Acupuncture Continuing Education Acupuncture CEU

Dietetics for Acupuncturists Now in Paperback – New Release

HealthCMi CEUs — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:54:56 +0000

Chinese Medicine Dietetics, Volume 1 is now available in paperback at Amazon and other bookseller outlets. Five years in the making, the authors have combined Chinese medicine dietetics with ‘western’ biomedicine. The book opens with a brief history and introduction to Chinese medicine theory and dietetics preparation techniques. Next, the focus shifts to a detailed look at individual foods and their uses for the healing of specific disorders. Cereals, tubers, oils, condiments, liquor, beans, fungi, fruits, vegetables and herbs are covered in detail. A special section looks at the healing properties of tea. It is a fresh look into the world of traditional Asian healing foods as well as the healing properties of foods from Europe and the Americas.

The authors created the book to better help students of Chinese medicine and licensed acupuncturists explore the foundations of dietetics. Prof. Jeffrey Pang, L.Ac. is the Department Chair for Theory and Herbology at Five Branches University (Santa Cruz and San Jose, California). Adam White, L.Ac. served as a faculty member at Five Branches University and as the Five Branches University Director of Acupuncture Continuing Education. Together, the authors have worked to create a text that integrates biomedical research and Chinese medicine dietetics principles.

The authors plan the release of Chinese Medicine Dietetics, Volume 2 later this year. It will include recipes for the treatment of headaches, respiratory disorders, urinary system dysfunction, diabetes, obesity, skin disorders and high blood pressure. More fruits, vegetables, herbs and nuts will be covered and a section on meats and dairy will be included. HealthCMi press currently offers Chinese Medicine Dietetics, Volume 1 in paperback through Amazon and other bookseller outlets.

Acupuncture for Whiplash - New Research

HealthCMi CEUs — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:26:35 +0000

A new pilot study concludes that acupuncture reduces pain associated with whiplash. In this randomized controlled study, one group received acupuncture treatments at a rate of three times per week for 2 weeks and the control group was placed on a waiting list. Whiplash associated musculoskeletal disorders commonly occur due to automotive accidents and sporting incidents. Trauma to the neck leads to inflammation of the soft tissue, subluxation and displacement of cervical vertebrae and nerve root irritation. In many cases, the curvature of the spine straightens or malforms into a reverse curve formation due to the acute injury. This study concluded that, “Acupuncture treatment was associated with a significant alleviation of pain.”

More research continues to emerge showing the pain relieving effects of acupuncture. Last summer, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded study shows that electroacupuncture, “inhibits osteoarthritis-induced pain by enhancing 5-HT2A/2C [serotonin] receptor activity.” Activation of this serotonin receptor produces powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Researchers from the University of Maryland in Baltimore and Shanxi Medical University in Shanxi, China showed that electroacupuncture attenuates osteoarthritis pain by activating serotonin receptors that, “play an important role in pain modulation at the spinal level.” The researchers also discovered that electroacupuncture activates serotonergic neurons that project into the spinal cord. The researchers concluded that electroacupuncture has the ability to “induce spinal serotonin release and stimulate 5-HT2A/2c [serotonin] receptor activities at the spinal cord to inhibit osteoarthritis-induced pain.”

References:

1.
Acupuncture for Whiplash-associated disorder: A randomized, waiting-list controlled, pilot trial. Hyun-Young Kwaka, 1, Jong-In Kima, 1, Ji-Min Parka, Sang-Hoon Leea, Hong-Suk Yua, Jae-Dong Leea, Ki-Ho Chob, Shuichi Kataic, Hiroshi Tsukayamac, Tomoaki Kimurad, Do-Young Choia. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 1-9-2012.
       a Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
       b Dept. of Cardiovascular and Neurologic Diseases, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
       c Course of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Department of Health, Faculty of Health Science, National University Corporation Tsukuba University of Technology, Japan
       d Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences, Japan

2.
Serotonin Receptor 2A/C Is Involved in Electroacupuncture Inhibition of Pain in an Osteoarthritis Rat Model. Aihui Li, Yu Zhang, Lixing Lao, Jiajia Xin, Ke Ren, Brian M. Berman, and Rui-Xin Zhang. Hindawi Publishing Corporation. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2011, Article ID 619650, 6 pages.

Acupuncture Relieves Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:40:51 +0000

A recent study published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences concludes that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. There were 72 subjects in this randomized controlled study. The acupuncture treatment group received 8 acupuncture treatments over a period of 4 weeks and night splinting was used as an additional component to the medical are. The control group received night splinting, sham acupuncture (use of non-relevant acupoints in relation to carpal tunnel syndrome), vitamin B1 and vitamin B6. A follow up after the treatment regime measured a clinically significant nerve conduction velocity difference between the groups. The acupuncture group measured significantly better according to the nerve conduction study’s electrophysiological measurements. The researchers also conclude that acupuncture is effective in relieving the subjective symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.¹

This new acupuncture and carpal tunnel syndrome research from 2012 is not alone. Looking back to a less recent study from 2006 published in the Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain, researchers measured the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome and discovered a brain pathway by which acupuncture exerts its therapeutic results. The researchers measured brain responses using fMRI technology to measure brain processing related to acupuncture stimuli in relation to neuropathic pain. The controlled study discovered that acupuncture caused greater activation of the hypothalamus and greater deactivation of the amygdala- both important brain centers. The researchers concluded that acupuncture benefits chronic pain sufferers “through a coordinated limbic network including the hypothalamus and amygdala.”²

References:

1. Acupuncture in treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial study. Saeid Khosrawi, Alireza Moghtaderi, Shila Haghighat. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, Vol 17, No 1 (2012).

2. PAIN. Volume 130, Issue 3 , Pages 254-266, August 2007. Hypothalamus and amygdala response to acupuncture stimuli in carpal tunnel syndrome. V. Napadow, N. Kettner, J. Liu, M. Li, K.K. Kwong, M. Vangel, N. Makris, J. Audette, K.K.S. Hui. July 2006.

New Research: Acupuncture treats Warts

HealthCMi CEUs — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:37:44 +0000

A recent study published in the International Journal of Dermatology concludes that acupuncture shows promise in the treatment of flat warts. The study used a randomized, sing-blinded controlled research methodology on 60 subjects. A control group of 30 subjects received a topical ointment of tretinoin, often known by its brand names: Retin-A, Vesanoid, Avita, Refissa, Aberela, Airol. Tretinoin is often used for the treatment of acne but is also used in the treatment of warts. In the treatment group of 30 subjects, they received auricular acupuncture. Auricular acupuncture is the application of acupuncture needles to specific acupoints located on the outer ear. Subjects received acupuncture at a rate of one treatment per week for 10 weeks.

One subject in the control group recovered fully from the flat warts with no recurrence after six months. In the acupuncture treatment group, 16 subjects recovered fully with no recurrence after six months. The acupuncture group had over a 53% success rate compared with the control group’s approximately 3.5% success rate. The researchers suggest that a larger randomized trial is required to fully explore the role of auricular acupuncture as a viable alternative for the treatment of flat warts.

Reference:
Suli Ning BA¹, Fajie Li PhD², Lijie Qian BA¹, Dong Xu BA¹, Yi Huang BA¹, Ming Xiao BA¹, Gengli Duan MD², Yan Li PhD². (2012), The successful treatment of flat warts with auricular acupuncture. International Journal of Dermatology, 51: 211–215. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05232.x

Author Information:
1 Department of Dermatology of Shanghai Eighth People’s Hospital, Shanghai
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
*Yan Li, PhD Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis School of Pharmacy Fudan University.

Acupuncture Affects Attention Brainwaves – New Study

HealthCMi CEUs — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:18:32 +0000

A recent study concludes that acupuncture affects the attention function of the brain. The study measured the effects of acupuncture points Ht7 (Shenmen) and Lu9 (Taiyuan). Researchers discovered that Ht7 had a “greater influence on the attention function of the brain.” The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of needling Ht7 and Lu9 on human attention brain function and also to explore methods to research brain function as it relates to acupuncture stimulation.

The researches used EEG (electroencephalography) to measure ERP (event-related potentials). EEG measures electrical activity of the brain and ERP is a measure of brain responses related to thought and perception. ERP is an electrophysiological measurement of stimuli to the brain. Researchers looked for changes in P300, a brainwave reflecting cognitive function in decision making processes, after application of manual acupuncture at Ht7 and Lu9. A subset of P300 is P3a. This brainwave measures attention and orientation to changes in the environment. Researchers noted that acupuncture at these points affected P3a and another P300 brainwave known at P3b. P3b measures information processing and recognition of improbable events (things that defy ordinary expectations). The more unlikely an event, the greater the P3b brainwave.

EEG brainwaves now measure what has been known to Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Ht7 (Shenmen, Spirits Gate) is an acupuncture point at the wrist crease known to be calming and restful to the heart and ‘spirit’. It is traditionally used for mental restlessness, mania, palpitations, disorientation, depression, and poor memory. Lu9 is known more for its affect on lung disorders so it is not surprising, from a Chinese medicine perspective, that EEG measurements more strongly connect Ht7 to changes in brainwave states associated with attention and cognition.

Reference:
Effects of acupuncture at Shenmen (HT7) or Taiyuan (LU9) on P3a and P3b of event-related potentials in healthy young adults. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2012 Jan ;10(1):48-53.

IVF Fertility Success with Acupuncture – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:20:07 +0000

New research concludes that acupuncture improves clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates for women receiving IVF (in vitro fertilization).¹ Twenty-four randomized controlled trials of 5,807 women examined the effects of acupuncture, electroacupuncture and laser acupuncture on IVF success rates. Control groups consisted of placebo acupuncture, sham acupuncture and no acupuncture. Researchers also discovered that live birth rates significantly increased when acupuncture was administered near the time of either oocyte aspiration or controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation. In yet another recent study published in the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, it was concluded that acupuncture helps to prevent egg implantation failure.² This study focused on the acupuncture points St36 and Sp6.

Reference:

1 Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cui Hong Zheng, M.D.; Ph.D.^a, Guang Ying Huang, M.D., Ph.D.^a; Ming Min Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.^b; Wei Wang, M.D., Ph.D.^c.. Fertility and Sterility. 1-11-2012.

a Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
b Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
c Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

2 Gui, Juan; Xiong, Fan; Li, Jing; Huang, Guangying. Effects of Acupuncture on LIF and IL-12 in Rats of Implantation Failure. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. Am J Reprod Immunol. 1600-0897. 2012.

Acupuncture Stops Migraine Pain Research

HealthCMi CEUs — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:25:52 +0000

Several recent studies show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for migraines. Dr. Molsberger, MD, of the Canadian Medical Association writes “acupuncture is more effective than no acupuncture” and is at the very least “as effective as a B-blocker (beta blocker).” These conclusions were directly taken from studies showing the efficacy of acupuncture care. He also reports that acupuncture is “effective and safe.” Also reported was that acupuncture is “more effective than flunarizine in decreasing the duration of migraine attacks.” He follows reports of these studies with other studies showing the efficacy of acupuncture for treating headaches, arthritis, lower back pain and shoulder pain.

Dr. Molsberger’s report is not without controversy. He citied a study showing that true acupuncture and sham acupuncture are both effective in the treatment of migraines in the short term. However, the same study also notes that true acupuncture is more effective measured 8 weeks after the acupuncture treatment.

References:
1. Nicholson RA, Buse DC, Andrasik F, et al. Nonpharmacologic treatments for migraine and tension-type headache: how to choose and when to use. Curr Treat Options Neurol 2011;13:28-40
2. Schiapparelli P, Allais G, Castagnoli Gabellari I, et al. Non- pharmacological approach to migraine prophylaxis: part II. Neurol Sci 2010;31(Suppl 1):S137-9
3. Linde K, Streng A, Jurgens S, et al. Acupuncture for patients with migraine: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2005;293: 2118-25.
4. Diener HC, Kronfeld K, Boewing G, et al. Efficacy of acupunc- ture for the prophylaxis of migraine: a multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial. Lancet Neurol 2006;5:310-6.
5. Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009;(1):CD001218.
6. Yang CP, Chang MH, Liu PE, et al. Acupuncture versus topira- mate in chronic migraine prophylaxis: a randomized clinical trial. Cephalalgia 2011;31:1510-21.
7. Wang LP, Zhang XZ, Guo J, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: a single-blinded, double-dummy, random- ized controlled trial. Pain 2011;152:1864-71.
8. Molsberger AF, Schneider T, Gotthardt H, et al. German Ran- domized Acupuncture Trial for chronic shoulder pain (GRASP) — a pragmatic, controlled, patient-blinded, multi-centre trial in an outpatient care environment. Pain 2010;151:146-54
9. Vas J, Ortega C, Olmo V, et al. Single-point acupuncture and physiotherapy for the treatment of painful shoulder: a multicen- tre randomized controlled trial. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2008; 47:887-93.
10. Scharf HP, Mansmann U, Streitberger K, et al. Acupuncture and knee osteoarthritis: a three-armed randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2006;145:12-20.
11. Haake M, Muller HH, Schade-Brittinger C, et al. German Acupuncture Trials (GERAC) for chronic low back pain: ran- domized, multicenter, blinded, parallel-group trial with 3 groups. Arch Intern Med 2007;167:1892-8.
12. Endres HG, Bowing G, Diener HC, et al. Acupuncture for ten- sion-type headache: a multicentre, sham-controlled, patient-and observer-blinded, randomised trial. J Headache Pain 2007; 8:306-14.
13. Li Y, Zheng H, Witt CM et al. Acupuncture for migraine prophy- laxis: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ; 2012 Jan. 9 [Epub ahead of print].
14. Unschuld PU. Chinesische medizin. Munich (Germany): CH Beck; 1997.
15. Witt CM, Reinhold T, Jena S, et al. Cost-effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in patients with headache. Cephalalgia 2008;28:334-45.
16. CMAJ 2012. DOI:10.1503 /cmaj.112032.

New Anti-Inflammatory Acupuncture Research

HealthCMi CEUs — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:05:53 +0000

Researchers have measured that acupuncture on the external ear (auricular acupuncture) produces biochemical anti-inflammatory effects. In the study, researches note that auricular acupuncture affected both opioid mechanisms and cholinergic muscarinic mechanisms.

The researchers induced inflammation and edema in rats with an injection of an irritant while under anesthesia. Electroacupuncture was applied to ear acupuncture points and a marked decrease of inflammation was measured. The pain relieving and anti-edema effects of auricular acupuncture were disrupted with methyl atropine, which blocks peripheral muscarinic receptors. Naloxone, an opioid receptor blocker, did not antagonize the anti-inflammatory effects of the electroacupuncture. As a result, the researchers concluded that auricular acupuncture exerts its anti-inflammatory effects more significantly through cholinergic muscarinic mechanisms than through opioid pathways.

Acupuncture Tech
The researchers first tested for auricular acupuncture points on the ears of rats by measuring points of low impedance because low impedance is associated with the location of many acupuncture points. Once determined, the researchers applied bilateral electroacupuncture using 0.2mm X 13mm needles at 1mm depth. 4 Hz pulses of 0.45ms duration with alternating polarity were stimulated for 45 minutes. The sham acupuncture group received 0 mA and the verum electroacupuncture group received stimulation at 0.7 to 1.0mA.

Reference:
Peripheral muscarinic receptors mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of auricular acupuncture. Wai Y Chung1,2, Hong Q Zhang1 and Shi P Zhang1. Chinese Medicine 2011, 6:3. doi:10.1186/1749-8546-6-3. 1 School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China. 2. School of Chinese Medicine and Health Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Community College, Homantin, Hong Kong, China.

New Acupuncture Arthritis Research

HealthCMi CEUs — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0000

Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture were tested for their efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers measured key blood factors responsible for rheumatoid arthritis. The study measured that both acupuncture and electro-acupuncture significantly reduced both blood and synovial joint levels of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Electro-acupuncture was shown to have a greater effect in lowering VEGF than non-electrical acupuncture.

In this randomized controlled study, 63 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were split into two groups. One group received electro-acupuncture and the other received non-electrical acupuncture. Acupuncture points were selected on pain related points (Ashi points) and related Yang acupuncture channels. The patients were treated every other day for a total of ten treatments per course. Each patient received three courses of treatment. The researchers concluded that electroacupuncture “could effectively lower the contents of TNF-α and VEGF in peripheral blood and joint synovia to improve the internal environment for genesis and development of RA, so as to enhance the clinical therapeutic effectiveness.”

Reference:
Ouyang, Ba-si; Gao, Jie; Che, Jian-li; Zhang, Yin; Li, Jun; Yang, Hai-zhou; Hu, Tian-yan; Yang, Man; Wu, Yuan-jian; Ji, Ling-ling. Effect of electro-acupuncture on tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor in peripheral blood and joint synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2011-07-01. Chinese Association of Traditional and Western Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. 672-0415, 505- 509 v17 issue 7.

Acupuncture Reduces Dental Anxiety - New Research

HealthCMi CEUs — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:08:02 +0000

New research concludes that acupuncture helps to reduce dental related anxiety. In a patient-blinded randomized controlled investigation, researchers compared 182 patients. One group received true acupuncture at auricular points. The second group received sham acupuncture (non-related acupoints) and a third group did not receive acupuncture or any medical procedures for the treatment of anxiety. The researchers measured anxiety levels prior to getting acupuncture and 20 minutes after receiving acupuncture which was immediately prior to the dental work. Anxiety levels in the true acupuncture group reduced significantly and slightly in the sham acupuncture group. In the non-intervention group, anxiety increased.

The researchers concluded that auricular acupuncture is both minimally invasive and “effectively reduces state anxiety before dental treatment.” The researchers suggest that acupuncture may provide an option to patients suffering from anxiety prior to dental care.

Reference:
Michalek-Sauberer, Andrea, Gusenleitner, Erich Gleiss, Andreas, Tepper, Gabor, Deusch, Engelbert. Auricular acupuncture effectively reduces state anxiety before dental treatment—a randomised controlled trial. Clinical Oral Investigations. Springer Berlin / Heidelberg; Issn: 1432-6981, 1-6.

New MRI Study Reveals Acupuncture Mechanisms

HealthCMi CEUs — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:51:37 +0000

A recent study published in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging demonstrates the neurophysiological effects of acupuncture using MRI technology. The researchers applied acupuncture to acupoint GB40 (Qixu) and acupuncture point K3 (Taixi). Results showed that GB40 stimulation specifically enhanced “connectivity between the superior temporal gyrus (STG) and anterior insula.” The STG is part of the temporal lobe of the brain located above the area of the ear. The anterior insula of the brain is located between the temporal lobe and the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex. K3 (Taixi) showed different results. K3 (Taixi) increased the connection strength between the STG and the postcentral gyrus. This distinction between GB40’s enhancement of the precentral gyrus and K3’s enhancement of the postcentral gyrus demonstrates acupuncture’s causal specificity of stimulation to differing acupuncture points. The researchers conclude that, “The current study demonstrates that acupuncture at different acupoints could exert different modulatory effects on RSNs. Our findings may help to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture specificity.”

Reference:
Zhong, C., Bai, L., Dai, R., Xue, T., Wang, H., Feng, Y., Liu, Z., You, Y., Chen, S. and Tian, J. (2011), Modulatory effects of acupuncture on resting-state networks: A functional MRI study combining independent component analysis and multivariate granger causality analysis. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Acupuncture Reduces Stress – New Georgetown Univ. Study

HealthCMi CEUs — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:49:45 +0000

New research published in Experimental Biology and Medicine (Royal Society of Medicine Press) concludes that acupuncture prevents the harmful production of chemicals created by stress. The researchers sought to measure the mechanisms by which acupuncture reduces chronic stress. When exposed to stress, a chemical is produced called neuropeptide Y (NPY). This is linked to stress induced physiological responses that are deleterious to health. In this study, acupuncture is shown to reduce production of this chemical thereby preventing the long-term harmful effects of chronic stress.

Electro-acupuncture was applied to acupuncture point St36 in laboratory rats exposed to stressful cold. The control group and the sham acupuncture group showed no change in NPY. However, the group receiving acupuncture showed a significant and long-term decrease in NPY production. As a result, the researchers conclude that electroacupuncture “is effective in preventing one of the sympathetic pathways stimulated during chronic stress, and thus may be a useful adjunct therapy in stress-related disorders.”

Reference:
Acupuncture at ST36 prevents chronic stress-induced increases in neuropeptide Y in rat. Ladan Eshkevari¹, Rupert Egan², Dylan Phillips³, Jason Tilan¹, Elissa Carney², Nabil Azzam4, Hakima Amri⁵ and Susan E Mulroney². Exp Biol Med 7 December 2011 EBM.2011.011224 .

Author Affiliations:
1 Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Health Studies
2 Department of Pharmacology & Physiology
3 Department of Human Science, School of Nursing and Health Studies
4 Department of Neuroscience
5 Department of Biochemistry and Cell and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC

Acupuncture Reduces Stress, Improves Memory – New Study

HealthCMi CEUs — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:41:17 +0000

A new study measures that acupuncture biochemically reduces memory loss due to chronic stress. Researchers applied acupuncture at acupuncture point P6 (Neiguan, Inner Pass). P6 is located approximately two cun* proximal to the center of the wrist crease on the anterior surface of the forearm. The researchers measured biochemical and behavioral changes in laboratory rats. It was found that acupuncture stimulation at P6 increased AchE (acetylcholinesterase) chemical reaction activity in the brain.

AchE is an enzyme that converts the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetate and plays an important role in synaptic transmission. The study shows that rats exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) had significantly lower AchE activity in the hippocampus of the brain. It was discovered that acupuncture at P6 increased chemical reactivity of AchE in the hippocampus compared with the control group.

The researchers also conducted a passive avoidance test (PAT) to compare the biochemical findings with behavioral examination. The acupuncture group performed better than the control group for the PAT. The researchers concluded that acupuncture at P6 improves memory, increases AchE reactivity in the hippocampus and restores learning and memory after biochemical and behavioral impairments due to chronic mild stress.

Traditionally, P6 is used to ‘calm the spirit’ and regulate the heart. It is also well known for its ability to alleviate stomach disorders and relieve nausea and vomiting. Other traditional functions include P6’s ability to unbind the chest, clear the heat and regulate the Qi (energy).

P6 is one of the eight confluent acupuncture points and regulates the Yin Linking (Yinwei Mai) channel. This acupuncture channel starts on the lower leg at acupuncture point K9 and ascends medially along the leg, intersects points Liv14, Sp13, Sp15, and Sp16 in the abdominal region; moves up to the chest, and runs medially to the sternum and terminates at CV23 and CV22 in the chest and throat. The Yin Linking vessel traverses the chest where the heart and lungs reside. P6 is located on the pericardium channel and is the confluent point of the Yin Linking channel thereby making P6 important point for the treatment of heart pain and is one of the primary acupuncture points used to induce analgesia for use during chest surgery.

References:
*Cun is a measurement similar to an inch, however, it is based on an individual’s anatomical structure and varies slightly from person to person.

The effects of acupuncture (PC6) on chronic mild stress-induced memory loss. Hyunyoung Kima, Hyun-Jung Parkb, Hyun Soo Shimd, Seung-Moo Hanc, Dae-Hyun Hahmd, Hyejung Leed, Insop Shimd. Neuroscience Letters. Volume 488, Issue 3, 25 1-2011, p 225-228.

New Acupuncture iPhone and iPad App

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:07:10 +0000

The new iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad app for acupuncturists entitled ‘Manual of Acupuncture’ is loaded with user friendly features. This review focuses on our personal experiences with the iPhone version. Taken from the source text, A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman & Mazin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker, this app provides concise details on all major acupuncture points, many extra points, channels, extraordinary vessels and more. The Manual of Acupuncture iPhone app includes explanations of acupuncture point locations with supplementary photos and detailed videos. All individual point information includes the numerical-channel name, pinyin, English translation and Chinese characters. It also includes a reference search by indications. Other references include notes about cun measurements, location tips, needling directions and a glossary.

The Manual of Acupuncture iPhone app is incredibly intuitive. Easy touch responses to exact point and channel information is a snap. The iPhone app does not have the complete commentary and point combinations presented in the book or CD-ROM version of A Manual of Acupuncture, however, it gains incredible user-friendly search and added video acupoint location material. The concise material delivers exactly what an acupuncturist would want to know in a clinical situation including location, location note, needling technique, actions and clinical applications. This app includes a test feature that allows users to take quizzes on point information making this app indispensable for students of acupuncture and a lot of fun for licensed acupuncturists. We recommend the book and/or CD-ROM as a complement to the Acupuncture iPhone app.

Rarely have we seen a Chinese medicine app of this significance. The high standard of quality raises the bar for Chinese medicine related apps for the iPhone. Priced at $35.99 USD, this app is a great value.

Acupuncture CEUs Go Live With Dietetics

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:22:11 +0000

A five year collaborative effort led to the publication of Chinese Medicine Dietetics #1 for acupuncture CEUs (continuing education units) online. Prof. Jeffrey Pang, L.Ac. (Dept. Chair of Theory and Herbology at Five Branches University) and Adam White, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. worked to create this acupuncturist online course to meet the needs of today’s acupuncture students and practitioners of Chinese medicine. Prof. Pang saw the need to create a course that combined Chinese medicine theory and biomedicine in a comprehensive and systematic review of individual foods, food preparation techniques and recipes. He asked Adam White, L.Ac. to join him in this effort to make this work available in English. The collaboration resulted in a work that combines ancient principles with modern research in the field of dietetics.

Chinese Medicine Dietetics #1 is the first part of a two part series. Currently available online at healthcmi.com for 15 acupuncture CEUs, the first course covers dietetics history and theory. From the importance and significance of the seasons to the relevance of tastes and the colors of food to human health, Chinese Medicine Dietetics #1 covers a wide range of dietetics principles. Individual food items that are covered in detail include grains, tubers, oils, condiments, liquor, beans (including bean products such as tofu), tea, mushrooms, vegetables and herbs.

The Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMi.com) provides an online learning management system so that licensed acupuncturists can download the eBook, take the online quiz and receive a certificate of completion for acupuncture CEUs. The acupuncture CEUs are preapproved by the NCCAOM for Diplomate recertification PDAs, the California Acupuncture Board for acupuncture CEUs, the Florida Board of Acupuncture for CEs and the course meets CTCMA BC, Canada standards for acupuncture continuing education credit. The release of Chinese Medicine Dietetics #2 is expected early next year.

Acupuncture Reduces Prostatitis Pain- New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:10:49 +0000

New research concludes that acupuncture reduces prostatitis related pain. The study measured the effects of acupuncture on chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), also known as chronic prostatitis. CPPS involves prostatitis related pain of the pelvis and/or the perineum (between the anus and the scrotum in men). CPPS is not the type of prostatitis due to a bacterial infection. CPPS tends to wax and wane and the pain intensity level ranges from mild to severe. Post-ejaculatory pain is a textbook symptom of this disorder. There may be associated painful urination, back pain, abdominal pain, muscles aches, rectal pain and/or pain in the penis.

Biochemical Pain Reduction
The study showed that acupuncture reduces CPPS related pain and measured the biochemical mechanisms by which acupuncture achieves this clinical outcome. The researchers noted that, “the levels of Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in prostate fluid were detected and the correlation between those changes and [the] pain score was analyzed.” The study measured an effective rate of 89.4 percent for pain reduction by means of acupuncture. The study also measured that as acupuncture lowered the pain levels, the levels of the cytokines (IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha) lowered. The study concludes that acupuncture reduces CPPS by reducing these cytokine levels.

The Points
The researchers used the following acupuncture points as primary points to reduce CPPS pain: Zhongji (CV 3), Guilai (ST 29), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Shuidao(ST 28), Xuehai (SP 10) and Taichong (LR 3). Electroacupuncture stimulation was added to enhance the efficacy of the treatment.

Reference:
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2011 Jan;31(1):11-4. Acupuncture for chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CPPS) and its effect on cytokines in prostatic fluid. Yuan SY, Qin Z, Liu DS, Yin WQ, Zhang ZL, Li SG. Male Department of Zhuhai Branch of Guangdong Provincial TCM Hospital, Zhuhai, China.

New MRI Acupuncture Research Shows Mind-Body Connection

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:56:39 +0000

New research concludes that “acupuncture may function as a somatosensory-guided mind-body therapy.” The research compared MRI readings of real acupuncture with sham acupuncture (needle stimulation at non-acupuncture point locations) at acupuncture point P-6 (Neiguan, Inner Pass). The MRI imaging showed that true acupuncture yielded greater activity over sham acupuncture in the dorsomedial prefontal cortex of the brain. Real acupuncture produced significantly “greater activity in both cognitive/evaluative (posterior dmPFC) and emotional/interoceptive (anterior dmPFC) cortical regions” and the MRI results showed that true acupuncture “increased cognitive load.”¹

Recent criticisms concerning the effectiveness of acupuncture have focused on the ability of sham acupuncture to produce clinical results. However, MRI studies show that true acupuncture produces clinical results by different cortical mechanisms than sham acupuncture.

NIH researchers question the validity of sham acupuncture control groups. Dr. R. E. Harris’s (NIH researcher, Ann Arbor, Michigan) research was able to prove that although sham acupuncture and true acupuncture reduce pain in fibromyalgia patients, they “do it by different mechanisms.” Dr. Harris’s research showed that differing mechanisms by which the pain relief was achieved was measured at the molecular level. This suggests that sham acupuncture may superficially cause pain reduction but that it is not scientifically achieved by the same mechanisms as true acupuncture. Dr. Richard L. Nahin of the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states, “If you look at some of the data, what you find is that sham acupuncture and true acupuncture both produce some pain relief in whatever condition they’re looking at. But while both treatments turn on areas of the brain, they turn on different areas of the brain.”²

References:
1a. Brain encoding of acupuncture sensation – coupling on-line rating with fMRI. V. Napadow, R.P. Dhond, J. Kim, L. LaCount, M. Vangel, R.E. Harris, N. Kettner, K. Park, F. Pfab. Neuroimage (2009) 47: 1055–65.

1b. Florian Pfab, MD, PhD, Visiting Associate Professor, Dept. of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts.

1c. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Akupunktur. Volume 54, Issue 3, 2011, Pages 32-33.

2. Contie, Defibaugh, Ewsichek, Latham and Wein. Understanding Acupuncture Time To Try It? NIH News in Health. February 2011.

