First, Do No Harm
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Epidural Steroid Injections
Hormone Replacement Therapy is still under scrutiny and it's pretty difficult to tell who is as risk and who isn't. Play it safe and go naturally with acupuncture for symptoms of menopause. A new study in Anesthesiology finds that steroids may not be a key component of epidural injections and more studies are needed to tell if injections near the spine (ahem, acupuncture?) are just as effective. |
 | | Autumn in Stockholm: Foliage at the Karolinska Institute |
Acupuncture Research Files Studies from conference: Hot flashes, Depression, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Achilles Tendonitis, Dementia
One pain specialist in Britain has gotten great results treating hot flashes from Tamoxifen with a combination of acupuncture and self administered acupuncture. Great idea since often long term acupuncture is required. Another British researcher showed not only efficacy of acupuncture for depression, but also cost effectiveness. Ongoing research shows acupuncture works well for stabilizing menstrual cycles in PCOS patients. New science shows why acupuncture works for Achilles tendonitis. Theoretical work by Manni in Italy may provide hope for dementia through acupuncture.
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 Fitness and Health Files
Why runners don't get Osteoarthritis and Twelve Tips for Sleep
As recently as 10 years ago, it was thought that running could hurt your knees. Now the thinking is that if your knees are okay to begin with, running should be fine.
This article from the Harvard Web Site addresses the issue of insomnia and difficulty staying asleep, and gives 12 common sense suggestions. I recommend melatonin, (1 mg or less please!) as a safe supplement if basic sleep hygiene leaves you still wide awake at night.
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 | | Ancient Medicine Made Modern |
Poster for Stockholm For the Record My poster explored a group of patients extremely sensitive to needling and compared them to patients who had no needle sensitivity. They all presented for help with anxiety. There was no difference in response (in this case study all responded well to treatment.) I compared their Stress Response (Heart Rate Variability) and there was no difference between the two groups. My conclusion was that gentle needling is still effective and sometimes called for. The whole point of my line of inquiry is to try to get a physiological "snap shot" of effective versus non-effective treatment, or response versus non-response to treatment. This is part of my main effort to improve treatment and get better results. The fact remains that most patients respond (responders), some dramatically (profound responders), and sadly there is that group that don't (non-responders.) Why?? A quixotic mission... |
