TCM Analysis and Treatment of Early Symptoms of COVID-19
TCM Analysis and Treatment of Early Symptoms of COVID-19 Liuzhong Ye, Peilin Sun and Tianjun Wang
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 5 (2020)
The novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease first broke out and was identified in Wuhan, China in late 2019. On 11 March 2020, based upon the fact that in a period of merely two weeks, the number of cases of Covid-19 outside China had increased 13-fold and the number of affected countries had tripled, WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic.1 However, sadly, no specific drugs are available to treat and prevent Covid-19 at this moment. There are some typical early symptoms, along with other less identifiable manifestations, red-flagging the presence of the illness. Early identification and management of these seemingly scattered early symptoms are extremely important in terms of controlling the spread and preventing further deterioration of Covid-19. Authors in this article attempt to explore the pathogenesis and mechanisms of these early symptoms and provide advice on relevant treatments from the viewpoint of TCM, illustrating that precise reading of all these early symptoms has significant importance in order to achieve successful TCM management in time.
Personal Reflections on the Jade Screen Project Andrew Flower
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 5 (2020)
The earliest record of the Jade Windscreen Powder (Yu Ping Feng San) was in the 13th-century text Researching Original Formulas (Jiu Yuan Fang). The formula comprises three herbs which aim to strengthen the qi and stabilise the exterior, and thereby help prevent invasion of exterior pathogenic factors such as Wind and Cold. It is a simple but elegant formula that is used for allergic rhinitis, asthma, to enhance a compromised immune system, and now in the treatment of Covid-19.
The Jade Screen Project (JSP) was conceived 800 years later, in March 2020 while watching the 10 o’clock news, in frustration at the wasteful marginalisation of TCM practitioners in this country when TCM herbal methods had already been proven of value in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in China. The author outlines the uphill task of gaining acceptance for the JSP, which offers free herbal treatment to NHS and other front-line workers, and hopes later to evaluate data acquired from this exciting project.
The Use of Du 16 feng fu in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
The Use of Du 16 feng fu in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: Significant, Immediate Improvements in Two Severe Cases Nicholas Lowe and Tianjun Wang
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 5 (2020)
Two cases are reported where the specific needling of the acupuncture point Du 16 feng fu appeared to provide immediate and lasting clinical improvements for two patients suffering from severe depression and anxiety where a range of other treatments, acupuncture and conventional, had failed. Conventionally, acupuncture treatment of psychological disorders has focussed predominantly on the peripheral channels and organ pattern syndrome differentiation. Our results indicate that treatment strategies which more directly target the du mai, brain and autonomic nervous system may be clinically more effective than conventional body acupuncture alone for the treatment of psychological disorders; and that Du 16 feng fu may be uniquely effective. This approach is supported by classical TCM theory, the neurocentric understanding of psychological disorders in modern medicine, as well as the increasing evidence for the central role that various neurological mechanisms play in acupuncture’s therapeutic effects.
This article is a critical examination of current understandings and applications of the concept of Liver qi stagnation or constraint, largely from a cross-cultural perspective. In particular, it looks at the way its meaning has been changed in the course of its transposition to the West. It claims Western practitioners of Chinese medicine have tended to more closely identify this concept with emotional suppression than clinicians in China, who have traditionally been more inclined to focus on the somatic manifestations of stagnation (often sidestepping the emotional realm and even colluding with patients to gloss over signs of socially unacceptable psychological disorders). It relates this to radical differences in the ways Westerners and Chinese view the emotions and the self, with the former influenced by Freudian-derived notions such as repression and stressing the therapeutic benefits of expressing and exploring feelings; and the latter much more inclined to see emotions as potential pathogenic factors, which need to be contained and ‘rectified’. It also claims that the concept of Liver qi stagnation has been Westernised in another sense, by being over-simplistically and too readily equated with Western-defined biomedical categories such as depression and anxiety as well as popular conceptions like stress, and that this tendency has been encouraged in China as well as the West by the TCM orthodoxy that has promoted it as the favoured diagnostic option for emotion-related disorders.
IBS: East and West. Illness as a Vicious Circle Kim Wells
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 4 (2019)
This article compares the approaches of Western and Chinese medicine to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), looking for parallels between them and ways they might inform, complement or confirm each other’s theories and practice. A major theme is that IBS can be considered as a vicious circle, particularly from a Chinese medicine perspective.
Impact of Opioid Epidemic on Mothers and Infants: Could Acupuncture be a Solution for NAS?
Impact of Opioid Epidemic on Mothers and Infants: Could Acupuncture be a Solution for the Dramatic Rise in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)? Natalie Saunders and Katherine Berry
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 4 (2019)
One aspect of the opioid crisis which is less frequently discussed is the impact on the next generation, in particular the increased incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The increased prescribing of prescription opioids over the past two decades has transformed this into a problem affecting all socioeconomic groups. Acupuncture has long been used in the setting of detox clinics, leading researchers to investigate whether this traditional therapy could also prove useful in the treatment of NAS. Early findings are extremely promising, as this article outlines.
Acupuncture not Herbs for Severe Eczema A Case Study Ross Campbell
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 4 (2019)
Modern acupuncture schools teach that skin diseases are better treated with herbal medicine. The Huangdi Neijing is more positive about the use of acupuncture, describing the treatment of serious and life threatening disease principally with acupuncture. There is an emphasis on channel architecture with elevated status given to the mai vessels and Blood flow, with instructions for restoring yin yang harmony. This case study describes how these principles can reverse advanced and chronic skin disease with acupuncture. It describes a process of symptom reduction, cessation of pharmaceutical drugs and recovery from disease that mirrors the restoration of the integrity of the channels. The details of the treatment also suggest that herbal medicine may not have been equipped to reverse the causes of the skin disease in this case, or at least that greater consideration given to the channel networks may lead to better outcomes.
Acupuncture in a Complex Case of Post-Concussion Syndrome and Trigeminal Neuralgia
Acupuncture in a Complex Case of Post-Concussion Syndrome and Trigeminal Neuralgia, with a Background of Pre-Existing Marfan Syndrome Features A Case Study Cornelia Davies
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 4 (2019)
This case study follows the traditional Chinese acupuncture treatment of a patient whose presenting symptoms include post-concussion syndrome and trigeminal neuralgia. She also has features of Marfan syndrome, which make the history and outcome more complex because of a slight overlap with some of the symptoms. For this reason, it is necessary to present the case as a whole; not simply referencing post-concussion syndrome. This discussion of the diagnosis and course of treatment illustrates a distinct improvement in several of the chronic symptoms of post-concussion syndrome and trigeminal neuralgia within a relatively short time. The text includes some of the patient’s own words regarding how she felt before and after treatment, to give a broader idea of how the acupuncture has impacted on her life and wellbeing.
