East West Medicine

If you believe that quality is a vital aspect of life as is your health and wellness, please read this article. The situation regarding Medical practitioners, Physiotherapists, Massage practitioners, in fact all shapes and kinds of health practitioners and the practice of Acupuncture in Australia is ambiguous to say the least. The use of dry needling amongst a variety of modalities, especially physiotherapy in recent years is perceived by many folk as the practice of Acupuncture. Dry needling, as wise practitioners of the above modalities will tell you, is not Acupuncture. Medical Acupuncture and the many simplified versions of needling used by many practitioners of Allied Modalities DO NOT apply the 3,000 years of clinical wisdom encapsulated within the practice of Traditional Acupuncture. The vast difference between the therapeutic application of acupuncture needles in Dry Needling, Medical Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and the more refined Traditional Japanese A

Acupuncture patients may suffer from unwanted side effects in the hands of non-licensed acupuncturists, according to a comprehensive study conducted by the Institute of Community Medicine in Norway FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR Log (Press Release) – May 07, 2010 – Wednesday, May 5, 2010- Acupuncture patients may suffer from unwanted side effects in the hands of non-licensed acupuncturists, according to a comprehensive study conducted by the Institute of Community Medicine in Norway. Acupuncture has been proven to be an effective form of therapy. Numerous scientific studies have proven the efficacy of acupuncture on treating various ailments. As a testament to the now scientifically recognized value of acupuncture, the Department of Essential Drugs and Medicine Policy of the World Health Organization (WHO) has published a list of diseases, symptoms, and conditions that acupuncture can treat. Headaches, depression, sprains, strokes, sciatica, and rheumatoid arthritis are among the condi

Can Acupuncture Teach Us About Gratitude?

"Candidiasis, a controversial disease, deserves recognition as it may perpetuate into epidemic proportions. The fact that some medical doctors brazenly discount its very existence coupled with a lack of current information allows unfortunate people suffering from Candidiasis to exist without an accurate diagnosis (particularly with reference to traditional western medicine), much less proper treatment. It is my intention to facilitate an awareness for  health care  practitioners and the public to the causes, symptoms, various testing and treatment protocol for Candidiasis.

Acupuncture Helps Ease Fatigue After Breast Cancer        

The Concept of 'Survival with Tumors' in the Treatment of Cancer

New research reveals that acupuncture prevents brain cell loss in memory areas of the brain. The new laboratory findings also show that acupuncture improves cognition. The researchers note that these findings suggest that acupuncture is a potential treatment for cognitive impairment disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. Acupuncture Needles The new laboratory findings show that acupuncture prevents neuron loss in the hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for memory and spatial navigation. The hippocampus is one of the first regions of the brain that suffers damage in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Using the Morris water maze test, the middle-aged mice used in the study who received acupuncture showed significantly less cognitive deficits. The combination of improved maze test results combined with greater preservation of brain neurons prompted the researchers to suggest that acupuncture may help human subjects suffering from cognitive disorders. The researchers note, “Thes

The Pulse, the Electronic Age and Radiation: Early Detection ; by  Leon Hammer, MD  and  Ross Rosen, LAc  published in The American Acupuncturist, Spring 2009 (Vol. 47) The Pulse and the Individual ; The American Acupuncturist, Spring 2008, Volume 43,  Leon Hammer, M.D. Contemporary Pulse Diagnosis: Introduction to an Evolving Method for Learning an Ancient Art — Part I ; American Journal of Acupuncture, Vol. 21, No. 2, 1993,  Leon Hammer, M.D. Pulse Diagnosis: Are we allowing it to become a lost art?  Acupuncture Today. Chinese Medicine and Disease: Acupuncture – Alternative Mesothelioma Treatments Inflammation in Atherosclerosis ; Medical Acupuncture Vol. 15, #2, 2003 Tradition and Revision ; Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; Vol. 3 No. 1, 2002,  Leon Hammer, M.D. The Chinese Medical Model in Thyroid Disease ; American Journal of Acupuncture Vol. 10, No. 1, January-March 1982 Diagnosis and Acupuncture Treatment of a Chronic, Recurring Skin Disease and S

When Acupuncture Does Not Work By  Mei Li

The Metal Type Emotion: Grief and Loss Season: Autumn Struggle with : Loss Need: Respect Strength: Honest and Reliable Organs: Lungs and Large Intestine The nature of metal is strength, is it is consistent and reliable. Metal is precious and extremely useful because of these traits, along with its ability to be shaped, worked and manipulated. Metal can be as sharp as a blade and as beautiful as gold. It is used to protect us and contain us. In its rawest form trace metal in the soil feed the very functioning of growth and life itself. The organs of Metal are the lungs and the large intestine. These are the only two organs that are actually in direct contact with the world. Breath comes into the lungs from outside of the body and the LI evacuates what is no longer needed. Therefore, Metals are actually extremely vulnerable, both to physical attack from the outside world, and emotional affronts from other people. On a physical level this means that it is the lungs that a

 CHONGGING, CHINA – A study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research indicates that green tea can enhance the cognitive function of the brain.

