi
http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1453-brain-mri-shows-acupuncture-relieves-migraines
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals that acupuncture prevents and relieves migraines by restoring normal brain functions. MRI results demonstrate that acupuncture decreases the frequency and duration of migraine attacks by increasing functional connectivity in the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. The researchers add that the MRI data reveals the “neural mechanisms of acupuncture treatment for migraine.”
Brain regions of the frontal and temporal lobes have “decreased functional connectivity” in migraine sufferers. The MRI results demonstrate that acupuncture restores functional connectivity in the affected regions. After a four week course of acupuncture treatment, migraine sufferers “showed significantly increased functional connectivity in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, precuneus, inferior parietal lobule, posterior cingulate cortex, cingulate gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, and supramarginal gyrus as compared with before acupuncture treatment.” In addition, the researchers conclude that acupuncture decreases the frequency and duration of migraine attacks after a four week course of acupuncture therapy.
The researchers note that a large body of clinical research concludes that “acupuncture is able to alleviate headache degree and/or improve the quality of life and it is safe and at least as effective, if not more effective than prophylactic drug treatment.” The purpose of their investigation was to measure how acupuncture accomplishes pain relief. The researchers note, “The current results indicated that the neural mechanisms of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis might be interpreted as that acupuncture treatment could increase the decreased resting-state functional connectivity in certain brain regions within the frontal and temporal lobe of MWoA (migraine without aura) patients.”
They add that studies show that the “frontoparietal network plays an important role in endogenous pain modulation.” As a result, the researchers posit “that acupuncture treatment could enhance the pain related modulatory effects of the frontoparietal network by increasing its functional connectivity in migraine patients.” They also note that the results indicate that acupuncture relieves pain by enhancing the “functional connectivity of the default mode network and other brain networks.”
Worldwide, there are millions of migraine sufferers. Scalp acupuncture doll. The researchers note that “the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis has been widely recognized” but the underlying effective mechanisms had not been fully elucidated. Using a 3.0 T Siemens MRI scanner with a total of 32 axial slices per patient, the researchers discovered acupuncture’s ability to relieve migraines by enhancing functional brain connectivity.
All migraine patients received manual acupuncture treatments over a four week period. The acupuncture points used in the study were:
Sizhukong (SJ23)
Shuaigu (GB8)
Fengchi (GB20)
Taiyang (EX-HN5)
Hegu (LI4)
Taichong (LR3)
Waiguan (SJ5)
Yanglingquan (GB34)
Zulinqi (GB41)
Disposable stainless steel acupuncture needles of 0.25 x 40 mm were used. Manual acupuncture techniques were used at each acupoint to elicit a deqi sensation. Acupuncture needles were subsequently retained for 30 minutes. Acupuncture treatments were given five times per week over the four week treatment period. No adverse events occurred and all patients involved in the study completed the treatment course.
Source: The Epoch Times
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1327282-acupuncture-offers-allergy-relief/
Allergies are a common problem with symptoms ranging from the occasional sniffle to severe, life threatening reactions. According to WebMD, 55% of the U.S. population tests positive to one or more allergens. So, if allergies are this common, what exactly are they? Allergies happen when your immune system has a reaction to something it considers harmful (even if it isn’t) and, in response, produces antibodies. Normally these antibodies help protect us from from infection and illness, but with an allergic reaction, the antibodies can cause many unpleasant symptoms, including inflammation of the sinuses, airway, skin and digestive tract. People can be allergic to many things including certain foods, pet dander, medications, pollen, mold and insect bites.
Chinese Medicine techniques strengthen and balance your immune system so, over time, the use of acupuncture, herbal medicine and cupping can greatly reduce allergic reactions. Today, I’m going to focus on acupuncture. There are acupuncture points around the sinuses and elsewhere on the body that may provide almost immediate relief as well as offering cumulative benefits. Acupuncture opens the sinuses, relieves congestion, helps reduce inflammation and resolves many digestive complaints such as bloating, pain and gas. Some common acupoints used to treat allergies include Yinxiang/Large Intestine 20 which is located close to the nostrils, Hegu/Large Intestine 4 (pictured above), a well known point, is found on the hand between the thumb and index finger and Zusanli/Stomach 36 is just below the knee on the lateral side of the shin bone.