‘The Duke, Good Medicine and Moxibustion’ – the Paradox of Aspiring to a ‘Long Defeat’
‘The Duke, Good Medicine and Moxibustion’ – the Paradox of Aspiring to a ‘Long Defeat’ Merlin Young
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 4 (2019)
This article explores the history of moxibustion in the development of acumoxa as practised today, and suggests it may have been, and still is, relatively undervalued for the treatment of some diseases. In particular, moxa could have an increasingly important role in the treatment of tuberculosis, an ancient disease that is still not just shamefully badly addressed but even largely unacknowledged because it is the world's poor who are its main victims. Recent North Korean studies have shown moxibustion to be as effective as drug treatment in reducing rates of activation of TB in latent cases, while remaining safer, cheaper and easier to deploy, and avoiding the development of further drug resistance. This shows us clearly the value of affordable and adaptable low-tech medicine, so badly and increasingly needed in the world, and suggests it is now our duty as acumoxa practitioners collectively to take a coherent and strategic look at this.
Two Treatments That Can Transform Lives - Husband/Wife and Possession
Two Treatments That Can Transform Lives - Husband/Wife and Possession
Peter Mole
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 3 (2019)
A proportion of our patients show at least some signs and symptoms of significant mental health problems. Data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows that more than 7.3 million people in the UK were prescribed antidepressants in 2017-18, 4.4 million of whom are long-term users who also received a prescription for such drugs in both of the two previous years, and these statistics show a steady rise year on year. While many practitioners feel reasonably confident at treating mild depression and anxiety, where more serious problems are encountered there exist two protocols within the Five Element Constitutional lineage, and relatively little known outside of it, that can be of great benefit to patients struggling with mental health issues. This article explores these, the Husband/Wife Imbalance and Possession protocols.
Using Acupuncture to Help Babies, Children and Teenagers to Sleep
Using Acupuncture to Help Babies, Children and Teenagers to Sleep Rebecca Avern
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 2 (2018)
Sleep, or rather a lack of it, can make both child and parents miserable. Parents despair of ever being able to sleep uninterrupted again and children are often grouchy and unhappy when not getting sufficient sleep. This article outlines the most common issues concerning sleep that arise in babies and children of different age groups, looking at the three groups babies and toddlers, pre-teens and teenagers. Included is a case history in each age group typical of the types of problems seen in clinic.
Heart and Gall Bladder qi deficiency pattern is one of the various causes of insomnia and often occurs in fearful, easily startled and timid patients. This pattern is important in emotional trauma, often brought on by trauma in the womb or in childhood. This paper examines the importance and complexity of this pattern and it examines the various aspects of fear in relation to the Heart and Gall Bladder channels and the various channel pairing patterns involved. It lists the diagnostic signs and physical and emotional symptoms, and gives treatment suggestions including acupuncture, ear needling, Chinese herbs and affirmations.
A Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis - A Chinese Medicine Approach
A Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis – a Chinese Medicine Approach with a Combination of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Kian Fui Yong, Bao Ling Hoo and Ling Shing Wong
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 2 (2018)
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is related to serious syndromes; persistent knee pain, swollen knee joints and stiffness, and can lead to disability. In Chinese medicine, acupuncture is considered to have a good analgesic effect on knee pain. In this study, the effect of warming needle treatment was observed on four subjects with serious KOA. The results showed significant reduction of knee pain, and this pilot study suggests that a larger study of warming needle method in the treatment of KOA is justified.
Can Acupuncture Improve the Quality of Life for People Suffering from Parkinsons Disease?
Can Acupuncture Improve the Quality of Life for People Suffering from Parkinson’s Disease? Helen Were
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 2 (2018)
Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects one in five hundred people, but while the impact of acupuncture on alleviating PD symptoms has been studied, its effectiveness is still in question. This study will review recent trials on the use of acupuncture as an adjunct to Western medicine to determine if sufficient recent evidence now exists to make a more definitive statement about the effectiveness of acupuncture for PD patients. While the methodologies and sample sizes of some trials could be improved, this study shows that evidence is building to support the use of acupuncture to alleviate PD symptoms.
Critical Review and Case Reports on the Effect of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Ca
Critical Review and Case Reports on the Effect of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Cancer Care Dan Jiang, Fanyi Meng and Lily Li
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 2 (2018)
Although traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in China and other East Asian countries for helping cancer patients and clinical research is strongly supporting the use of it, it is not available to most patients who are treated on the NHS in the UK, due to the fact that there is not enough evidence for using TCM in cancer patients. The authors reviewed the currently available clinical reports regarding TCM treatment of cancer patients, and propose a role for TCM as an assistant therapy to the mainstream therapies. Four clinical practice cases in the UK, diagnosed as cancer by the mainstream, are also included.
This article examines the connection between Traditional Chinese Medicine’s concept of external Wind and Western Medicine’s concept of inflammatory immune response, looking for parallels or correspondence between them. It makes the claim that there is a fair degree of correspondence between these two concepts in several respects though not in others. It also addresses the broader contexts in which these concepts are rooted by examining the Chinese concepts of the wei qi defensive system and Wind in general; and also Western Medicine’s view of the immune system and the functions and scope of the inflammatory response.
TCM Treatment for Essential Hypertension: Clinical and RCT Investigations into Electroacupuncture
TCM Treatment for Essential Hypertension: Clinical and RCT Investigations into Electroacupuncture Fritz Hudnut
EJOM Vol. 9 No. 1 (2018)
Hypertension is a large problem in American society, as it is worldwide. The author initiated an in vivo exploration of electroacupuncture (EA) protocols to treat high blood pressure and found good clinical response from a range of point protocols using 2 Hz frequency. Along with discussion of the author’s use of EA, Dr Peng Li’s Long-Lasting Reduction of Blood Pressure by Electroacupuncture in Patients with Hypertension: Randomized Controlled Trial, from 2015, will be reviewed. In addition the UC Irvine team of Longhurst/Li/Zhou have done a series of RCT investigations of EA for hypertension using the same choice of EA frequency, which they found to be ‘significantly beneficial’ across a number of studies, recommending that ‘further studies are warranted’. Irrespective of the positive findings, EA remains open to question from both within and without the acupuncture community here in the United States, as many classicists of various persuasions continue to consider it as a ‘new technology’ even in the 21st century, i.e. an untested modality. However, there is now RCT evidence to show solid cardiovascular benefits to the use of EA for the treatment of essential hypertension (EH).
Traumatic Stress: Management of Physical and Psychological Trauma with Acupuncture
Traumatic Stress: Management of Physical and Psychological Trauma with Acupuncture Hamid Montakab
EJOM Vol. 8 No. 6 (2017)
Traumatic stress or shock reaction is a psychological condition arising in response to a terrifying or traumatic event which induces an acute and strong emotional response, which may develop into a condition known as ‘PTSD’ (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). The acute traumatic stress is defined by a ‘dissociative’ condition, with reduced perception and awareness, even coma. Later there will be a total or partial amnesia concerning the traumatic event. This article shows how this condition can be understood through an analysis of the Chinese medicine model of the psyche, and the way in which the functions of the Sinew Channels, the luo-Connecting Vessels and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians are modified by trauma, and how they can be used in treatment. Case histories clarify and illustrate this approach.