Acupuncture Treats Autism, New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:21:29 +0000

New research concludes that scalp acupuncture “can significantly improve the efficacy on autism, effectively relieve child autism symptoms and enhance the intelligence, language ability and social adaptive ability.”¹ Keeping in mind that this quote is a literal translation from the Chinese language, this study does not claim that acupuncture cures autism but finds that scalp acupuncture helps to improve the patient's symptoms when part of a comprehensive treatment program. Seventy causes of child autism were divided into a control group (40 cases) and an observation group (30 cases). The control group received only music therapy and the structure education method. The observation group received scalp acupuncture in addition to the therapies given to the control group. After 60 acupuncture treatments, the improvement scores were tabulated using the Clancy Autism Behavior Scale, Childhood Autism Behavior Scale (CARS), Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Gesell Developmental Scale. The study finds that age was not a factor noting that both the 4 to 6 years of age group improved and the 2 to 3 years of age group improved. The scalp acupuncture treatment priniciple used in the study was “regaining the consciousness and opening the orifice.” A similar study concluded that scalp acupuncture combined with language therapy “has a significantly positive effect on language development in children with autism.”²

Another study demonstrates that a session of 12 acupuncture visits using electro-acupuncture improves functions in children with autism.³ Electro-acupuncture caused improvements in language comprehension and self-care ability for the children in this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, clinical trial of acupuncture for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

In this study, electro-acupuncture caused significant improvements in social initiation, receptive language, motor skills, coordination, and attention span. Improvements in motor coordination include better writing ability. Participants were better able to write words within set lines and squares. One participant had significant improvements in swimming ability and improvements in paper cutting were also noted. Interesting motor improvements include better walking posture, speed of walking, and ability to ascend and descend stairs.

Over 70% of the children with ASD were compliant and adapted easily to the acupuncture therapy while 8% were not compliant. This was the first study ever conducted using electro-acupuncture for ASD using a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Subjects from ages 3-18 participated in the study and children who had been taking anti-epileptic drugs or who had recently had acupuncture were excluded from the study.

Classic acupuncture points for the treatment of autism were chosen for the study. Sishencong (EX-HN1), YinTang (EX-NH3), Ear naodian (AT3), and Ear shenmen (TF4) were chosen as the primary acupuncture points. Neiguan (P6), Shenmen (H7), TaiChong (Lv3), and Sanyinjiao (Sp6) were selected as complementary acupuncture points. Children were in either in a supine or sitting position for the 30 minute acupuncture treatment. Sterile disposable .3 X 4cm (30 gauge) acupuncture needles were used and points were connected with a portable electro-acupuncture device. The investigational sham acupuncture points were chosen at a 3-5mm distance from the real acupuncture points. The treatment principle was to “to make the heart ‘unobstructed,’ regulate the liver, correct derangements or imbalances, enforce the emotion, dredge stasis, invigorate the spleen and kidney, and facilitate the source of vital function.”

References:
1.
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2011 Aug;31(8):692-6. Treatment of autism with scalp acupuncture. Li N, Jin BX, Li JL, Liu ZH. Neuro-Rehabilitation Department, Nanhai Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of CM, Guangdong, China.

2.
J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Mar;14(2):109-14. Scalp acupuncture effect on language development in children with autism: a pilot study. Allam H, ElDine NG, Helmy G.

3.
Altern Med Rev. 2010 Jul;15(2):136-46. Randomized controlled trial of electro-acupuncture for autism spectrum disorder. Wong VC, Chen WX. Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

New Research – IVF Fertility Success with Electro-Acupuncture

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:27:42 +0000

A randomized placebo-controlled study of 309 women concludes that electro-acupuncture “significantly improved the clinical outcome of ET (embryo transfer).”¹ IVF (in vitro fertilization) live birth rates jumped from 21.2 percent for women who did not use acupuncture to a 42 percent success rate for women who received acupuncture twice. The women received acupuncture 24 hours before the IVF procedure and 30 minutes after IVF. In another control group, women who only received acupuncture once, 30 minutes after IVF, had an increased success rate of 37.3 percent.

IVF is a treatment for infertility. This involves controlling a woman’s ovulatory process with medications, removing the ova (eggs) from the body, fertilizing the ova with sperm outside of the human body and then implanting the fertilized ova (zygote) into the uterus. Acupuncture for the treatment of infertility has received a great deal of press because singers Mariah Carey and Celine Dion used acupuncture with success. Mariah Carey used acupuncture to balance her body after a miscarriage in 2008. Carey said she did not use IVF but used acupuncture for stress relief and hormone therapy to boost her fertility. Celine Dion used acupuncture to achieve success with her 6th attempt at IVF. Both singers gave birth to healthy twins.

References:
Fertility and Sterility. Volume 96, Issue 4, October 2011, Pages 912-916. Increase of success rate for women undergoing embryo transfer by transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation: a prospective randomized placebo-controlled study. Rong Zhang Ph.D., Xiao-Jun Feng B.S., Qun Guan B.S., Wei Cui M.S., Ying Zheng M.S., Wei Sun B.S., Ji-Sheng Han M.D.
Research Centers:
Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Reproductive medical center, The second hospital affiliated to Shandong University of traditional Chinese medicine, Jinan, People's Republic of China.

Anti-Cancer Herb New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:15:24 +0000

New research on the anti-cancer properties of the Chinese medicine herb Ban Zhi Lian emerges from laboratories and university research facilities. Acupuncturists have used this herb for generations as an anti-toxin herb and now modern research confirms its clinical efficacy. An aqueous extract of the herb Ban Zhi Lian (Scutellaria barbata) was found to have “anti-proliferative gene expression responses in human breast and prostate cancer cells” by researchers at the University of California at Berkeley, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology.¹ Researchers at the Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Department of Oncology concluded that Ban Zhi Lian “has antitumor activity and seems to be safe and effective for the use of anti-tumor therapy.”² Other research finds that Ban Zhi Lian “exhibited potential anticancer activity… through induction of apoptosis.”³

This is a small sampling of the research into the anti-cancer properties of this herb. Clinically, Ban Zhi Lian is often combined with another herb, Bai Hua She She Cao, in the treatment of lung and gastrointestinal cancers. Often, acupuncturists administer the herbs as a supplement to conventional chemotherapy. Although the term acupuncturist is used in the USA, practitioners are often trained in both Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture as part of the acupuncture education program of training. In many states such as California and Massachusetts, herbal training towards a minimum of a master's degree in Chinese medicine and continuing education CEUs are required to obtain and maintain an acupuncture license.

Acupuncturists are best known for treating the side effects of cancer such as pain or the side effects of chemotherapy such as hair loss, nausea, stress, exhaustion and insomnia. In states such as California, it is forbidden for acupuncturists to mention any Chinese medicine ‘cure’ for cancer. Ban Zhi Lian has never been purported to be a cure but it is a helpful tool in the fight against cancer. Its antineoplastic (anti-cancer cell) properties help fight tumor growth.

References:

1
Cancer Biol Ther. 2010 Aug;10(4):397-405. Epub 2010 Aug 20. BZL101, a phytochemical extract from the Scutellaria barbata plant, disrupts proliferation of human breast and prostate cancer cells through distinct mechanisms dependent on the cancer cell phenotype. Marconett CN, Morgenstern TJ, San Roman AK, Sundar SN, Singhal AK, Firestone GL. Source: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, USA.

2
Molecules 2011, 16(6), 4389-4400; doi:10.3390/molecules16064389. In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Activity of Scutellaria barbate Extract on Murine Liver Cancer. Zhi-Jun Dai, Jie Gao, Zong-Fang Li, Zong-Zheng Ji, Hua-Feng Kang, Hai-Tao Guan, Yan Diao, Bao-Feng Wang and Xi-Jing Wang. Department of Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China. Department of General Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China.

3
African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Vol. 5(8), pp. 1046-1053, August 2011. Purified alkaloid extract of Scutellaria barbata inhibits proliferation of hepatoma HepG-2 cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Tie-shan Wang, Li-jing Chen, Zhao-yu Wang, Sheng-tan Zhang and Jing-ming Lin.

Massachusetts Acupuncture License in a Weekend

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 18:17:00 +0000

Do physical therapists qualify to perform a type of acupuncture, known as dry needling, without training and education in that profession? Peter Kelley, legal counsel for the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Allied Health Professionals, confirms that the Board has not yet reached a decision on whether or not ‘dry needling’ will be officially added to the scope of practice for physical therapists (PTs). The Board is comprised of PTs, occupation therapists (OTs) and their assistants.

This proposal has come under strong opposition from organizations noting that ‘dry needling’ is a type of acupuncture. The Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Society of Massachusetts (AOMSM) notes that one dry needling training program for PTs is “a weekend-long course.” By contrast, licensed acupuncturists receive years of training, must receive a minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited acupuncture school and must pass the NCCAOM Board exams.

AOMSM notes that dry needling is an approved modality for PTs in some states but has been legally rejected in California, Florida, Nevada, and Hawaii. AOMSM also notes that PTs practicing dry needling acupuncture would be in violation of Massachusetts General Laws/Part I, Title XVI, Chapter 112, Section 162 that grants the right to perform acupuncture by acupuncturists and licensed physicians only.

The New England School of Acupuncture, located in Newton, MA; notes that dry needling is within the scope of acupuncture and opposes the use of dry needling acupuncture techniques by PTs. In a letter to the Board of Registration in Allied Health Professionals, the President of the New England School of Acupuncture writes, “… the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) has issued a position paper on this topic stating, ‘It is the position of the CCAOM that any intervention utilizing dry needling techniques, either on trigger points or any other anatomical locations, is within the scope of acupuncture, regardless of the language utilized in describing the technique.” The President, Katherine S. Tallman, cites the “rigorous academic and clinical training and testing required for licensure to practice acupuncture in Massachusetts,” and that these standards promote public safety.

The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) opposes the use of dry needling by PTs citing medical literature that “clearly identifies dry needling as acupuncture.” The AAAOM points out that not a single accredited physical therapy school offers “an extensive course or clinical training in dry needling.” The AAAOM notes that current training programs for physical therapists in dry needling “are made up of a one-weekend seminar.” The President and the legal counsel for the AAAOM note that the Vice-president for Allied Professional Insurance Company, a provider of malpractice insurance for physical therapists, will revoke “the malpractice insurance of any Physical Therapist engaged in the use of dry needle technique” because it is a “risk of public endangerment created by a Physical Therapist engaging in a medical procedure for which they have no adequate education or training.”

The CEO of the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) opposes PTs using dry needling citing that it is a style of acupuncture and that proper training and assessment is not provided in the education of PTs. The CEO recommends that “physical therapists meet the same standard for education and examination that licensed acupuncturists must meet in order to practice safely and effectively in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

California Acupuncture Work Comp Physician Update

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:55:31 +0000

California acupuncture laws and regulations establish California licensed acupuncturists as treating physicians in the worker’s compensation system but not as primary care physicians. California worker’s compensation rules define a primary care physician as “a physician who has the responsibility for providing initial and primary care to patients, for maintaining the continuity of patient care, and for initiating referral for specialist care. A primary care physician shall be either a physician who has limited his or her practice of medicine to general practice or who is a board-certified or board-eligible internist, pediatrician, obstetrician-gynecologist, or family practitioner.”

The California labor code (3209.3) defines a treating physician: “Physician includes physicians and surgeons holding an M.D. or D.O. degree, psychologists, acupuncturists, optometrists, dentists, podiatrists, and chiropractic practitioners licensed by California state law and within the scope of their practice as defined by California state law.”

Acupuncturist Scope of Practice
The California acupuncture scope of practice law grants acupuncturists the ability to “engage in the practice of acupuncture” and to, “perform or prescribe the use of Asian massage, acupressure, breathing techniques, exercise, heat, cold, magnets, nutrition, diet, herbs, plant, animal, and mineral products, and dietary supplements to promote, maintain, and restore health.”

New Research: Acupuncture treats Breast Cancer Lymphedema

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:58:38 +0000

Recent Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center research demonstrates that acupuncture significantly reduces lymphoedema related arm swelling in women after breast cancer surgery. Lymphoedema is a when there is fluid retention and tissue swelling in the body due to disorders of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system controls the return of interstitial fluid to the bloodstream. After breast cancer surgery, the lymphatic system can be damaged by lymph node surgery or radiation therapy. Symptoms may appear quickly or take several months or years to become apparent. Swelling of the arms and sides of the body is most common after lymphatic system damage due to breast cancer procedures.

The researchers at Sloan-Kettering in New York note that existing conventional treatments for lymphoedema are only “marginally beneficial, rarely reducing arm swelling in any meaningful way.” The new study concludes that acupuncture is safe and that some of the women in the study showed a 30 percent or better reduction of lymphoedema related arm swelling.

Acupuncture Results
In this study, lymphoedema was diagnosed when the affected arm was greater than 2cm in circumference than the unaffected arm. Participants received acupuncture at a rate of 2 times per week for a total of four weeks. Results were tabulated after a six month follow-up. No serious events were reported and the study concludes that “acupuncture appears safe and may reduce lymphoedema associated with breast cancer surgery.”

Reference:
Acupunct Med. doi:10.1136/aim.2011.004069. A safety and efficacy pilot study of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic lymphedema. Barrie R Cassileth, Kimberly J Van Zee, Yi Chan, Marci I Coleton, Clifford A Hudis, Sara Cohen, James Lozada, Andrew J Vickers.

Author Affiliations:
Integrative Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Integrative Medicine Service and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.

California Acupuncture Board Voices Insurance Bill

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:28:19 +0000

A bill supporting acupuncture insurance coverage for Californians was brought to the attention of the California Acupuncture Board by a board member in a recent meeting. The California Acupuncture Board’s executive officer, Janelle Wedge, “noted that this is just in the beginning phase and subject to changes but will keep the Board apprised,” according to Board minutes. The California Acupuncture Medical Association (CAMA) urged the Board to support the bill to ensure consumer access to care and noted that California would become the second state to have such an acupuncture insurance provision should the bill pass.

The California State bill AB 72 (Eng) is a legislative requirement that all group health plan contracts and group health insurance policies provide acupuncture as a covered procedure. Current California law mandates that all such plans provide coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses. The bill amends existing law to include acupuncture as a required insurance benefit. The bill remains in committee.

A similar bill resides in the Massachusetts State legislature. Massachusetts State Representative William S. Pignatelli (Democrat; Lenox, MA) has introduced legislation to ensure acupuncture insurance coverage for all health insurance policies in Massachusetts. Supporters cite research demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of healthcare provided by licensed acupuncturists and the right to equal access to licensed medical providers. The bill (H.3519) has now been referred to the Massachusetts legislative committee on financial services and awaits further action. The bill has a total of 19 cosponsors.

Acupuncture CEUs and Laws Update

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:50:16 +0000

Many changes to acupuncture laws, regulations and acupuncture CEU requirements have been enacted in recent years. However, six states remain without any acupuncturist licensing laws. Several states have stringent standards such as California and Massachusetts while some states do not require NCCAOM recertification or acupuncture continuing education.

Who is stringent?

California
California requires 50 acupuncture CEUs every two years to maintain the California acupuncture license. There are category 1 courses and category 2 courses. California licensed acupuncturists may take all their acupuncture CEUs in category 1 but are limited to 5 acupuncture CEUs for category 2. Category 1 courses are related to core curriculum such as Chinese medicine theory, acupuncture, herbs, western medicine and herbal medicine. Category 2 courses include practice management, insurance billing, business classes, Qi Gong and Tai Ji Quan. Acupuncturists may take up to 25 CEUs every two years from online sources.

Massachusetts
Massachusetts, like many states, requires maintenance of NCCAOM Diplomate status. Diplomates must complete 60 acupuncture CEUs every four years. The NCCAOM refers to CEUs (continuing education units) as PDAs (professional development activities). The Massachusetts Committee on Acupuncture requires that 10 of those CEUs be related to herbal medicine. This is in stark contrast to Illinois that forbids herbal medicine from any acupuncture CEU or educational process.

Florida
Florida has made some changes to its acupuncture CEU process. The Florida Board of Acupuncture requires 30 acupuncture CEUs every two years. Two CEUs must be in the medical errors category, 2 hours must relate to Florida laws and rules and five acupuncture CEUs must relate to biomedical sciences.

Texas
Texas requires 17 hours of acupuncture continuing education every year. Eight hours may be general, 1 ethics and 2 herbal hours are required for acupuncture continuing education.

Where are there no laws at all?
Alabama, Kansas, North Dakota, Oaklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming have no acupuncture laws.

Acupressure for Bone Pain – Johns Hopkins/Univ. Maryland Study

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:17:52 +0000

New research demonstrates that magnetic acupressure reduces severe pain associated with bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (BMAB). Doctors and researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (Baltimore) evaluated pain levels of cancer patients undergoing BMAB. The randomized study compared two groups, one receiving acupressure at acupuncture point LI4 (Hegu) and another group receiving sham acupressure at a non-acupuncture point on the arm. Median pain scores were similar but severe pain decreased dramatically for those receiving magnetic acupressure at the real acupuncture point.

The researchers cite the minimal training and expense needed to train someone to apply magnetic acupressure at acupuncture point LI4. Unlike acupuncture, which requires years of post-graduate training, acupressure at a single acupuncture point can be taught quickly and easily. No patients experienced any significant toxicities associated with the acupressure procedures.

The acupuncture point used in the acupressure study was LI4 (Hegu, Joining Valley). It is located on the hand between the thumb and index finger. Naturally, training is necessary to ensure that the precise location of the acupuncture point is identified by those applying acupressure. In Chinese medicine, LI4 has long been known for its pain relieving properties. LI4 is also commonly used by acupuncturists for disorders of the face, eyes, nose, mouth and ear; including the treatment of pain. Proper stimulation of LI4 is effective in relieving headaches, pain of the eyes, toothaches, jaw pain, and pain of the limbs and bones.

Reference:
The Analgesic Effect of Magnetic Acupressure in Cancer Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy: A Randomized, Blinded, Controlled Trial. Ting Bao, MD; Xiaobu Ye, MD, MS; Janice Skinner CRNP; Bing Cao, MS; Joy Fisher MA, CCRP; Suzanne Nesbit PharmD, BCPS; and Stuart A. Grossman, MD. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. Volume 41, Issue 6, June 2011, Pages 995-1002. The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center and the Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.

ACTCM Releases NCCAOM Acupuncture Exam Rates

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:05:04 +0000

The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM), located in San Francisco, has released its NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) acupuncturist exam pass rates for 2011. NCCAOM certification covers basic requirements for becoming a licensed acupuncturist in 43 states and Washington, DC.

NCCAOM Pass Rates
The ACTCM pass rate for the acupuncture and point location exam was 100 percent for first time takers and 100 percent for repeat test takers. The national average is 86.5 percent and 73.8 percent respectively. For the biomedicine exam, ACTCM graduates passed at a rate of 92.3 percent, beating the national average of 77.8 percent. The ACTCM pass rate for the Chinese herbology exam was 92.3 percent while the national average was 81.0 percent. Finally, the ACTCM pass rate for the foundation of Oriental medicine exam was 100 percent, beating the national average of 93.3 percent.

Student Loans
ACTCM has also implemented a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) program to complement its long-standing Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTCM) program. The DAOM program has been approved by the US Department of Education (USDE) through the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) for Title IV student aid grants. This opens the door for students to get Stafford, PLUS, or Consolidation Loans directly from the federal government.

Acupuncture treats Parkinson’s Disease – Newest Study

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 05:30:48 +0000

New research shows that acupuncture has an antioxidant effect in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Mounting evidence shows that oxidative stress contributes to the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The new research shows that 100 Hz electroacupuncture applied to acupuncture points St36 (ZuSanLi) and Sp6 (SanYinJiao) has a neuroprotective effect on the brain because electroacupuncture is antioxidant. This study includes contributions from Xibin Liang, a researcher from the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University located in Stanford, California.

Researches determined that stimulation of St36 and Sp6 with electroacupuncture protects the brain by creating antioxidative and antiapoptosis effects. The electroacupuncture protected a part of the mid-brain called the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra is an important part of the brain in controlling movement. Parkinson’s disease is caused by the deterioration of dopaminergic neurons in a part of the mid-brain called the substantia nigra pars compacta. The substantia nigra pars compacta supplies the basal ganglia (an area of the brain involved with motor action) with dopamine. Dopamine is an essential nutrient for the brain and has neurotransmitter functions. Dopamine is also a precursor for norepinephrine and epinephrine.

To view a larger image click the following: Acupuncture CEU Image

Reference:
1. Wang H, Pan Y, Xue B, Wang X, Zhao F, et al. (2011) The Antioxidative Effect of Electro-Acupuncture in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease.
2. Photo: Mikael Häggström, based on images by Andrew Gillies/User:Anaru and Patrick J. Lynch.

Acupuncture Stops Arthritis Pain with Serotonin – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:26:08 +0000

A National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded study shows that electroacupuncture, “inhibits osteoarthritis-induced pain by enhancing 5-HT2A/2C [serotonin] receptor activity.” Activation of this serotonin receptor produces powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Researchers from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD and Shanxi Medical University in Shanxi, China showed that electroacupuncture attenuates osteoarthritis pain by activating serotonin receptors that, “play an important role in pain modulation at the spinal level.” The researchers also discovered that electroacupuncture activates serotonergic neurons that project into the spinal cord.

The study applied electroacupuncture to acupuncture points GB30 (Huantiao) and St36 (Zusanli) in rats with osteoarthritis. Thirty-two gauge acupuncture needles were inserted into the two acupuncture points on each leg with a 10Hz, 2mA, 0.4ms pulse width for 30 minutes for each acupuncture session. The results were tabulated in comparison to a sham control group. Electroacupuncture was shown to activate serotonin receptors, improve weight bearing, reduce pain, and improve joint function. The researchers note that electroacupuncture, “activated serotonergic neurons… which sends serotonergic descending fibers to the spinal cord to modulate pain…. EA [Electroacupuncture] activates different areas in the brain that, in turn, modulate various functions.” The researchers concluded that electroacupuncture has the ability to, “induce spinal serotonin release and stimulate 5-HT2A/2c [serotonin] receptor activities at the spinal cord to inhibit osteoarthritis-induced pain.”

Reference:
Serotonin Receptor 2A/C Is Involved in Electroacupuncture Inhibition of Pain in an Osteoarthritis Rat Model. Aihui Li, Yu Zhang, Lixing Lao, Jiajia Xin, Ke Ren, Brian M. Berman, and Rui-Xin Zhang. Hindawi Publishing Corporation. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2011, Article ID 619650, 6 pages.

Acupuncture Alleviates Schizophrenia – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 10:55:45 +0000

New research concludes, “that patients diagnosed with schizophrenia would benefit from acupuncture treatment alongside conventional treatment.” Acupuncture was effective in alleviating schizophrenia and the side effects of psychiatric medication. Acupuncture also improved energy levels, sleep, physical disorders, and motivation.

Benefits of Acupuncture
Patients were treated with acupuncture at a rate of twice per week for ten weeks. Acupuncture caused a decrease in the, “side effects of antipsychotic medication; decreased auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations; decreased anxiety and paranoia; improved sleep patterns… increased motivation including increased sex drive and ambition to further themselves in education and work; improved socialization and concentration… reduced addictive behavior in relation to alcohol and cigarettes; improved diet and weight loss; and improved exercise regimes.”

About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by the inability to distinguish reality from unreal experiences, illogic, disconnected emotional responses, and unusual behavior. Schizophrenia may be genetic and may also be triggered by events and physical circumstances. Initial onset may be very mild and may be characterized by irritability, insomnia, lack of concentration, emotional disturbances, delusions (non-reality based beliefs), hallucinations, and disjointed logic. Schizophrenia affects less than 1 percent of the population and is often treated with pharmaceutical medications.

Chinese Medicine Diagnosis
Individualized differential diagnoses were obtained for each patient. Some of the diagnoses included the following:
-Phlegm heat harassing the mind.
-Phlegm fire harassing the Heart.
-Phlegm heat/fire harassing the mind with blood deficiency of Heart and Liver.
-Liver fire flaming upward with ascendant hyperactivity of Liver yang, Kidney Yin deficiency, and phlegm fire harassing the mind.
-Kidney and Spleen deficiency with dampness, Liver Qi depression and Qi Stagnation.
-Blood deficiency, Qi stagnation, and non-interaction between the Heart and Kidney.
-Heart Fire.

Reference:
Ronan P, Robinson N, Harbinson D, Macinnes D. A case study exploration of the value of acupuncture as an adjunct treatment for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia: results and future study design.. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2011 May;9(5):503-14. Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Kent, UK.

Acupuncture Reduces Hot Flashes After Chemotherapy – Yale Study

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:59:40 +0000

A Yale University/University of Pittsburg study of women with hot flashes due to conventional breast cancer treatment reveals that women receiving acupuncture have less hot flashes. The randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial collected data “in the National Institutes of Health funded General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) associated with Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH). The study was approved by the Yale University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Interviews, acupuncture treatments, educational sessions, and laboratory test specimen collection for all study participants took place at the GCRC.”

The researchers measured a 30 percent reduction of hot flashes for women receiving acupuncture. The women received traditional acupuncture points indicated for hot flashes and menopausal symptoms including acupuncture points for sleep distubances, loss of concentration, pain, headaches, and anxiety. They received a total of eight, 20-30 minute, acupuncture treatments over a period of 12 weeks. The first four acupuncture visits were administered once per week and then once every other week following.

In most cases, the use of the chemotherapy agent tamoxifen initially caused or intensified hot flashes. Other hormonal agents also caused the hot flashes. The study shows that acupuncture is an appropriate treatment protocol for women receiving chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer. The study also measured physical improvements for women receiving acupuncture over the control group, “There was a significant difference in the average physical quality of life scores from Week 1 to Week 11 in the Acupuncture Specific treatment group. This indicates the acupuncture treatment had an impact on physical symptoms separate from hot flashes.”

Reference:
Cohen Su M, Rousseau Ma E, Berg Ju A, Jolivet Ri , Dixon Ly , Vulte Je , Kern II Jo . Menopausal Symptom Management With Acupuncture For Women With Breast Cancer . WebmedCentral ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2011;2(2):WMC001544.

Electro-Acupuncture is an Antidepressant – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:39:31 +0000

New research shows that electroacupuncture has an antidepressant effect and prevents atrophy of brain cells. Researchers measured that electroacupuncture prevents atrophy of glial cells in the hippocampus, a portion of the brain. The researches note that there is mounting data showing that major depressive disorder is linked to glia cell atrophy. Glial cells form myelin, a dialectric material necessary for the proper function of the central nervous system. Glial cells also supply nourishment and oxygen to brain neurons. The researchers posit that the antidepressant effect of electroacupuncture may be due to its ability to prevent “glial atrophy in the hippocampus.”

CUS (chronic unpredictable stress) induced depression model rats were used in the study. The study measured that a “daily session of EA [electroacupuncture] treatment significantly reversed the behavioral deficit of these depression model rats.” Electroacupuncture was applied to acupuncture points Du20 (Gv20, BaiHui) and AnMian (Ex17) unilaterally at a rate of once per day for a period of three weeks. The antidepressant effects were quantified using physical state analysis and open field test measurements. The protective effects of electroacupuncture on brain cells was measured by “immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.”

Reference:
Glia atrophy in the hippocampus of chronic unpredictable stress-induced depression model rats is reversed by electroacupuncture treatment. Qiong Liua, Bing Lia, Hai-Yan Zhua, Yan-Qing Wanga, Jin Yu and Gen-Cheng Wu. Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 128, Issue 3, February 2011, Pages 309-313. Institute of Acupuncture Research (WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine), Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, State Key Lab of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Acupuncture for Labor Pain – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:00:25 +0000

Researchers examined existing scientific studies of acupuncture and acupressure and their effects on labor pain. The research included randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture or acupressure with placebo control groups. Both spontaneous and induced labor were included in the selection criteria.

The research finds that, “Less intense pain was found from acupuncture compared with no intervention,” for the treatment of labor pain. Also, the research found that acupuncture improved satisfaction with pain relief over a placebo control group and that, “Reduced use of pharmacological analgesia was found in one trial of acupuncture compared with placebo.” Of special interest, the researchers found that in 3 trials of 704 women that, “Fewer instrumental deliveries from acupuncture were found compared with standard care.” The researchers also found that in a trial of 322 women that acupressure reduced labor pain over a placebo control group.

Reference:
Acupuncture or acupressure for pain management in labour. Smith CA, Collins CT, Crowther CA, Levett KM. Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, New South Wales, Australia, 2751.

Acupuncture Research – Enhanced Blood Flow to the Brain

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 04:36:27 +0000

New research shows that acupuncture at acupoint GV20 (DU20, Hundred Meetings, Baihui) increases blow flow to the brain without raising arterial blood pressure or pulse rate. The researchers sought to measure cerebral blow flow in an attempt to understand the mechanisms by which acupuncture induces a therapeutic effect. GV20 is well regarded for it ability to treat disorders related to the head and brain. Indications for the use of GV20 include dizziness, hypertension, hypotension, deficient memory, ear ringing (tinnitus), headaches, diminished vision, windstroke, and syncope.

The researches measured increases in the blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) during acupuncture needling of GV20. Although blood flow increased, blood pressure and pulse rate did not change significantly. The researchers conclude, “The data suggest that GV20 acupuncture treatment increases cerebral blood flow. The results of this small-scale study provide preliminary evidence for acupuncture effectiveness.”

GV20 is located near the top of the head. According to Chinese medicine theory, GV20 (Governing Vessel 20) is the Meeting point of the GV channel with the Urination Bladder, Gallbladder, Sanjiao (Triple Burner), and Liver channels. GV20 is a Sea of Marrow Point. It calms the wind, descends the uprising Yang, lifts the fallen Yang, nourishes the sea of marrow (brain), and calms the Shen (spirit). From a more western perspective, the researchers have measured the physical effects of GV20 on blood flow to the brain thereby showing one mechanism by which GV20 nourishes the sea of marrow (brain). This also demonstrates physiological changes in the body when GV20 is used to eliminate headaches.

Reference:
Hyung-sik Byeon, Sang-kwan Moon, Seong-uk Park, Woo-sang Jung, Jung-mi Park, Chang-nam Ko, Ki-ho Cho, Young-suk Kim and Hyung-sup Bae. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. March 2011, 17(3): 219-224.

