The CAMbrella Initiative. What's happening across the European Union in the field of CAM provision and research. George Lewith and Andrew Flower
There is a pressing need for us to engage with the broader European context to ensure our traditional medicines survive and flourish. An essential part of this process is to familiarise ourselves with what is actually happening within the European Union (EU), regarding complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in general, and Oriental medicine (OM) in particular. What constitutes CAM? Who is using it, delivering it, researching it and what are the legislative frameworks that currently govern its practice? It is only by gathering this basic information that we can understand the current status of CAM and OM and start to compose a coherent strategy to inform any future developments.
Meridians Under the Skin. Vivien Shaw and Claire Aland
The physical nature of the acupuncture meridian system is currently the subject of enquiry. The original structural descriptions for the meridian system contained in the Huang Di Nei Jing, The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine, are detailed and specific. The Nei Jing states that dissection has been used as a tool for looking at the anatomy of the human body. The words used in the Nei Jing to describe meridians repeatedly contain the character for silk. The fascia of the body resembles silk in appearance. It pervades the body, wrapping around every structure, alternatively separating structures, or connecting them. An obvious question arises: was the character for silk chosen to describe meridians because it was what was observed by dissection by the authors of the Nei Jing? If this hypothesis holds, the nature of the physical substrate for acupuncture could then be literally described in the characters originally used for the meridian network - the silk-like fascial tissue of the body.
Acupuncture and TCM in France. Yves Giarmon
On current estimates there are 1,380 MD acupuncturists in France, and 4.000 to 7,000 non-MD practitioners. The author explains how acupuncture arrived and developed in France over the last century, and how the teaching and practice of acupuncture and TCM is now carried out and regulated within the profession, and within the law.
Treating Female Infertility by Strengthening the Natural Menstrual Cycle with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Dan Jiang
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 Modern Cancer Epidemic and Culture Wars Tai Lahans
Except for lung and cervical cancers, all other cancers in the USA are rising in incidence. This rise has occurred within the last half of the 20th century. What happened and is happening to cause this? What is our role and what can we do?
What Do We Mean by the 'Nonspecific' effects of Acupuncture Treatment? A survey of experienced acupuncture practitioners and researchers David Mayor
People writing about acupuncture often mention its 'nonspecific' effects. However, there are considerable differences of opinion, indeed some confusion, regarding the meaning of this term. The objective of the present paper is to shed some light on this situation. As part of an ongoing project to explore nonspecific feelings elicited by electroacupuncture-related treatment, twenty experienced acupuncture practitioners and researchers were asked about their understanding of the term 'nonspecific'. Sixteen of the twenty professionals responded, and their comments are summarised.
The Difference between the Pharynx and the Larynx in Chinese Medicine and their Clinical Significance Yubin Lu, Qin Chu and Li Lu
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.
Acupuncture in the Prevention and Control of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: An Institutional Challenge for Non Acupuncturist Anaesthesiologists C. Ferrari, M. De Ruvo, F. Minuti, R. Gatto and R. Monzani
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) affects 30 per cent of general surgery patients and can occur in up to 80 per cent of high-risk patients. Acupuncture is the most studied non-pharmacological approach to PONV and its efficacy is validated. Previous studies validated P 6 nei guan as the most effective and versatile point for the prevention of PONV. We sought to implement its stimulation in our setting by non-acupuncturist anaesthesiologists and evaluate its efficacy independently of the type of surgery and anaesthesia.
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