Applying the Principle of Harmonising Heart and Kidney in the Treatment of Menopause Syndrome
Applying the Principle of Harmonising Heart and Kidney in the Treatment of Menopause Syndrome Hong Yan
EJOM Vol. 8 No. 5 (2017)
Objective: to observe and evaluate acupuncture results for menopause syndrome. Method: Harmonising Heart and Kidney. Result: total effect 93.33%. Conclusion: to treat both brain and ovaries is an effective methodology for menopause syndrome.
Scalp Acupuncture for the Treatment of Marfan Syndrome: A Case Study
Scalp Acupuncture for the Treatment of Marfan Syndrome: A Case Study Joanne Johnson
EJOM Vol. 8 No. 5 (2017)
This case reports the treatment of Marfan syndrome (MFS) using scalp acupuncture. There are challenges in diagnosing genetic conditions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Furthermore, in this case it is difficult to know whether it was the Marfan syndrome or multiple sclerosis that reacted positively to the acupuncture intervention. The patient was diagnosed with both in 2015. Some symptoms of Marfan syndrome and multiple sclerosis appeared to be overlapping (ie muscle stiffness and spasm), symptoms of which may present in both diseases.
The Role of the 24-Hour Cycle of Qi in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Insomnia
The Role of the 24-Hour Cycle of Qi in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Insomnia Peter Mole
EJOM Vol. 8 No. 4 (2016)
Chronic insomnia is extremely common. Many of our patients suffer from it and report it as their main complaint or as a secondary complaint. The 24-Hour Cycle of Qi is no longer to be found in contemporary Chinese medical literature but it can provide useful information to help with the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia. The main TCM books also make no distinction between patterns that commonly cause insomnia and those that are extremely rare.
How is Rising Obesity Tackled in China and Europe?
How is Rising Obesity Tackled in China and Europe? Jane Wills and Tingting Liu EJOM Vol. 8 No. 3 (2016)
Overweight and obesity are a growing problem in China but their causes may be differently viewed as a consequence of globalisation and the development of an obesogenic environment or as a consequence of an individual’s wellbeing. This paper explores these different explanations and the ways that the problem is addressed in Sino and European policy and TCM practice. Obesity can be linked to an unhealthy diet and eating practices and a lack of activity, and behavioural changes as well as TCM treatments that address the gastrointestinal digestive function may be effective in altering this. Obesity is, however, also a complex and global issue that needs to be recognised as a social problem.
Understanding Cocaine Addiction According to Chinese Medicine Theory
Attilio D'Alberto EJOM Vol. 8 No. 1 (2015)
Introduction: Cocaine is the most commonly used illicit stimulant drug in Europe. Auricular acupuncture has been used as a form of treatment for drug addiction since the early 1970s.
Discussion: Cocaine addiction affects all the solid (zang, yin) organs: Lung, Liver, Heart, Spleen and Kidney, causing a complete zang fu disharmony. Within cocaine addiction theory, these five patterns can be grouped into two cycles: the first cycle involves the Lung, Heart and Spleen. The second cycle involves the Lung, Kidney and Liver.
Spirit aspect: Cocaine addiction is rooted in artificially inflating the po for it to dominate over the Heart. This creates a false generation in the Lung, which temporary increases the mother- son relationship between the Lung and Kidney. An addict is reminded of the empty high by the zhi and relayed across the mind by the yi.
Treatment strategies: The NADA protocol is a 'cookbook' strategy and acupuncture points located on the body should be used as well. Conclusions: The use of Chinese medicine therapy can decrease the number of patients being admitted to hospital with drug related illnesses, benefit society in reduced crime rates and benefit the addicts themselves.
Treating Female Infertility by Strengthening the Natural Menstrual Cycle with Acupuncture and Herbs
Dan Jiang EJOM Vol. 7 No. 6 (2014) Disorders of the reproductive and endocrinal systems are common causes of female infertility. The problems can be the result of organic or dysfunctional causes. The author analyses the pathogenesis of infertility, a common incident in the West, and the mechanisms of acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments. The article reports how TCM therapies, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, are used together to treat infertility. Acupuncture can support, stimulate and strengthen self-regulating and self-healing functions and promote ovulation. Chinese herbal medicine likewise can be prescribed according to the needs of the individual case, following the stages of the menstrual cycle. If used together both TCM therapies will lead to a better clinical outcome compared to using them individually. The article finishes with some successful case histories where TCM treatment supported both natural pregnancies and pregnancies assisted by IVF.
The Difference between the Pharynx and the Larynx in Chinese Medicine
Yubin Lu, Qin Chu and Li Lu
EJOM Vol. 7 No. 6 (2014)
The pharynx and the larynx are two important structures of the human body with totally different natures and significances to human life. Due to the translators' lack of knowledge about Chinese medical theories, many important symptoms involving these two structures are simply translated as a pathology of the 'throat'. For example, when there is an invasion of Wind Heat, 'sore throat' is a common symptom. Yin deficiency also presents 'dry throat' as a result of loss of nourishment. These kinds of terms ignore the differences between 'pharynx' and 'larynx' and thus do not correctly express or carry the information behind these terms in Chinese medicine.
A Feasibility Study of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Jonathan Pledger EJOM Vol. 7 No. 5 (2014)
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) impacts on every aspect of a child’s life and the number diagnosed with this lifelong condition is growing. Few studies have researched acupuncture and ASD. This study uses an integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Five Element style of acupuncture and differential diagnosis with individualised treatments.
Exploring Acupuncture for the Treatment of Depression within UK Primary Care
Julia Bletcher EJOM Vol. 7 No. 5 (2014)
Depression is a debilitating condition and patients suffering with depression are prevalent in UK primary care. However, suitability for current treatments leaves up to 30% of patients lacking appropriate care. If proven effective, acupuncture may be a suitable intervention to expand current NHS treatment options. Recent critical literature reviews of studies prior to 2010 highlight a need for more robust studies. The aim of this research is to explore the latest evidence of acupuncture efficacy for depression. An electronic database search was conducted of randomised control trials since 2010 exploring the efficacy of acupuncture. The results showed 19 of 22 studies supported acupuncture for depression. However, a number of methodological limitations were identified and there was limited data concerning long-term benefits. Although outcomes suggest acupuncture could be considered as a treatment for depression in UK primary care, more robust research is still needed. In addition, the majority of existing research does not reflect current clinical practice. Therefore, further investigation using a more pragmatic approach is recommended.
The Purpose of Self-Injury and Clinical Implications for Acupuncturists
Sarah Attwell-Griffiths and Mark Bovey EJOM Vol. 7 No. 5 (2014)
Self-injury is prolific, often chronic and linked to suicide risk. Conventional medical research into self-injury is extensive, but CAM research is limited to a single study (Bell et al, 2011) that demonstrates that self-acupuncture reduces self-injury. This paper uses literature research to derive a TCM interpretation of how self-injury works, and then explores clinical implications.
Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Management of Non-Cancer-Related Lower Limb Lymphoedema
Beverley de Valois EJOM Vol. 7 No. 4 (2013)
This paper presents case studies of three patients with non-cancer-related lymphoedema of the lower extremities, who participated in a project to assess the potential for using acupuncture and moxibustion as an adjunct to usual lymphoedema care. They illustrate how people with lymphoedema and complex co-morbidities (including morbid obesity) can benefit from treatment, and how reducing the symptom burden increases their ability to self-manage their chronic, incurable condition. They also demonstrate that acupuncture treatment can be effective even when large areas of the body are contraindicated to needling. Also shown are some of the practical challenges of dealing with morbidly obese patients. These case studies may influence existing perceptions of clinicians, patients, and acupuncturists about acupuncture’s potential role in the management of lymphoedema, and they suggest that research into this area is warranted.
Using a Daily Home-Support Moxibustion Protocol on St 36 Zu San Li During Chemotherapy: A Case Study
Cornelia Davies EJOM Vol. 7 No. 4 (2013)
A daily home-use moxibustion (moxa) protocol for nourishing the immune system during chemotherapy, first described by Dr Friedrich Staebler (Staebler, 2006), allows a patient to participate positively in his or her immune support during the entire period. The protocol requires the patient to have a helper to apply moxa daily on back shu points. This paper discusses a variation on the existing protocol, which allows a patient without available help to be self-supporting on this.
For two years the authors worked in a specialised centre at Pistoia in Tuscany, under the scientific direction of Dr Giampaolo La Malfa, psychiatrist and neurologist, head of the Psychiatry Unit in the Careggi University Hospital (Florence), professor at the School of Specialization in Psychiatry, Florence University, founding member and president of the Società Italiana per lo Studio del Ritardo Mentale (SIRM), and board member of the European Association of Mental Health in Mental Retardation. This collaboration is ongoing. A number of indications can be drawn from this experience. Practical results: prompt diagnosis, regular therapy (at least once a week), parental involvement. Implications for research: verification of the therapy’s incidence on general metabolic equilibrium and on the metabolism of minerals; testing of hormonal release in states of anxiety from stress not dominated by the adaptive phase.
The Effect of Acupuncture in a Patient with Bell’s Palsy: A Case Report
Yasemin Cayir, Turan Set and Zekeriya Akturk EJOM Vol. 7 No. 4 (2013)
Bell’s palsy is an acute facial paralysis due to inflammation of the facial nerve. Corticosteroids, antiviral agents, and physical therapy can be used to treat Bell’s palsy. However these treatments cannot be said to provide a cure. Acupuncture may be an alternative option for Bell’s palsy and, as evidence of its effectiveness, we present a case report on a patient with Bell’s palsy who was treated with acupuncture.
Response of Common Paediatric Diseases to Child Tui Na Massage: Three Case Studies
Dr Hongchun Yin EJOM Vol. 7 No. 3 (2013)
Tui na massage, one of the main forms of therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in the treatment of paediatric diseases. In this article, the author presents three cases of common paediatric diseases: eczema, insomnia and facial paralysis which responded well to tui na massage. In case 2 the insomnia was treated using a unique tui na technique passed down from Mr Zhang Xizhen, i.e. massaging with egg white on the three yang channels. As tui na massage is safe and promising, it is worthy of further study.
Clinical Experience in the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Shen Pi'an EJOM Vol. 7 No. 2 (2012)
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem inflammatory autoimmune disease with a complex and highly variable range of symptoms that can affect any part of the body. Based on Professor Shen’s 50 years’ clinical experience in treating SLE patients with Chinese medicine, this article summarises the main aspects of TCM aetiology and pathology as well as offering a practical insight into the main treatment principles he employs on a regular basis. Read the whole article
Treating Multiple Sclerosis by Mediating the Internal Environment of the Body
Wanzhu Hou EJOM Vol. 7 No. 2 (2012)
The author discusses the Chinese medical understanding of the causes and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and presents a case which illustrates how treatment with Chinese medicine mediates the body's internal environment and benefits the recovery of damaged tissues during the treatment.
The author presents a typical case of ulcerative colitis from his practice to outline some of the fundamental principles required for treatment of both the acute and chronic phases of the disease.
Insomnia:- Blood Vacuity and the Extraordinary Vessels: A Case Study
Hamid Montakab EJOM Vol. 7 No. 1 (2012)
In this article, the author presents a case study of a 45-year-old woman who has suffered with insomnia for four years. He first presents an analysis of this case from the perspectives of TCM pattern differentiation, Blood and shen, and wei qi, and then provides a fascinating analysis based on the Extraordinary Vessels, in particular the yin wei mai and yin qiao mai which, he suggests, act as inner synchronizers, controlling the length and depth of sleep time. The successful treatment of this patient with acupuncture is then detailed with explanatory comments.
Pruritic Urticarial Papules & Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPP): A Treatment of Untreated Imbalance
Naava Carman EJOM Vol. 7 No. 1 (2012)
Pruritic urticarial papules & plaques of pregnancy (PUPP) presents with intensely itchy, hive-like papules, which typically begin on the abdomen, and spread to thighs, buttocks and occasionally to the arms. The diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine is a combination of Damp Heat and Blood xu leading to Dryness and therefore Wind. In this case, this condition can be seen as a direct consequence of an underlying imbalance for which the original treatment had not been completed.
This paper is written in two parts. Rachel Peckham and Jacqueline Mangold both worked as clinicians/clinical supervisors at the Core Trust over a collective period of fourteen years. The Core Trust is a community based rehabilitation programme for people with substance misuse problems. The model used is innovative, interesting and successful; offering acupuncture and counselling / psychotherapy as the main treatments. The paper is written in two parts, reflecting both author’s experience and observations as clinicians at the Core Trust. Rachel ran a study on the role and the impact of the NADA auricular acupuncture group treatment given daily at the project. Twelve participants, at different stages of the programme were interviewed once as a means of data source, and a qualitative analysis was carried out using grounded theory. Jacqueline collected data via MYMOP2 questionnaires from clients that were receiving one-to-one body acupuncture at the onset and end of their treatment.Results from both studies raise interesting questions about the nature of addiction and the positive role acupuncture can play in the recovery of the addicted person.
"Cancer is a Word, not a Sentence" - A Case History
Rebecca Avern EJOM Vol. 6 No. 6 (2011)
There have been times in my practice when a patient with cancer has walked through my door and I have had a heart sink moment. Can I realistically make a difference to them? Are they secretly hoping that acupuncture will ‘cure’ their cancer? Are their expectations of what I can do for them too high? Will I feel inadequate if their cancer progresses? Should I be referring them to a herbalist too? My experience of treating J has provided a strong antidote to these feelings. It has taught me that, without doubt, I can as an acupuncturist make a positive difference to the health and wellbeing of someone with cancer, and that the experience can be an uplifting one.