Acupuncture Cures Lazy Eye - New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:03:02 +0000

A recent study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology reports that acupuncture is an effective therapy for a type of ‘lazy eye’ called anisometropic amblyopia. This condition is characterized by poor vision in an eye that may otherwise be considered physically normal. The researchers also note that acupuncture is a superior treatment modality to the current approach of patching the good eye to strengthen the lazy eye. The researchers conclude, “Acupuncture produced equivalent treatment effect for anisometropic amblyopia, compared with patching, and was statistically superior. Further studies are warranted to investigate its value in the treatment of amblyopia.”

Reference:
Jianhao Zhao, MD; Dennis S. C. Lam, MD, FRCOphth; Li Jia Chen, PhD; Yunxiu Wang, BMed; Chongren Zheng, DEpid; Qiaoer Lin, DN; Srinivas K. Rao, FRCS; Dorothy S. P. Fan, FRCS; Mingzhi Zhang, MD; Ping Chung Leung, MD; Robert Ritch, MD, FRCOphth. Randomized Controlled Trial of Patching vs Acupuncture for Anisometropic Amblyopia in Children Aged 7 to 12 Years. Arch Ophthalmol. 2010;128(12):1510-1517.

NIH Recommends Acupuncture and Research Direction

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:30:41 +0000

A recent report from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports “that many well-designed studies have found that acupuncture can help with certain conditions, such as back pain, knee pain, headaches and osteoarthritis.” Research includes various scientific approaches to validating and measuring the effects of acupuncture including MRI studies, biochemical and bioelectric analysis and clinical trials. The NIH also reports, “Studies have found it to be very safe, with few side effects.”

In the report, researchers at the NIH question whether or not attempting placebo controlled trials is an effective approach to measuring the efficacy of acupuncture. Dr. K. J. Sherman, an NIH researcher at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, Washington notes, “I don’t really think you can come up with a great placebo needling.” Dr. R. E. Harris, an NIH researcher at the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan notes, “It’s hard to design placebo-controlled studies of acupuncture when we don’t understand what the active component of the intervention is.”

NIH researchers also question the validity of sham acupuncture control groups. Dr. Harris’s research was able to prove that although sham acupuncture (using non-acupuncture points for a control group) and true acupuncture reduce pain in fibromyalgia patients, they “do it by different mechanisms.” Dr. Harris’s research showed that differing mechanisms by which the pain relief was achieved was measured at the molecular level. This suggests that sham acupuncture may superficially cause pain reduction but that it is not scientifically achieved by the same mechanisms as true acupuncture. Dr. Richard L. Nahin of the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states, “If you look at some of the data, what you find is that sham acupuncture and true acupuncture both produce some pain relief in whatever condition they’re looking at. But while both treatments turn on areas of the brain, they turn on different areas of the brain.” Dr. Sherman notes, “there’s no place on the back, if you have back pain, where you can say you have a great control, so I don’t think that’s a really solid idea.” The researchers recommend acupuncture as a treatment modality but suggest that future research needs to reconsider attempts to use placebo and sham control groups.

Reference:
Contie, Defibaugh, Ewsichek, Latham and Wein. Understanding Acupuncture Time To Try It? NIH News in Health. February 2011.

Doctors Say Acupuncture Treats Endometriosis

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:04:42 +0000

A recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine cites acupuncture as effective for the treatment of pain related to endometriosis. The publication notes that a randomized, sham-controlled trial of women suffering from endometriosis pain demonstrated that acupuncture was an effective treatment modality. As a result, the author calls for larger studies to confirm the findings.

Endometriosis is a gynecological condition wherein uterine cells are located in areas of the body external to the uterus. These cells have similar hormonal responses as cells within the uterus. This can lead to lesions, pain and infertility. The pain is usually chronic and is associated with dysmenorrhea. It is estimated that endometriosis affects nearly 10 percent of women of reproductive age, 50 percent of women with infertility, and almost 60 percent of teenage girls with pelvic region pain. Treatments include surgery, oral contraceptives and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. GnRH agonists to lower estrogen levels are used but may cause endometrial atrophy and amenorrhea.

The article mentions the effectiveness of Japanese acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical stimulation for the treatment of endometriosis. The article does not cite the existing studies showing the effectiveness of Chinese or Korean style acupuncture. Nonetheless, it is a comprehensive report with a genuine approach to understanding the issues involved in the treatment of endometriosis. This is part of a slowly emerging trend wherein acupuncture is cited in articles appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine as an effective modality for the treatment of disease.

References:
1. Endometriosis. Linda C. Giudice, M.D., Ph.D. N Engl J Med 2010; 362:2389-2398June 24, 2010.
2. Wayne PM, Kerr CE, Schnyer RN, et al. Japanese-style acupuncture for endometriosis-related pelvic pain in adolescents and young women: results of a randomized sham-controlled trial. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2008;21:247-257.

Acupuncture and Ginger Treat Morning Sickness

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:46:07 +0000

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published an article citing that acupuncture and ginger are potentially beneficial to pregnant women suffering from nausea and vomiting. Half of all pregnant women in the USA experience nausea and vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy. About 35 percent of women experience moderate levels of nausea and vomiting. Hyperemesis Gravidarum, extremely severe morning sickness, affects approximately 1 percent of pregnant women. This raises concerns for electrolyte depletion, weight loss, and fluid loss.

Pharmaceuticals and Vitamins
The study notes that 10 percent of women with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy receive pharmaceutical medications and vitamin therapy. Antihistamines and prokinetic agents such as metoclopramide are often prescribed. Peripheral neuropathy due to complications from hyperemesis may be treatable with vitamin B6 and B12 supplementation and encephalopathy may be treated with thiamine (vitamin B1) supplementation. The report cites a study showing that women taking a multivitamin are less likely to develop nausea and vomiting.

Acupuncture and Ginger
The publication notes that ,“In one randomized trial involving 33 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum, acupuncture reduced symptoms, as compared with sham acupuncture….” The author also notes, “In a randomized trial of the ReliefBand, which emits an electrical current to stimulate the P6 acupuncture point, patients who were randomly assigned to the active device, as compared with those assigned to a sham device, were reported to have significantly less nausea and vomiting and were more likely to gain weight.” The author adds, “Randomized, double-blind trials have provided support for a benefit of ginger in the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.”\

Reference:
Jennifer R. Niebyl, M.D. . Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy. N Engl J Med 2010; 363:1544-1550. From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.

Acupuncture Treats Depression – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 04:13:07 +0000

A new study concludes that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder. The Depression Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital located in Boston, Massachusetts demonstrated that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of clinical depression for patients who are non-responsive to conventional pharmaceutical antidepressant therapies.

The Massachusetts General Hospital study documents that existing clinical evidence supports acupuncture as a stand-alone therapy for depression. This study researched the ability of acupuncture to augment conventional antidepressant therapy when patients did not respond to their medications. The study concluded that acupuncture is effective as an adjunct therapy to antidepressants for both partial and non-responders. Acupuncture was administered one to two times per week during the study and the researchers concluded that acupuncture was “safe, well-tolerated and effective” for patients suffering from depression. Based upon their findings, the researchers conclude that additional controlled trials are warranted.

Reference:
Albert S. Yeunga, Victoria E. Amerala, Sarah E. Chuzia, Maurizio Favaa and David Mischoulon. A pilot study of acupuncture augmentation therapy in antidepressant partial and non-responders with major depressive disorder. Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

California Acupuncture Board Traumatology Defeated

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:59:11 +0000

A California bill requiring the California Acupuncture Board to create a new Chinese medicine profession called “Traditional Chinese Medicine traumatologists” has been narrowly defeated. Senator Leland Yee (D- San Francisco) introduced the bill (SB628) and has announced his intentions to reintroduce the bill next year.

The California State Oriental Medical Association (CSOMA) was a driving force opposing bill SB628 in the California legislature. CSOMA asserted that TCM traumatology is “part of the broader field of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, a field already regulated by the California Acupuncture Board.” According to California law, licensed acupuncturists may perform acupuncture and “perform or prescribe the use of oriental massage, acupressure, breathing techniques, exercise, heat, cold, magnets, nutrition, diet, herbs, plant, animal, and mineral products, and dietary supplements to promote, maintain, and restore health....” The new traumatologist profession would have overlapped with the scope of practice of acupuncturists.

The Votes
The California Assembly Committee for Business, Professions, and Consumer Protection voted against SB 628. Assemblymember Mary Hayashi (Dem - Hayward area) helped to defeat the bill. She is also known for introducing AB783, a bill intended to save thousands of physical therapy jobs. Joining her in opposition to SB628 were Bill Berryhill (Rep - Stockton area), Fiona Ma (Dem - Western San Francisco/Daly City area) and Cameron Smyth (Rep - Santa Clarita area). Betsy Butler (Dem - Western LA County area) abstained from the vote. Those supporting SB628 were Michael Allen (Dem - Napa Valley area), Mike Eng (D - Rosemead area), Jerry Hill (Dem - San Mateo County area), and Curt Hagman (Rep - Chino Hills area).

Standards and Clarity
Under bill SB628, “Traditional Chinese Medicine traumatologists” had no standards, program accreditation, exams or a defined scope of practice. CSOMA noted that fees paid by acupuncturists to the California Acupuncture Board to maintain licensure could have been used to run the TCM Traumatology Committee.

Traumatology Committee Interests
SB628 would have required the California Acupuncture Board to create a “Traumatology Committee.” The new committee would have been responsible for certifying “Traditional Chinese Medicine traumatologists.” The newly formed Traumatology Committee would have been composed of six members. Four of the six members would have been licensed physicians and surgeons or members representing their interests.

CSOMA Opposition
CSOMA opposed the bill for several reasons. Under SB628, applicants could apply for this certification between January 1, 2012 and December 15, 2012. After that, no new applicants would have been allowed and there would have been no future opportunities to obtain this certification from the Traumatology Committee. This made SB628 a unique and unusual bill. It created a medical profession and then only allowed one year in which individuals may join it. CSOMA asserts that this provision satisfies the needs of special interest groups seeking certification without having to obtain licensure through existing opportunities.

SB628 required no certification examination. No written or practical knowledge was required to obtain the certification. This would make “Traditional Chinese Medicine traumatologists” the only medical profession in California without an examination process for certification. CSOMA asserted that the absence of certification exams posed a “significant threat to consumer safety.” In addition, SB628 did not include certification standards nor did it include a scope of practice. CSOMA notes that TCM traumatology would have been the only medical profession in California without educational standards, program accreditation, exams, or a scope of practice.

Acupuncture Continuing Education – Acupuncture CEUs
No continuing education requirements would have applied to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) traumatologists. California continuing education requirements apply to acupuncture CEUs and every other medical profession in California except for the proposed TCM traumatologists. This is unusual given the 50 acupuncture CEUs (continuing education units) required for acupuncturists every two years in California. Acupuncturists are trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine and have enormous educational, licensing and examination requirements with a highly defined scope of practice, certification and educational standards.

Strange But True
It is odd that a new group may emerge and be awarded the Traditional Chinese Medicine title without any defined standards while acupuncturists work for years to obtain and then maintain licensure. Moreover, it is unusual that a bill creating a new medical profession received any support even though a definition of a scope of practice was not included in the bill.

Unified Opposition
CSOMA helped to defeat SB628 with the aid of the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences, Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM), Association of Korean Asian Medicine and Acupuncture of California (AKAMAC), California Certified Acupuncturists Association (CCAA), Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), Five Branches University, Japanese Acupuncture Association of California (JAAC), National Alliance of Korean Asian Medicine & Acupuncture of USA, National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), National Federation of Chinese TCM Organizations, National Guild of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, Nine Star University, Southern California University of Health Sciences, and United California Practitioners of Chinese Medicine (UCPCM).

Electro-Acupuncture Repairs Spinal Cord Injury – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 06:22:07 +0000

A new study has measured the effects of electro-acupuncture on the regeneration of the spinal cord following injury. The experiment was performed on rats with spinal cords that were demyelinated in the thoracic vertebrae region at T10. The research conducted by the Division of Neuroscience at Sun Yat-Sen University demonstrated that electro-acupuncture stimulated spinal cord repair.

The researchers investigated Governing Vessel stimulation with electro-acupuncture. One measurement was that of increases in the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). OPCs are considered a potentially viable treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) and OPCs can potentially remyelinate the spinal cord. Electro-acupuncture on the Governing Vessel (Du Mai) increased OPCs, an important factor in the functional recovery of demyelinated spinal cord. Electro-acupuncture also caused OPCs to differentiate into oligodendroycytes – another important factor in spinal cord repair.

Electro-acupuncture was measured to have increased neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) levels in addition to OPCs and oligodendrocytes. NT-3 is a protein growth factor affecting neurons of the peripheral and central nervous system. NT-3 supports the differentiation of neurons and the growth new neurons and synapses. The research clearly measured NT-3 increases by electro-acupuncture on the Governing Vessel in demyelinated spinal cord tissue. NT-3 mediates the differentiation of OPCs into oligodendrocytes thereby promoting functional improvement in demyelinated spinal cord.

Reference: Neuroscience Research, Volume 70, Issue 3, July 2011, Pages 294-304; An experimental electro-acupuncture study in treatment of the rat demyelinated spinal cord injury induced by ethidium bromide. Si-Fan Huanga, Ying Dinga, Jing-Wen Ruanc, Wei Zhanga, Jin-Lang Wud, Bing Hea, Yu-Jiao Zhanga, Yan Lia and Yuan-Shan Zenga.

Massachusetts Acupuncture Insurance Coverage Legislation

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:48:47 +0000

Massachusetts State Representative William S. Pignatelli (Democrat; Lenox, MA) has introduced legislation to ensure acupuncture insurance coverage for all health insurance policies in Massachusetts. Supporters cite research demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of healthcare provided by licensed acupuncturists and the right to equal access to licensed medical providers. The bill (H.3519) has now been referred to the Massachusetts legislative committee on financial services and awaits further action. The bill has a total of 19 cosponsors.

The AOMSM (Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Society of Massachusetts) has worked to promote this legislation. The AOMSM notes research supporting the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture and the clinical efficacy of acupuncture as important factors in this legislation’s passage. The bill will provide acupuncture services for low-income families and requires that all insurance policies provide benefits for services performed by a licensed acupuncturist in Massachusetts.

Covered services performed by licensed acupuncturists are for both diagnostics and treatment. Diagnostics in the bill include but are not limited to “observation, listening, smelling, inquiring, palpation, pulses, tongue, physiognomy, 5 element correspondences, ryodoraku, German electro-acupuncture, and thermography.” Treatment modalities in the bill include but are not limited to “auricular, hand, nose, face, foot and/or scalp acupuncture therapy; stimulation to acupuncture points and channels by use of any of the following: needles, moxibustion, cupping, thermal methods, magnets, scraping techniques, ion cord linking acupuncture devices with wires, hot and cold packs, electromagnetic wave therapy and lasers; manual stimulation, including stimulation by an instrument or mechanical device that does not pierce the skin, massage, acupressure, reflexology, shiatsu and tui na; and electrical stimulation including electro-acupuncture, percutaneous and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.”

Another category of provided services is called “adjunct therapies” and includes “oriental nutritional counseling, and the recommendation of nonprescription substances that meet the federal Food and Drug Administration labeling requirements as dietary supplements to promote health; instruction and training of meditation, breathing techniques and therapeutic movement exercises, including, but not limited to, tai chi, Qi Gong, Sotai, and lifestyle, behavioral, supportive, educational and stress counseling.” This bill will apply to any contract between a subscriber and the health insurance corporation whether it is a new policy or renewed policy.

Acupuncture Research – Allergic Rhinitis Improvements

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:08:47 +0000

A recent study of 80 patients with chronic rhinitis concludes that acupuncture is an effective treatment therapy. Persistent allergic rhinitis affects approximately 30 percent of the global population. Western medicine approaches include the use of antihistamines, decongestants, mast-cell stabilizers, intranasal corticosteroids, and surgical procedures.

Acupuncture points LI20, YinTang, and GB20 were the key points in the study. Supplementary points included LI4, St36, and Cv6. The acupuncture group had significantly better outcomes than either the control group or the sham acupuncture group. Each acupuncture session was 25 minutes and patients were given 16 acupuncture treatments at a rate of 2 per week. Results were tabulated after a three month follow-up. Both nasal symptoms and eye symptoms associated with chronic rhinitis improved significantly for the acupuncture group. Members of the acupuncture group were also able to reduce consumption of relief medication. The study concluded that acupuncture is “safe and effective” for the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR).

Reference: Evaluation of efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis. An, X 2006, Evaluation of efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis, Masters Thesis, School of Health Sciences, RMIT University.

California Acupuncture Board Trauma

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:36:06 +0000

The California State Oriental Medical Association (CSOMA) has taken strong opposition to bill SB628 in the California legislature. Senator Leland Yee (D- San Francisco) introduced SB628 that requires the California Acupuncture Board to create a “Traumatology Committee.” The new committee will be responsible for certifying a new profession called “Traditional Chinese Medicine traumatologists.” Under SB628, the newly formed Traumatology Committee will be composed of six members. Four of the six members will be licensed physicians and surgeons or members representing their interests.

CSOMA opposes the bill for several reasons. Under SB628, applicants may only apply for this certification between January 1, 2012 and December 15, 2012. After that, no new applicants will be allowed and there will be no future opportunities to obtain this certification from the Traumatology Committee. This makes SB628 a unique and unusual bill. It creates a medical profession and then only allows one year in which individuals may join it. CSOMA asserts that this provision satisfies the needs of special interest groups seeking certification without having to obtain licensure through existing opportunities.

SB628 requires no certification examination. No written or practical knowledge need be demonstrated to obtain the certification. This would make “Traditional Chinese Medicine traumatologists” the only medical profession in California that lacks the examination process for certification. CSOMA asserts that the absence of certification exams poses a “significant threat to consumer safety.” In addition, SB628 does not mention certification standards nor does it include a scope of practice. CSOMA notes that TCM traumatology will be the only medical profession in California without educational standards, program accreditation, exams, or a scope of practice.

No continuing education requirements will apply to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) traumatologists. California continuing education requirements apply to acupuncture CEUs and every other medical profession in California except for the proposed TCM traumatologists. This is unusual given the 50 acupuncture CEUs (continuing education units) required for acupuncturists every two years. Acupuncturists are trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine and have enormous educational, licensing and examination requirements with a highly defined scope of practice, certification and educational standards. It is odd that a new group may emerge and be awarded the TCM title without any clear standard while acupuncturists work for years to obtain and then maintain licensure.

CSOMA also asserts that TCM traumatology is “part of the broader field of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, a field already regulated by the California Acupuncture Board.” CSOMA notes that the term Traditional Chinese Medicine traumatology may cause consumer confusion with the acupuncture profession. CSOMA asserts that unethical or negligent practice by TCM traumatologists may reflect poorly upon licensed acupuncturists. CSOMA also notes that fees paid by acupuncturists to the California Acupuncture Board to maintain licensure may be used to run the TCM Traumatology Committee.

Acupuncture Stops Shoulder Pain? New Research.

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 22:14:23 +0000

There has been a great deal of controversy over the effectiveness of acupuncture for pain related conditions. Can acupuncture stop shoulder pain? A randomized, blinded, patient-blinded, multi-center research report published its conclusions. Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum (Orthopedic Surgery and Research) conclude that acupuncture is an effective alternative to conventional orthopedic treatments for chronic shoulder pain. The specifics of the results draw clear demarcations.

A total of 424 patients were studied in 31 orthopedist offices. Each received 15 treatments over a period of 6 weeks. The orthopedists were trained in acupuncture and administered the acupuncture treatments. Three groups were compared. The first group of patients received textbook acupuncture (verum acupuncture). The next group received non-relevant needle puncture (sham acupuncture). The final group received conventional orthopedic care.

Results showed greater range of motion including abduction and arm-above-head-test for the acupuncture group over the sham and orthopedic groups. Pain level reductions were also assessed.

Three Month Follow-Up
The verum acupuncture group had a 65 percent recovery rate. The sham acupuncture group had a 24 percent recovery rate, and the orthopedic group had a 37 percent recovery rate measured three months following the cessation of acupuncture care.

Immediate Follow-Up
The verum acupuncture group had a 68 percent recovery rate. The sham acupuncture group had a 40 percent recovery rate, and the orthopedic group had a 28 percent recovery rate measured immediately following the cessation of acupuncture care. In both cases, the patients receiving acupuncture demonstrated the most clinically significant recovery rates.

Reference:
Pain. 2010 Oct;151(1):146-54. Epub 2010 Jul 23. German Randomized Acupuncture Trial for chronic shoulder pain (GRASP) - a pragmatic, controlled, patient-blinded, multi-centre trial in an outpatient care environment. Molsberger AF, Schneider T, Gotthardt H, Drabik A.

Acupuncture Benefits Phoenix Suns Grant Hill

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:07:27 +0000

Grant Hill uses acupuncture to lift his energy level and to benefit his legs. Hill is a 37 year old NBA forward on the basketball team the Phoenix Suns. At the acupuncture office Hill notes, “I do it for energy sometimes and also help for recovery with the legs.” He notes of acupuncture, “it doesn’t hurt… they try to treat the body overall. Instead of looking at a problem in the body, they try to find the cause of the problem and fix that.” During his acupuncture appointment, he discussed with his acupuncturist that other Phoenix Suns basketball players have received acupuncture including Kevin Johnson, Steve Nash, Charles Barkley, and Jason Kidd. Charles Barkley received acupuncture in the 1990’s that allowed range of motion to be restored to his neck. Other Phoenix Suns players that have received acupuncture include Hot Rod Williams and Jeff Hornacek. Other basketball players that have used acupuncture include Dwayne Wade, Shaquille O’Neal and Vladimir Radmonovic.

Acupuncture has a long history of developing treatments for sports and athletic related injuries while co-evolving with the martial arts. Today, golfers such as Gary Player and Fred Couples use acupuncture. Football players famous for using acupuncture include Joe Montana, Morten Anderson, and defensive lineman Michael Strahan. Morten Anderson, a field goal kicker, received acupuncture twice a week to benefit his feet. His acupuncturist was the official team acupuncturist of the Atlanta Falcons. He retired in 2008 at 48 years of age from the NFL as the second oldest player ever in the game. Acupuncture helps players to recover quickly from injuries as well as preventing injuries. Acupuncture creates musculoskeletal resilience.

In baseball, former San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Randy Johnson received acupuncture regularly from the SF Giants team acupuncturist. The San Francisco Giants were early adopters of acupuncture as part of a team medical program. The SF Giants team acupuncturist performs acupuncture at home and on the road. He tours with the team. Latecomers to acupuncture are the New York Yankees. Pitcher A.J. Burnett didn’t sign to the team until general manager Brian Cashman sweetened his contract with the addition of a team acupuncturist. Burnett says of acupuncture, “There’s no doubt in my mind that I think it’s helped… I found that I responded really well to the acupuncture….” In gymnastics, Nastia Liukin had a difficult year of competition in 2007 due to an ankle injury. In 2008, with the help of regular acupuncture treatments, she went on to win the Olympic all-around gold medal for women’s gymnastics.

Acupuncture Treats Rare Immune System Disease - HIES

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 06:13:48 +0000

New research concludes that acupuncture “is a clinically useful and safe therapy for symptom management in patients with HIES.” HIES Syndrome is Hyper-IgE Syndrome, also known as Job’s Syndrome. The research was conducted at The Clinical Research Center of the National Institutes of Health.

Hyper-immunoglobulin E (IgE) syndrome, HIES, is a rare hereditary disease characterized by frequent staphylococcal infections, retained primary teeth, skin rashes, lung infections, and a high concentration of serum IgE. Early signs include permanent retention of primary teeth or a delay in the loss of primary teeth. Various presentations of eczematous dermatitis appear and pneumonias are common. Laboratory tests may be normal in infants. However, HIES patients develop IgE levels that are often greater than 10 times the norm. In addition, HIES patients have significantly raised eosinophil levels. Recurrent staphylococcal boils in HIES patients are often treated with antibiotics and infected abscesses may be deep and require incision and drainage. The oldest surviving HIES patient was documented at 60 years of age, however, infections frequently cause loss of life earlier.

Reference:
Adeline X.Y. Ge, Mary E. Ryan, Steven M. Holland, Alexandra F. Freeman, Victoria L. Anderson, Fei Wang, Jim W. Fleshman. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. January 2011, 17(1): 71-76. doi:10.1089/acm.2010.0264.

New Acupuncture Study: Acupuncture Reduces Cancer Pain

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 11 May 2011 23:30:59 +0000

A recent study finds that acupuncture is effective for reducing pain in cancer patients. It is estimated that upwards of 70 percent of cancer patients do not get adequate pain relief. The new study and detailed review of randomized controlled trials shows that acupuncture has a role in pain management for cancer patients.

Over 40 percent of patients with early to moderate stage cancer suffer from moderate to severe pain. Over 90 percent of individuals with advanced stage cancer suffer from moderate to severe pain. Pain is due to pre-existing conditions, tumor growth, bone metastases, cancer treatments, and progression of the disease.

Acupuncture for the treatment of patients with cancer became recognized as an important treatment application following a 1997 National Institutes of Health study showing that acupuncture is effective for treating nausea due to chemotherapy. Since that time, acupuncture has been shown to treat many types of pain for musculoskeletal conditions. This new study reviewed randomized controlled trials and found that one body of research in particular, published in the European Journal of Pain, pointed to the ability of acupuncture to relieve pain for cancer patients. The study also calls for more research to be conducted based on this evidence.

References:
1 Paley CA, Johnson MI, Tashani OA, Bagnall AM. Acupuncture for cancer pain in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD007753. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007753.pub2.
2 Acupuncture. NIH Consensus Statement 1997 Nov 3-5; 15(5):1-34.
3 Lee H, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Acupuncture for the relief of cancer- related pain-A systematic review. European Journal of Pain 2005;9 (4):437–44.

Acupuncture Stops Menstrual Pain: New Study

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 09 May 2011 23:52:04 +0000

Acupuncture was shown to be effective for the treatment of menstrual pain. A recent study of patients with primary dysmenorrhea measured significant pain relief by needling acupuncture point Sp6. The studies quantified these results against a non-acupuncture control group and a GB39 acupuncture point control group. Blood samples were taken of participants during the study. It was shown that although acupuncture decreased menstrual pain, it was not related to plasma levels of prostaglandins. The researchers concluded that the analgesic effects of Sp6 are not mediated by prostaglandin changes in the bloodstream. The researchers checked levels of 4 main prostaglandins (PGE2, PGF2a, TXB2, 6-keto PGF1a).

Sp6, San Yin Jiao, is the Three Yin Intersection acupuncture point. It is the meeting point of the Spleen, Liver, and Kidney channels. Sp6 tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Qi, benefits the Kidney and Liver, regulates menstruation, activates the channels and stops pain, invigorates the blood, and calms the spirit. Sp6 is also notable for resolving damp stagnation.

The leg three Yin channels (Spleen, Liver, and Kidney) control menstruation and other gynecological and reproductive processes. Located on the medial side of the lower leg, 3 cun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus in a depression close to the medial crest of the tibia, Sp6 is one of the more common acupuncture points used in clinical practice for the treatment of dysmenorrhea.

Reference: Shi, Guang-Xia MSc,†Liu, Cun-Zhi PhD; Zhu, Jiang BSc,;Guan, Li-Ping MSc; Wang, De-Jin MSc; Wu, Meng-Meng MSc. Effects of Acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6) on Prostaglandin Levels in Primary Dysmenorrhea Patients. Clinical Journal of Pain: March/April 2011 - Volume 27 - Issue 3 - p 258–261.

Top Ten Foods Benefiting the Heart

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 09 May 2011 20:19:56 +0000

Tasly pharmaceutical corporation has published its top ten list of healthy foods for the heart. Tasly is known for producing the first FDA phase-two approved Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of coronary heart disease. Topping the list is oatmeal. Oatmeal contains omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium. Oatmeal is known for lowering LDL cholesterol. Tasly is recommending steel-cut oats over instant oatmeal because steel cut oats have a higher fiber content. Salmon takes the number two slot for its omega-3 fatty acid content and for containing carotenoid astaxanthin, an antioxidant. The number three slot goes to avocado for its monounsaturated fat content. Avocados lower LDL cholesterol while raising HDL cholesterol. Dr. Sinatra of Tasly notes that avocados allow for the absorption of carotenoids including beta-carotene and lycopene. Olive oil takes the number four position with its abundance of monounsaturated fats. Nuts take the fifth slot, including walnuts, almonds, and macadamia nuts. Nuts are loaded with polyunsaturated fats. Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries take up the sixth position for foods benefiting vascular health. Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, black beans, and kidney beans take the next slot with their high content of omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and fiber. Flax seeds are next on the list for their omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid content. Spinach takes the ninth slot for its lutein, folate, potassium, and fiber content. Taking the last slot at number ten is soy. Soy is a source of lean protein.

Licensed acupuncturists are watching Tasly’s phase-three testing of Dan Shen Dripping pills closely. Having jumped through the hoops at the FDA and passing phase-two trials, it is the first Chinese medicine likely to be FDA approved for the treatment of angina pectoris, coronary arteriosclerosis, and hyperlipmia. The impact on nurses, nursing professionals, and doctors is significant. Lacking any measurable negative side effects, Dan Shen Dripping pills may become one of the most important medicines for the prevention of heart disease. It is currently a prescription drug internationally.

New California Acupuncture Bill Traumatology

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 05 May 2011 11:26:07 +0000

An amendment to current acupuncture law has been introduced into the California State legislature by Senator Yee. The bill, SB628, creates a new licensing process for qualified applicants to become ‘certified traumatologists.’ The bill defines traumatology as the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders through the stimulation of acupressure points with hands-on techniques. Treatment modalities defined in the bill include traction, massage, and manipulation techniques “to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships, a technique called bone-setting.” The bill calls for the California Acupuncture Board to establish the criteria required for the certified traumatology license and establishes fees and licensing parameters. The bill also requires certified traumatologists to “maintain a relationship with an orthopedic surgeon when involved in manipulation techniques to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships.”

Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Traditional Medicine
The bill cites the first written documentation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as appearing in the book, The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine. Also, the bill includes language supportive of both Korean and Japanese traditional medicine: “Forms of acupuncture also include Chimsul, which is part of traditional Korean medicine, and Kampo, which is part of traditional Japanese medicine.” The bill calls for the designation of “acupuncturist” to become “Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner.” The new name has stirred controversy and Senator Yee has indicated possible reconsideration of this aspect of the bill.