Researchers have been testing acupuncture’s effects for awhile. In 2008, The American Journal of Epidemiology published the results of a large German study of 5,237 people. The patients who received acupuncture had significantly more improvement in their allergy symptoms than those who received routine care alone.
Source: Acufinder
https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/The+Spirit+of+Renewal+Spring+and+Traditional+Chinese+Medicine
The Spirit of Renewal: Spring and Traditional Chinese Medicine
By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM
Spring: It is the long-awaited change of winter to spring. Seeds sprout, flowers bloom, and the sun warms the earth. There is a sense of renewal and new life all around. While winter was a time to conserve energy and reduce activity, spring is a time of regeneration, new beginnings, and a renewal of spirit.
The Principle of the Five Elements
The five elements refer to wood, fire, earth, metal, and water in Eastern philosophy. The Principle of the Five Elements (known as the Wu Hsing in Chinese) describes the flow of Qi and the balance of yin and yang.
According to the principle, all change – in the universe and in your body – occurs in five distinct stages. Each of these stages is associated with a particular time of year, a specific element in nature, and a pair of organs in the body. Change links together the seasons of the year, aspects of nature, and your body’s organs and bodily processes. A practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine uses this principle to diagnose and treat health problems, linking specific foods, herbs, and acupuncture points to the restoration of yin-yang and Qi.
SPRING:
Spring is the ideal time for cleansing and rejuvenation for overall health and well-being. As spring is represented by the wood element and includes the liver and its complementary organ, the gallbladder, these two organs are usually the primary targets for springtime cleansing and health regimens.
Element: Wood
Color: Green
Nature: Yang
Organs: Liver, Gallbladder
Emotion: Anger
Put Some Spring into Your Step
Spring corresponds to the “Wood” element, which in turn is conceptually related to the liver and gallbladder organs. According to the philosophy of Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth flowing of Qi (energy) throughout the body. When the liver functions smoothly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body also runs smoothly. So, for optimum health this spring, move your Qi!
Stretch – The liver controls the tendons. According to Chinese medicine, the liver stores blood during periods of rest and then releases it to the tendons in times of activity, maintaining tendon health and flexibility. Incorporate a morning stretch into your routine. Try yoga or tai qi.
Eye Exercises – The liver opens into the eyes. Although all the organs have some connection to the health of the eyes, the liver is connected to proper eye function. Remember to take breaks when looking at a computer monitor for extended periods of time and do eye exercises.
Eat Green – Green is the color of the liver and of springtime. Eating young plants – fresh, leafy greens, sprouts, and immature cereal grasses – can improve the liver’s overall functions and aid in the movement of qi.
Taste Sour – Foods and drinks with sour tastes are thought to stimulate the liver’s qi. Put lemon slices in your drinking water, use vinegar and olive oil for your salad dressing. Garnish your sandwich with a slice of dill pickle.
Do more outdoor activities – Outside air helps liver qi flow. If you have been feeling irritable, find an outdoor activity to smooth out that liver qi stagnation. Try hiking or take up golf.
Enjoy milk thistle tea
Milk thistle helps protect liver cells from incoming toxins and encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances, such as alcohol, medications, pesticides, environmental toxins, and even heavy metals such as mercury.
Get Acupuncture treatments- Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help improve the overall health of your liver as well as treat stress, anger and frustration, which are often associated with liver qi disharmony.
Seasonal acupuncture treatments just four times a year can serve to tonify the inner organ systems and can correct minor annoyances before they become serious problems.