Interactions between Chinese Medicines and Anticancer Drugs: An Overview
Simon Becker EJOM Vol. 6 No. 6 (2011)
Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is gaining popularity in chemo- and radiotherapy support treatments. However, the potential risk of interactions seems high. Does clinical experience provide any evidence about the risks involved? Does it make sense to prescribe CHM to patients on chemo- and radiotherapy? Or are patients put at risk? In this article, these two factors – interaction potentials and clinical experience – are evaluated via a review of the current literature on these topics. The author points out that, in investigating interactions, a pharmacological approach focused on single medicinals and their compounds and relying primarily on in vitro and animal studies as well as on theoretical assumptions, does not accurately reflect standard CHM practice and is therefore of limited use in providing clinical guidance. Bothe the pharmacological and the clinical approaches must, he argues, be combined to come up with a valid conclusion. While acknowledging that currently available evidence is far from sufficient for final conclusions, the author's review finds that although there is a potential for interaction between chemotherapy and Chinese medicinals, the cautious and traditional use of CHM for chemo-and radiotherapy patients seems supported by the current literature. Preliminary clinical studies suggest that Chinese herbal medicine benefits chemo- and radiotherapy patients. Besides improving quality of life, the concurrent intake of CHM seems to reduce side-effects due to the toxicity of chemo- or radiotherapy.
Using acupuncture in lymphoedema management is controversial, as it is feared that it may introduce infection or exacerbate lymphoedema. This paper presents case studies of four cancer survivors who participated in an exploratory study investigating the use of acupuncture and moxibustion as an adjunct to usual care for lymphoedema to promote wellbeing and improve quality of life. They illustrate how individualised treatment plans meet the diverse and changing needs of patients with a complex, chronic side effect of cancer treatment for which there is currently no cure. They also demonstrate that acupuncture treatment can be effective even when large areas of the body are contraindicated to needling. The stories of these four participants may help influence existing perceptions on the parts of clinicians, patients, and acupuncturists about acupuncture’s potential role in the management of lymphoedema.
This article reports on a small pre-clinical pilot study to explore the acceptability and effects of acupuncture in the treatment of schizophrenia. It outlines the research question and methods used and presents preliminary results of the qualitative and quantitative data gathered. Eleven participants who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia were recruited to the study. They had not had complete remission of symptoms despite treatment, and/or they suffered from the side-effects of antipsychotic medication. In addition to standard care, participants received individual assessment and treatment with acupuncture using a traditional Chinese medicine approach. Treatments were given twice a week for 10 weeks. The preliminary results from this study are very positive, indicating that acupuncture treatment yielded a wide range of benefits in terms of improved quality of life, as well as reductions in the symptoms of schizophrenia and the side effects of anti-psychotic medication. Of particular note are motivational and physical health improvements, especially relating to sleep, energy levels and social engagement. Read the whole article
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Management of Psychosis - An Evaluation
Dr Helen Rogers (edited and abridged by Dominic Harbinson) EJOM Vol. 6 No. 5 (2010-11)
This article is an edited and abridged version of a report, based on a study conducted in Walsall in 2008-2009, evaluating the effectiveness of acupuncture for people with psychosis. The study’s methodology utilised validated quantitative research tools and semi-structured interviews conducted with participants and their carers, relatives or partners. Strong evidence emerges from both the quantitative and qualitative data that there were significant improvements in service users’ mental health and general wellbeing following a course of acupuncture. These included: significantly improved sleep patterns; reduced anxiety and stress levels; better physical health; better eating habits; and increased self confidence and self esteem. Read the whole article
Depression - A Multifaced Problem
Tony Reid EJOM Vol. 6 No. 5 (2010-11)
With the dramatic increase in the number of prescriptions for the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressant drugs over the last two decades, it seems as if we are in the midst of a ‘depression epidemic’. Without denying the reality of the extreme suffering experienced by patients with a depressive disorder, the author argues that in many instances the diagnosis of depression is not a valid one. Pointing to the weaknesses in both the contemporary psychiatric paradigm and in contemporary TCM perspectives, he argues for a complete overhaul of the way in which depression is diagnosed and treated as well as the ways in which clinical outcomes are assessed. He calls for a restriction in the use of SSRIs because of their dubious risk-to-benefit ratio and for TCM treatment he proposes four major syndrome-patterns for patients with depressed mood, based on the core pathodynamics of this condition.
The Seven Types of Stress - Transforming Evils into Virtue: How to Treat Internal Factors of Disease
Yair Maimon EJOM Vol. 6 No. 5 (2010-11)
According to Western medicine stress is a response to danger. This response creates numerous changes in the body as a result of the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) system. There is a release of hormones such as gluco-corticoids, primarily cortisol, and of neurotransmitters, such as catecholamines (dopamine, nor-epinephrine and epinephrine). These changes manifest themselves in the form of different symptoms. These symptoms will be discussed in relation to their pathology and analyzed according to the emotional response to stressors, as understood in Chinese medicine.
Managing Psychosis with Acupuncture: A Clinical Perspective
Neil Quinton EJOM Vol. 6 No. 5 (2010-11)
In this article, the acupuncturist who delivered the service evaluated by Dr Helen Rogers, (see “The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Management of Psychosis – An Evaluation” in EJOM Vol 6 No 5) sketches the background to the Walsall project and the approach and diagnostic framework he adopted. Patterns and pathomechanisms which are commonly seen in presentations of schizophrenia and bipolar illness are outlined, with particular emphasis on the significance of liver depression qi stagnation and spleen qi vacuity which, the author suggests, are often at the root of the condition and which can be treated effectively with acupuncture. The issues of treatment duration and frequency are also discussed as are point combinations. The author argues that there should be no reason why traditional acupuncturists cannot function as an integrated part of an already existing mental health team, significantly contributing to the management of psychotic illness by reducing anxiety and improving sleep, as well as proving a successful way of engaging both difficult to engage and younger patients, making it of particular use to Assertive Outreach and Early intervention teams.
Acupuncture/Moxibustion RCT for Distal Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy in HIV/AIDS
Joyce K. Anastasi, Bernadette Capili, Ann M. Chung, Richard Hammerschlag EJOM Vol. 6 No. 4
Distal sensory peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological complication experienced by people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may offer effective interventions in the management of its symptoms. To improve the quality and transparency of reporting acupuncture clinical trials, the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines were developed in 1996 and the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) recommendations were introduced in 2001. Incorporating international guidelines, this paper describes the development of a RCT including rationale, design, methods, procedures and logistics for a pilot study aimed at evaluating acupuncture and moxibustion for neuropathy associated with HIV. Using STRICTA guidelines as a template, aspects of clinical research design are explored to further optimise future studies of TCM.