Main Thrust of the Bill
The bill notes that licensed acupuncturists use more than acupuncture as a treatment modality. Treatment modalities include acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and tui na. Tui Na is a sophisticated form of both orthopedics and massage. The bill states its overriding purpose in the following section: “Currently in California, practitioners of TCM are recognized as licensed acupuncturists. Acupuncture is one of the many modalities within TCM. This nomenclature is misleading and problematic as the scope of practice of a licensed acupuncturist includes other modalities of TCM and not just acupuncture. Further, traumatology is one of the modalities that constitutes TCM. It is a very important part of TCM science with a complete theoretical system. Traumatology, like orthopedics, includes a range of treatments to address both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many nonmusculoskeletal conditions.”

Acupuncture Research Understates Efficacy

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 02 May 2011 04:33:43 +0000

Acupuncture research may be minimizing the true value of acupuncture treatments. A new study shows that only 25 percent of randomized controlled studies of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic lower back pain “were rated good in respect to Chinese textbook acupuncture standards.” A group of 15 experts from 9 countries outside China were asked three questions about acupuncture and its use in randomized controlled studies. How does it rate in terms of Chinese textbook standards? How does it rate compared with the individual expert’s style? How does it rate compared with the standard acupuncture procedures in the expert’s country? The study showed similar results with a 25% rating of good for all three questions.

Scientific Acupuncture Research
Acupuncture for the treatment of lower back pain has been proven effective in many scientific studies meeting Chinese textbook standards. Doctors from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore and the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington published a case vignette in the New England Journal of Medicine recommending acupuncture for the treatment of lower back pain. The doctors conclude that acupuncture is an effective means for treating lower back pain based partly on a study of 6,359 patients published in Spine¹.

The doctors cite physiological phenomena that measure the effects of acupuncture. Local anesthesia at needle insertion sites block the the analgesic effects of acupuncture showing that acupuncture is dependent upon neural innervation². Acupuncture has been proven to cause the release of endogenous opioids in brain-stem, subcortical, and limbic structures^3,4. Acupuncture has also been proven to induce the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol from the pituitary gland thereby creating a systemic anti-inflammatory response⁵. Functional MRI studies in humans reveal that acupuncture stimulates limbic and basal forebrain areas involved in pain processing⁶. PET scan MRIs (positron-emission tomography) show that acupuncture increases opioid binding potential in the brain for several days⁷. Acupuncture has also been proven to mechanically stimulate connective tissues⁸, release adenosine at the site of needle stimulation⁹, and increase local blood blow¹⁰. The doctors then cite clinical trials showing the efficaciousness of acupuncture in the treatment of thousands of patients^10-15.

Reference:
Molsberger A, Zhou J, Boewing L, Arndt D, Karst M, Teske W, Drabik A. An international expert survey on acupuncture in randomized controlled trials for low back pain and a validation of the low back pain acupuncture score. Eur J Med Res. 2011 Mar 28;16(3):133-8.

Footnotes:
1. Yuan J, Purepong N, Kerr DP, Park J, Bradbury I, McDonough S. Effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain: a systematic review. Spine 2008;33:E887-E900.
2. Wang SM, Kain ZN, White P. Acupuncture analgesia: I. The scientific ba- sis. Anesth Analg 2008;106:602-10.
3. Han JS. Acupuncture: neuropeptide release produced by electrical stimulation of different frequencies. Trends Neurosci 2003;26:17-22.
4. Pomeranz B. Scientific research into acupuncture for the relief of pain. J Altern Complement Med 1996;2:53-60.
5. Li A, Lao L, Wang Y, et al. Electroacupuncture activates corticotrophin-releasing hormone-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus to alleviate edema in a rat model of inflammation. BMC Complement Altern Med 2008;8:20.
6. Dhond RP, Kettner N, Napadow V. Neuroimaging acupuncture effects in the human brain. J Altern Complement Med 2007;13:603-16.
7. Harris RE, Zubieta JK, Scott DJ, Napa- dow V, Gracely RH, Clauw DJ. Traditional Chinese acupuncture and placebo (sham) acupuncture are differentiated by their effects on mu-opioid receptors (MORs). Neuroimage 2009;47:1077-85.
8. Langevin HM, Churchill DL, Wu J, et al. Evidence of connective tissue involvement in acupuncture. FASEB J 2002;16:872-4.
9. Goldman N, Chen M, Fujita T, et al. Adenosine A1 receptors mediate local anti-nociceptive effects of acupuncture. Nat Neurosci 2010 May 30 (Epub ahead of print).
10. Sandberg M, Lundeberg T, Lindberg LG, Gerdle B. Effects of acupuncture on skin and muscle blood flow in healthy subjects. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003;90:114-9.
11. Brinkhaus B, Witt CM, Jena S, et al. Acupuncture in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 2006;166:450-7.
12. Haake M, Muller HH, Schade-Brittinger C, et al. German Acupuncture Trials (GERAC) for chronic low back pain: randomized, multicenter, blinded, paralel-group trial with 3 groups. Arch Intern Med 2007;167:1892-8. [Erratum, Arch In- tern Med 2007;167:2072.]
13. Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, et al. A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture, and usual care for chronic low back pain. Arch In- tern Med 2009;169:858-66.
14. Thomas KJ, MacPherson H, Thorpe L, et al. Randomised controlled trial of a short course of traditional acupuncture compared with usual care for persistent non-specific low back pain. BMJ 2006; 333:623.
15. Witt CM, Jena S, Selim D, et al. Prag- matic randomized trial evaluating the clinical and economic effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic low back pain. Am J Epidemiol 2006;164:487-96.

Acupuncture Gets Military Support For Gulf War Illness Treatment

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 05:25:46 +0000

The Department of Defense has made a $1.2 million research grant to the New England School of Acupuncture (located in Newton, Massachusetts). The goal of the study is to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of Gulf War Illness (GWI). The study is a double-blind, randomized investigation. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will assist investigators in the recruitment of patients with GWI. Participants will receive bi-weekly acupuncture treatments. The acupuncturists performing the research will have a 5 year minimum of clinical experience and will also receive a 20 hour training in the symptoms of GWI.

The etiology of GWI is not fully understood within the parameters of conventional medicine. GWI is a syndrome that includes symptoms such as fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, sleep and mood disorders, and difficulty with concentration. GWI may include PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome), depression, anxiety disorders, digestive disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and several psychiatric disturbances. Approximately 100,000 veterans of the first Gulf War (Operation Desert Shield/Storm) have been diagnosed with GWI. The official cause of GWI is unknown but officials consider the following as causal factors: vaccine exposure, chemical weapon exposure, pesticide exposure, smoke, stress related to combat and deployment. The Centers for Disease Control (CDCP) suggests that the syndrome indicates possible damage to the nervous system. Acupuncture research has documented its success in the treatment of fatigue, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, and pain. For this reason, the researchers believe that acupuncture will have benefits to veterans with GWI.

Acupuncture Benefits Menstruation Treats PCOS – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:26:36 +0000

A study recently published in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism concludes that low frequency electro-acupuncture improved menstrual frequency and balanced sex steroid levels in women with PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Hyperandrogenism is a primary symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hyperandrogenism is a medical disorder wherein excess androgens are produced. Primary symptoms are hirsutism (hair growing in areas where it would not normally occur), vertex alopecia (balding), deepening of the voice, increased muscle mass, acne of the chin, neck and thorax; and menstrual irregularities. Hyperandrogenism was measured in this study by determining the total concentration of testosterone, androgens, estrogens, androgen precursors, and glucuronidated androgen metabolites.

Amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea are common problems associated with PCOS. The study measured that electro-acupuncture improved menstrual regularity in women with PCOS. The sex steroid levels in the electro-acupuncture group improved significantly and acne markedly decreased. The study measured improvements in a wide range of endocrine variables such that the researchers concluded that electro-acupuncture may help induce ovulation in women attempting to conceive since participants showed significant improvement in monthly menstrual frequency.

Acupuncture was applied to CV3, CV6, ST29, SP6, SP9, LI4, and P6. All needles were stimulated manually until a de qi sensation was achieved. Thirty minutes of 2 Hz electro-acupuncture was applied to CV6, CV6, ST29, SP6, and SP9 for each treatment. The intensity was adjusted to induce local muscle contractions while also remaining comfortable. LI4 and P6 were manually stimulated every 10 minutes to evoke sensation. Needle length ranged from 30 to 50mm and the diameter was 0.32mm. Needle depth ranged from 15 to 35mm. Acupuncture was administered twice per week for two weeks, one time per week for six weeks, and once every other week for eight weeks for a grand total of 14 acupuncture treatments over a 16 week period.

Reference:
Elizabeth Jedel, Fernand Labrie, Anders Odén, Göran Holm, Lars Nilsson, Per Olof Janson, Anna-Karin Lind, Claes Ohlsson, and Elisabet Stener-Victorin. Impact of electro-acupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenismand oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 300: E37–E45, 2011.

Acupuncture Takes Pressure Off Glaucoma – New Eye Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:55:33 +0000

New research shows that acupuncture benefits patients with glaucoma. Acupuncture was shown to improve intraocular pressure (IOP) and retrobulbar circulation (circulation behind the globe of the eye). Acupuncture was applied to UB2, Tai Yang (M-HN9), ST2, ST36, SP6, K3, Liv3, GB20, UB18, and UB23 bilaterally. Color Doppler imaging confirmed the improvement in circulation behind the eye. The improvements in IOP and eye circulation suggest that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

Glaucoma can cause blindness. Western medical treatments focus on controlling IOP and retrobulbar hemodynamics. The study concludes that acupuncture is effective in controlling these factors. Using color Doppler imaging, the researchers discovered that acupuncture lowers IOP and vessel resistance in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

The acupuncture needles were retained for 15 minutes on the anterior and posterior sides of the patients during each session. UB2, Taiyang, ST2, St36, SP6, K3, and Liv3 were applied to the patients when in the supine position and retained for 15 minutes. For the prone position, GB20, UB18, and UB23 were retained for 15 minutes. Needle insertion ranged from 3-10 mm in depth. No needle manipulation techniques either manual or through electroacupuncture were applied.

The researchers comment that this is the first study measuring the improvements of eye hemodynamics through the use of acupuncture. The researchers further comment that acupuncture achieves this result by decreasing vessel resistance in the eyes, specifically in the ophthalmic artery (OA) and short posterior ciliary artery (SPCA). The OA and SPCA originate from the carotid artery. The study concludes that a combination of medications combined with acupuncture improves glaucoma patient outcomes over patients who only receive medications.

Reference: Shin Takayama, Takashi Seki, Toru Nakazawa, Naoko Aizawa, Seri Takahashi, Masashi Watanabe, Masayuki Izumi, Soichiro Kaneko, Tetsuharu Kamiya, Ayane Matsuda, Akiko Kikuchi, Tomoyuki Yambe, Makoto Yoshizawa, Shin-ichi Nitta, and Nobuo Yaegashi. Short-Term Effects of Acupuncture on Open-Angle Glaucoma in Retrobulbar Circulation: Additional Therapy to Standard Medication. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 157090, 6 pages.

Acupuncture benefits the Heart – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:19:23 +0000

New research from the International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience shows that acupuncture controls the heart rate and increases the strength of cardiac autonomic function. This new research indicates that the use of specific acupuncture points may help to prevent heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) and arrhythmias. Researchers conducted a study of acupuncture points CV17 (Shanzhong) and CV16 (Zhongting). CV16 did not produce therapeutic results but CV17 worked. Needling acupoint CV17 decreased the heart rate and increased the power of the high-frequency component of the HRV (heart rate variability), an index of the body’s ability to maintain control of the heart beat rate and rhythm through vagus nerve activity. The researchers conclude that CV17 “causes the modulation of cardiac autonomic function.”

HRV (heart rate variability) is the variance in time interval between heart beats. Reduced HRV is linked to mortality after myocardial infarction and a lowering of HRV is also linked to congestive heart failure, diabetic neuropathy, and low survival rates in premature babies. A reduction of HRV and its high-frequency component is common in patients with PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome) and for individuals with increased heart rates due to stress.

This new research shows that the application of acupuncture to CV17 increases the power of the high-frequency component of HRV and simultaneously is able to lower the heart rate. This research demonstrates that acupuncture at CV17 is able to activate the autonomic nervous system to control the heart rate by increasing vagal activity. Depressed HRV after MI, a heart attack, reflects a decrease in vagal activity and leads to cardiac electrical instability. Since acupuncture at CV17 increases the cardiac vagal component of HRV, it may be an important acupuncture point for patients recovering from MI.

CV17 (Shangzhong, Chest Center) is the Front-Mu point of the Pericardium, the Hui-Meeting point of Qi, the meeting point of CV (Conception Vessel, Ren) channel with the Spleen, Small Intestine, San Jiao, and Kidney channels; and the Point of the Sea of Qi. It is located on the midline of the sternum at the level of the fourth intercostal space. In men, this point is directly between the nipples. This point is well regarded for its ability to regulate Qi and open the chest Qi. Its designation as Front-Mu point of the Pericardium classically indicates its ability to benefit the heart.

Reference:
Kurono Y, Minagawa M, Ishigami T, Yamada A, Kakamu T, Hayano J. Auton Neurosci. Acupuncture to Danzhong but not to Zhongting increases the cardiac vagal component of heart rate variability. 2011 Apr 26;161(1-2):116-20. Epub 2011 Jan 7.

Acupuncture Proven for Stroke Rehabilitation – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:21:12 +0000

New research demonstrates that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of post-stroke hand movement and walking dysfunction. Researchers from the China Rehabilitation Research Center of Rehabilitation (College of Capital Medicine University, Beijing) investigated the use of acupuncture points TB3 (Zhongzhu) and TB5 (Waiguan) in relation to restoring hand function following a stroke. A randomized trial of 60 patients was divided into a treatment group and a control group. Both groups received physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other standard rehabilitative procedures. Both groups were evaluated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) to measure changes in walking, hand function, and activities of daily living (ADL). The group receiving acupuncture at TB3 and TB5 showed significant improvement over the control group in all areas of measurement. The acupuncture group demonstrated superior hand function, greater walking ability, and enhanced ADL. The researchers conclude that the combination of acupuncture with routine post-stroke recovery procedures produces significantly improved patient outcomes.

Reference:
Cheng XK, Wang ZM, Sun L, Li YH. [Post-stroke hand dysfunction treated with acupuncture at Zhongzhu (TE 3) and Waiguan (TE 5)]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2011 Feb;31(2):117-20.

Santa Barbara Goes Detox with Acupuncture

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 09:43:05 +0000

The Santa Barbara City Council, California, has approved $865,000 for an alcohol and drug abuse recovery center that uses acupuncture detox protocols as one of its treatment modalities. The Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA) will operate the 12-bed center in the West Downtown area of Santa Barbara. CADA incorporates group therapy and acupuncture as part of its substance abuse program. Notably, CADA uses licensed acupuncturists to perform acupuncture services. Licensed acupuncturists are also responsible for the administration of a special detox herbal formula for recovering addicts. The CADA program is modeled after the Lincoln Hospital Division of Substance Abuse (Bronx, New York) program.

Each participant stays at the detox center for two weeks and receives one-on-one counseling, group therapy, herbal medicine, and acupuncture. The Clean and Sober Court system, developed in cooperation with Santa Barbara Fighting Back and the Santa Barbara Police Department, gives nonviolent offenders the option to participate in six months of drug rehabilitation instead of incarceration and may include the option to participate in the new drug detox center’s program.

The Santa Barbara, California program uses only licensed acupuncturists whereas a recent bill passed in the Colorado legislature, supported by state Rep. Claire Levy of Boulder, moves to allow acupuncture to be performed by psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, MDs, chiropractors, nurses, physician assistants, and addiction counselors. Questions regarding the efficacy of acupuncture performed by minimally trained practitioners remains a concern regarding the proposed Colorado legislation because it opens loopholes for the non-acupuncturist practitioners to legally to expand their use of acupuncture to a wide variety of mental and behavioral disorders with only 70 hours of training.

Washington Acupuncture Insurance Investigation

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 06:29:41 +0000

Charges have been imposed because acupuncture benefits were unfairly denied by Aetna, a health insurance company. The Washington State Office of Insurance Commissioner (OIC) fined Aetna Life Insurance, Co. of Hartford, Connecticut a total of $65,000 for failing to pay for medically necessary acupuncture benefits on 220 health insurance claims. Aetna was also ordered to refund health insurance policy-holders a total of $16,427.64 for refusing to pay for acupuncture services that were included in their policy packages.

The investigation began when the Washington OIC requested an internal audit of acupuncture payments by Aetna. Initially, Aetna responded by saying that only two health insurance claims were wrongfully denied. Aetna proposed corrective action for the two claims and for untimely processing of other claims. This was accepted by the Washington OIC but the investigation remained open. A secondary acupuncture benefits audit was conducted by Aetna and the company denied any further wrongdoing. The Washington OIC responded with a request for yet another audit at which time Aetna admitted that 220 acupuncture health insurance claims were unfairly denied. Of 1,761 acupuncture claims that were investigated, it was found that 12.6% were in violation of Washington State regulation RCW 48.30.010. This regulation states that “no person engaged in the business of insurance shall engage in unfair methods of competition or in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of such business as such methods, acts, or practices.”

Aetna officials have waived the right to a hearing and have waived the right to challenge the ruling by the Washington State Insurance Commissioner, Mike Kreidler. Aetna could not present a justification for the denial of the health insurance coverage as promised to its customers in their benefits packages. The Aetna Regulatory Compliance Manager signed the agreement with the Washington OIC and is in the process of making reparations for wrongful denial of acupuncture claims.

New Acupuncture & Herbs Scholarship Program Announced

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 02:23:59 +0000

One of the largest herbal corporations in the USA has announced a scholarship program in the field of acupuncture and herbal medicine. Mayway USA, located in Oakland, California; is providing four separate scholarships for students of acupuncture, herbs, and oriental medicine. Three scholarships provide $1500 towards education in acupuncture and herbal medicine. One of the $1500 scholarships is earmarked for Master’s degree programs and another is earmarked for doctoral programs. An additional $2,000 scholarship is offered for students in a Master’s degree program.

Applicants must submit an essay that, according to Mayway requirements, “demonstrates critical thinking and professional academic writing skills.” The essay question is, “How can Chinese medicine practitioners effectively advocate the safety and efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine?” It is not surprising Mayway should put students to the task of answering this question. Mayway has been an early adopter of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) international standards and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) standards. Just recently, Mayway voluntarily ceased production of Li Fei Pian, an herbal formula suited for the treatment of respiratory system disorders. Citing overharvesting from the neutraceutical industry, one of the herbs in the formula was recently added to the CITES endangered herbs list. Mayway immediately pulled production in compliance with CITES. Often, Mayway and other herb companies that are CITES compliant reformulate banned herbal formulas and re-release them with compliant substitutions. No announcement for the reformulation of Li Fei Pian has been made by Mayway. Mayway USA headquarters are in Oakland, California. Mayway was founded in 1969 as an herbal shop in San Francisco’s Chinatown area and Mayway now has branch offices in London, Beijing, and Anguo.

Colorado Acupuncture Insurance Bill Sails

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:43:17 +0000

The Colorado Assembly has approved a measure to ensure that licensed acupuncturists are reimbursed for acupuncture services for all insurance policies that provide acupuncture as a benefit. The Colorado Senate has unanimously passed the bill in subcommittee and the bill has been referred the whole Senate for a formal vote. Under current Colorado law, insurance companies can deny reimbursement to licensed acupuncturists for acupuncture services even if the patient’s policy explicitly states that acupuncture coverage is a benefit. Insurance companies can deny reimbursement by stating that only MDs or chiropractors can be reimbursed for acupuncture services. The bill, HB1186, fixes this problem by adding acupuncturists to the list of “health care providers that cannot be denied.” The bill is supported by the Acupuncture Association of Colorado. The bill also protects acupuncturists from discrimination by insurance companies from the use of multiple reimbursement fee schedules that could be used to pay licensed acupuncturists less that other providers for acupuncture services.

The bill states, “whenever any such policy or plan provides for reimbursement for any service that may be lawfully performed by a person licensed in this state for the practice of osteopathy, medicine, dentistry, dental hygiene, optometry, psychology, chiropractic, or podiatry, or acupuncture, a carrier shall not deny reimbursement under the policy or plan when the service is rendered by a person so licensed. Nothing in this part 1 or PART 2 or 5 of this article precludes a carrier from setting different fee schedules in an insurance policy for different services performed by different professions, but the carrier shall use the same fee schedule for those portions of health services that are substantially identical although performed by different professions.” The provision, if passed, will take effect on January 1, 2012 and applies to health care plans issued or renewed on or after that date. House sponsorship is by Ryden, Kerr A., McCann, and Vigil. Senate sponsorship is by Guzman.

Acupuncture in the Movies with 9000 Needles

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:48:19 +0000

9000 Needles is a documentary about Devin Dearth’s recovery efforts and acupuncture treatments following a stroke in the brain stem. The movie has tremendous emotional impact and highlights Devin’s strength of will, the love a supportive family and community, and the deficits in the US healthcare system. 9000 Needles won numerous awards including best documentary at the Phoenix Film Festival, best feature length at the Docuwest Film Festival, and best documentary at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival.

The journey starts with Devin’s life as a body building champion and father. Following his stroke, his medical health insurance covers minimal basic care and he is dismissed without additional medical support. Devin is despondent and left without the hope of a recovery from the severe side effects of the stroke. Devin’s brother suggests traveling to Tianjian, China to receive integrated healthcare that incorporates Western medicine, physical therapy, acupuncture, herbal soaks, and round-the-clock care. It is a three month journey in China that marks Devin’s steps towards recovery.

Powerful and engaging, 9000 Needles received many positive reviews. Bob Weinstein of The Weinstein Company writes, “Riveting! An inspirational story brilliantly told.” This is a story of the personal journey of a man unwilling to give up and of a medical system that cares for the individual patient and includes every possible recovery mechanism.

Acupuncture Software Is In, Incentives Out

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:22:57 +0000

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) has recently approved new medical office EHR (Electronic Health Record) software packages, which can be used for acupuncture practices, medical offices, dental practices, and chiropractic offices. CCHIT is a nonprofit organization approved by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS awarded a contract to the CCHIT to develop an inspection process to determine which software packages meet stringent government EHR standards for functionality, interoperability, and security. There has been a strong push by the US federal government, including President Obama, towards EHRs.

Web Browser and Apple Platforms
Two of the most recent CCHIT certifications have been given to MacPractice and Office Ally. What is most interesting is that neither of these systems are dependent on Windows PC operating systems. MacPractice is on the Apple Macintosh OSX platform and offers desktop Mac, MacBook, iPhone and iPad integration. Office Ally is internet based and can operate on any computer that runs a web browser. These newcomers enter a crowded field of high power Windows PC systems such as Compulink’s Advantage/EHR.

Acupuncture Out of Medicare Reimbursements
There are Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs for medical professionals who adopt CCHIT approved EHRs. Medicare reimbursements are substantial and can add up to $44,000 in payments over a period of six years. In 2011, medical professionals can receive up to $18,000 from Medicare towards EHR purchases. Medicaid reimbursements can add up to a maximum of $63,750 over a period of six years with a maximum payment of $21,250 in 2011. Acupuncturists have been excluded from the reimbursement programs because acupuncture is not part of the Medicare/Medicaid programs. MDs, DOs, podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists, certified nurse mid-wives, nurse practitioners, and PAs are all eligible.

The reimbursements for EHR software are based on 75 percent of allowable charges to the Medicare system. To receive the full $18,000 from Medicare in 2011, a medical profession must have billed Medicare $24,000. Medicaid reimbursement requirements are more stringent than those of Medicare. Medicaid providers must have at least 30 percent of their patient volume attributable to Medicaid. Providers can be reimbursed from either the Medicare or Medicaid programs but not both.

Acupuncture treats Crohn's Disease - New Research

HCMI AdminServices — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 05:17:35 +0000

A recent study shows that acupuncture is an effective treatment for Crohn’s disease. The study was conducted by researchers at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and was published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of acupuncture on intestinal fibrosis in cases of Crohn’s disease. The researchers measured the effects of acupuncture on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and type I collagen (Col I) in the intestines of laboratory rats with Crohn’s disease. After the use of acupuncture, the expressions of Col I and bFGF reduced markedly in rats with Crohn’s disease. The research proved that acupuncture treatment reduces abnormally high levels of these substances. By reducing the abonormally high levels of Col I and bFGF, acupuncture prevents fibrosis in the intestines of those with Crohn’s disease.

Acupuncture Points
Acupuncture was applied at points St25 (Tianshu) and CV6 (Qihai). Electroacupuncture and moxibustion were applied in different groups. A separate control group did not receive acupuncture. The electroacupuncture and moxibustion groups showed marked improvement whereas the control group did not. The study shows that acupuncture and moxibustion reduce excessive deposition thereby treating fibrosis in patients with Crohn’s disease.

About Crohn's
Crohn’s disease (regional enteritis) is an inflammatory disease of the intestines. It can affect any area of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus. Common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal bloating and pain, vomiting, weight loss, eye disorders, arthritis, dermatological disorders, and fatigue. Crohn’s disease is considered to be an autoimmune system disorder of the GI tract. Genetics may play a role in its etiology, however, there is significant evidence that environmental factors contribute to this pathology. Smokers are approximately twice as likely to develop Crohn’s disease. No western medicine cure exists for Crohn’s disease and therefore most MD’s focus on controlling the symptoms. Crohn’s disease may cause growth failure in children and increases the risk of cancer in the affected regions of the intestines.

Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn’s disease is often confused with ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease commonly affects the terminal ileum and the colon. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the terminal ileum and always affects the colon. Crohn’s disease commonly affects the anus and ulcerative colitis rarely affects the anus. Crohn’s disease causes patchy or serpiginous (snake-like) ulcerations of the intestines whereas ulcerative colitis causes a continuous area of ulceration. Ulceration is shallow with ulcerative colitis but is deep with Crohn’s disease. As a result, Crohn’s disease may cause stenosis of the intestines. The study shows that acupuncture prevents fibrosis of the intestines thereby helping to prevent stenosis.

Reference:
Chen Zhao, Juying Ding, Jindan Ma, Linying Tan, Huangan Wu, Yingying Zhang and Linshan Zhang, Acupuncture on the basic fibroblast growth factor and type I collagen in colons of rats with Crohn’s disease, JOURNAL OF ACUPUNCTURE AND TUINA SCIENCE, Volume 9, Number 1, 1-6.

New California Acupuncture Schools

HCMI AdminServices — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 03:50:57 +0000

The California Acupuncture Board has released updates concerning applications for new California acupuncture schools. Oversight of acupuncture education is under the purview of the California Acupuncture Board and many new schools are applying for approval. There are approximately 20,000 acupuncturists in the USA and about half of them are practicing in California.

New Acupuncture Schools: Overview
Nine Star University in Sunnyvale, CA has had a recent site visit by the California Acupuncture Board and the application is pending final approval. The Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Honolulu, Hawaii has completed the application review process and requires a site visit. The Hongik International University in Los Angeles, CA has completed the application review process and further information has been requested by the California Acupuncture Board. The Health Medicine University in Palo Alto, CA has submitted an application and a review is pending. The Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture in Phoenix, Arizona is waiting on a California Acupuncture Board decision regarding out of state site visits. The Golden State University located in Downey, CA has just completed the site visit process. Oikos University in Oakland, CA and Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine located in New York are both pending review.

Nine Star University (NSUHS)
Nine Star University in Sunnyvale takes up a total of 10,921 square feet of space in a series of three buildings. It has 10 classrooms that can seat 15-20 people per room plus an additional 8 clinic rooms, an herb dispensary, a reception area, faculty and administrative offices, a computer lab, an event center that seats up to 150 people, and a library. The treatment rooms have space for between one to two acupuncture treatment tables. The library houses 2,600 books and the large event center is used for acupuncture continuing education classes for acupuncture CEUs, school events, and Tai Chi classes. Nine Star University is a non-profit organization and began operations in 2008. It is waiting for approval by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Mr. Yang owns the building and is the only licensed acupuncturist practicing at the Nine Star University (NSUHS) location. Enrollment is 25 students in the Master of Science in Oriental Medicine program. NSUHS offers its program in English and Chinese but currently there are only students in the Chinese language acupuncture program. NSUHS employs 16 faculty members, 13 of whom are licensed to practice acupuncture in California.

Golden State University (GSU)
GSU takes up approximately 2,000 square feet including 2 acupuncture classrooms, a library, 3 clinic rooms, an herb dispensary, a reception area, and administrative offices. Ms. Kim is the only acupuncturist practicing at this location. GSU has 6 faculty members in its Master of Science in Oriental Medicine program that is offered in the Korean language.

California Acupuncture gets Health Insurance Coverage

Acupuncture Consortium — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 21:46:41 +0000

A bill to require California based health insurance policies to provide acupuncture coverage has been introduced into the California State Assembly by Assemblyman Mike Eng. The bill includes all healthcare insurance policies, including disability insurance policies, with the exception of HMOs (Health Maintenance Organization) and those that are “specialized health care service plan contracts.” If signed into law, the bill will take effect on January 1, 2012.

A similar acupuncture bill was shot down with a veto in 2008 by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger was also responsible for dissolving the California Acupuncture Board, leaving the profession without oversight for nearly an entire year until public pressure forced him to reinstate the California Acupuncture Board. Now, with Governor Jerry Brown in office, the bill may survive the legislative process. In 1975 during his first term, Governor Jerry Brown signed a law legalizing the practice of acupuncture by licensed acupuncturists and the California Acupuncture Board was created.

Assemblyman Eng notes that acupuncture is an “effective treatment for a number of conditions” and further states that acupuncture is "cost effective and typically much cheaper than the surgeries for which it is often an alternative." Assemblyman Eng’s statements are supported by substantial research including studies showing that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of plantar fasciitis¹, retinitis pigmentosa^2-6, anxiety⁷, chronic sinus congestion⁸, sleep apnea⁹, bedwetting¹⁰, autism^11-16, back pain^17-18, headaches and migraines^19-20, menstrual cramps^21-22, tennis elbow^23-24, and knee pain^25-26. Assemblyman Mike Eng represents the cities of Alhambra, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, and South El Monte.