Source: Health CMi
http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1452-stanford-university-acupuncture-reduces-pain-after-surgery
Stanford University doctors conclude that acupuncture during surgery reduces pain. Research published in The Laryngoscope finds acupuncture effective for reducing pain and improving restoration of a normal diet postoperatively when acupuncture is applied during surgery. A doctor examines a tonsil. Doctors from the Stanford University School of Medicine conclude that acupuncture is “feasible, well tolerated, and results in improved pain and earlier return of diet postoperatively.”
The research was conducted by doctors from two Stanford University School of Medicine (Palo Alto, California) departments, the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Department of Anesthesia.
A randomized-controlled investigation of acupuncture’s benefits to pediatric tonsillectomy patients reveals that acupuncture patients “experienced significantly less pain at various postoperative time points as compared to the control cohort, and also that the onset of analgesia in the acupuncture cohort began by 36 hours postoperatively, whereas the control group did not reach significant analgesia until 84 hours postoperatively.”
Postoperative oral intake improved for patients receiving acupuncture during the tonsillectomy operation. The researchers note, “Oral intake was significantly more improved in the acupuncture group than the control group (P = 0.01).” They add that “the acupuncture group had significantly increased oral intake starting at 24 hours and lasting through all remaining time points examined, whereas the control group had significantly increased oral intake starting at 72 hours postoperatively.”
Measures of intraoperative acupuncture on nausea and vomiting did not produce significantly different results for the acupuncture and control groups. Out of a total of 59 patients, five acupuncture group patients experienced nausea or vomiting. Similarly, seven control group patients experienced nausea or vomiting. The researchers note that the numbers are not statistically significant (P = 0.12). Overall, the researchers note that the rates of nausea and vomiting were “very low” for both groups and that this may be attributed to “other factors in our regimen” including surgical techniques, gastric suctioning, etc… The researchers comment, “We do, however, find the differences between the treatment and control groups in postoperative pain scores to be clinically significant, particularly when treatment resulted in an earlier improvement of oral intake.”
Researchers note that no adverse side effects from acupuncture occurred. They comment that only sterile disposable acupuncture needles were used, adding that this may have averted adverse effects. The researchers note, “Complications related to acupuncture are very rare….” In many states, including California where the investigation was conducted, only sterile disposable needles are legal for use during acupuncture. Although autoclaving sterilizes needles, reusable needles are not used in California and many other states. Single use sterile disposable needles have quickly become the national standard in the USA. The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) “note that not a single death has been reported to result from acupuncture in the US.”
The Stanford University researchers note that the study of acupuncture during surgery is a “relatively new area of research.” They add, “One of the strengths of this study is its rigorous double-blinded randomized design with a sham acupuncture control.” Based on the positive patient outcomes for both pain reduction and oral intake restoration, the researchers suggest further studies with larger sample sizes.
Acupuncture Procedure
Electroacupuncture was applied intraoperatively at alternating frequencies between 4 and 100 Hz with a Pantheon Research stimulator. Electroacupuncture connected acupoints LI4 (Hegu) to ST36 (Zusanli) and P6 (Neiguan) to TB5 (Waiguan). Electroacupuncture was also applied to acupoint KD6 (Zhaohai). The researchers comment that alternating frequencies between 4 and 100 Hz were utilized to “optimize the release of endogenous endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins.” ST36 was chosen for its “analgesic properties,” LI4 and KD6 were chosen for their analgesic actions on the throat, head, and neck; and PC6 was chosen for its antiemetic properties. All needles were inserted to a depth wherein a deqi fascial grab was achieved. The needle depth ranged between approximately 0.5 – 1.0 cun.
Acupoint HT7 (Shenmen), located on the wrist, was added for its ability to reduce “postoperative agitation.” No electroacupuncture was added to HT7 or auricular acupuncture points. Seirin brand auricular acupuncture “junior tacks” were added to outer ear points shenmen, master cerebral, cingulate gyrus, and tonsil.