Towards an Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medical System – Ménière’s Disease
Tony Reid EJOM Vol. 6 No. 4
The potential benefits of an integrated Western and traditional Chinese medical system, while enormous, are likely to be hampered unless a critical evidence-based approach is taken to the evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of both systems. The best available evidence in many instances is quite poor – on both sides. The evidence of traditional usage (particularly in TCM) is an undervalued resource that, for better or worse, will remain our best guide for many years to come. This paper discusses several key issues centred on how to make best use of this resource and develop a more sharply focused clinical arm of TCM.
Influenza A (H1N1) (‘Swine Flu’) and the Four Levels
Giovanni Maciocia EJOM Vol. 6 No. 3 (2009)
The ‘Four Levels’ term refers to the four levels of depth in the development of fevers from acute infectious diseases. It is a brilliant theory of Chinese medicine that was developed during the early Qing dynasty by Ye Tian Shi in his book ‘A Study of Warm Diseases’ (Wen Bing Xue, 1746). In my opinion, the theory of the Four Levels provides the key to an understanding of acute, febrile, infectious diseases. This article will highlight the application of the theory of the Four Levels to the diagnosis and treatment of H1N1 influenza (‘swine flu’). Read the whole article
Swine Flu in The UK - Using Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine to Treat it & Prevent Complications
Friedrich Staebler EJOM Vol. 6 No. 3 (2009)
This article begins with a summary of government guidelines on swine flu for the benefit of acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners. It then gives an overview of the TCM diagnosis, treatment and prevention of swine flu, with particular reference to possible acupuncture treatments, the leading herbal formulas given in the Chinese literature and the appropriate use of patent medicines according to the depth and stage of the pathogen. It concludes with thoughts on the prevention of complications of swine flu for patients at risk and a few practical considerations from the practitioner's perspective.
This short article looks at the anti-viral drug Tamiflu which, along with Relenza, is being used as front-line medication in the treatment of swine flu. The article outlines Tamiflu's actions and history, its connection with Chinese herbal medicine, and the controversies surrounding government policies - at both national and international level - that promote its deployment.
A Case Study: Treating Asthma Successfully Using Five Element Principles
Zara Melyan EJOM Vol. 6 No. 2 (2009)
This article describes the author's treatment of a 50-year-old male patient who had suffered from a severe form of asthma for 12 years. She suggests that in normal medical practice, case studies are based on a correct diagnosis which is then followed by a successful treatment. In this case, her initial diagnosis was not entirely spot on, and it took her a few treatments to come to the right conclusion. However, the case is, she argues, still of interest, not only because of its successful outcome, but also because it clearly illustrates how Five Element treatment works.
Treating Infertility in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Song Xuan Ke EJOM Vol. 6 No. 1 (2008)
This article presents the aetiology and pathology of infertility from a TCM point of view, and outlines how it can be treated with Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. The final section focuses on the use of TCM to support biomedical assisted reproduction techniques and gives the author's recommended strategies for treatment before, during and after IVF.
Hardly a week goes by these days without an article appearing in the press about acupuncture and IVF. Practitioners certainly report an increase in the number of patients seeking thier help to conceive. Here the author demonstrates the ethical dilemmas and emotional rollercoaster that accompanied one particularly difficult dase - for both patient and practitioner - and asks when, if ever, should one admit defeat and stop treatment? Read the whole article
A Time to be Born
Paul Hougham EJOM Vol. 6 No. 1 (2008)
This case study is an exploration of some of the emotional issues surrounding fertility and conception as well as the wider questions of conception and destiny. The study outlines a patient's presentation for treatment and how the issue of conception arose as part of the ongoing narrative of her health and her wellbeing. The telling of the case progresses according to the tradition of Five Element Acupuncture, and an understanding of the elements as a textured presentation of qi, strongly influenced by qi gong teachings. The discussion acknowledges some of our contemporary professional approaches to fertility and explores how we as practitioners might cultivate, perhaps even facilitate, the impossible dialogue of destiny surrounding childbirth. Read the whole article
Management of Breech Presentation with the use of Moxibustion: A Preliminary Study
Christine Grabowska and and Anne Manyande EJOM Vol. 6 No. 1 (2008)
Expectant mothers with a third trimester breech presentation were offered moxibustion treatment to turn the foetus into a cephalic presentation. In the 76 women who were enrolled in the study, the acupoint BI 67 was stimulated for seven days morning and evening by rolls of moxa (Artemisia vulgaris). The women were instructed in how to use the moxibustion at home and to involve their partners if they could not reach their little toes. In this preliminary study, it was shown that moxibustion treatment can bring about spontaneous version from a breech presentation for a cephalic presentation; this occurred in 45% of the women treated. The results indicate that moxibustion was more successful when administered in the afternoon than in the morning (x2 = 27.86, DF = 14, p < .01) 6 (20.5%) vs 23 (79.5%) respectively. This is in line with the Chinese clock where bladder time rises to a maximum in the afternoon. Most of the versions occurred during the 36th week of pregnancy (r = 0.27, n = 47, p < .05).
Turning Points: Clearing Blocks to Treatment in Women with Early Breast Cancer
Beverley de Valois EJOM Vol. 5 No. 6
In a research study to investigate the use of acupuncture to manage hot flushes and night sweats in women taking tamoxifen for early breast cancer, the author explored the use of clearing blocks to treatment. Blocks to treatment are phenomena in the Five Elements theoretical framework of acupuncture practice, and are not often explored in research studies. The author presents five case studies, discussing the application of treatment protocols for blocks to treatment and showing how they precipitated significant ‘turning points’ in the patients’ progress. She also discusses how these cases shaped and developed her own interpretation of the significance of clearing blocks to treatment, contributing to a ‘turning point’ in her understanding of Five Elements Constitutional Acupuncture to encompass these approaches in her research and in clinical practice.
Flooding and Looping: The Treatment of Musculoskeletal Problems with Electroacupuncture
Stephen Lee
EJOM Vol. 5 No. 6
In this article, the author introduces the reader to the treatment of musculoskeletal problems using electroacupuncture (EA) using techniques which he has developed over the last 20 years and which he finds indispensable to the treatment of intractable, chronic musculoskeletal problems. He discusses the treatment of the following conditions: lower back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis of the hip, hip pain, knee pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritic finger joints, arthritic knuckles, plantar fasciitis and scar tissue.