The civilian population is slowly gaining access to acupuncture health insurance coverage. On the other hand, the military has been one area of the government which has been an early adopter of acupuncture as part of standard health care. The US Air Force runs a full time acupuncture clinic at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Col. Richard Niemtzow, an Air Force physician, first offered acupuncture in 1995 at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington now recommend acupuncture for the treatment of physical pain due to injuries. Dr. Stuessi (a Navy sports medicine physician who works in a special concussion restoration care center that utilizes acupuncture) notes, “I’ve found phenomenal, off-the-charts results doing acupuncture for sleep, for dizziness and headaches.” Also, the Navy has an acupuncture training program for doctors at Camp Pendleton in California. Dr. (Maj.) Ronald White, director of pain services at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, performs acupuncture in the US military and comments on its usefulness, “There’s no risk; it gives you benefit. Our goal — my end result — is function. If you come to me complaining that you can’t play with your kids, you can’t sleep at night, you can’t work… six months later, I have you playing, sleeping and back to work….”

References:

1 Shi Ping Zhang, Tsui-Pik Yip, and Qiu-Shi Li. Acupuncture Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Six Months Follow-Up. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative, Medicine, Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 15410.

2 Sun He , Zhang Hu. The Protective Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on Retinal and Optic Nerve Axonal Ultrastructure in Rabbit Eyes with Chronic Elevated IOP. Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 2010-05.

3 Wu Xing-Wei; Tang You-zhi. Study on Treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa with Traditional Chinese Medicine by Flicker Electroretinogram. CHINESE JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED TRADITIONAL AND WESTERN MEDICINE. 1996-06.

4 Hao Xiaobo, Wang Guihong, Peng Changxin, et al. (Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of TCM, Nanning 530023, China). Study on treatment of retinitis pigmentosa with acupoint injection of Shexiang Injection. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 2003-4.

5 Reddy NS, Fouzdar NM. Role of acupuncture in the treatment of `Incurable' retinal diseases. Indian J Ophthalmol 1983;31:1043-6.

6 Wu Xing-Wei; Tang You-zhi. Study on Treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa with Traditional Chinese Medicine by Flicker Electroretinogram. CHINESE JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED TRADITIONAL AND WESTERN MEDICINE. 1996-06.

7 Shengjun Wu, Jie Liang, Xia Zhu, Xufeng Liu, Danmin Miao. “Comparing the treatment effectiveness of body acupuncture and auricular acupuncture in preoperative anxiety treatment.” JRMS 2010; 16(1): 39-42.

8 An Hua, Qinhuangdao Port Hospital, Hebei, China. "Treatment of 85 Cases with Chronic Rhinitis by Acupuncture." J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 2010, 8 (5): 318.

9 Immediate effect of acupuncture on the sleep pattern of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, Anaflávia O Freire, Gisele C M Sugai, Sônia Maria Togeiro, Luiz Eugênio Mello, Sérgio Tufik; Acupunct Med 2010;28:115-119.

10 Acupuncture as a treatment for nocturnal enuresis, W.F. Bower, M. Diao , Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical; 28 October 2010 (Vol. 157, Issue 1, Pages 63-67).

11 Altern Med Rev. 2010 Jul;15(2):136-46. Randomized controlled trial of electro-acupuncture for autism spectrum disorder. Wong VC, Chen WX. Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.  

12 American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.; 1994.  

13 Wong V. Can acupuncture of the tongue help autism? Autism-Asperger’s Digest Sept-Oct 2002;18-19:25,29.  

14 Haley SM, Coster WJ, Ludlow LH, et al. Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory: Development, Standardization, and Administration Manual, Version 1.0. Boston MA: PEDI Research Group; 1992.

15 Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR). WeeFIM System SM. Clinical Guide: Version 5.01. Buffalo, NY: University at Buffalo; 2000.  

16 Schopler E, Reichler RJ, Renner BR. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS): For Diagnostic Screening and Classification in Autism. New York, NY: Irvington; 1986.

17 Furlan AD, van Tulder M, Cherkin D, et al. Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain: an updated systematic review within the framework of the Cochrane collaboration. Spine. 2005;30(8):944–963.

18 Manheimer E, White A, Berman B, et al. Meta-analysis: acupuncture for low back pain. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2005;142(8):651–663.

19 Coeytaux RR, Kaufman JS, Kaptchuk TJ, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture for chronic daily headache. Headache. 2005;45(9):1113–1123.

20 Diener HC, Kronfeld K, Boewing G, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture for the prophylaxis of migraine: a multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial. Lancet Neurology.
2006;5(4):310–316.

21 Proctor ML, Smith CA, Farquhar CM, et al. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2002;(1):CD002123.

22 White AR. A review of controlled trials of acupuncture for women's reproductive health care. The Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care. 2003;29(4):233–236.

23 Bisset L, Paungmali A, Vicenzino B, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on physical interventions for lateral epicondylalgia. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2005;39(7):411–422.

24 Green S, Buchbinder R, Barnsley L, et al. Acupuncture for lateral elbow pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2002;(1):CD003527.

25 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Technology Assessment: Acupuncture for Osteoarthritis. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2003.

26 Berman BM, Lao L, Langenberg P, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2004;141(12):901–910.

Acupuncture treats Plantar Fasciitis - New Research

HCMI AdminServices — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:33:21 +0000

New research proves that acupuncture relieves the pain of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory condition of the foot. Plantar fasciitis pain is usually perceived on the underside foot/heel and is often most painful with the first footsteps of the day. Also, plantar fasciitis may cause pain upon dorsiflexion (raising the ankle so that the foot is lifted towards the shin).

This randomized, controlled study is interesting in that only one acupuncture point was tested for efficacy. In most studies, a combination of points are used to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective for reducing pain. The study tested point P7 (Daling, “Big Tomb”). P7 is located in the middle of the transverse crease of the wrist between the tendons of the m. palmaris longus and m. flexor carpi radialis on the palmer side of the body. P7 is a Shu-Stream point and Yuan (Primary) acupuncture point that is known for the treatment of Heart and Spirit related issues including myocarditis, palpitations, insomnia, mental illness, irritability, and cardiac pain. P7 is also used for Stomach related conditions, however, nearby point P6 is a more common point for the treatment of Stomach issues such as stomachache, nausea, and vomiting.

According to Chinese medicine and acupuncture theory, Shu-Stream points treat a heavy sensation of the of the body and painful joints. P7 is therefore a common point for the treatment of wrist pain because it is a Shu-Stream point located at the wrist . However, the researchers have chosen P7 for the wrist’s distal relationship to the ankle and heel region.

In this study, P7 was needled bilaterally if the pain of the heel/foot was bilateral. Contra-lateral acupuncture needling was used if the pain was unilateral. The needles were 15mm long with a 0.25mm gauge. The acupuncture needles were inserted perpendicularly to a depth of approximately 10mm with slight rotation and thrusting to achieve the Deqi sensation. Deqi is often reported as a dull ache, numbness or heaviness. The needles were then manipulated every 5 minutes to maintain the Deqi sensation and the needles were retained for a total time of 30 minutes. A total of five treatments per week at a rate of one per day (Monday through Friday) for two weeks were administered for a grand total of 10 acupuncture sessions. All acupuncture needling was performed by experienced acupuncturists. At a six month follow-up examination, the P7 acupuncture group showed a significant improvement over the control group.

Reference:
Shi Ping Zhang, Tsui-Pik Yip, and Qiu-Shi Li. Acupuncture Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Six Months Follow-Up. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative, Medicine, Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 154108.

Acupuncture Treats Retinitis Pigmentosa - New Research

HCMI AdminServices — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:46:09 +0000

Mounting evidence suggests that acupuncture is an effective treatment for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative eye disorder that may to lead to blindness. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion concludes that acupuncture treatment protects the optic nerve from damage caused by intraocular pressure by alleviating stresses on retinal and optic nerve axonal ultrastructures.¹ The Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine published that the use of Chinese medicine improved retinal cone activity for patients with retinitis pigmentosa, even in cases of advanced retinal degeneration. Using electroretinograms for the investigation, the study also concludes that, “TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) treatment could also enhance the bioactivity of (the) nerve network and therefore have a definite significance in retarding the progression of disease and keeping the central vision.”² In another study, injections of She Xiang into acupuncture points UB18 and UB23 helped patients with retinitis pigmentosa. The study concludes that injection of She Xiang into Ganshu (UB18) and Shenshu (UB23) “can improve effectively the function and metabolism of optic cells, promote blood circulation of the retina, enhance the visual acuity, and protect the central vision for the patient of retinitis pigmentosa.”³ Yet another study of retinitis pigmentosa patients receiving acupuncture (ranging from ages 7 – 75 years) showed significant improvement and a halting of deterioration of the visual field.⁴

Acupuncturist Protocols

Acupuncture points generally include a combination of local and distal points to brighten the eyesight and to treat the patient’s underlying disharmonies per differential diagnosis. One study notes that retinitis pigmentosa patients with Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency respond particularly well to Chinese Medicine.⁵ Although a genetic disorder, the progression of eyesight deterioration can be ameliorated by supplementation of the internal systems responsible for the homeostatic balancing of the retina.

Acupuncture Eyesight Point Selection

Local acupuncture points including St2, Yin Tang, Tai Yang, GB20, and Yu Yao are helpful in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa. Distal points include GB37, SI6, and Liv3. Scalp acupuncture includes triple needling of Du24. LI11 is added for heat with inflammation and Sp10 is added for patients with blood stagnation. Tonification and sedation of the point selection varies according to the differential diagnosis. Often, the peaceful technique is employed in the application of local points in order to harmonize the flow of blood and fluid in the eye and to avoid overstimulation.

References:

1 Sun He , Zhang Hu. The Protective Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on Retinal and Optic Nerve Axonal Ultrastructure in Rabbit Eyes with Chronic Elevated IOP. Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 2010-05.

2 Wu Xing-Wei; Tang You-zhi. Study on Treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa with Traditional Chinese Medicine by Flicker Electroretinogram. CHINESE JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED TRADITIONAL AND WESTERN MEDICINE. 1996-06.

3 Hao Xiaobo, Wang Guihong, Peng Changxin, et al. (Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of TCM, Nanning 530023, China). Study on treatment of retinitis pigmentosa with acupoint injection of Shexiang Injection. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 2003-4.

4 Reddy NS, Fouzdar NM. Role of acupuncture in the treatment of `Incurable' retinal diseases. Indian J Ophthalmol 1983;31:1043-6.

5 Wu Xing-Wei; Tang You-zhi. Study on Treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa with Traditional Chinese Medicine by Flicker Electroretinogram. CHINESE JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED TRADITIONAL AND WESTERN MEDICINE. 1996-06.

New Acupuncture Bill in Colorado allows Counselors to Treat

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:51:27 +0000

The Colorado legislature has just passed a bill allowing ear acupuncture to be performed by psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, MDs, chiropractors, nurses, physician assistants, and addiction counselors. The bill, if signed into law by the governor, would require these professionals to obtain NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) certification so that they may perform ear acupuncture. The goal of the bill is to allow more professionals to use ear acupuncture for the purposes of treating mental and behavioral health issues and chemical dependency.

Quantity and Quality
Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, supports the measure because she notes that it will make acupuncture “more widely available and make it available at a lower cost.” The Acupuncture Association of Colorado has not taken a stance on the bill. Acupuncturists have expressed concern that minimally trained healthcare professionals may deliver acupuncture at a lower cost but also with lower quality control and with less efficacious results. Proponents seek to create an inexpensive workforce to deliver basic supplementary care especially in the field of drug addiction recovery.

Loopholes
The unusual aspect of the Colorado bill is that it gives NADA certified healthcare professional wide latitude to treat numerous mental and behavioural disorders. The NADA certification involves only 70 hours of training. There is a concern that the Colorado law extends the scope of practice for non-acupuncturists performing acupuncture beyond the intent of NADA training. The Colorado bill also lacks language preventing non-acupuncturists from advertising and representing themselves as trained acupuncture professionals. Under the new Colorado bill, counselors and therapists would be able to use signage and advertising to represent their clinics as acupuncture clinics although no licensed acupuncturists may be present.

Acupuncture CEUs - Continuing Education changes in 2011

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:41:03 +0000

Acupuncture CEUs toughen in the USA. Many changes to acupuncture CEU requirements have caused a great deal of confusion. Acupuncturists seeking to renew their licenses may learn that they have not completed new requirements for acupuncture CEUs. The largest concern is over new NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) requirements.

NCCAOM Acupuncture CEUs / PDAs

NCCAOM acupuncture diplomates have learned of recent requirements for ‘safety and ethics’ courses but may not realize that even newer requirements have emerged. The NCCAOM now requires CPR certification in addition to four hours of ‘safety and ethics’ acupuncture CEUs. Last year, CPR certification was not a requirement and the recent confusion has been caused by last year’s acceptance of CPR certification towards the ‘safety and ethics’ acupuncture CEU requirement. The NCCAOM has separated these requirements and CPR no longer counts towards the ‘safety and ethics’ requirement. CPR has become an additional standalone requirement. Another source of confusion is that NCCAOM acupuncture diplomates are not sure whether or not they need PDAs or CEUs to fulfill their acupuncture license renewal requirements. This is purely semantic and one acupuncture PDA (professional development activity point) is equal to one acupuncture CEU (continuing education unit).

Massachusetts Acupuncture CEUs

On the state level, some areas of confusion have emerged over California, Massachusetts, and Florida acupuncture CEUs. In Massachusetts, there is a 10 hour herbal medicine CEU requirement for licensed acupuncturists. Acupuncturists in Massachusetts express confusion as to which courses count towards this requirement. Adam White, HealthCMI President, spoke with the Massachusetts Committee on Acupuncture concerning this issue. White states, “The confusion exists because no category exists for herbal CEU pre-certification in the NCCAOM system.” White further noted that the Massachusetts Committee on Acupuncture has clarified that it is the individual acupuncturist’s responsibility to determine how many hours of a course’s CEUs count towards the herbal requirement. For example, if a course is taken (online or in-person) and is worth 15 acupuncture CEUs, the individual acupuncturist documents the amount of hours in that course material relevant to herbal medicine. If 10 hours of the course materials are determined to count toward the herbal requirement, then the acupuncturist has met the Massachusetts Acupuncture Committee requirements for re-licensure. Essentially, this is a self-monitored acupuncture continuing education requirement.

California Acupuncture CEUs

California acupuncturists have expressed concern over the two-year 50 hour acupuncture CEU requirement. Unlike the NCCAOM which allows all CEUs to be taken online, the California Acupuncture Board allows only 25 acupuncture CEUs to be taken online. Also, the creation of ‘category 1’ and ‘category 2’ course delineations has caused some concern. All ‘category 1’ acupuncture CEUs are unlimited towards fulfilling acupuncture requirements. These are Chinese medicine core curriculum courses and all medicine related courses. However, only 5 hours of ‘category 2’ courses count towards acupuncturist license renewal. These are courses that, according to the California Acupuncture Board, are “unrelated to clinical matters or the actual provision of health care to patients.” The California Acupuncture Board further clarifies that Qi Gong, Tai Ji Quan, business classes, insurance billing classes, and practice management classes are all ‘category 2’ courses.

Florida Acupuncture CEs

Florida acupuncturists require several categories of CEUs (CEs) towards acupuncture license renewal. Of the 30 hours total required by the Florida Board of Acupuncture, two hours must be related to ‘medical errors’, two hours towards ‘laws & rules’, and five hours towards ‘biomedical sciences’. For the first renewal period after initial licensure, requirements are for two hours of ‘medical errors’ acupuncture CEUs and 3 hours of ‘HIV/AIDS’ acupuncture CEUs. Lastly, the State of Illinois has officially barred any course with any mention of herbal medicine from counting towards acupuncture CEUs.

Acupuncture treats Concussions, Insomnia, Headaches, & PTSD

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:57:06 +0000

Acupuncture for the treatment of concussions, insomnia, dizziness, headaches, and post traumatic stress syndrome gets increased use in the US military. In the most recent issue of Stars and Stripes, Dr. Stuessi (a Navy sports medicine physician who works in a special concussion restoration care center) notes, “I’ve found phenomenal, off-the-charts results doing acupuncture for sleep, for dizziness and headaches.” The US military has documented the usefulness of acupuncture since 1967 when an Army surgeon wrote an article on the efficaciousness of acupuncture in Military Medicine magazine. Since that time, doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington now recommend acupuncture for the treatment of physical pain due to injuries.

The Air Force runs a full time acupuncture clinic at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Col. Richard Niemtzow, an Air Force physician, first offered acupuncture in 1995 at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Later, he founded the acupuncture clinic at Andrews in Maryland. In addition to clinical care for patients, they also train doctors to bring acupuncture therapy to war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. The focus is on the treatment of pain and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Also, the Navy has an acupuncture training program for doctors at Camp Pendleton in California. Dr. (Maj.) Ronald White, director of pain services at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, performs acupuncture in the US military and comments on its usefulness, “There’s no risk; it gives you benefit. Our goal — my end result — is function. If you come to me complaining that you can’t play with your kids, you can’t sleep at night, you can’t work, and six months later, I have you playing, sleeping and back to work….”

Acupuncture Reduces Operation Anxiety - New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:15:37 +0000

A recent randomized, double-blind study concludes that both auricular acupuncture and body acupuncture are effective in reducing pre and post-operative anxiety. Pre and post-perative anxiety has been identified in approximately 80 percent of patients, which prompted this investigation. The study was conducted by experienced acupuncturists at the Xi Jing Hosptial (Xi’an, China).

The ear acupuncture group received needle stimulation at point ear Shenmen. The body acupuncture group received needle stimulation at Du20, SiShenCong, Yin Tang, Liv3, and St36. The needles were 0.25-.30 mm in diameter and ranged between 25-40 mm in length. Needle depth ranged from 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm. Acupuncture therapy was administered for a period of four weeks at two sessions per week for a total of eight acupuncture treatments. The treatment principles were to increase lucidity, tranquilize by nourishing the Heart, calm the nerves, and regulate the Qi.

Reference:
Shengjun Wu, Jie Liang, Xia Zhu, Xufeng Liu, Danmin Miao. “Comparing the treatment effectiveness of body acupuncture and auricular acupuncture in preoperative anxiety treatment.” JRMS 2010; 16(1): 39-42.

California Acupuncture Board Exam Pass Rate for Schools

HCMI AdminServices — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:05:00 +0000

The Acupuncture Results

The final California Acupuncture Board exam results have been released for late 2010. Passing the California Acupuncture Board exam is a requirement for acupuncture licensure in the State of California. Looking at the statistics, South Baylo University sent the largest number of students to sit for the acupuncture exam. A total of 84 first time takers and 120 total takers (including re-takers) represented South Baylo University. The passage rate was 77% and 63% respectively. The number two slot for the sheer number of students sitting for the acupuncture exam was very close between the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (26 first time takers and 35 total with a pass rate of 88% and 74% respectively), the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (33 first time takers and 48 total takers with a passage rate of 64% and 65% respectively), and the University of East West Medicine (28 first time takers and 40 total with a pass rate of 86% and 72% respectively). Next in line for the sheer number of students sitting for the California Acupuncture Board exam came from Five Branches University (18 first time takers and 24 total with a passage rate of 89% and 72% respectively), the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley (19 first time takers and 29 total with a pass rate of 74% and 62% respectively), and Samra University (17 first time takers and 32 total with a pass rate of 65% and 41% respectively).

Overall Language Pass Rate

The statistics were similar when comparing English, Chinese, and Korean language versions of the exam. The first time takers has a pass rate of 70% in English, 71% in Chinese, and 82% in Korean. Looking only at re-examinees, the pass rate was 35% in English, 31% in Chinese, and 34% in Korean. The combined total pass rate for the California Acupuncture Board exam for all languages was 59%.

A Manual of Acupuncture: Closer Look

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:50:37 +0000

The book A Manual Of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman, Mazin Al-Khafaji, with Kevin Baker is an acupuncture textbook covering the 14 major channels, extraordinary points, and general acupuncture information. One of the most compelling aspects of this book is its careful reference to classical acupuncture literature when discussing the function of acupuncture points. Its general layout, table of contents, index, and method of detailing acupuncture point information makes this book very user friendly and a pleasure to read. Noteworthy are the illustrations that make point and channel location a very simple task.

A special section labeled “location note” is included with most acupuncture points. This section makes finding acupuncture points a highly accurate and straightforward process. The commentaries on acupuncture points are highly detailed with rich historical clinical references and quotes from classical Chinese medicine texts. Moreover, an ample list of acupuncture point combinations for various applications accompanies most acupuncture points.

There are several sections covering interesting acupuncture topics. One section, for example, covers cun measurements, point location, and the location of major organs. Another section covers the cutaneous regions and the 8 Extraordinary Vessels. It is nicely illustrated and accessible to everyone from the student to the expert. This book is also available on CD-ROM. The CD provides an easy process to lookup acupuncture information by a numerical point index, point name index, indication index, combination index, general index, and it also includes a glossary.

This acupuncture book gets a top rating. It is accurate, well documented, and beautifully designed.

Acupuncture Cures Chronic Sinus Congestion – New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 11:28:22 +0000

A new clinical study examined acupuncture for treatment of chronic rhinitis. Rhinitis is nasal congestion usually accompanied with post-nasal drip. There is irritation and inflammation of nasal tissue. In western medicine, this is ascribed to a viral or bacterial infection (or other antigen such as pollen) that stimulates mucus production. The study examined a test group of 85 patients and notes that chronic rhinitis is due to wind-cold or wind-heat obstructing lung Qi. These perspectives, both from Chinese medicine and allopathic medicine, are reconcilable in that wind-cold and wind-heat typically involve either a microbial infection or another antigen-antibody response.

If untreated, chronic rhinitis can last many years. Rhinitis can involve many complicated patterns such as epistaxis (nose bleeding), thick yellow or profuse white phlegm in the sinus and throat, coughing, insomnia, unclear thinking, difficulties with olfaction, dyspnea, asthma, and many other clinical complications.

Acupuncture Effective Rate
This recent clinical study had an effective rate of 96.5 percent with 61 persons obtaining total recovery, 21 with marked improvement, and 3 with no effect. To achieve the standard of total recovery, the resolution of all of the patient’s symptoms required resolution. Rhinoscopy and absence of symptomology was used to confirm the results. A two year follow-up confirmed total recovery. At a rate of one treatment per day, fifteen acupuncture sessions consisted of one course of treatment. The 96.5 percent effective rate was achieved after two courses of treatment (30 acupuncture appointments) unless total recovery was achieved prior to completion of the second course of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Treatment Protocol
The needles were 0.35 mm (28 guage) in diameter and 40-50 mm in length. The acupuncture points chosen were: GB20 (Fengchi), LI4 (Hegu), and St36 (Zusanli). Supplementary acupuncture points were UB12 (Fengmen), UB13 (Feishu), Yintang (Ex-HN 3), and Du14 (Dazhui). Supplementary acupuncture points were chosen dependent upon differential diagnostics. In many cases, 20 minutes of manual needle manipulation were applied at each acupuncture visit. Tonification and reduction acupuncture needle techniques and moxa were chosen dependent upon excess, deficient, heat, and cold diagnostics.

Etiology and Analysis of the Study
In one analysis, the initial response to the pathogenic attack begins to linger as a residual pathogenic influence that never fully clears from the bodily system. In western medicine, a pathogen lodges in the body and stimulates the inflammatory chemicals of the complement cascade. In Chinese medicine, chronic rhinitis usually begins as a Wei or Qi level attack (Wen Bing, 4 levels) or a Tai Yang Shan Han, Tai Yang Zhong Feng, Tai Yang Su Xue, or Tai Yang Su Shui attack (six stages of cold induced illness). The lung Qi becomes compromised and the bodily system may develop a complex of excess and deficient patterns lodging in the Taiyin and Yangming acupuncture channels.

There is no inconsistency with the modern medicine view that a microbial pathogen or other antigen is the cause of the chronic rhinitis. An antigen is sufficient to cause chronic rhinitis, however, other factors may initiate the inflammatory response absent invasive antigens. Therefore, antigens are not necessary to initiate rhinitis. In that sense, allopathic medicine measures some, but not all, of the etiological factors contributing to chronic rhinitis. In Chinese medicine, the overall physiological strength of the lungs and the pathways leading to the nasal system are equally as important as the immunological responses to antigens. Further, environmental conditions such as dryness, heat, dampness, coldness, etc… are important factors. Moreover, dietary and emotional factors play important roles in balancing the respiratory pathways.

Reference: An Hua, Qinhuangdao Port Hospital, Hebei, China. "Treatment of 85 Cases with Chronic Rhinitis by Acupuncture." J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 2010, 8 (5): 318.

Acupuncture Restores Sense of Smell - New Study

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:15:16 +0000

Acupuncture Helps Olfaction

A recent controlled study published in the Journal of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery notes that acupuncture is effective for restoring the sense of smell. The researchers studied participants with dysosmia (loss of sense of smell) due to viral infections. Acupuncture was applied to acupuncture points Du16 (Fengfu), Du20 (Baihui), LI20 (Yingxiang), Lu7 (Lieque), Lu9 (Taiyuang), St36 (Zu San Li), and K3 (Tai Xi). The needles were manipulated by an expert acupuncturist with more than ten years of professional experience and were retained for 30 minutes. Several acupuncture treatments were administered over a 10 week period. A statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in the acupuncture patients. A control group receiving standard vitamin B complex therapy did not improve greatly.

Acupuncture and Pharmaceutical Drugs
Also of interest is that the patients chosen for this study had already tried standard western medical therapies but did not recover the sense of smell. Yet, these patients enjoyed a significant improvement in their olfactory senses with acupuncture treatment. Western medicine approaches include systemic and topical steroids, vitamin B therapy, caroverine, alpha lipoic acid, and several other medications.

Scalp Acupuncture
Scalp acupuncture was employed in this study by choosing Du16 and Du20. Scalp acupuncture is especially well suited for both head injuries and post-viral neurological dysfunction. Hopefully, future studies will choose to include Du24 (Shenting) in the acupuncture point selection. Use of triple needling, also referred to as ranked needling, at acupuncture point Du24 is a powerful method for benefiting the sense of smell. Du24 is known to eliminate wind, calm the spirit and benefit the brain, nose, and eyes. It is the meeting point of the Governing vessel with the UB and Stomach meridians. Its actions to expel pathogenic head wind make it an excellent choice for the treatment of post-viral dysosmia. Commonly used to treat rhinitis, this acupuncture point is well regarded for its ability to benefit and stimulate the nose.

Reference:
Julia Vent, MD, PhD, Djin-Wue Wang, MD, Michael Damm, MD; “Effects of traditional Chinese acupuncture in post-viral olfactory dysfunction,” J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg April 1, 2010 vol. 142 no. 4 505-509.

Acupuncture helps Infants with Colic, New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 03:15:05 +0000

New research shows that acupuncture reduces crying in infants with colic. A randomized, controlled, double-blind study of 90 infants ranging from 2 – 8 weeks of age were given six acupuncture treatments over a three week period. Acupuncture was applied to acupuncture point LI4 for 2 seconds to the treatment group of infants during each acupuncture session. The results conclude that “acupuncture shortened the duration and reduced the intensity of crying in infants with colic.” [1]

Approximately 10 percent of newborn children experience colic. In western science, the etiology is often attributed to gastrointestinal disorders and allergic reactions to milk from cows. In some cases, colic may be behavioral manifestations from emotional imbalances due to parent-infant interaction difficulties. The latter western etiology may be interpreted as Liver Qi stagnation and the former diagnoses involve Spleen and Stomach disharmonies and food stagnation. The importance of acupuncture in the treatment of colic cannot be underestimated in that some of the western medicine treatments for colic have potential severe side effects including seizures, asphyxia and death.[2],[3],[4] The acupuncture study also points to two other studies showing the positive outcome for acupuncture in the treatment of infant night crying.[5],[6] In addition, the acupuncture study notes that a reduction in colic also reduces the chances of child abuse.

The infants chosen for the acupuncture study met basic criteria. All infants were born after the 36^th week of the pregnancy, did not receive treatment with dicyclomine, and exhibited crying or fussing for no less than three hours per day and no less than three days per week. Additionally, cow’s milk needed to be excluded from the diet prior to inclusion in the acupuncture study to ensure that this was not the sole causative factor of colic.

A registered nurse skilled in the application of acupuncture applied the acupuncture point to the infants. A 0.20 x 13mm uncoated, all stainless steel needle was applied to acupuncture point LI4 for 2 seconds at an approximate depth of 2mm, unilaterally. Next, the same acupuncture procedure was applied to acupuncture point LI4 on the other hand. Total time in the treatment room was approximately 5 minutes. Six acupuncture treatments were applied over a three week period using this procedure.

The study notes that bilateral stimulation of acupuncture point LI4 for a longer duration of 20 seconds has a more immediate effect but that the role of this study was to show that even modest stimulation reduces colic. The study concludes, “Standardized, light stimulation of the acupuncture point LI4 twice a week for 3 weeks reduced the duration and intensity of crying more quickly in the acupuncture group than in the control group. No serious side effects were reported.”[7]

References:
[1] Kajsa Landgren, Nina Kvorning, Inger Hallström; “Acupuncture reduces crying in infants with infantile colic: a randomised, controlled, blind clinical study,” Acupunct Med 2010;28:174-179.
[2] Lucassen PL, Assendelft WJ, Gubbels JW, et al. Effectiveness of treatments for infantile colic: systematic review. BMJ 1998;316:1563–9.
[3] Garrison MM, Christakis DA. A systematic review of treatments for infant colic. Pediatrics 2000;106:184–90.
[4] Wade S, Kilgour T. Extracts from “clinical evidence”: Infantile colic. BMJ 2001;323:437–40.
[5] Liu HR. Night crying in infants treated by acupuncture. J Chin Med 1994;46:38.
[6] Zhao B. Treatment of infantile morbid night crying by acupuncture at Zhongchong point in 100 cases. J Tradit Chin Med 2002;22:1.
[7] Op. cit., Kajsa Landgren, Nina Kvorning, Inger Hallström.

Laser Acupuncture Stops Vomiting in Children: New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 04:12:25 +0000

Laser acupuncture reduces post-operative vomiting in children by 60% according to new research published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia. A recent double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of laser acupuncture applied to acupuncture point P6 in the treatment of postoperative vomiting in children concludes that laser acupuncture reduces vomiting by 60% for children undergoing strabismus surgery.

Laser acupuncture at P6 (Neiguan) was applied for 15 minutes before anesthesia and 15 minutes after arriving in the recovery room with a low-level laser diode for a period of 30 seconds each time. The output of the laser is a continuous 10mW with a wavelength of 670nm. The study concludes that the “incidence of vomiting was significantly lower in the acupuncture group.”