The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study finds intraoperative acupuncture effective for reducing pain and improving postoperative oral intake. Integration of acupuncture into the operatory was also found both feasible and well tolerated. Funding sources are the Stanford University Medical Scholars Research Program, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Fellow Program, and the Stanford Children’s Health Research Institute Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Faculty Scholar. Disclosures note that no conflicts of interest or other sources of funding or financial relationships exist. The research is published in The Laryngoscope, a publication of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society.
Source: Health CMi
http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1450-acupuncture-effective-for-treating-hearing-loss
Acupuncture improves hearing for patients with hearing loss. Research published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine finds acupuncture effective for the treatment of nerve related deafness. This type of sensorineural deafness is hearing loss due to auditory nerve damage. Side view of ear acupoints and scalp acupoints. The researchers, Jiang et al., conclude that acupuncture “can significantly improve the hearing of patients with nerve deafness, and the efficacy of acupuncture in combination with medication is superior to medication alone.”
Conventional medical treatments include cochlear implants, vasodilator medications, vitamin therapies, and steroids. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), both acupuncture and herbal medicines are used in the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss and deafness. The research finds acupuncture significantly more effective than medications. Acupuncture was also found more effective than than Er Long Zuo Ci Wan. This is a significant finding given that the herbal formula Er Long Zuo Ci Wan has been used in TCM for the treatment of hearing disorders for centuries and has also been found effective for the treatment of hearing related disorders in modern research.
Er Long Zuo Ci Wan contains the following herbal medicines:
Magnetitum (Ci Shi)
Radix Rehmanniae Preparata (Shu Di Huang)
Fructus Corni Officinalis (Shan Zhu Yu)
Cortex Moutan Radicis, Paeonia Suffruticosa (Mu Dan Pi)
Rhizoma Dioscoreae Oppositae (Shan Yao)
Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (Fu Ling)
Rhizoma Alismatis Orientalis (Ze Xie)
Radix Bupleuri Chinensis (Chai Hu)
Qiu et al. investigation the effects of Er Long Zuo Ci Wan and discovered that it reduces ototoxicity due to gentamicin consumption. Gentamicin is an antibiotic used in the treatment of gram-negative bacterial infections but has ototoxic and nephrotoxic properties. Qiu et al. also discovered that Er Long Zuo Ci Wan demonstrates protective effects on succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in cochlear hair cells. Chen et al. note that hair cell loss correlates to hearing loss and SDH activity within cochlear hair cells and is a marker of cellular dysfunction and subsequent loss of auditory sensitivity. Together, these findings suggest that Er Long Zuo Ci Wan may have otoprotective properties. Additional research by Wang et al. suggests that Er Long Zuo Ci Wan may reduce chronic tinnitus.
The research points to the need for a comparison of the long and short-term effects of acupuncture and herbal medicine on hearing restoration. Jiang et al. find acupuncture able to prevent hearing loss to a greater degree than Er Long Zuo Ci Wan. Studies measuring the effects of acupuncture, Er Long Zuo Ci Wan, and acupuncture combined with Er Long Zuo Ci Wan over a period of several years are needed to determine the auditory effects over the long-term.
Jiang et al. cite limitations to their acupuncture research. The researchers note that the small sample sizes of the 12 trials accepted into the meta-analysis limit the investigation. They add that additional studies are needed that make use of larger sample sizes. They add that the additional research will help to “verify the efficacy of acupuncture treatment of nerve deafness.” The researchers conclude, “the result of the meta-analysis shows that acupuncture may effectively improve the hearing conditions of patients with nerve deafness…”
In a related study, researchers conclude that acupuncture combined with ginger moxibustion benefits patients with tinnitus. Researchers applied acupuncture and ginger moxibustion to 34 patients with intractable tinnitus. The total therapeutic effective rate was 91.18%.