There seems to be a general consensus within the acupuncture and Chinese herbal community that research is a necessary process to establish our professional status. It may be regarded as a ‘good’ thing, a bold venture to bring Chinese medicine into the cosy confines of evidence based medicine; or perhaps more cynically ‘a necessary twenty-first century evil’ that we need to grit our teeth and get on with. This is an account of the author's foray into the research world to explore the role of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in the treatment of endometriosis. He set off on his journey dressed in a shiny suit of optimistic positivist fervour. Now several years down the line he feels more like Don Quixote lining up his intellectual lance and charging heroically towards the next windmill on the horizon. This then is the story of how a naive would-be knight lost his armour, encountered the dark forces of bureaucracy, and depending upon your point of view either grew up or went quietly nuts. Read the whole article
Traditional Acupuncture for Low Back Pain
Hugh MacPherson and Kate Thomas EJOM Vol. 5 No. 4
This article reports on a highly significant, high-quality randomised controlled trial to determine whether GP referral to a short course (up to 10 individualised sessions) of traditional acupuncture might improve longer term outcomes for patients with chronic low back pain in primary care, and at a cost that would be affordable by the NHS. 241 patients were recruited to the trial with 160 being randomised to the acupuncture group and 81 to the control group which received usual GP care alone. The results indicate that when patients in primary care with low back pain are referred to a BAcC acupuncturist for a short course of treatment, they will, on average, improve over time and show greater improvement than if they had received usual GP care alone. Although the course of acupuncture only lasted around 3 months, their situation improved over time, and continued to improve between 12 and 24 months. The authors' recommendation from this study is that GPs should consider referring patients with low back pain to a qualified acupuncturist. Read the whole article
When Blood Runs Too Thick: Recurrent Miscarriage, Blood Clotting and Acupuncture
Rebecca Avern EJOM Vol. 5 No. 3
This article describes the case histories of three women diagnosed with various blood clotting disorders. The blood clotting disorders had impaired the ability of each of them to carry a baby to full term. The article looks at the similarities and differences between the women in terms of TCM patterns, and Five Element Constitutional Factor (CF). It describes how the medication they were prescribed affected the choice of treatment principles and also their response to acupuncture treatment. It ends with the author’s reflections on the experience of treating them. Read the whole article
Fertility and the Moon: A Case Study
Roisin Golding EJOM Vol. 5 No. 3
Much archaic acupuncture theory is considered ‘superstitious’ by modern practitioners. The author wanted to find out if the application of some of the older principles of treatment as outlined in the Nei Jing made any difference to treatment. The article reports on the treatment of a 29-year old woman who sought treatment for infertility associated with polycystic ovaries and anovulation. Using tonfication and sedation techniques according to the phases of the lunar cycle, the patient’s periods were restored and eventually a pregnancy was successfully taken to term.
Serenity, Patience, Wisdom, Courage, Acceptance: Reflections on the NADA Protocol
Beverley de Valois EJOM Vol. 5 No. 3
Following encouraging results from research investigating the use of individualised, traditional acupuncture to manage treatment side effects in women with early breast cancer, the author conducted a follow-up study to explore the use of the NADA protocol in the same clinical context. This article charts her discoveries in applying the NADA protocol as a standardised treatment in a group setting. She discusses its flexibility and potential, and considers its limitations. Case studies present a range of different experiences and perceived benefits for three women who received this treatment, including their reactions to being treated in a group setting.
Chinese Herbal Formulae for Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
Angel Wang Hanbing with Dominic Harbinson EJOM Vol. 5 No. 3
The term pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a range of physiological and psychological symptoms which women commonly experience some 7-10 days before their period. The symptoms tend to increase in severity as the period approaches and then disappear once it begins, although in severe cases they may arise or persist outside the pre-menstrual phase. This article gives a brief outline of how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) understands PMS and presents five Chinese herbal medicine formulae (plus clinically relevant modifications) devised by well-known TCM gynaecologist doctors from China for the treatment of some of the various manifestations of PMS. The formulae are presented according to the main presenting condition and the TCM pattern being treated, namely: breast distension due to liver qi depression, abdominal distension and pain due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, emotional problems due to liver and kidney yin deficiency, and headache due to liver qi depression and liver and kidney yin deficiency.
The catalyst for this article was a Problem Back Masterclass for physiotherapists held at Highgrove under the auspices of the Prince of Wales. The article describes the author’s personal experience of chronic back pain and the inspirational influence of the maverick Australian physio, Sarah Keys. The ability of the spine, given the right condition, to heal itself of even the most recalcitrant problems is highlighted. Pointing to acupuncture’s ability to provide simple, safe and highly effective treatment for back pain, the author concludes by affirming that: ‘We have much to learn from western medicine, but western medicine has much to learn from us. This is what real integration is all about.’
Shen-Zhi Theory: Analysis of the Signs and Symptoms of Mental Disorder
Qu Lifang and Mary Garvey EJOM Vol. 5 No. 2
The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) contains numerous references to ‘spirits’ that are said to reside within the body. The term ‘shen-zhi’ means ‘spirit-mind’ and telescopes the five spirits (shen, hun, po, yi, zhi) of early Chinese medical theorising. Shen-zhi theory explains the principles for understanding Chinese medicine’s perspective on human consciousness. The theory describes how each of the wu shen (five spirits) govern certain aspects of mentality and are closely related to sensory faculties, body tissues, visceral systems, and physiological substances according to the wu xing (five phase) framework of correspondence and relationship. Spirit activities thereby provide the human organism with its distinctive array of mental and sensory abilities including intelligence, insight, focused attention and memory. Shen-zhi theory is derived from key sections of the Neijing that define the nature of the wu shen, their physiological activities and relationships. When these resources and relationships are disrupted a variety of common or more serious disorders may result. We discuss some of these, and a number of specific disorders that have a particular connection with the five spirits and shen-zhi theory. Broadly speaking, they are ‘mind’ or ‘mental’ disorders. Analysis of their signs and symptoms illustrates the theory and clarifies its diagnostic relevance for modern clinicians. Read the whole article
The Acupuncturist’s Perspective
Neil Quinton EJOM Vol. 5 No. 2
This article gives the practitioner’s perspective of acupuncture treatment delivered in a group setting within a mental health day service at the Broadway North Resource Centre in Walsall. The clients all had enduring mental health problems, most having been diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression, along with a number of people suffering from bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia. The practicalities of running the project are clearly outlined and common disease pathomechanisms are identified – highlighting the centrality of liver/spleen disharmony – along with typical treatment principles and points. Although there is still considerable resistance to acupuncture from some quarters and a frustratingly prevalent perception that the benefits of acupuncture are confined to ‘relaxation’, the author’s experience shows that acupuncture has a huge amount to contribute to mainstream mental health services and to the quality of life of service users.
The Role of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Cancer (Part 2)
Dr Friedrich Staebler EJOM Vol. 5 No. 2
This paper, which complements part 1, published in EJOM Vol. 5 No. 1, 2005, discusses the general principles of treating cancer with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially the contribution which acupuncture and moxibustion can make, both in slowing down the spread of tumours and in counteracting the side effects of radio- and chemotherapy. The latter is given particular prominence, since the paper argues that acupuncture and moxibustion should be used primarily as a back-up, and concomitant to conventional cancer treatment. This is followed by the introduction of a simple and effective treatment protocol the author has developed, using moxa to combat bone marrow depression (the drop in red and white blood cells) during chemotherapy. The paper concludes with two case histories chosen to give practical examples, and to show the strengths and limitations of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of cancer.