The study also notes that the timing of the acupuncture treatment is of key importance. The authors cite that stimulation with the laser acupuncture must precede induction of anesthesia to achieve optimum results. The researchers reviewed several studies that did not find acupuncture and electro-acupuncture at P6 effective for several types of postoperative vomiting and note that these studies failed to apply acupuncture prior to induction of anesthesia. They suggest that all new research uses the protocol of applying acupuncture prior to anesthesia and following completion of the surgical procedure.

Reference:
A Schlager, T Offer, and I Baldissera; Laser stimulation of acupuncture point P6 reduces postoperative vomiting in children undergoing strabismus surgery. Br. J. Anaesth. (1998) 81(4): 529-532 doi:10.1093/bja/81.4.529

Acupuncture Treats Sleep Apnea - New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:39:33 +0000

Acupuncture Improves Sleep

A recent study shows that acupuncture as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has immediate effects in reducing nocturnal respiratory events, sleep disruptions, and desaturations (low oxygen levels in the blood). The researchers hypothesize that this improvement is due to acupuncture’s effects on serotonergic pathways and also acupuncture’s anti-inflammatory effects. Both manual acupuncture and 10Hz electro-acupuncture techniques were found effective. Both techniques produced superior clinical outcomes compared with 2Hz electro-acupuncture.

Acupuncture Technique used by Acupuncturists
The researchers used classical acupuncture techniques and acupuncture points in their study. The acupuncture points chosen for the study were: Lu6, Lu7, LI4, LI20, GV20, CV23, St36, St40, Sp6, K6, and extra point Shanglianquan (located near the hyoid bone). Copper-handle 40 X 0.25mm needles were used and inserted to traditional depths. Electro-acupuncture was applied to the neck points CV23 and Shanglianquan and a separate pair were connected to LI4 and St36. Electro-acupuncture stimulation had wave pulses of 0.45 ms² at 10Hz and increased to an intensity of between 0.6 - 0.8 mA which produced a mild twitch. The manual acupuncture group receive manual stimulation to the needle until deqi (sensation of heaviness or numbness) was achieved at each acupuncture point. The needles were retained for 30 minutes.

Acupuncture Testing Procedures
Laboratory findings used electroencephalography, electromyography, and electrocardiography. This tested respiration, mouth flow, and pulse oximetry with the use of an oximeter. Subjects were chosen for the study from a randomized process. Blinded independent researchers followed four groups: manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture at 10Hz, electro-acupuncture at 2Hz, control group. The researchers note that the electro-acupuncture was not tested for analgesia but rather for its effects on the lack of motor competence as a result of inflammation and other mechanisms responsible for reducing the activity of airway muscles.

Discussion of Acupuncture and Airflow
The researchers note that the acupuncture points of the neck are of specific interest because they stimulate the genioglossus muscle (secondarily, the mylohyoid muscle) on deep insertion. They note that stimulation of this lingual muscle affects airflow dynamics and may be a key reason as to why acupuncture is effective for improving the symptoms of patients with sleep apnea.

Reference:
Immediate effect of acupuncture on the sleep pattern of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, Anaflávia O Freire, Gisele C M Sugai, Sônia Maria Togeiro, Luiz Eugênio Mello, Sérgio Tufik; Acupunct Med 2010;28:115-119.

New Study finds Acupuncture Effective for Bedwetting

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 07:59:55 +0000

A new study shows that acupuncture is an effective treatment for nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting). Nocturnal enuresis is involuntary urination during sleep and is most typical among children. Most children overcome this disorder by age seven but clinical conditions may persist indefinitely in some patients if left untreated.

In a surprising finding, acupuncture was shown to be more effective than bedwetting alarms. Bedwetting alarms, a standard in conventional medicine, detect moisture and wake the patient with an audible tone. The study also concluded that electro-acupuncture achieved better clinical results than acupuncture without electricity. The researchers note that, “Acupuncture can influence spinal micturition centers and parasympathetic innervation to the urinary tract and is known to modulate brain function via the descending serotonergic system.”

Nocturnal Enuresis According to Chinese Medicine Theory
Nocturnal enuresis is caused by deficiency of Kidney Qi leading to the inability of the urination bladder to regulate urination. The kidneys form urine and the bladder stores and excretes urine. If the kidneys are deficient they are unable to support the function of the bladder in regulating urinary output.

Chronic nocturnal enuresis typically exhausts the patient and leads to the inability to properly distribute nutrients to the body. In Chinese medicine theory this is referred to as Spleen Qi deficiency. As a result, this condition often presents with a pale complexion and a low appetite. Classic acupuncture points for this condition include: Shenshu (UB23), Pangguangshu (UB28), Zhongji (CV3), and Sanyinjiao (Sp6). Supplementary points include Shenmen (Ht7) and Zusanli (St36).

Reference:
Acupuncture as a treatment for nocturnal enuresis, W.F. Bower, M. Diao , Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical; 28 October 2010 (Vol. 157, Issue 1, Pages 63-67)

Acupuncture Helps Children with Autism - New Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 02:31:42 +0000

New research demonstrates that a session of 12 acupuncture visits using electro-acupuncture improves functions in children with autism. Electro-acupuncture caused improvements in language comprehension and self-care ability for the children in this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, clinical trial of acupuncture for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Electro-acupuncture also caused significant improvements in social initiation, receptive language, motor skills, coordination, and attention span. Improvements in motor coordination include better writing ability. Participants were better able to write words within set lines and squares. One participant had significant improvements in swimming ability and improvements in paper cutting were also noted. Interesting motor improvements include better walking posture, speed of walking, and ability to ascend and descend stairs.

Over 70% of the children with ASD were compliant and adapted easily to the acupuncture therapy while 8% were not compliant. This was the first study ever conducted using electro-acupuncture for ASD using a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Subjects from ages 3-18 participated in the study and children who had been taking anti-epileptic drugs or who had recently had acupuncture were excluded from the study.

Classic acupuncture points for the treatment of autism were chosen for the study. Sishencong (EX-HN1), YinTang (EX-NH3), Ear naodian (AT3), and Ear shenmen (TF4) were chosen as the primary acupuncture points. Neiguan (P6), Shenmen (H7), TaiChong (Lv3), and Sanyinjiao (Sp6) were selected as complementary acupuncture points. Children were in either in a supine or sitting position for the 30 minute acupuncture treatment. Sterile disposable .3 X 4cm (30 gauge) acupuncture needles were used and points were connected with a portable electro-acupuncture device. The investigational sham acupuncture points were chosen at a 3-5mm distance from the real acupuncture points. The treatment principle was to “to make the heart ‘unobstructed,’ regulate the liver, correct derangements or imbalances, enforce the emotion, dredge stasis, invigorate the spleen and kidney, and facilitate the source of vital function.”

References:

Altern Med Rev. 2010 Jul;15(2):136-46. Randomized controlled trial of electro-acupuncture for autism spectrum disorder. Wong VC, Chen WX. Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.; 1994.

Wong V. Can acupuncture of the tongue help autism? Autism-Asperger’s Digest Sept-Oct 2002;18-19:25,29.

Haley SM, Coster WJ, Ludlow LH, et al. Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory: Development, Standardization, and Administration Manual, Version 1.0. Boston MA: PEDI Research Group; 1992.

Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR). WeeFIM System SM. Clinical Guide: Version 5.01. Buffalo, NY: University at Buffalo; 2000.

Schopler E, Reichler RJ, Renner BR. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS): For Diagnostic Screening and Classification in Autism. New York, NY: Irvington; 1986.

Acupuncture Manipulations Advances Acupuncture

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:15:34 +0000

HealthCMI Book Review

Diagrams of Acupuncture Manipulations by Professor Liu Yan is an acupuncture needling technique book featuring everything from basic needling skills to expert acupuncture techniques. The diagrams are simple drawings that clearly delineate the information needed to understand the acupuncture methods presented. The text accompanying the diagrams is written in both English and Chinese making this book accessible to a very wide audience. The text is both clear and concise and is successful in communicating the acupuncture methods and their clinical applications for most of the acupuncture procedures presented.

This is definitely a book specifically designed for practicing acupuncturists. We would like to have seen the acupuncture points labeled with letter-number combinations but only the Chinese characters and English pinyin names are presented. We do like that needling sensations are carefully described along with exact needling methods for each clinical application presented.

There is something in this book for all acupuncturists from the beginning student to the veteran expert. The book starts with very basic acupuncture practice techniques and quickly shifts to many highly advanced methods for treating disease processes. 30 supplementary, 8 strengthening and reducing, 20 complex, 30 penetrating, and 23 types of artistic needling techniques are presented. Finally, the author presents an additional 11 special acupuncture techniques. However, several of the special acupuncture techniques are beyond the scope of an acupuncture practice unless situated in a hospital setting.

A simple, clear, and concise presentation style makes this book an easy read for acupuncturists. This book is well suited for the acupuncturist interested in needling manipulation techniques and varying acupuncture procedures for treating specific ailments. Professor Liu Yan is well respected for his publications and this textbook represents an important effort to teach many important acupuncture approaches to internal medicine. Diagrams of Acupuncture Manipulations makes an important contribution to acupuncture continuing education.

Acupuncturist’s Herbs Investigated by NIH

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:59:06 +0000

The NIH (National Institutes of Health) has awarded funding for the study of the safety, effectiveness, and functions of herbs including Da Suan (garlic), Dang Gui, Qing Hao (Artemisia), Gan Cao (licorice), and Shan Yao (yam). Acupuncturists have used these substances for over a thousand years but now three divisions of the NIH have funded research to better understand the role of these herbs.

The garlic research will map the molecular pathways in which garlic stimulates cell function. Artemisia research will explore its molecular and physiological mechanisms involved in preventing metabolic syndrome which is a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. The licorice research takes a close look at the impact of licorice on women’s estrogenic hormones. The yam research investigates its effects on bone, uterus, breast tissue, breast cancer metastasis, and brain activity. The medical benefits of these herbs have been utilized by acupuncturists for their patients for over a thousand years. Now, the NIH supports research and documentation as to how such botanicals achieve clinical results.

The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), and the National Cancer Institute are taking a closer look to determine the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of action of these Chinese herbs. Five research centers receive the funding and are together known as the Botanical Research Centers (BRC). The research centers are located at Louisiana State University, University of Illinois (Chicago and Urbana-Champaign locations), University of Missouri, and Wake Forest University of Health Sciences. Other partner institutions include Oregon State University, Rutgers University (NJ), University of Colorado Health Sciences, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, Massachusetts), John’s Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland), and the Bent Creek Institute (Asheville, North Carolina).

Computer Engineering Proves Acupuncture for Stroke Victims

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:23:32 +0000

A recent study shows that acupuncture increases brain activity in stroke victims. Using MRI technology, researchers documented that real acupuncture increased brain activity and functionality and that sham acupuncture and a blank control group did not increase brain activity and functionality. Sham acupuncture is the placement of acupuncture needles in nearby incorrect locations and the control group received no medical treatment. In this study, real acupuncture was proven to benefit ischemia stroke victims using acupuncture in a quantifiable and repeatable study.

The study was conducted in an animal experiment setting on rats and was conducted by a joint effort by Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China; Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine; and the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The scientists conclude that the immediate effect of acupuncture in the stimulation of brain activity is verified and that further study is therefore recommended.

Citing promising research on the positive effects of acupuncture in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, the scientists conducting the stroke study sought to create an even more stringent research methodology. The study notes, “To quantitatively understand the role of acupuncture, we need to have a statistically significant, biologically interpretable, and quantitatively repeatable measurement under the randomized trial setting.” Using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), fMRI and microPET imaging techniques, the researchers were able “to measure the glucose metabolic level in the brain which is an important index of brain function.”

Acupuncture points Bai Hui (GV20/Du-20) and Shui Gou (GV26/Du-26) were chosen. The needles were rotated for one minute at a frequency of about 2Hz and then left for four minutes at rest. The needle manipulation technique is repeated six times during the acupuncture session for a total of 30 minutes of acupuncture needle retention. The results were repeatable and measurable. Acupuncture was proven to increase brain activity in the acute stage of ischemia stroke using the brain glucose metabolic level as a quantitative index whereas the sham acupuncture group and the control group received no benefit. The researchers note that this experiment helps to explain Chinese medicine concepts regarding acupuncture with modern scientific language.

Reference:
Using MicroPET Imaging in Quantitative Verification of Acupuncture Effect in Ischemia Stroke Treatment, Xiaoyan Shen1, Hongtu Tang2, Jia Li2, Ting Xiang2, Huafeng Liu1 & Weichuan Yu3

Governor Brown & Whitman on Acupuncture and Health Care

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 10:14:02 +0000

As the California governor’s race heats up, California acupuncturists may wonder where they stand with the candidates. Jerry Brown, the Democratic candidate, is the most predictable. In his first term as Governor of the State of California, he legalized the practice of acupuncture and supported the passage of several laws supportive of the acupuncture profession. Jerry Brown also supported chiropractors, osteopaths, and lay midwives. His track record is clear. A win for Brown is assuredly good news for acupuncturists.

Outgoing Governor's Position

This would be a major change in the political winds for acupuncturists in California. Recently, Governor Schwarzenegger made aggressive moves to dismantle aspects of the laws protecting the rights of acupuncturists and their patients. He removed acupuncture from the Medi-Cal system which is designed to help the poor. As a result, acupuncturists can no longer take Medi-Cal insurance. Schwarzenegger also cut Medi-Cal benefits for dental, psychological, chiropractic, optometry, audiology, and podiatric care. Schwarzenegger also removed acupuncturists as primary care physicians in the worker’s compensation system and even went so far as to remove acupuncturists entirely from the worker’s compensation system for nearly two years until California legislators restored acupuncturists to the workers compensation system. Until acupuncture was restored to the system, workers could not receive acupuncture insurance benefits if injured at work. Moreover, Schwarezneggar actually disbanded the Medical Board of California, California Acupuncture Board. For approximately 8 months, there was no oversight of the entire profession in the State of California. Were the Acupuncture Board not reinstated, the profession may have needed to shut down in California.

The California Acupuncture Board operated at no cost to taxpayers and actually ran at a profit by collecting annual fees from acupuncturists. Schwarzenegger disbanded the Acupuncture Board, diverted the Acupuncture Board collected proceeds to the general fund, and left the profession unregulated and without oversight. Eventually, an outcry from the Chinese community and acupuncture supporters helped to reinstate the California Acupuncture Board albeit with less licensed acupuncturists being allowed to serve on the board. Thousands of years of clinical success behind Chinese medicine managed to overcome this political onslaught.

Whitman's Track Record On Health Care

What about Meg Whitman, the Republican candidate? A former Ebay executive and billionaire, she has no record of public office and no public positions on acupuncture, herbs, and Chinese Medicine. What is known about her is that she went to Princeton University in 1974 intent on studying medicine, however, she shortly changed interests to economics. Regarding medicine, Whitman states, “Our health care system needs some major improvements to address cost, quality and access. I believe in free-market solutions to help more Californians become insured.” Politically, “free-market solutions” is a catchphrase that indicates opposition to government regulation of insurance companies. One of the few healthcare positions she takes is that she intends to cut spending on healthcare benefits to prisoners. Ultimately, there are no specifics regarding her position on acupuncture, herbs, and Chinese medicine in the public record. Meg Whitman’s position remains unknown.

New NCCAOM Acupuncture Continuing Education Requirements

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:54:01 +0000

Acupuncturists who are NCCAOM Diplomates must meet new requirements issued by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). In addition to the minimum of 4 PDAs of Safety and Ethics category acupuncture continuing education courses, the NCCAOM now requires a separate CPR certification. The NCCAOM notes that, “CPR certification is required within the four-year recertification cycle. The CPR card does not need to be current but must have been issued within the last four years.” Another change is that CPR continuing education units (CEUs/PDAs) may no longer count toward the Safety and Ethics requirement. This makes getting Safety and Ethics acupuncture CEUs a little bit tougher. In the past, acupuncturists could use CPR training hours towards the Safety and Ethics requirement.

The Safety and Ethics requirement is relatively new and the recent exclusion of CPR PDAs towards this requirement may make acupuncture license recertification more difficult for NCCAOM Diplomates. HealthCMI (Healthcare Medicine Institute) has announced that it will release more NCCAOM approved Safety and Ethics acupuncture continuing education courses to meet the increased demand for courses in this continuing education category. Expect to see offerings from other educational institutes in the near future.

This affects thousands of acupuncturists in the USA. There are only nine states that do not require either the NCCAOM certification or an NCCAOM examination. Acupuncturists in California, Kansas, Louisiana, and Maryland are not affected by the these changes since there is no NCCAOM requirement in these states. Also unaffected are residents in Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Alabama because there are no acupuncture laws in these states. Acupuncturists in several other states are not affected because passing the initial NCCAOM exam is required but recertification is not. Texas, for example, requires the initial NCCAOM exam but provides its own licensing process including its own acupuncture continuing education requirements.

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Chinese Medicine

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:00:35 +0000

Book Review

Acupuncturists have an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the classics with Dr. Maoshing Ni’s translation of The Yellow Emperor Emperor’s Classic of Medicine (Neijing Su Wen). This ancient work, considered to be over 2,000 years old, is considered a central text of both Taoism and Chinese medicine. It is characterized by its clinically accurate translation and readability. The Neijing Su Wen is essentially conversations between Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor, and his ministers. This dialog reveals many universal truths that govern health, well being, and the nature of our world.

Dr. Maoshing Ni expertly brings this text to life with an incredibly transparent translation style. It is not only an enjoyable read but also a clinically valuable window into the world of Chinese medicine theory. There is literally no need to rely on references to footnotes and outside sources to obtain the knowledge from this text. The author was presented with a monumental task to achieve this level of readability but he delivers with both grace and style.

One important concept that is deeply explored is that the inner world of spiritual harmony and physical well being is connected with the environment in which we live. The theoretical basis of holism is presented both philosophically and tangibly through the elucidation of the effects of external climactic conditions as they relate to inner health. For example, the author carefully brings to life the nature of our emotional changes as they relate to the changes of the seasons.

The author takes us back in time to the emperor’s chambers to hear the pearls of wisdom shared in his conversations. This book takes us on a journey to learn both the secrets of longevity and good health and the clinical pathologies resulting from a life of imbalance. As a foundational text of Chinese medicine, it is ultimately required reading for all acupuncturists and makes for quality reading for acupuncture continuing education. However, the fluidity of the writing style opens the doors of this text to the layperson interested in philosophical Taoism and the nature of universal laws governing human health and well being.

What is remarkable about this text is its relevancy to modern times. More than ever, the issues of a balanced lifestyle, diet, and a harmonious relationship to our natural environment ring true. It is commendable that Dr. Maoshing Ni has been able to create this valuable English translation of this work.

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About the translator of The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine:
Dr. Maoshing Ni is a thirty-eighth generation doctor of Chinese medicine and is a licensed acupuncturist in Santa Monica, California. He is the co-founder of Yo San University in Los Angeles and is the author of Chinese Herbology Made Easy, The Tao of Nutrition, Second Spring, Secrets of Self-Healing, and Secrets of Longevity.

New Technology combines Electro-Acupuncture with Heat

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 05:53:30 +0000

Acupuncture Product Review: HT-4

We tested the HT-4 electro-acupuncture device on our workbench and in an acupuncture clinic. The HT-4 delivers both electrical stimulation and heat to the acupuncture needle simultaneously. The Lekon Digital Acupuncture Needle Warmer & Electro-Stimulator, model HT-4, is one of the most interesting electro-acupuncture devices to become available with its unique combination of heating and electro-stimulation. It offers point detection and control over amplitude, timing, mode, cycle, and heating. Solenoid controls allow for easy manipulation for up to four channels on this device (each channel has two needles). The modes include continuous wave, disperse-dense wave, several ‘massage’ programs, and a tapping wave. All are variable and allow for fine adjustment. The heating option allows selected channels to have the needles warm up to approximately 113 degrees farenheit. This gives a therapeutic effect similar to that of moxibustion.

In the Clinic

We tested this device in a busy acupuncture clinic and found it to be ergonomic, reliable, and therapeutically effective. The device has several safety mechanisms that prevent overstimulation of the patient. The controls are easy to use and the unit is not overly large at 10 inches wide although hardly the portable size of the handheld IC-1107 electro-acupuncture unit. The electro-acupuncture unit must be plugged into a wall outlet so the IC-1107 or other battery powered units are more appropriate when an outlet is not available.

It is difficult to recommend anything new in Chinese medicine but this unit can deliver both heat and electricity to the needle simultaneously or separately making it a unique addition to the acupuncture profession. Lekon also makes a larger unit that comes in a briefcase that handles up to six channels. We’re not convinced that many licensed acupuncturists will need to connect 12 needles simultaneously, so we prefer the smaller HT-4 which handles up to 8 needles simultaneously. The unit appears to be of rugged construction and the LCD display is large and easy to read. The needle clips are similar to alligator style clips but are plastic coated which insulate the acupuncturist’s hand from the heated needle. The plastic clip construction also makes it virtually impossible to short-circuit the connections.

Pricing and Value

Overall, we like this acupuncture unit and are surprised that it retails for only $250. On sale, this acupuncture unit can be found at about $200. We have seen electro-acupuncture units at more than double this price that offer fewer therapeutic options. At the full retail price, this unit is a very good value and offers the type of significant therapeutic effects that an acupuncturist is looking for in an electro-acupuncture device.

Outrage over Acupuncture Evidence Attacks NIH

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:53:40 +0000

Doctors from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore and the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington published a case vignette in the New England Journal of Medicine recommending acupuncture for the treatment of lower back pain. The article cites that patients with lower back pain account for over $90 billion in annual health care expenses in the US. The doctors conclude that acupuncture is an effective means for treating lower back pain based partly on a recent study of 6,359 patients published in Spine¹. For the lower back pain patient in the case study presented, 10-12 acupuncture treatments over an 8 week period are recommended.

The doctors cite physiological phenomena that measure the effects of acupuncture. Local anesthesia at needle insertion sites block the the analgesic effects of acupuncture showing that acupuncture is dependent upon neural innervation². Acupuncture has been proven to cause the release of endogenous opioids in brain-stem, subcortical, and limbic structures^3,4. Acupuncture has also been proven to induce the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol from the pituitary gland thereby creating a systemic anti-inflammatory response⁵. Functional MRI studies in humans reveal that acupuncture stimulates limbic and basal forebrain areas involved in pain processing⁶. PET scan MRIs (positron-emission tomography) show that acupuncture increases opioid binding potential in the brain for several days⁷. Acupuncture has also been proven to mechanically stimulate connective tissues⁸, release adenosine at the site of needle stimulation⁹, and increase local blood blow¹⁰. The doctors then cite clinical trials showing the efficaciousness of acupuncture in the treatment of thousands of patients^10-15.

Despite this overwhelming evidence proving the mechanisms of action and efficaciousness of acupuncture, skeptics were outraged at the publication of an article supportive of acupuncture in the venerable New England Journal of Medicine. An article recently posted in the Forbes “science business” section stated that the article is “embarrassing” and that acupuncture “infiltrates” the University of Maryland Medical School. In the article, the author calls acupuncture “pseudoscience” and states that it is based on “magical thinking of non-existent life-force.” The skeptic author’s only proof of his theory is that one of the many studies cited in the article found that acupuncture was only 47.6% effective for the treatment of lower back pain and that sham acupuncture was 44.2% effective. Therefore, the author concludes that using “toothpicks” randomly on the human body will have the same pain relieving effects as acupuncture. What the author fails to mention in the Forbes attack article is that conventional western medicine therapy (a combination of drugs, physical therapy, and exercise) was only 27.4% effective in that very same study. Should we therefore abolish western medicine by MDs and call it pseudoscience? Acupuncturists have noted that the success of sham acupuncture noted in that particular study of 1,162 patients in Germany reveals that poorly placed acupuncture needles also derive benefit for the patient.

The author in the Forbes article does have an agenda, he calls for the elimination of the NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), a division of the NIH (National Institutes of Health). He states that since acupuncture is poorly supported by research, the NCCAM should be abolished. The authors of the New England Journal of Medicine article contend that more research needs to be conducted on the efficacy of acupuncture based on existing and promising research. The authors suggest continuing acupuncture education and research as a means to better serve the public with quality medicine.

References
1. Yuan J, Purepong N, Kerr DP, Park J, Bradbury I, McDonough S. Effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain: a systematic review. Spine 2008;33:E887-E900.
2. Wang SM, Kain ZN, White P. Acupuncture analgesia: I. The scientific ba- sis. Anesth Analg 2008;106:602-10.
3. Han JS. Acupuncture: neuropeptide release produced by electrical stimulation of different frequencies. Trends Neurosci 2003;26:17-22.
4. Pomeranz B. Scientific research into acupuncture for the relief of pain. J Altern Complement Med 1996;2:53-60.
5. Li A, Lao L, Wang Y, et al. Electroacupuncture activates corticotrophin-releasing hormone-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus to alleviate edema in a rat model of inflammation. BMC Complement Altern Med 2008;8:20.
6. Dhond RP, Kettner N, Napadow V. Neuroimaging acupuncture effects in the human brain. J Altern Complement Med 2007;13:603-16.
7. Harris RE, Zubieta JK, Scott DJ, Napa- dow V, Gracely RH, Clauw DJ. Traditional Chinese acupuncture and placebo (sham) acupuncture are differentiated by their effects on mu-opioid receptors (MORs). Neuroimage 2009;47:1077-85.
8. Langevin HM, Churchill DL, Wu J, et al. Evidence of connective tissue involvement in acupuncture. FASEB J 2002;16:872-4.
9. Goldman N, Chen M, Fujita T, et al. Adenosine A1 receptors mediate local anti-nociceptive effects of acupuncture. Nat Neurosci 2010 May 30 (Epub ahead of print).
10. Sandberg M, Lundeberg T, Lindberg LG, Gerdle B. Effects of acupuncture on skin and muscle blood flow in healthy subjects. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003;90:114-9.
11. Brinkhaus B, Witt CM, Jena S, et al. Acupuncture in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 2006;166:450-7.
12. Haake M, Muller HH, Schade-Brittinger C, et al. German Acupuncture Trials (GERAC) for chronic low back pain: randomized, multicenter, blinded, paralel-group trial with 3 groups. Arch Intern Med 2007;167:1892-8. [Erratum, Arch In- tern Med 2007;167:2072.]
13. Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, et al. A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture, and usual care for chronic low back pain. Arch In- tern Med 2009;169:858-66.
14. Thomas KJ, MacPherson H, Thorpe L, et al. Randomised controlled trial of a short course of traditional acupuncture compared with usual care for persistent non-specific low back pain. BMJ 2006; 333:623.
15. Witt CM, Jena S, Selim D, et al. Prag- matic randomized trial evaluating the clinical and economic effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic low back pain. Am J Epidemiol 2006;164:487-96.

Illinois bans herbs from acupuncture CEUs

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 09:08:56 +0000

The State of Illinois does not allow its licensed acupuncturists to receive continuing education credit (acupuncture ceus) from courses containing herbal medicine content. Even if continuing education courses are officially approved by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), Illinois will not allow the courses to count towards acupuncture CEU (continuing education unit) credit if the course contains any herbal medicine information.

Current Illinois State law prevents acupuncturists from using herbal medicine as part of their scope of practice. The NCCAOM has an herbal component in their testing and accrediting process but the state has no provision to accept the herbal component. Other states accept the NCCAOM herbal testing procedures. California, Florida, and Texas have their own testing procedures that allow herbal medicine to be included in an acupuncturist’s scope of practice.

Chinese Medicine Procedures
Herbal medicine is central to both Chinese medicine and the history of the acupuncturist’s role as physician. The historical use of herbal medicine is well over a thousand years old and modern use includes testing for purity and toxicity to ensure consumer safety. Both herbal medicine and acupuncture are part of the Chinese medicine system which also includes movement arts such as Qi Gong and Tai Qi, highly specialized forms of medical massage, and a system of nutrition including food cures and dietary recommendations. All of these techniques and applications are guided by a central system of Chinese medicine theory which includes differential diagnostic treatment principles.

Acupuncture Education Standards
The removal of herbal medicine from an acupuncturist’s practice hampers an acupuncturist’s ability to provide quality healthcare for patients. The State of Illinois not only disallows the use of herbal medicine but also disallows Chinese medicine education of herbology. The problem is that much of Chinese medicine theory is embedded in the process of learning herbal medicine. The standard of education is lowered for the practice of acupuncture by removing herbal medicine from the continuing education CEU process. For example, important case histories may incorporate a combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture to treat disease. Although this may be valuable educational material, it is not legal for an acupuncturist in Illinois to receive acupuncture CEU credit for reviewing a case history that includes an herbal medicine component. Illinois requires new herbal medicine legislation to raise their state-wide standard for the practice of acupuncture to meet that of other states. California, for example, has tested for both acupuncture and herbal medicine as part of an acupuncturist's licensing process since the early 1970's. Illinois is one of the very last states to ban herbal medicine from an acupuncturist's scope of practice.

Acupuncture proven to turn breech fetuses

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:04:05 +0000

New research shows that acupuncture is an effective method for turning breech fetuses to the proper position for a healthy vaginal delivery. Five different randomized studies conducted by the Department of Fetal Medicine at Hautepierre Hospital in France demonstrate that needling acupuncture point UB67 (located on the 5th toe) is an effective means for turning a breech fetus. Another study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine (which includes a lead researcher from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts) concludes that needling acupuncture point UB67 “reduces the number of breech presentations at term, thus, reducing the number of caesarean sections, and is cost effective compared to expectant management, including external cephalic version.” The latter study included stimulation with both acupuncture needles and moxibustion at acupoint UB67. Moxibustion is a technique used by acupuncturists to stimulate an acupoint with heat by burning a specially prepared mixture of the herb Ai Ye (mugwort) near the acupoint. The French study concludes that “acupuncture should be attempted in cases of breech presentation.”

The acupuncture treatment protocol for turning breech fetuses is over 1,000 years old. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture and moxibustion at point UB67 (also known as Zhiyin, “Reaching Yin”) is used to treat breech fetuses, occipital & vertex headaches and prolonged or difficult labor. Acupuncture point UB67 is most renown for its importance in turning breech fetuses. In China, pregnant women with a breech position fetus are often instructed how to warm acupuncture point UB67 with a moxibustion stick as a home measure. Often, using acupuncture is not necessitated since the moxibustion may achieve the proper clinical results of a well positioned fetus.