Acupuncture was applied to the following acupoints:
TB17 (Yifeng)
GB2 (Tinghui)
SJ21 (Ermen)
SI19 (Tinggong)
LU7 (Lieque)
GB43 (Xiaxi)
SJ3 (Zhongzhu)
LR3 (Taichong)
GB40 (Qiuxu)
Reinforcing or reducing manual acupuncture techniques were applied to elicit a deqi sensation at the acupuncture points. Electroacupuncture was applied to the acupoints local to the the ears. Needle retention time was 30 minutes. Ginger moxibustion was applied during the acupuncture treatments. Treatment was administered daily for a 10 day period to comprise one course of care.
After a treatment time averaging 17 days, a total of 22 patients fully recovered, 5 patients showed marked improvements, 4 patients showed moderate improvements, and 3 patients had no improvements. Within four months after the acupuncture treatments, 27 patients experienced no worsening of symptoms or recurrence of symptoms. The researchers conclude that acupuncture plus ginger moxibustion have a significant curative effect on patients with intractable tinnitus.
Source: Penn State News
http://news.psu.edu/story/350592/2015/03/30/academics/nursing-students-learn-about-traditional-chinese-medicine-visit
Even in today’s high-tech health care world, future professionals have much to learn from ancient medical practices. That was the takeaway for six Penn State nursing students who recently traveled to Hong Kong to learn about Chinese health care and nursing education.
Through a reciprocal arrangement with The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the College of Nursing sends up to 10 students there each winter for two weeks of studying and sightseeing. In return, 10 CUHK nursing students visit Penn State each year during the fall semester.
One of the trip’s highlights was learning about traditional Chinese medicine, said Pam Lawson, a College of Nursing faculty member who accompanied the students on the trip.
“The nurse practitioner students (at CUHK) demonstrated many forms of Chinese medicine they were studying at the time,” Lawson said. “Several of the Penn State students volunteered to have them practice certain techniques, such as cupping, acupuncture and the use of incense.”
Caitlin Brennan, a nursing major studying at Penn State Hershey, learned about acupuncture and chiropractic care, along with a few techniques not as well known in the West, such as tongue diagnosis.
“The cool thing is they look at the tongue—what color it is, what kind of coating it has—to see what’s wrong with different parts of the body,” said Brennan, a senior from Whippany, New Jersey.
Another ancient practice, cupping therapy, is used to relieve flu symptoms, she said.
“They take something that looks like a mini-fishbowl with a hole in the bottom and apply it to your back,” she says. “It suctions the skin, leaving a red ring.”
Practitioners of cupping therapy believe the suction mobilizes blood flow in order to promote healing. In addition to helping with flu symptoms, it is meant to soothe back pain, said Nancy Curry, a senior nursing major who went on the trip.
Another traditional therapy, moxibustion, is used to stimulate circulation to promote smoother blood flow and qi (a Chinese term for energy flow), added Curry, a Hershey native who is studying at University Park her final year.
Besides the primer on traditional medicine, students learned much about how the Chinese health care system differs from the one in the United States. They visited an ambulance depot, observed cross-matching of specimens in a Red Cross testing lab and learned about the technology used by the Department of Health for life-threatening disasters.
“The students discussed how the system worked several years ago during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS),” Lawson said. “This was a major health concern for Hong Kong in 2002 and 2003.”
Comparing the health care systems of different countries was an integral part of the learning experience. Students from China, Taiwan, Australia, England and Denmark came together to discuss how the practice of nursing is taught in their home countries. Students from each country did a presentation about their own health care system, with the American students focusing on the Affordable Care Act, said Curry.
The students’ different ways of learning often became apparent when they attended CUHK classes together, Lawson noted.
“In many classes, the Hong Kong students did not understand English,” she said. “Then the faculty would speak in Cantonese, and the students from other countries could not understand what was being said.”
Lawson added that the Chinese students must take all their exams in English.
Such challenges of cross-cultural communication may be daunting for some. But for Brennan, who now has “a ton” of new Australian friends on Facebook, meeting and making friends was the best part of the trip.
“It was fun to see how nursing around the world is the same, but also different,” she said.
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