Read an excellent rebuttal by Chuck Benbrook of the Organic Center (PDF)

acupuncture ref h264 1200Kbps 480p from Ask Dr. Nandi on Vimeo .

By Nicole Sheldon,  The Spice Doc The one common denominator in almost all restaurants in mainland China, regardless of region or style, is that there is usually a medicinal aspect to, at the very least, a few dishes.  Whether it be Gou Qi Zi floating in a steamed chicken soup or Bai Guo stir fried with vegetables, yao shan is alive and kicking in China. In most of the more comprehensive restaurants with

Military Pokes Holes In Acupuncture Skeptics' Theory

Acupuncture helps to heal liver fibrosis by significantly enhancing effects of curcumin Liver fibrosis happens when the proteins including collagen surrounding liver cells start to accumulate excessively.  Liver fibrosis is often a result of all types of liver diseases. Science used to consider liver fibrosis to be irreversible condition, but recent evidence suggests the opposite. Acupuncture has been increasingly used to treat chronic liver diseases. And we’re obviously interested to know how acupuncture can be helpful with liver fibrosis. A study published in the current issue of peer-reviewed international journal Acupuncture in Medicine tried to understand what exactly acupuncture does in combination with  curcumin  for liver fibrosis. They found that acupuncture significantly enhances curcumin effects for liver fibrosis. They also found biochemical changes at the cellular level.  The effects were attributed to acupuncture and curcumin disrupting platelet-derived growth

By John Chen, PhD, PharmD, OMD, LAc Attention-deficit disorder and attention-deficit  hyperactivity disorder  (ADD/ADHD) are developmental conditions in which the affected person is unable to concentrate and is easily distracted, with or without accompanying hyperactivity. There must be an onset of symptoms before age 7 that causes significant social or academic impairment. The incidence of ADD/ADHD is 3 percent to 7 percent in school-age children, and 2 percent to 7 percent in adults. The pathology of ADHD is not clear. There is speculation that certain areas of the brain related to attention are deficient in neural transmission. The neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine have been associated with ADD/ADHD. Stimulants such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Dexedrin (dextroamphetamine), are generally prescribed for treatment of ADD/ADHD. Common short-term side effects include significant insomnia, appetite suppression and  weight loss , headaches, mood fluctuations and ti

 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common behavioral conditions among children. In the United States alone, approximately 4.5 million children between the ages of 5-17 years old are diagnosed with ADHD each year. Research indicates that when treating ADHD, a multidisciplinary approach is most effective; combining behavioral therapy, exercise, dietary changes and medication. Now acupuncture can be added as one of the treatment methods that can successfully manage ADHD. What is ADHD? Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a condition of the brain that makes it difficult to concentrate or control impulsive behavior. Children with ADHD generally struggle with paying attention or concentrating. They can't seem to follow directions and are easily bored or frustrated with tasks. They also tend to move constantly and are impulsive, not stopping to think before they act. These behaviors are generally common in children. But they occur mo

August 16, 2000 (Rockville, MD) - According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, as many as 3.8 million schoolchildren in the United States are diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), making it one the most common behavioral problems for children and adolescents. Of these, at least 2 million take stimulants like Ritalin, and many more take other prescription medications. Medical acupuncture, practiced by licensed M.D.'s and D.O.'s who integrate traditional Western medicine with alternative treatment modalities, is a safe, effective treatment strategy for children with ADHD, without the side-effects of drugs. "The commonly prescribed drugs are not treating the core problems that cause ADHD, they are only temporarily alleviating the symptoms," said Nader E. Soliman, M.D., a member of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) with a private practice in Rockville, MD. "Medical acupuncture can help children focus in school by

Acupuncture and Allergies According to Chinese medical theory, the symptoms and signs that indicate a Western diagnosis of allergies relate to imbalances in the meridian and organ systems of the body.  These imbalances may stem from a variety of causes, including stress, poor diet, constitutional weakness, pollutants and environmental toxins. Over time, if imbalances remain within the body, they will affect the functions of the organ systems.  Some of these organ systems are involved in the production of Wei Qi (way chee).  According to the theories of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, it is important to have to correct quality and quantity of Wei Qi circulating around the body in order to stay healthy. What is Wei Qi? The Chinese concept of Wei Qi is similar to the Western concept of the immune system.  Wei Qi functions to protect and defend the body against foreign substances, that if not caught can lead to allergies.  When Wei Qi is strong and abundant, we remain healthy.