Acupuncture proven to fight breast cancer treatment side effects

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:36:48 +0000

New research reveals that acupuncture is more effective for treating hot flashes than venlafaxine (Effexor) for patients receiving conventional antiestrogen hormone treatment for the treatment of breast cancer. The Department of Radiation Oncology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan published its finding in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study cites research proving the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes during menopause and therefore investigates the effects of acupuncture during breast cancer treatment. Results showed that acupuncture had successfully eliminated all cases of hot flashes and benefitted patients suffering from mental depression. The study also documents that there were no side effects due to the acupuncture treatments but that venlafaxine caused adverse effects including nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, and anxiety. The study further documents that acupuncture increased sex drive, mental clarity, and the overall energy levels in the patients.

Out of a study group of 50 patients, 25 were randomly given 12 weeks of acupuncture and the other 25 were given 12 weeks of venlafaxine. After two weeks, the venlafaxine group continued to experience hot flashes but, like the acupuncture group, had less mental depression. The study concluded that acupuncture “appears to be equivalent to drug therapy” and is “a safe, effective, and durable treatment.”

Weight-Cholesterol Loss From Pu-erh Tea

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:46:57 +0000

New research shows that pu-erh tea causes healthy weight loss. The study conducted by the Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory and the College of Food Science and Technology at the Yunnan Agricultural University notes that pu-erh significantly reduced total body weight, adipose pads, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The dangerous LDL cholesterol is lowered by pu-erh tea but the healthy HDL cholesterol is unaffected. The testing was performed on rats and the results showed clear evidence that the rats lost weight and recovered from hyperlipidemia. It is postulated that the fat reduction may be triggered by pu-erh’s ability to boost enzymes such as lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, and hormone-sensitive lipase.

Pu-erh originates from a type of wild broad leaf tea plant from southwest China. Pu-erh tea (Camellia Sinensis) is typically aged and is classified by the year and region where it was produced. Older pu-erh tea is more valuable and fetches a much higher market price. Tea connoisseurs pay a high price for an old vintage. Pu-erh is often pressed into compacted cakes which allows for the proper maturing of the tea leaves although pu-erh is also available in loose leaf form. Unaged pu-erh is often a green tea whereas aged pu-erh is categorized as a black tea. In China, black tea is referred to as red tea due to its red color in the cup when hot water is added. Most pu-erh originates from Yunnan province and the finest varieties come from mountains in the Xishuangbanna region. This region is famous for its tropical rainforests, wild animals, the beautiful costumes and customs of the Dai people, and its fine climate for growing pu-erh.

Flawed research slams acupuncture on labor induction

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:43:03 +0000

The BJOG has published flawed acupuncture research claiming that acupuncture cannot induce labor. Perhaps one of the more difficult and lengthy treatments to perform, labor induction is typically over 70% effective with acupuncture. However, the proper protocols and procedures require a 3-6 hour acupuncture treatment in many cases. The study from Denmark published in BJOG merely used two 30 minute appointments. The study also failed to use the proper type of acupuncture needle. Choosing an ultra-thin needle for the study, the researchers failed to follow correct equipment procedures. The correct needle has a slightly thicker gauge. In addition, no report of standardizing the depth of needle insertion was reported. Moreover, the needles were applied by nurse midwives and not by skilled, licensed acupuncturists and electroacupuncture was not applied. Finally, points UB67, LI4, SP6, and GV20 were chosen by the researchers. However, standard procedure throughout China includes points UB31, UB32, LI4, SP6 and supplementary points SP6, GB21, Liv3, and UB60.

Studies conducted in China show a 72% effective rate for acupuncture labor induction using LI4 and SP6 with electroacupuncture. This method employs ipsilateral insertion on only one side of the body and electrical stimulation is applied for 6 to 8 hours at approximately 3 Hz at a mild, comfortable intensity level. This procedure is conducted on three consecutive days and is applied to alternate sides of the body each day. The study out of Denmark did not attempt to use electroacupuncture.

The researchers from Denmark from Herning Regional Hosptial and Aarhus University Hospital never had a chance to prove or disprove anything because their acupuncture procedure was flawed. A short excerpt from their published study reveals problems:

In the acupuncture group (AG), thin acupuncture Seirin B-type needles (Serin Corporation, Shizuoka, Japan) were used, whereas Park-Sham acupuncture needles were used in the control group (CG). In both groups, sticky tubes were used to conceal the type of needle used. The tube was fixed to the skin at the acupuncture point. The needle was then inserted into the tube. The real acupuncture needle penetrated the skin, while the sham needle had a blunt point so that the needle retracted into the needle handle and did not penetrate the skin.9,10 All the midwives were trained in acupuncture according to the guidelines described by Deadman et al.,8 and they were all regular practitioners of acupuncture, performing acupuncture treatments approximately five to six times a week.

This is an irresponsible study that fails to follow basic procedures. The problem may have arisen in trying to match the acupuncture procedure to the control group procedure. In order to have a double-blind randomized controlled study, neither the practitioner nor the patient may know whether or not acupuncture has been performed. Due to the complexity of this treatment, this is often not possible. For example, the raising and thrusting technique is necessary in many instances. During this procedure, the practitioner can and must visibly see the insertion depth of the needle varying. This technique was not employed in this study although it is standard procedure. Raising and thrusting is not a double-blind technique but rather requires careful visual monitoring by the practitioner. A better designed study might choose the LI4, SP6 electroacupuncture procedure. However, difficulties would emerge because the practitioner must ask the patient when she perceives mild electrical stimulation. Again, this breaks the double-blind aspect of the research. Overall, expect to see a lot of poor research on the effectiveness of acupuncture due to the limitations of double-blind research. Leaving out important acupuncture needle manipulation techniques is not standard procedure and will yield deficient outcomes.

Research shows herbal benefit in Parkinson’s Disease

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:03:00 +0000

New research shows that the herbal formula Yi Gan San exhibits neuroprotective effects and rescues dopaminergic neurons from toxicity. The Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center at Kyung Hee University conducted research showing that Yi Gan San is correctly used for the management of neurodegenerative disorders. Yi Gan San showed significant neuroprotection in an induced Parkinsonian mouse model. The study notes that “in the mouse Parkinson's disease model, treatment with Yi-Gan San also significantly improved motor functioning and prevented dopaminergic loss.” In another study, 'The Journal of Brain Disease' reported that Yi Gan San may be helpful in treating schizophrenia and many neuropsychological disorders because it has been shown to restore glutathione levels in the brain. In yet another study published in 'Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry', the Shimane School of Medicine concluded that Yi Gan San is a serotonin modulator and is a “safe and useful” formula for treating behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and borderline personality disorder. That study also shows a statistically significant improvement in tardive dyskinesia, psychosis, schizophrenia.

An Acupuncturist-Hebalist View

Yi Gan San (Restrain the Liver Powder) contains Dang Gui, Fu Ling, Bai Zhu, Gou Teng, Chuan Xiong, Chai Hu, and Gan Cao. This formula is often used for headaches, dizziness, anxiety, panic attacks, teeth grinding, chills & fever, seizures, palpitations, infantile epilepsy, disturbed dreams, insomnia, and spasms. Traditionally this formula quells rebellious Liver Qi and treats Liver Blood deficiency.

Kombucha Tossed from Whole Foods on TTB Guidance

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:03:37 +0000

Whole Foods and New Leaf markets have pulled Kombucha Tea from the shelves after the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Trade Bureau (TTB) issued guidance on Kombucha’s alcohol content levels. The TTD began investigating Kombucha Tea after receiving inquires from the states of Maine, Minnesota, Arizona, and Vermont. Kombucha is a fermented tea and is usually marketed as a non-alcoholic beverage. Non-alcoholic beverages may contain trace amounts of alcohol up to 0.5 percent by volume. The TTB notes that some Kombucha products have alcohol contents that substantially exceed 0.5 percent. The TTB has not determined the full scope of which brands exceed the legal limit for non-alcoholic beverages in its ongoing investigation.

All Kombucha products exceeding 0.5 percent must comply with the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act). This act covers regulations for permitting, labeling, and advertising. All Kombucha teas exceeding 0.5 percent alcohol by volume must also comply with the Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act which requires labeling the product as an alcoholic beverage and also requires a health warning on the label. In addition, the alcoholic beverage designation makes products subject to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. This includes other labelling requirements and excise taxes. Under this code, beverages exceeding 0.5 percent alcohol by volume can be seized and forfeited unless compliant with the applicable taxes, permitting, and labeling requirements.

The TTB is advising producers and distributors of kombucha products to ensure that labeling laws for alcoholic beverages are followed. The TTB cites concerns for pregnant women, children, and individuals who must avoid alcohol for medical reasons. The TTB is in the process of testing samples of kombucha products in an effort to determine which brands are affected. Whole Foods is also working to determine which products are in compliance with federal regulations. Whole Foods operates over 290 stores in the US, Canada, and the UK.

3 iPhone Apps for Acupuncture Education

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:57:20 +0000

This month we review three iPhone apps for acupuncturists and their patients. iFitness covers exercise, TCM Clinic Aid is a clinical application app, and QLecture Acupuncture LITE is an acupuncture channel video lecture for the iPhone.

iFitness

iFitness is a first rate iPhone app. It features pictures, videos, and descriptions of exercises that are laid out in a very user-friendly format. iFitness covers weight lifting, isotonics, cardiovascular, and stretching exercises. Major categories include: abdominals, arms, back, chest, legs, shoulders, cardio, and stretches. The descriptions and visuals are very clear. It is easy to use correct form when following the iFitness advice. iFitness allows the user to setup their own routines and also customize and track workouts. It includes a weight monitor, BMI calculator, and a section for tracking body measurements. At HealthCMI, we give iFitness our highest rating. It is fully compatible with the new iOS 4.0 Apple operating system and will soon feature iPad updates. iFitness sells for $1.99 .

TCM Clinic Aid

In our last herbal iPhone app review, we gave a thumbs up to Ben Cao. We like its ergonomic interface and appreciate the accuracy of the individual herb and herbal formula information. Today, we are reviewing TCM Clinic Aid which sells for $5.99 . It offers three major categories to search: diagnosis, herbs, and acupuncture points. Regarding herbs, we much prefer the Ben Cao app. The TCM Clinic Aid interface is a bit clunky, searching is more difficult, and it lacks the easy-touch cross referencing of Ben Cao. However, TCM Clinic Aid’s acupuncture point descriptions offer nice pictures of the points for easy location. Although the ergonomics and layout have a long way to go, we like the accuracy of the information presented. The diagnostic section breaks down into internal organs, four levels, residual pathogenics, and six stages. It includes accurate theory information but we felt the layout could be improved significantly. Overall, we look forward to improvements in this iPhone App’s cross-referencing capabilities, layout, and ergonomics.

QLecture Acupuncture LITE

Qpuncture offers 14 different iPhone Apps. Today, we look at QLecture Acupuncture LITE. This is a basic review of the Lung channel from a videotaped lecture. At $0.99, it is an affordable review of the channel which may be helpful for acupuncture students looking to pass board examinations or perhaps acupuncturists interested in continuing education who are wishing to listen to a nice review. The instructor offers clear, accurate, and concise information on the Lung channel. The video and audio quality are acceptable but could be significantly better. Despite these low production qualities, the instructor’s excellence overcomes these technical setbacks to deliver a quality lecture. We really like the ability to tap on the name of a point and the lecture jumps to that section. There is also an option to “Play Lectures in One Section”. When selecting this option, the entire video plays from the starting point selected. Otherwise, it will only play the individual acupuncture point selected. This makes for a quality interface. We give the ergonomics a thumbs up. To get all 12 major channels plus the Du and Ren channels, you will need QLecture Acupuncture. This costs $99.00 and therefore warrants pause. We suggest giving the LITE version a try and deciding for yourself. Our official suggestion is that you can’t really lose at the 99 cent price point. In the future, we look forward to improvements in both video and audio quality to better enhance the lectures.

Acupuncture Stops Pain & Treats Infertility

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:41:53 +0000

A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience created a media buzz that hit many major news outlets. The study concludes that adenosine is released during acupuncture treatments. Adenosine is a neuromodulator with anti-nociceptive attributes. A nociceptor is a sensory receptor that responds to stimuli by conducting nerve signals to the spinal cord and brain. The process itself is referred to as nociception and commonly results in the perception of pain. Lead investigator Maikin Nedergaard, co-director of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York stated, “We have produced the first evidence that acupuncture releases a natural pain-relieving molecule into the body…. Adenosine is a key to reducing pain during acupuncture treatment.”

Adenosine and the Heart

Adenosine not only blocks pain transfer but also promotes sleep due to its role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Adenosine also functions to dilate the coronary arteries and relaxes the smooth muscle inside the artery walls. Adenosine is an antiarrhythmic agent and is responsible for helping individuals cardiovert from an abnormal heart rhythm to a normal heart rhythm. Interestingly, since caffeine’s chemical structure tends to bind to the same receptors are adenosine, the pharmacological effects of adenosine can be reduced from the intake of coffee, tea, and chocolate.

Fertility

The discovery of the adenosine release helps to understand the function of acupuncture in a western clinical model. However, numerous studies show that acupuncture stimulates the release of beta-endorphins which are also pain-killing chemicals. Generally, any major news of acupuncture mediating the pain response makes headlines. However, recently singer Celine Dion, age 42, notes that she used acupuncture to help get pregnant. This also created a media flurry. Studies show that acupuncture patients have a lower miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy rate and a higher rate of live births than comparative non-acupuncture groups. In one randomized, double-blind study in Fertility and Sterility it was found that acupuncture improves implantation rates for in-vitro fertilization by 180% while discovering a significant reduction of gonadotrophins.

Research and Diabetes

There are many chemicals that are mediated by acupuncture treatments and what research on an individual chemical release fails to show is the natural homeostatic drive of an acupuncture treatment. Homeostasis, the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium in physiological processes, goes far in explaining why acupuncture is able to stimulate entire cascades of chemicals within the body to help stimulate optimal health. For example, Life Science published research showing that the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index changed with acupuncture. HOMA is a method used to quantify insulin resistance and beta-cell function. The thrust of the study showed that acupuncture significantly improved glucose tolerance in rats with diabetes. In conclusion, studies support acupuncture’s effects on chemical pathways that help restore normal physiological processes. While researching the release of individual chemicals helps to understand acupuncture, it is only one part of understanding acupuncture’s ability to balance entire system of chemicals and neuropathways within the body. Continuing educational research into the methods of acupuncture's actions now begin to uncover a broader picture of its effects on bodily responses.

San Francisco Giants & New York Yankees Acupuncture

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:15:18 +0000

What do the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants have in common besides baseball? It’s acupuncture. Both teams employ a staff acupuncturist and the players are happy to share their clinical successes with the public. It is not uncommon for both amateur and professional athletes to use acupuncture. From olympic gymnastics to professional basketball, acupuncture has an important role.

New York Yankees

New York Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett gets acupuncture from the team acupuncturist. When Burnett was considering signing with the Yankees, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sweetened the deal by promising to sign on a team acupuncturist. Burnett says of acupuncture, “There’s no doubt in my mind that I think it’s helped… I found that I responded really well to the acupuncture….”

San Francisco Giants

Looking at the West Coast, San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Randy Johnson gets acupuncture from the SF Giant’s team acupuncturist. Randy Johnson is the 24th pitcher to win over 300 games and, at age 46, his is also one of the oldest to do so. Professional athletes have aged well using acupuncture. Morten Anderson, former field goal kicker for NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, received two acupuncture treatments per week as part of his ongoing healthcare program. At age 48, he was the second oldest player ever in the National Football League and retired as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer. He set the NFL record with the most games played at over 368 and has scored in excess of a record breaking 346 consecutive games.

Football, Basketball, Olympics

Other athletes who benefitted from acupuncture are football’s Joe Montana and defensive lineman Michael Strahan, basketball’s Dwayne Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, Jason Kidd, and Vladimir Radmonovic; and professional golf’s Fred Couples. Looking at olympic gold 2008, Nastia Liukin took the gymnastics women’s all-around olympic gold medal home with the help of acupuncture. Coming off of a bad year in 2007 with an ankle injury, this gymnastic from Texas used acupuncture to make a come-back all the way to olympic gold. In a process of continuing education, it is important for athletes to recognize the important tools for success and acupuncture is one of those important tools.

Acupuncture and Herbs iPhone Apps

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 24 May 2010 04:56:42 +0000

There are many iPhone apps for licensed acupuncturists. Today, let’s look at Ben Cao, Pocket TCM, and Points. The first two are Chinese herbal medicine iPhone apps and the last is an acupuncture app. These apps provide acupuncturists with educational opportunities for clinical cross referencing and acupuncture continuing education studies.

Ben Cao is an excellent herbal medicine iPhone app. Individual herbs can be looked up by pinyin, pharmaceutical name, English name, category, and channel. Formulas can be referenced by pinyin, English name, and category. There is also a ‘symptoms’ reference which allows users to research both individual herbs and formulas by indications. This is a handy and useful tool for licensed acupuncturists looking to refine or cross reference herbs and formulas. Yet another search reference tool is the ‘syndromes’ tool which allows users to look up herbs and formulas by the Chinese medicine differential diagnosis. In all cases, when one is viewing the infomation on an individual herb it is a simple tap to select any of the formulas that the herb appears in. Many aspects of the app are cross referenced so as important keywords appear in the description of an herb or formula, they can be tapped for further cross referencing. For example, if I look up the ‘syndrome’ of Empty Heat - all I need to do is tap on the topic. Next, a list of all of the herbs (properly categorized) appears and relevant formulas. The user can tap on any individual herb or formula to learn more. Let’s say the user chooses Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang. Now the user sees all of the data about this formula and can tap on any individual herb within the formula and many of the important ideas within the formula such as low grade fever, no sweating, Yin, and formulas that clear deficient heat. Overall, Ben Cao is an excellent resource. It is easy to use, fast, and fun. It contains hundreds of herbs and formulas and sells for $29.99. Our only suggestion is to expand the program to contain thousands of herbs and formulas. We want to see it grow because it is already a great contribution to the practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Points is a simple guide to looking up the locations and functional information on acupuncture points on the iPhone. When looking at a pictured diagram of an acupuncture channel, one is NOT able to select a point by tapping on its location. Rather, points are selected by a number wheel. This does make for some ergonomic issues and is non-intuitive. Overall, Points is fun but lacks the power and depth of something like Manual of Acupuncture on DVD for use on laptops. Other issues with Points is the use on non-standard language for indications and also we found minor errors. We’d like to see more from Points both in ergonomics and raw data. However, it is fun and costs $19.99. With some development and editing, Points may yet become a great program. In the meantime, Points may be more relevant to the layperson until these basic improvements are made. There are other acupuncture point programs for the iPhone which may better suit licensed acupuncturists.

The Pocket TCM iPhone app sorts herbal formulas by pinyin or English. It also has a search function to look-up a formula. It doesn’t do much more than this. There is no individual herb, function, diagnosis, or syndrome cross referencing. It’s just a plain ol’ list of formulas. However, the information is accurate and clear. We like the price point for this herbal formula iPhone app at $4.99. If you need more power, bump up to Ben Cao. The two make nice companions for a licensed acupuncturist with a busy schedule.

Wisconsin Ginseng Disaster

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:55:11 +0000

Wisconsin’s ginseng crops were devastated in May due to heavy snow and freezing temperatures. Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl have requested federal disaster relief for the area. Feingold has urged the Department of Agriculture to provide emergency credit and assistance to farmers so that they can salvage their crops before they are completely lost. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to declare Marathon County, Wisconsin a disaster area so that the necessary relief can help to save the crops. Disaster declaration will allow farmers to obtain crop insurance payments and emergency loans.

Wisconsin produces 95% of ginseng in the United States. Marathon County accounts for most of the ginseng produced in Wisconsin. Licensed acupuncturists use ginseng in herbal formulas to benefit their patients. Over the counter sales and exports to China account for a large percentage of ginseng sales. Wisconsin ginseng has a value of approximately $70,000 per acre. Wisconsin produces over 500,000 pounds annually with a value of over $15,000,000. Ginseng is a native plant to Wisconsin and Wisconsin ginseng has a high concentration of ginsenocides, powerful active medicinal ingredients in the plant.

It takes 18 months for the seed to become a plant and another three years of root growth for ginseng to be harvested. Ginseng is planted in raised beds and covered with straw to protect it from the winter cold. Shade structures are placed over the ginseng to protect it from the sun in the spring and summer. During the May snow storms, the shade structures collapsed exacerbating damage to the crops. In the 1990’s, growers replaced sturdy wood shade structures with the light-weight plastic shade covers which then failed in the snow storms. The plastic structures can only handle about 2 inches of snow. Growers erected the shades two weeks earlier than usual due to unexpected sunny weather. Unfortunately, the winter storm hit just after the shades were set in place.

There are approximately 200 ginseng growers in Wisconsin working about 1,500 acres. There could be several years of damage to the crops because of the time it takes to bring ginseng from a seed to a mature plant. All plants in all stages of growth are affected. Butch Weege, Executive Director of the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin, has stated that growers will asses the damage and honor contracts to China despite the losses. A Chinese company is the exclusive distributor of Wisconsin ginseng since an agreement was signed in October of 2009. Weege notes that 22 Wisconsin counties with ginseng operations are affected and that this may cause ginseng prices to go up. Acupuncturists may need to raise prices for their patients for herbal medicines due to this disaster. Weege notes that carry-over crop from 2009 may help to offset the 2010 disaster.

New Research- Ginseng Fights Rheumatoid Arthritis

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 17 May 2010 00:01:19 +0000

New research has discovered that several ginsenosides, biologically active compounds found in the herb ginseng, have strong anti-inflammatory effects. The research demonstrates that ginsenosides can reduce inflammation in septic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, and dermatitis including psoriasis. In the laboratory, researchers have applied this knowledge by creating a new ginsenoside called G-Rp1. This ginsenoside, made from the ginsenosides G-Rg5 and G-Rk1 found in ginseng root, exhibits an even stronger anti-inflammatory effect than naturally occuring ginsenosides. Further, all of the aforementioned ginsenosides have important immunosuppressive effects in fighting autoimmune diseases.

The immune system response defends the body from pathogens such as toxic materials, microorganisms, and viruses. Inflammation is the first step towards eliminating these pathogens created by the immune system response. One important chemical created by the immune system response is TNF-alpha. It creates redness, pain, and swelling to help fight off invading pathogens. However, unregulated excess TNF-alpha in the bloodstream leads to excess inflammation, auto-immune disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

Excessive TNF-alpha causes damage to normal cells and stimulates the production of other inflammatory chemicals thereby creating an unhealthy and destructive cycle of inflammation. The research proves that G-Rp1, G-Rg5, and G-Rk1 have powerful therapeutic effects in fighting psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The research also suggests that G-Rb1 can be developed into a new drug to alleviate arthritis. Other ginsenosides also had anti-inflammatory effects including G-Rg3, G-Rf, and G-Rh2. Also, G-Rp1 showed a powerful ability to reduce edema in the joints. The researchers Jongsun Park and Jae Youl Cho note, “These results suggest that G-Rb1 can be regarded as the most potent medication currently available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.”

An important note, do not take ginseng without first consulting your licensed acupuncturist to determine whether or not it is appropriate. There are many forms of ginseng, each of which apply in differing circumstances.

Acupuncture Not Legal

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Fri, 14 May 2010 08:05:30 +0000

A consortium of professional acupuncturist associations have combined to help make acupuncture legal in every state in the US and to promote Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) education, research, and outreach with the AOM National Organizations Strategic Plan. There are no laws governing acupuncturists in Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Alabama. Two of the most recent states to legalize the acupuncture profession are Delaware in 2008 and Kentucky in 2006. One of the first states to create oversight for the practice of acupuncture was California in 1972 when the California Board of Medical Examiners began regulating acupuncture for use in medical schools. In 1975, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law legalizing the practice of acupuncture by licensed acupuncturists and the California Acupuncture Board was created. In an interesting turn of events, Jerry Brown is again running for Governor which may support efforts to enhance accessibility to licensed acupuncturists should he win the race.

Acupuncture organizations nationwide have combined to create the AOM National Organizations Strategic Plan. This is a master plan that states, “By 2014, acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM), an independent, licensed profession, will be fully accessible to the public throughout American healthcare.” Key goals include promoting research, education, public awareness, and outreach. Also central to the plan is creating job opportunities for licensed acupuncturists in multiple healthcare settings. One important goal is to obtain federal recognition for licensed acupuncturists. Finally, the strategic plan seeks to achieve licensure for acupuncturists in every state. The participating organizations include: American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM), Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), Federation of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Regulatory Agencies (FAOMRA), National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), National Federation of Chinese Traditional Chinese Medicine Organizations (NFCTCMO), and the Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR).

A key element is working toward federal recognition of AOM under Medicare and by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Currently, the BLS does not recognise licensed acupuncturists as a standalone profession. The BLS recognizes acupuncture as a procedure that may be applied by nurses and chiropractors and not as a profession. Recognition is widely considered the first step towards gaining Medicare coverage for acupuncturist services by licensed acupuncturists.

Section 3502 of the new health reform law recently signed by President Obama states that primary health care practitioners must “provide coordination of the appropriate use of complementary and alternative (CAM) services to those who request such services.” The goals of the AOM National Organizations Strategic Plan are synergistic with this legal provision. The new health reform law may help to move the BLS to formally recognize the acupuncture profession thereby opening the door to Medicare coverage for patients.

Health Reform Law Provides Acupuncture

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:50:45 +0000

The terms acupuncture and acupuncturist do not directly appear in The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that was signed into law by President Obama. However, the health reform law cites three indirect instances inclusive of acupuncturist services. The term ‘licensed complementary and alternative medicine practitioners’ appears in the law and pertains to licensed acupuncturists.

The first mention is in section 3502 of the 2,393 page healthcare law. Section 3502 charges the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the responsibility of establishing “a program to provide grants to or enter into contracts with eligible entities to establish community-based interdisciplinary, interprofessional teams (referred to in this section as ‘health teams’) to support primary care practices.” Acupuncturists are “eligible entities” as "licensed complementary and alternative medicine practitioners" meaning that they may receive funds from the government in the form of a grant or contract to meet healthcare needs of communities and individuals. These grants and contracts “establish health teams to provide support services to primary care providers” and “provide capitated payments to primary care providers.” As written in the new health reform law, this provision provides support for local primary care providers to “provide coordination of the appropriate use of complementary and alternative (CAM) services to those who request such services.” Overall, the thrust of this section is to promote integrated healthcare provisions across multiple medical disciplines in order to improve patient outcomes.

Section 5101 is entitled the National Health Care Workforce Commission. The Workforce Commission is charged with the responsibility of serving as “a national resource for Congress, the President, State, and localities” on the subject of healthcare. The commission is composed of 15 members appointed by the Comptroller General. Members are chosen on the basis of their expertise in healthcare. “Licensed complementary and alternative medicine providers” are defined as both health professionals and separately as members of the healthcare workforce in this section. Therefore, the responsibility of government recommendations regarding acupuncturist services are under the purview of this commission.

The Workforce Commission must coordinate with the “Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and Education.” A major goal of the commission is to determine whether or not the needs of healthcare workers are met. The commission must also recommend ways to remove barriers to Federal, State, and local cooperation regarding healthcare. Finally, the commission is charged with providing “innovations to address population needs, constant changes in technology, and other environmental factors.”

The language is broad regarding the relationship between government programs and acupuncturists. As programs are enacted, expect to see integrated medical models emerge that include the services of acupuncturists. Perhaps this new federal mandate to include “complementary and alternative (CAM) services to those who request such services” by “licensed complementary and alternative medicine practitioners” will result in the inclusion of acupuncturists in the Medicare system or other government sponsored programs.

Acupuncture Medicare Benefits & Veteran Support

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:51:15 +0000

NCIRE - The Veterans Health Research Institute (Northern California Institute for Research and Education) has submitted a formal request to the 12th US Congressional Districts’s Citizens Oversight Panel to fund the “Resilience and Wellness Center for the U.S. Warfighter” project. The NICRE supports medical research at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC) and works in conjunction with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), VA, DoD, and industry. The project seeks to develop treatments for military injuries and deploy them worldwide. This includes training healthcare providers and researchers methods to approach wellness for warfighters and veterans.

Primary areas of focus are psychological health, reintegration, post-traumatic stress, brain trauma, Gulf War illness, heart disease, cancer, infectious diseases including HIV and hepatitis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and chronic kidney and liver diseases. The project seeks to build a prototype resilience and wellness mental and physical health center in San Bruno, CA. A direct benefit to the San Francisco Bay Area military and veterans, this project includes standard medical care combined with complementary and alternative medicines. Acupuncture, yoga, meditation, and nutritional resources are included in the project. Research at the center will focus on patient outcomes and determine methods for disseminating medical care worldwide. The NCIRE receives support from recording artist John Mayer. Proceeds from his concerts have helped to fund the NCIRE. Mayer’s latest contributions will come from his collaboration with Tickets-for-Charity in his upcoming Battle Studies World Tour. This high-profile support helps to bring treatment and awareness for comprehensive recovery and recuperation methods to warfighters and veterans.

In related news, Rep. Maurice Hinchey of New York’s 22nd Congressional District continues his work to get the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act passed in the US House of Representatives. Hinchey’s bill, the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act, adds acupuncture therapy to the Medicare and Federal Employees Health Benefits programs. Hinchey notes that "Passage of this bill would provide 52 million Americans with health coverage for acupuncture services. This is the humane thing to do and I encourage my colleagues to pass this important piece of legislation…. The majority of private insurers cover acupuncture, yet the federal government's health plans continue to ignore this very valid and effective form of medical treatment. In a country as great as ours no American should ever be denied access to any legitimate forms of medical care that can make them healthier and more comfortable."

Hinchey’s support for acupuncture dates back to 1976 when he wrote legislation as a New York State Assemblyman that licensed acupuncture professionals. An early pioneer in acupuncture legislation, now almost every state licenses acupuncturists. As US Congressman, Hinchey now has over 51 supporters for the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act.

Another early adopter of acupuncture licensing is California’s gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown. In California, acupuncturists were commonly arrested and prosecuted for engaging in the practice of acupuncture. In 1972, the CA Board of Medical Examiners began regulating acupuncture for use in medical schools. In 1975, Governor Jerry Brown signed a law legalizing the practice of acupuncture by licensed acupuncturists.

