Research: Acupuncture is as effective as counseling for patients with moderate or severe depression

Acupuncture is as effective as counseling for patients with moderate or severe depression, according to a new study from the University of York, England

Power of Reflexology

According to a study at the University of Portsmouth, Reflexology can raise pain thresholds as well as tolerance.  It can used on its own  or alongside medication for pain relief.

Reflexology is available at Elmes Acupuncture for €30 for 30 minutes and is covered by private medical insurance.  For more information check out http://www.elmesacupuncture.ie/acu.html

Latest Acupuncture Research: Acupuncture and a Gluten-Free Diet Relieve Urticaria and Eczema in a Case of Undiagnosed Dermatitis Herpetiformis

The purpose of this case report is to describe the use of acupuncture and a gluten-free diet (GFD) for urticaria and severe eczema in a patient with undiagnosed dermatitis herpetiformis and atypical or extraintestinal celiac disease. 

CLINICAL FEATURES: A 48-year-old woman presented with intense urticaria, eczema, worsening heartburn, chronic constipation, headaches, and an intense feeling of heat for 4 months. Results of punch biopsies of the skin lesions and laboratory tests were inconclusive. After the acupuncture sessions reported here ended, human leukocyte antigen blood typing revealed celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis-associated human leukocyte antigen DQ-8. Results of an endoscopy and colonoscopy were negative. 

INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient received 3 acupuncture treatments a week for 12 weeks. The patient’s symptoms began in March 2008. She began using topical and oral steroids and felt that her symptoms were not responding. Acupuncture began in July 2008. At the end of the first 12 treatments, during which she was using topical and oral steroids, the urticaria and constipation resolved completely; and she had temporary relief from the heartburn. It is thought that the urticaria and constipation resolved because of the acupuncture as that was the only change. At the end of the second 12 treatments, during which time she had started Optifast, a GFD, the heartburn, headache, and eczema resolved. At the end of the third 12 treatments, all her symptoms remained resolved. Steroid treatment was discontinued after the first 12 treatments.

 CONCLUSION:Acupuncture and diet changes appeared to provide relief from the urticaria and eczema of dermatitis herpetiformis beyond that obtained by traditional treatment of a GFD alone.

J Chiropr Med.2011 Dec;10(4):294-300.

Source: PubMed

Electro Acupuncture may be effective for depression: Study

Electro Acupuncture may be effective for Depression: Study

Acupuncture does work as it stimulates a natural pain killer, scientists find

Acupuncture works by stimulating a natural painkiller in the body that swells arteries and allows more blood to flow through, scientists have discovered.

The identification of the chemical adenosine as a central player could also make the ancient Chinese therapy even more effective at relieving pain.

Scientists were able to triple the beneficial effects of simply sticking needles in mice by adding a leukaemia medication that increased their amounts of the molecule.

Dr Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester, New York, said: “Acupuncture has been a mainstay of medical treatment in certain parts of the world for 4,000 years, but because it has not been understood completely, many people have remained sceptical.

“In this work, we provide information about one physical mechanism through which acupuncture reduces pain in the body.

“What we found is that adenosine, a natural pain killer, is released during acupuncture and that adenosine may be the primary way acupuncture reduces pain.

Acupuncture's effect 'isn't just psychological'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8168134/Acupunctures-effect-isnt-just-psychological.html#

Research finds Chinese Herbal Medicine more effective than modern medicine for female infertility

In an Australian Government-funded study, Ried and Stuart of Adelaide University reviewed 8 RCT’s and 22 smaller studies involving a total of 1851 women with poor fertility. Meta-analysis of studies involving over 1000 women found roughly double the likelihood of achieving pregnancy with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) than with western drug therapy. Over a 4 month period pregnancy rates were 60% for CHM verses 32% for drug treatment 9n=1005, odds ratio = 3.5, 95% confidence interval 2.3-5-2, p < 0.0001).

Other studies, involving over 600 women, compared CHM with IVF and revealed a mean pregnancy rate for CHM of 50% compared with 30% for IVF. The Adelaide study also provided evidence indicating that herbal treatment tailored to the specific traditional diagnosis of what was wrong with each individual’s reproductive health was a key factor in successful treatment.

The authors write: “Our meta-analyses suggest Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine to be more effective in the treatment of female infertility achieving on average a 60% pregnancy rate over 4 months compared with 30% achieved with standard western drug treatment, or IVF over 12 months.”

It will be interesting to see if these findings provoke the usual backlash from the powerful medi-business lobby who, according to past form, will wheel out an “expert” to rubbish the findings and suggest that CHM treatment is unproven and dangerous.

Source - jcm.co.uk