Often referred to as “hay fever,” allergic rhinitis can be caused by a variety of relatively harmless substances, ranging from pollen and dust to animal dander. The most common form of allergic rhinitis is seasonal allergic rhinitis, which typically occurs at the same time each year when certain plants are in bloom. Other people can be afflicted with perennial allergic rhinitis (which may occur at any given time of the year) or occupational allergic rhinitis (which is caused by an allergic reaction to substances in the workplace, such as chemicals or grains). All told, between 10 percent and 20 percent of the general population is believed to have some form of allergic rhinitis, with direct and indirect health care costs totaling between $4.5 and $7.7 billion per year in the U.S. alone. 1 In China, acupuncture and herbal remedies have been used to combat symptoms similar to allergic rhinitis successfully for centuries. Previous research has shown, for instance, that Chin

*A similar version was published in my ‘Oriental Medicine’ Column in Pathways Magazine, Mind, Body, Spirit Resources in the Washington DC Metro Area , Spring 2004 February…March…April…allergies! Spring can be painful. Who feels well with itchy eyes, drippy nose, and all those sneezes? You can take drugs of course…but they only cover up the problem. What would you say to reducing your allergic tendency so you almost forget it’s there? What would you say to actually getting RID of your allergies? If this sounds too good to be true, keep reading! Here are 5 ways in which a Chinese medicine (or related) approach can help you reduce allergic symptoms and even stop them altogether. What’s the real problem? A healthy body can eat, drink, touch, or breathe almost anything that isn’t specifically toxic. But some bodies react to commonplace things--molds, pollens, textiles, foods--as if they were poisons. Over-reacting signals confusion in the immune system, but what makes a body do

The birds are chirping, the wind is blowing, and the green shoots are jutting out of the earth. Nothing is more relieving for those of us in the Northern hemisphere than a beautiful spring after a long winter, well at least for most of us. If you are one of those thousands of people affected by seasonal allergies you know the friendly signs of spring can be a step ahead of us resulting in sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and overall discomfort and misery. Most allergies sufferers are used to stocking up on over the counter anti-histamines pharmaceuticals in preparation for allergy season. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine can offer treatment that can not only relieve allergy symptoms but improve your overall health. Chinese medicine describes seasonal allergies as being caused by both internal and external factors. Externally, allergies are caused by pathogenic wind invading. Wind is a yang pathogen and tends to invade the yang part of the body, namely the head and ey

As the fall season approaches, one of the most common complaints that patients have is  the onset of seasonal allergies.  During this time pollen counts are high triggering many  of us to have allergy attacks, otherwise known as hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR).  The main culprit of these attacks of seasonal allergic rhinitis is ragweed pollen, which affects 85 to 90 percent of Fall-allergy victims.   Symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR) include nasal congestion, watery nasal  discharge and sneezing, red and itchy eyes.  These symptoms are commonly treated with medications such as antihistamines, steroid inhalers, and over the counter decongestant  sprays.  While these medications may temporarily relieve the symptoms of seasonal  allergic rhinitis, they do come with several side effects including sedation, dizziness,  fatigue, insomnia, nervousness, and gastro-intestinal disturbances.   Many patients are turning to complementary medical tr

Written by Mike Berkley, L.Ac., FABORM Although health and healing are the common goals of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and allopathic medicine, their ideas on the etiology of disease, disease itself and the process used to regain health are decidedly different. The allopathic physician learns that disease must be cured by prescribing medicine, which kills bacteria or renders a virus ineffective; at times surgical intervention is a necessity. Though the goal of TCM is to cure a patient, the practitioner of TCM attempts to do this not by treating the disease but rather by treating the whole person, taking into account the various attributes of an individual which, when combined, account for an individual being sick or healthy. A person, according to the tenets of TCM is more than their pathology. While treating the pathology may yield impressive results, they are commonly temporary. A person is not, according to TCM, represented solely by his or her illness, bu