Acupuncture Combats Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:47:21 +0000

The NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) reports that acupuncture demonstrates effectiveness in the treatment of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). PTSD is an anxiety disorder that may occur after violent assaults, military combat, disasters, or any incident in which severe physical harm is threatened. In a randomized controlled study, Dr. Michael Hollifield, MD, and his team at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky; concluded that acupuncture yields beneficial therapeutic results similar to that of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Acupuncture is gaining wide acceptance in areas where both physical and mental trauma are serious issues. Doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington now recommend acupuncture for the treatment of physical pain due to injuries. Acupuncture is now used in war zones. The Air Force runs the only acupuncture clinic in the US military located at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. They train doctors to bring acupuncture to war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. A pilot program is currently training 44 Air Force, Navy, and Army doctors to add acupuncture therapy to emergency care in combat zones and war-zone hospitals. This training focuses on reducing physical pain with acupuncture protocols. The Navy has recently instituted a new acupuncture training pilot program for doctors at Camp Pendleton in California.

The US military first took note of acupuncture in 1967 when an Army surgeon wrote an article in Military Medicine magazine on the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy. During the Vietnam War, the Army surgeon observed local physicians practicing acupuncture on Vietnamese patients at a US Army surgical hospital. Looking forward, Col. Richard Niemtzow, an Air Force physician, first offered acupuncture in 1995 at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Later, he founded the acupuncture clinic at Andrews in Maryland. Acupuncture has a long history of repairing injuries and many acupuncturists practice movements arts such as Qi Gong, Tai Qi, and martial arts. Over the centuries, acupuncture has co-evolved with the martial arts and has provided relief and recovery for many types of injuries.

Infertility Cured with Chinese Herbs

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:42 +0000

Dr. Ting Ting Zhang presented advanced methods for treating infertility at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) in San Francisco, California. New research shows that both common and rare Chinese herbal medicines vastly enhance both the process of conception and subsequent nutrition to the fetus thereby creating a healthy pregnancy. Dr. Zhang was granted a special visa from the Chinese government to bring this vital information to the United States for an acupuncturist continuing education conference at ACTCM. Dr. Zhang is the Gynecology Department Chair of Yue Yang Hospital at the Shanghai University of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and is renown for her experience in the field of infertility. Dr. Zhang unveiled new ultrasound and hormone testing research revealing that special Chinese herbal medicines promote ovulation and egg development, increase sperm motility and count, and prevent miscarriage. Further, western data confirms that Chinese herbal medicine greatly increases the conception rate of women undergoing artificial insemination.

Dr. Zhang opened up the conference with some basic statistics before presenting detailed cures for infertility. In a recent study of 500 women who were not treated with Chinese herbal medicines, regular sexual intercourse resulted in a 60-70% conception rate. At six months, women became pregnant at a rate of 75-80%. At one year, the rate increased to 80-90%. From age 30 to 34, one in seven women experience infertility. Between the ages of 35 and 40, one in five women are infertile and between the ages of 40 and 44, one in four women experience difficulties with infertility. In up to 55% of cases, infertility is caused by a female reproductive disharmony. In 25-40% of cases, infertility is caused solely by a male reproductive issue. Notably, in 20% of all cases, infertility is caused by both the male and female partners. Using Dr. Zhang’s and the famous Dr. Tai’s treatment regimes, Dr. Zhang demonstrated an incredibly high rate of clinical success in reversing infertility. Dr. Zhang noted that “infertility is a symptom, not a disease.”

Dr. Zhang presented Chinese medicine differential diagnostics in relation western medical findings. Basal body temperature (BBT) charts were revealed to express a process of emerging Yin Essence in the first 12 days of a menstrual cycle followed by a powerful Yang stage. A direct reading of the BBT chart translates into an exact Chinese medicine diagnosis. In addition, Dr. Zhang introduced methods for analyzing hormone tests. For example, high FSH is linked to Yin Deficiency and high LH is linked to Yang Deficiency. A multitude of ways to view BBT, ultrasound, sexual hormone tests, and other western related data were correlated into the Chinese medicine theoretical framework. Dr. Zhang closed the divide between western medical data and Chinese medicine differential diagnostics in her presentation. Acupuncturists can now read the western data, make a Chinese medicine diagnosis, and choose from the correct herbal medicines to promote conception and a healthy pregnancy.

Common conditions leading to infertility are Kidney Yin and Yang deficiency, Liver Qi Stagnation, and Blood Stasis. For women, the main concern is to harmonize the menstrual cycle. Dr. Zhang presented important herbal formulas to address many clinical scenarios and included special herbs to promote ovulation and nourish the fetus. Moreover, Dr. Zhang presented herbal remedies to prevent anti-sperm antibodies such as AsAb and other autoimmune system disorders from leading to infertility. Dr. Zhang also covered the topic of uterine fibroids, their exact relationship to infertility, and how to overcome any impediments they may present. This requires, at the very minimum, an ultrasound test of existing fibroids to determine their exact placement and size.

Dr. Zhang presented step-by-step methods to take an abnormal BBT charted cycle to one that follows a healthy pattern from follicular phase through ovulation to luteal phase and menstruation. The herbal medicines restore the normal ovulation window, optimize the fertility cycle, and enhance the process of a healthy pregnancy and fetus. Dr. Zhang detailed the exact herbs needed to promote egg maturation and those needed to facilitate uptake and transport of eggs into and through the fallopian tube. Further, she presented a detailed herbal medicine regime to optimize the window of opportunity for patients undergoing IVF and IUI. In cases where artificial insemination has previously failed, adding Chinese herbs balances the health of the patient such that artificial insemination becomes successful.

The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM), located in San Francisco, CA, has a long history of presenting valuable information in the field of Chinese medicine in acupuncture continuing education courses. Without exception, Dr. Zhang has lived up to this reputation and has raised the bar on the efficaciousness of Chinese Medicine in the treatment of infertility. Adam White, L.Ac., President of the Healthcare Medicine Institute, notes that “Dr. Ting Ting Zhang has managed to fully integrate the western model for the treatment of primary and secondary infertility into the Chinese medicine system. We now have a fully integrated understanding of western medical test data in terms of Chinese medicine theory and we have a new understanding of herbs that promote the various stages of conception. Dr. Zhang and her colleagues at Shanghai University of TCM have employed western testing methods to measure the effects of herbal medicines on processes such as ovum development and release, fallopian tube function, and fetal development. Thanks to Dr. Zhang, the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine in the treatment of infertility has advanced tremendously.”

California Acupuncture Board Moves On Drugs

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:09:56 +0000

The California Acupuncture Board, a division of the California State Department of Consumer Affairs, is considering changes to its examination and book reference list. Notably, Tina and John Chen’s books CHINESE MEDICAL HERBOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY and CHINESE HERBAL FORMULAS were cited as having received many support letters from the acupuncture community. This topic coincides with the Board’s discussion of pharmaceutical drugs and their interactions. The Chen books detail drug-herb interactions and include coverage of contraindications, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and toxicology. Robert Brewer, Chair of the California Acupuncture Board, agreed to continue discussions on booklists, recommended books, and the booklist review process including a discussion of the NCCAOM’s (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) booklist and review process.

The California Acupuncture Board Executive Officer, Janelle Wedge, introduced new herbs and herbal formulas to be added to the Acupuncture Board’s list as recommended by Subject Matter Experts (SME). According to the California Acupuncture Board minutes, John Chen “supported the review of the current Herb/Formula List so as to reflect contemporary Common Practices as well as setting up a more formalized Herb/Formula submittal process. He indicated that in the modern medical system it is crucial for Acupuncturists and Doctors to understand interactions between drugs and herbs.” Acupuncture Board member Adam Burke noted that any additional herbs or herbal formulas must be added to the California Acupuncture Board exam. Brewer added that a modernized and revamped drug/herb list will ensure that acupuncturists may, according to Board minutes, “prescribe herbs with confidence that it won’t interfere with patients’ pharmaceutical prescriptions.”

These developments suggest that the California Acupuncture Board is moving toward increased requirements for acupuncturists concerning prescription drug medications. This topic has not surfaced as readily as expected partially because the list of FDA allowable herbs is highly restricted such that most available herbs do not have harmful reactions with pharmaceuticals. Warfarin, brand named Coumadin as produced by pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb, has been an issue in the herbal medicine community. Notably, herbal toxicity and reactions have not been of primary issue but rather that herbal medicines may compete with Warfarin for absorption. Essentially, the questions is to what extent and which herbs may decreased or increase the efficacy of Warfarin. The Chen books cover this topic extensively and inclusion of its material in California State acupuncturist academic requirements and State Board exams would address the pharmaceutical interaction issue. It appears that the California Acupuncture Board is moving in this direction as of its last meeting.

Learn more at Acupuncture CEUs at http://www.healthcmi.com .

President Obama Supports Acupuncture

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:50:00 +0000

1-14-2010: Healthcare reform may include alternative medicine therapy language. In a recent town hall meeting in St. Louis, MO, President Obama noted that he supports acupuncture. A licensed acupuncturist noted that the National Institutes of Health and the Wold Health Organization have “discovered through their studies that alternative medicine is often more cost-effective and very effective”. The President replied, “it is pretty well documented through scientific studies that acupuncture, for example, can be very helpful in relieving certain things like migraines and other ailments — or at least as effective as more intrusive interventions”. He also discussed the challenges of integrating preventative medicine into policy making noting that the new Secretary of Health and Human Service, Kathleen Sebelius, former governor of Kansas, is charged with the task of implementing effective healthcare solutions.

In the St. Louis 4-29-09 meeting, Obama noted that policymakers are reticent to invest in preventative medicine because the political payoff is long-term and therefore does not help with immediate re-election concerns. The President further commented that “in the private sector insurance system, oftentimes insurers make the same calculation. Their attitude is, well, people change jobs enough for us to pay for the preventive medicine now when the problem may not crop up for another 20 years and they’ll be long out of our system, so we don’t want to reimburse it because it will make things more costly. That’s the logic of our health care system that we’re going to have to change”. Obama went on to state that the “recovery package put a huge amount in prevention”.

Acupuncture first received national attention in 1972 when President Nixon went to China and New York Times reporter James Reston successfully received acupuncture resulting in successful post-operative pain control. In 1997, the US National Institutes of Health published a report supporting the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture treatments for a wide range of healthcare issues. Under the Clinton administration, the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy was formed and The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) became part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Great Britain recently added acupuncture into its national healthcare system. Private insurers in the US including AETNA, United Healthcare, Blue Cross, and Blue Shield offer acupuncture insurance coverage options in their policies. However, it is unclear at this stage whether or not acupuncture and alternative medicine regulation will appear in federal law. Technically, the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) does not list acupuncture as a unique profession in the US Standard Occupational Classification codes. Rather, acupuncture is listed only as a modality. This technical glitch prevents acupuncture by licensed acupuncturists from inclusion into Medicare and Medicaid along with insurance coverage for federal employees. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) has collaborated with other national organizations to fix this omission.

Acupuncture is already practiced in several major hospitals including Cedars Sinai, UCSF, Maui Memorial, Clifton Springs, and Novato hospitals. The Harvard Medical School Osher Institute also supports the use of acupuncture and conducts ongoing studies. The advent of healthcare reform sheds light on the cost-effectiveness issue. Given the research and practical application supporting acupuncture as an effective means to control pain and treat illness, the federal government may open the door to alternative therapies in an attempt to reduce healthcare costs.

About the Author: Adam White, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. is an Acupuncture Continuing Education provider with the Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMI). To learn more about medical news and medical continuing education visit http://www.healthcmi.com .

Acupuncture Stops Heartburn

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:03:18 +0000

12-30-09, Capitola, CA: A recent study notes that “acupuncture proved to exert a great influence in minimizing the heartburn in pregnancy.” The study further concludes that “Acupuncture, as was demonstrated in this study, seems to be an effective means of reducing the symptoms and improving the quality of life.” The study also concludes that acupuncture care for heartburn “can reduce the need for medication.” Heartburn symptoms decreased significantly for 75% of pregnant women receiving acupuncture in this randomized, controlled study compared with 31% in the control group. Acupunct Med 2009;27:50-53

The professors running the research project suggest that reducing the need for medication is a distinct advantage to the use of acupuncture care for pregnant women. The study also notes that there were no important adverse effects of acupuncture care and further concludes that acupuncture improved the quality of life for the pregnant women.

The study maintained the use of predetermined acupuncture point selection to allow for control in the study. Normally, an acupuncturist customizes acupuncture point selection according to the patient’s signs and symptoms. Acupuncture points preselected in the study included P6 (located on the forearm) and SP4 (located on the foot). The combination of acupuncture points P6 and Sp4, termed Neiguan and Gongsun in Chinese respectively, has been employed for over 1,000 years for the treatment of heart, chest, and stomach disorders.

This point combination is selected from what is known in Chinese medicine as the Eight Confluent Points. These eight acupuncture points have been marked as especially effective in numerous texts, studies, and case histories throughout the history of Chinese medicine. Each of the acupuncture points individually have the function to address medical issues yet combined create special functions to address whole systems of internal medicine disorders. Other Confluent Points include SI3 paired with BL62. Combined, these points treat disorders of the neck, shoulder, back, and inner canthus of the eye. Points TB5 with GB41 address retroauricle (ear), cheek, and outer canthus of the eye disorders. The final pair of Confluent Points, LU7 and KI6, address throat, chest, and stomach disorders.

Many studies have focused on the application of an individual point on the health of the patient. In practice, however, acupuncturists combine points to enhance the efficacy of acupuncture treatments . Of significance is that this study followed both the general guidelines of individual acupuncture point selection for the treatment of heartburn and the Chinese medicine principles of point combination selection.

About the Author: Adam White, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. is an Acupuncture & Nursing Continuing Education provider with the Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMI). To learn more about medical news and medical continuing education visit http://www.healthcmi.com .

Acupuncture Eczema Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:55:10 +0000

December 11, 2009, Munich, Germany: Dr. Florian Pfab, professor at theTechnical University of Munich, notes that a recent study confirms the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of eczema. The German study showed that acupuncture reduced skin inflammation after the skin has been exposed to pollen or dust mites. The study included a sample size of 30 test patients.

California Acupuncture

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:45:53 +0000

4-29-09, Sacramento, CA: Due to budget cuts, the State of California will eliminate acupuncture as a benefit from the Medi-Cal system as of July 1, 2009. The California State Medical Association (CSMOA) now lobbies for restoration of acupuncture benefits in the Medi-Cal system. The Medi-Cal system was known for limiting acupuncture visits to 2 patient visits per month per patient and reimbursing at a rate of only $16.22 per visit for follow-up office visits. Initial examination office visits were limited to reimbursement rate of $27.03 per visit. The majority of acupuncturists in California were not able to use this program due to its unusually low reimbursement rates.

Acupuncture for Hot Flashes

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:56:42 +0000

9-22-08: Washington, D.C.: Acupuncture is as effective as venlafaxine, also known as Effexor, in treating hot flashes and night sweats. A team of researchers led by Dr. Eleanor Walker of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit announced this finding and noted that acupuncture’s benefits have a longer duration and are without harmful side effects. Effexor is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant. Half of the forty-seven breast cancer patients who took part in the study received acupuncture and half took Effexor. Each group received 12 weeks of treatment. For the acupuncture group, the women experienced reduced symptoms for 15 additional weeks. For the Effexor group, the women experienced reduced symptoms for 2 additional weeks. The report was presented at the Boston meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology. The researchers noted that the women receiving acupuncture reported no side effects from acupuncture and also more energy, a sense of wellness, and increased libido. The researchers noted that the Effexor group experienced side effects from the medication. The side effects included higher blood pressure, nausea, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, low energy and anxiety. Walker noted that the acupuncture is more cost effective for insurance companies and the patient because the acupuncture regime would need only be administrated three or four times per calendar year.

Acupuncture for Fertility, Menstrual Pain, and Headaches

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:26:05 +0000

A recent University of Virginia Health System study concludes that acupuncture is effective for treating infertility related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Acupuncture was also shown to restore regular periods for women with amenorrhea. In another recent study reported in the ‘American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology’, acupuncture was proven to relieve menstrual pain. The study concludes that “acupuncture should be considered as a viable option in the management of these patients.” In yet another study reported in the journal ‘Cephalalgia’, German researchers concluded that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of headaches. This conclusion parallels that of a study conducted recently by Italian researchers that was published in the March 2008 issue of the journal ‘Headache’ which concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for migraines.

NCCAOM Promotes National Acupuncture Recognition

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:06:14 +0000

August, 2008: The NCCAOM is working with the CCAOM, AAAOM, FAOMRA, ACAOM, and the NAF to have “acupuncturist” listed as a distinct profession by the US Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Currently, “acupuncture” is only listed as a treatment modality technique under the professions of nursing and chiropractic. Other than this listing for chiropractors and registered nurses, there is no other recognition for acupuncture in the bureau’s listings. This clerical oversight hampers the progress of acupuncture in the US. Inclusion of “acupuncturist” as a distinct profession will facilitate improvements with insurance reimbursements and possibly the institution of Medicare coverage. This will also help to create legal protections for the profession regarding the use of medicinal herbs. The NIH (National Institutes of Health) will also provide direct funding for grant research once the listing is created. As it stands today, the NIH cannot provide direct funding due to this oversight. The work of the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), CCAOM (Council of Colleges for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), AAAOM (American Association for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), FAOMRA (Federation of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Regulatory Agencies), ACAOM (Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), and the NAF (National Acupuncture Foundation) may also assist with the creation of a federal loan forgiveness program for licensed acupuncturists.

Delaware Licenses Acupuncture

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:45:12 +0000

June, 2008: Delaware now has an acupuncture licensing law regulating acupuncture standards. The existing 27 acupuncturists in the state will be grandfathered in as licensed practitioners. A local acupuncturist, the Maryland Acupuncture Society, and the Delaware Medical Society promoted the bill to bring acupuncture as a licensed profession to Delaware.

California Acupuncture Insurance Program

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:46:58 +0000

February 2008, Sacramento, CA: The California Acupuncture Bill, AB54, passed in the California State Assembly. According to the California State Assembly analysis of the bill, AB54 "requires every health plan contract and health insurance policy sold on a group basis that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses to provide coverage for expenses incurred as a result of treatment by acupuncturists." Democratic Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally of Los Angeles authored the bill and it passed 46 to 27. This California acupuncture program also has strong support from San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. AB54 must make its way through the Senate before the summer recess for this acupuncture insurance coverage bill to have a chance to become law.

Tiger Ban and Chinese Medicine Education

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:22:54 +0000

Santa Cruz, CA, Feb. 2008: China imposed a ban on the trade of tiger bones in 1993. There has been continuing pressure on the Chinese government to lift the ban. The tiger product ban has significantly contributed to the survival of the few remaining tiger populations in the wild. One source, reported in China’s Xinhua news agency, requests that the bones of deceased tigers in a Heilongjiang Siberian tiger refuge be allowed for sale to help fund expansion of the refuge. Conservationists note that easing the ban and allowing the legal sale of tiger products opens the door for the poaching of wild tigers.

China has about 30 tigers in the wild and has several breeding centers which house approximately 5,000 tigers. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES), a consortium of 171 member countries, has supported the ban and has resisted pressure to lift the ban. In 2007, CITIES cited strong language in favor of the tiger product ban. The World Wildlife Fund has also supported the tiger ban and a continuing education effort to better inform individuals and governments about this issue. Investors in tiger breeding farms are expected to make substantial profits should this ban be lifted. Since the inception of the ban, the market for tiger products has dramatically reduced.

Acupuncture Continuing Education :
Historically, Hu Gu (tiger bone) was used in Chinese Medicine to treat weakness and soreness of the lower back and knees. HealthCMI encourages the use of plant based replacements for Hu Gu including Mu Gua (Fructus Chaenomelis) and Wu Jia Pi (Cortex Acanthopanacis). Tigers are precious and are endangered, as such, HealthCMI strongly supports the Tiger trade ban to help protect and preserve the future of Tigers on our planet.

Acupuncture Education and Hypertension

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:20:38 +0000

Seoul, Korea: January 24, 2008 - A recent study from Seoul, Korea concludes that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of hypertension. A radomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial measured significant reductions in blood pressure for patients treated with acupuncture. More significantly, the study measured lasting results using acupuncture for the treatment of hypertesion (Neurological Science, v29, s1, 2-07, pp98-103(6)).

Nausea and IBS treated with Chinese Herbal Medicine

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:53:23 +0000

The 'Annals of Oncology' published a study concluding that Chinese herbal medicine is effective in reducing nausea for chemotherapy patients. The double-blind placebo controlled randomized study of Chinese herbal medicine notes that Chinese herbal medicine “does have a significant impact on control of nausea” ('Annals of Oncology' 2007 18(4):768-774). Interestingly, the report cites an earlier study that appears in the 'Journal of the American Medicine Association' (JAMA. 1998;280:1585-1589). In it, the study concludes that Chinese herbal medicine is effective for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Acupuncture as effective for migraines as drugs

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:05:59 +0000

An important study on acupuncture for the treatment of migraine headaches concludes that acupuncture is “of comparable efficiency to several proven drug therapies for the treatment and prevention of migraine.” The treatment of migraines, a disabling and often severely painful form of headache, was researched across 25 randomised controlled trials involving 3,004 patients. Acupuncture was concluded to be superior to a wait list, sham acupuncture, and comparable to drug therapy for the treatment and prevention of migraines in the study (Scott SW, Deare JC. Acupuncture for migraine: a systematic review. ‘Aust J Acupunct Chin Med’ 2006;1(1):3-14).

Acupuncture for Labor Pain

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:47:40 +0000

Labor pain has been treated with Chinese Medicine for over a thousand years and now receives attention by modern researchers. A recent study (Smith C, Collins CT, Crowther C. Acupuncture and acupressure for pain management in labour: a systematic review. 'Aust J Acupunct Chin Med' 2007;2(1):25-32) concludes that “ Acupuncture may be beneficial for the management of pain during labour.” The focus of the study was to examine the effects of acupuncture and acupressure on labor pain and its relationship to maternal and perinatal morbidity. Women receiving acupressure noted less anxiety and labor pain in clinical trials. Women also showed significant benefits from acupuncture for pain management during labor. The women studied were in either spontaneous or induced labor of the first or second stage. The 'Australian Journal of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine' published these findings in 2007.

Acupuncture in California, Florida, Texas, New York, Colorado, and Oregon

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 08:21:30 +0000

How many acupuncturists are in the US? California (CA) leads the December 2007 count with over 6,680 acupuncturist. Florida (FL) gets the silver medal with over 1,350 licensed acupuncturists. Texas (TX) has approximately 680 acupuncturists followed by New York (NY) with 678, Colorado (CO) with 675, and Oregon (OR) with 659 acupuncture practitioners. Massachusetts (MA) has 573 acupuncturists and Maryland (MD) rings in with 509. Illinois (IL) has 491 licensed acupuncturists and New Mexico (NM) pulls through with a respectable 416 acupuncturists. Overall, it is estimated that there are over 17,000 licensed acupuncturists in the US and approximately 4,000+ acupuncture students. CA and FL have their own acupuncture licensing boards and the NCCAOM offers certifications for all other states that have legislation supporting the licensure of acupuncture.

Pediatric Ear Infection Continuing Education Course

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 11:05:36 +0000

HealthCMI announces the course ‘Chinese Medicine Pediatrics and Ear Infections’ for January 2008. This course covers the clinical treatment of pediatric otitis media (middle ear infections / inflammation) including acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxa, and shoni-shin treatment modalities. It is approved for 7 NCCAOM national continuing education points, 7 Florida CE's, and 8 California acupuncture CEU's. As with all HealthCMI acupuncture courses, it is approved for continuing education credit in all states that license acupuncturists in the US and parts of Canada.

Ear infections account for approximately 30,000,000 pediatrician office visits per year in the USA and nearly 50% of all anitbiotic prescriptions for children. Otitis media occurs predominantly in children between the ages of 4 months and 5 years of age and the majority of children in the USA have had an ear infection before the age of 3. It is estimated that the allopathic medicine related costs for the treatment of childhood ear infections is approximately $2 billion dollars per year. This HealthCMI course comes at a very important time. The October 17th, 2007 issue of the ‘Journal of the American Medical Association’ reports that a new antibiotic resistance strain of streptococcus pneumoniae causing otitis media in children has recently been reported. The report notes that levofloxacin, which is not FDA approved for pediatric use, is currently the only known antibiotic to treat this strain of ear infections. The HealthCMI course ‘Chinese Medicine Pediatrics and Ear Infections’ will cover diagnostics, parent and child compliance issues, effective treatments, and a variety of other important topics concerning this substantial health risk to children.

Green Tea and EGCG Catechins

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:34:38 +0000

EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) is a catechin found in green tea. A recent study states that EGCG protects the skin from UV radiation damage and tumor formation. This study can be read in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2007, v. 18:5, p287-296, S. Katiyar, C. Elmet. The article is entitled “Green tea and skin cancer: photoimmunology, angiogenesis and DNA repair.” EGCG has received a lot of attention in the scientific world but is one of many catechins that has potential health benefits. Catechins are flavonoids found in many plants but are especially abundant in tea (Camellia Sinensis). Catechins are also found in chocolate, wine, fruits, and vegetables. Studies suggest that they may help reduce atherosclerotic plaques and carcinogenesis. Catechins in green tea have been shown to convert carcinogens into benign substances.

Kentucky legalizes acupuncture

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0000

In April of 2006, Kentucky enacted a law to regulate and therefore legalize a license process for acupuncturists. In Kentucky, a licensed acupuncturist uses the term "certified acupuncturist" (C. Ac.). Herbal medicine was not mentioned in the law and acupuncturists must pass the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) exam. That leaves the countdown at six. There are six states without laws regarding the practice of acupuncture: Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama. In some of these states, an M.D. or D.O. may practice acupuncture. Due to the lack of oversight, the physicians are not required to have a substantial formal education in acupuncture or Chinese Medicine. Of historical record, it was 1973 when Maryland, Nevada, and Oregon created the first laws providing for the legalization and training of acupuncturists. In California, acupuncturists were commonly arrested and prosecuted for engaging in the practice of acupuncture. In 1972, the CA Board of Medical Examiners began regulating acupuncture for use in medical schools. In 1975, Governor Jerry Brown signed a law legalizing the practice of acupuncture by licensed acupuncturists.

FDA Ruling on Dietary Supplements Update

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 08:54:18 +0000

The final ruling for 2007 by the FDA on GMP's (Good Manufacturing Practices) for dietary supplements has been issued. Look forward to updates as to how acupuncturists and acupuncture schools will be affected by this course of regulatory action. It is possible that acupuncture college pharmacies may be affected and that individual acupuncture practices may also be affected. Under the new ruling, the FDA now mandates that "manufacturers are required to evaluate the identity, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements."

New California Acupuncture Continuing Education (CEU) Requirements

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0000

The California Acupuncture Board has changed the continuing education requirements for licensed California acupuncturists. The 30 hours of acupuncture continuing education units required every two years has been increased to 50 hours of acupuncture continuing education units (CEU’s) every two years in order to maintain an acupuncture license. Twenty-five CEU’s of the total 50 CEU’s may be acupuncture distance learning credits. All acupuncture courses for continuing education credit at HealthCMI are California Acupuncture Board approved as well as NCCAOM, CTCMABC, and Florida approved. This makes all HealthCMI certificates for acupuncturists approved in every state that licenses acupuncture.

To view online courses CLICK HERE. To learn more about California acupuncture continuing education legal requirements click: California Acupuncture Continuing Education . For Florida click: Florida Acupuncture Continuing Education . For NCCAOM national click: NCCAOM Acupuncture Continuing Education .

PanAfrican Acupuncture Project update

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:24:14 +0000

The PanAfrican Acupuncture Project (PAAP) initiates acupuncture training for medical professionals in Africa. Since 2003, PAAP has trained many medical workers in Uganda including nurses, midwives, and nurse midwives. In April of 2007, PAAP returned to Africa to continue with this important and vital relief program. PAAP has plans to expand training programs to Malawi, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe.

Laser Acupuncture for California?

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 09:09:25 +0000

The February 2007 California Acupuncture Board meeting included a discussion of the use of low-level laser stimulation in acupuncture. A motion was seconded to consider the expansion of the acupuncture scope of practice for California licensed acupuncturists to include the laser therapy. It was noted that the FDA has not approved low-level lasers yet and that a further discussion of training, education, and safety standards is required. Learn more about the educational requirements associated with lasers and acupuncture in our online news updates for HealthCMI.

NCCAOM New Continuing Education Requirements

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Mon, 14 May 2007 00:00:00 +0000

The NCCAOM now requires acupuncturists seeking acupuncture license renewal to obtain four hours of continuing education credit in the area of ethics and safety. The NCCAOM allows courses in First Aid and CPR to fulfill this requirement.

Acupuncture for Knee Pain and Dysfunction Research

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0000

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases have proven that acupuncture is effective in reducing pain and functional impairment of the knee. The report was published in the 12-04 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. The report specifically states that acupuncture is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knees.

Laser Acupuncture for Infantile Digestion Problems

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 01:00:00 +0000

A recent study in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (24 : 280-281, 2004) entitled the Treatment of Infantile Diarrhea by Acupuncture and Laser Irradiation- A Report of 60 Cases by Ding Duming of the People's Hospital of Danyang Municipality reports that acupuncture combined with laser acupuncture is effective in the treatment of infantile diarrhea. The report notes that the laser therapy has the action of restoring "affected tissue to its normal function." Also, the report shows the effects of acupuncture and laser acupuncture in the repair of intestinal mucosa through the process of stimulating epithelial cells.

Celebrity Athletes Using Acupuncture Update

HealthCMi CEUs Online — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 01:00:00 +0000

The October 2007 issue of Sports Illustrated Magazine writes that Morten Anderson, field goal kicker for NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, receives two acupuncture treatments per week as part of his ongoing healthcare program. At age 47, he is the second oldest player ever in the National Football League and is the NFL’s all-time leading scorer. He has set the NFL record with the most games played at over 368 and has scored in excess of a record breaking 346 consecutive games. Other NFL greats to utilize acupuncture include Joe Montana and defensive lineman Michael Strahan. Turning to NBA basketball, Dwayne Wade uses acupuncture for knee and shoulder pain. Other basketball stars using acupuncture include Shaquille O’Neal, Jason Kidd, and Vladimir Radmonovic. In professional golf, Fred Couples is noteworthy for having utilized acupuncture to treat severe back pain.