Service Users' Experiences of Acupuncture in the Mental Health Context
Doreen Till EJOM Vol. 5 No. 2
This paper, based on research conducted as part of an MA in Community Mental Health, explores service users’ experiences of acupuncture delivered in a group setting within a mental health day service at the Broadway North Resource Centre in Walsall. The majority of service users felt that acupuncture had improved their health both mentally and physically. Whilst some individuals found a group setting slightly intimidating at first, they also found benefits in the peer support that such a setting facilitated. All participants in the study thought that acupuncture should be more widely available within mental health services, and that a greater range of therapies should also be provided. Acupuncture within a group setting can be a cost-effective way of delivering a popular treatment that service users perceive as helpful to their health.
Acupuncture in the Treatment of Psychosis: The Case for Further Research
Dominic Harbinson and Patricia Ronan EJOM Vol. 5 No. 2
The medical treatment of psychosis continues to be limited, often with severe side effects. This paper sets out to examine the literature available on the treatment of psychosis and schizophrenia with acupuncture, to outline the evidence already available and to highlight the case for research into this treatment approach in the UK. A literature search was carried out using Ovid, Medline, Psych-info, Yahoo, Google and author contact to discover what research has taken place to date. This yielded evidence that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of psychosis. Although most of the research is from China and is somewhat dated, a number of studies have also been conducted in the West with promising outcomes. Given the poor prognosis for schizophrenic patients and the side effects implicit in the chronic use of conventional medication, there would appear to be good grounds for further research into acupuncture as a potential treatment modality. Carrying this out under modern scientific research conditions would help clarify whether and how this treatment might work. However obstacles such as ethics, funding and how such a study might be controlled will have to be overcome.
The Role of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Cancer (Part 1)
Dr Friedrich Staebler EJOM Vol. 5 No. 1
This paper is written for acupuncturists to examine the challenges we are faced with when treating patients with cancer. It looks at what cancer is, both in the western and TCM paradigm, and examines the role of the emotions in the development of cancer. Questions are asked: What happens to patients when they are diagnosed with cancer? What are the treatment options? When are we, as acupuncturists, called upon and what is our role as carers and as acupuncturists? What can acupuncture and Chinese medicine contribute in the treatment of cancer, and where are the limitations? The aim of this paper is to encourage acupuncturists to participate in the fight against cancer without being unrealistic and over-confident about the treatment outcome.
Spinal Canal Stenosis: A Clinical Experience with Acupuncture
Dr Sanjeev Rastogi and Dr Atul Rastogi EJOM Vol. 4 No. 6
This case study, based upon the trial of acupuncture in a patient with lumbar canal stenosis, opens up a new vista in conservative management protocol to deal with this condition. Spinal canal stenosis, being a multi-level disorder and an associate of age-related co-morbidities, poses a considerable difficulty in selection of the right approach of management. Surgical decompression does not always result in reversal of neurological deficits and can lead to reluctance in choosing this option. Conservative management, on the contrary, often results in good patient compliance and substantial improvements. The addition of acupuncture to conventional conservative management makes it more likely to lead to a measurable and positive outcome, as is evident in the case study presented here.
This case study concerns a boy of 12 who had become school phobic after being severely bullied on moving to secondary school. The author initially trained in Five Element acupuncture at Leamington followed by a TCM course at Reading which aimed to integrate the two styles of acupuncture. The study, which includes information on the patient’s background, diagnosis, treatment plan, diet and lifestyle advice and treatment outcome, is presented as an illustration of how successful very simple Five Element acupuncture can be in the treatment of quite severe mental health and emotional problems.
This article – drawn from the book Shen – Psychological Aspects of Chinese Medicine: the Classics & Contemporary Practice (currently in translation) – examines the various pathologies associated with emotional illness, paying particular attention to their links to fire. The concepts of constraint (yu) and stagnation (zhi) of qi, fire (huo), phlegm (tan), blood stasis (xueyu), empty fire and ‘restlessness and agitation’ (fanzao) are discussed with reference to classical Chinese texts by authorities such as Liu Wansu, Li Dongyuan and Zhu Danxi.
A case study dealing with the treatment of acute capsulitis of the shoulder, often referred to as frozen shoulder, a common complaint in an acupuncture clinic, occurring most frequently in middle age and more commonly in women. Symptoms include reduced mobility and pain. The author covers the examination and diagnosis of the patient and the relevant treatment principles, treatment protocol and outcome. The main treatment aim was to restore the function of the shoulder and to stop the pain. She chose to needle the local channels and collaterals to stimulate the flow of qi and blood. In addition she used some general points to increase qi and blood production and circulation. She concludes that acupuncture can be a powerful tool when treating dysfunction of the muscular system. In frozen shoulder the acute inflammatory phase can be recovered easily and progression to the adhesive stage can be prevented through successful treatment.
This case study describes the treatment of a patient who suffered from increasing anxiety, depression and panic since the birth of her only child two years previously. She also experienced no desire for social interaction not for sexual contact with her partner, the child’s father, despite what appeared to be a long-term loving and supportive relationship. The diagnosis, pathology and aetiology are discussed, treatment principles are listed in a chart, and the treatment plan is described step by step. The author also deals with lifestyle guidance. By the end of a course of 10 treatments, the patient no longer suffered from postnatal depression, and no longer required Seroxat medication. She continues to have regular acupuncture in order to maintain the benefits of treatment.
The author uses a short case study to demonstrate how, by a careful examination both of a patient's own condition and of the symptoms induced by chemotherapy, acupuncture treatment may result in significant improvements leading to the beginning of a process of self-healing.
Study on Essential Hypertension and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Nick Johnson, Dominique Joire, James Tomkinson, Sammy Reid, Lola Boix, Alex Murray and Paloma Sparrow EJOM Vol. 4 No. 2
This study observes and monitors the effect of 6 months of traditional Chinese medicine on a group of NHS patients with essential hypertension. The management was in both terms of symptomatology and blood pressure levels. It provides a background, treatment protocol and results, along with specific reports on 8 patients.
In the treatment of children, symptoms which relate to kidney deficiency, such as poor memory, difficulty in concentrating, enuresis or thin or weak bones are often seen. The author has differentiated three main types of kidney deficiency which are kidney jing deficiency, kidney organ weak and kidney qi xu. Signs and symptoms of the three patterns and their different treatment and outcomes are explored.
The Influence of Pestilence on Medical Theory and Practice in Late Imperial China
Warren M Cochran EJOM Vol. 4 No. 1
Much has been written on the socio-economic and religio-philosophical impact of epidemic disease on the apparent frailty of human existence. However, medical historiography has not always addressed the issue of how changing disease patterns may have influenced therapeutic strategies. The theme of this article focuses on this aspect of medical history by considering how disease manifestations as perceived by physicians of Chinese medicine, have helped shape medical notions and determine therapeutic response.
