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SoQ blog will be sharing and writing articles about health, nutrition, martial arts, and anything and everything traditional Chinese medicine. Read, comment, share, & enjoy!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The Mythology of Science-Based Medicine

Below is a fascinating article with statistics about the effectiveness and potential harmfulness of western treatments. As a non-western practitioner, my medicine is commonly categorized an "alternative" or "folk" medicine, which gives the false impression that it is less effective/trustworthy/ proven/ thorough. However, as shown by the statistics below, western medicine is often less effective than it is presented to be. To me, the ratio of benefit to harm done by TCM treatments (not to mention cost!) is greatly favorable compared to many western treatments. But I digress... what do you think?

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By Deepak Chopra, Larry Dossey and Rustum Roy

The current healthcare debate has brought up basic questions about how medicine should work. On one hand we have the medical establishment with its enormous cadre of M.Ds, medical schools, big pharma, and incredibly expensive hospital care. On the other we have the semi-condoned field of alternative medicine that attracts millions of patients a year and embraces literally thousands of treatment modalities not taught in medical school.

One side, mainstream medicine, promotes the notion that it alone should be considered “real” medicine, but more and more this claim is being exposed as an officially sanctioned myth. When scientific minds turn to tackling the complex business of healing the sick, they simultaneously warn us that it’s dangerous and foolish to look at integrative medicine, complementary and alternative medicine, or God forbid, indigenous medicine for answers. Because these other modalities are enormously popular, mainstream medicine has made a few grudging concessions to the placebo effect, natural herbal remedies, and acupuncture over the years. But M.D.s are still taught that other approaches are risky and inferior to their own training; they insist, year after year, that all we need are science-based procedures and the huge spectrum of drugs upon which modern medicine depends.

If a pill or surgery won’t do the trick, most patients are sent home to await their fate. There is an implied faith here that if a new drug manufacturer has paid for the research for FDA approval, then it is scientifically proven to be effective. As it turns out, this belief is by no means fully justified.

The British Medical Journal The British Medical Journal recently undertook an general analysis of common medical treatments to determine which are supported by sufficient reliable evidence. They evaluated around 2,500 treatments, and the results were as follows:

• 13% were found to be beneficial
• 23% were likely to be beneficial
• 8% were as likely to be harmful as beneficial
• 6% were unlikely to be beneficial
• 4% were likely to be harmful or ineffective.

This left the largest category, 46%, as unknown in their effectiveness. In other words, when you take your sick child to the hospital or clinic, there is only a 36% chance that he will receive a treatment that has been scientifically demonstrated to be either beneficial or likely to be beneficial. This is remarkably similar to the results Dr. Brian Berman found in his analysis of completed Cochrane reviews of conventional medical practices. There, 38% of treatments were positive and 62% were negative or showed “no evidence of effect.”

For those who have been paying attention, this is not news. Back in the late 70′s the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment determined that a mere 10 to 20% of the practices and treatment used by physicians are scientifically validated. It’s sobering to compare this number to the chances that a patient will receive benefit due to the placebo effect, which is between 30% and 50%, according to various studies.

We all marvel at the technological advances in materials and techniques that allow doctors to perform quadruple bypass surgeries and angioplasties without marveling that recent studies indicate that coronary bypass surgery will extend life expectancy, in only about 3% of cases. For angioplasty that figure sinks to 0 percent. Those numbers might be close to what you could expect from a witch doctor, one difference being that witch doctors don’t submit bills in the tens of thousands of dollars.

It would be one thing if any of these unproven conventional medical treatments were cheap , but they are not. Angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) alone cost $100 billion annually. As quoted by President Obama in his drive to bring down medical costs, $700 billion is spent annually on unnecessary tests and procedures in America. As part of this excess, it is estimated that 2.5 million unnecessary surgeries are performed each year.

Then there is the myth that this vast expenditure results in excellent health care, usually touted as the best in the world (most recently by Rush Limbaugh as he emerged from a hospital in Hawaii after suffering chest pain). But this myth has been completely undermined. In 2000 Dr. Barbara Starfield, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association , estimated that between 230,000 and 284,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. due to iatrogenic causes, or physician error, making this number three in the leading causes of death for all Americans.

In 2005 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that out of the 2.4 billion prescriptions written by doctors annually, 118 million were for antidepressants. It is the number one prescribed medication, whose use has doubled in the last ten years. You would think, therefore, that a remarkable endorsement is being offered for the efficacy of antidepressants. The theory of behind standard antidepression medication is that the disease is caused by low levels of key brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, and thus by manipulating those imbalanced neurotransmitters, a patient’s depression will be reversed or at least alleviated.

This turns out to be another myth. Prof. Eva Redei of Northwestern University, a leading depression researcher, has discovered that depressed individuals have no depletion of the genes that produce these key neurotransmitters compared to people who are not depressed. This would help explain why an estimated 50% of patients don’t respond to antidepressants, and why Dr. Irving Kirsch’s meta-analysis of antidepressants in England showed no significant difference in effectiveness between them and placebos.
You have a right to be shocked by these findings and by the overall picture of a system that benefits far fewer patients than it claims. The sad fact is that a disturbing percentage of the medicine we subject ourselves to isn’t based on hard science, and another percentage is risky or outright harmful. Obviously, every patient deserves medical care that is evidence-based, not just based on an illusory reputation that is promoted in contrast to alternative medicine.

We are not suggesting that Americans adopt any and all alternative practices simply because they are alternative. These, too, must demonstrate their effectiveness through objective testing. But alternative modalities should not be dismissed out of hand in favor of expensive and unnecessary procedures that have been shown to benefit no one absolutely except corporate stockholders.

For more information go to deepakchopra.com 
Follow Deepak on Twitter

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/intentchopra/2010/01/the-mythology-of-science-based.html#ixzz20oq69OF2

Monday, July 16, 2012

Healthy Aging: Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

Aging doesn't have to mean feeling sick and tired all the time. It's a natural process and, when Qi and Blood are balanced and Jing (essence) is plentiful, you can feel great as you age!

What's key in aging smoothly is healthy/balanced eating, drinking lots of water (hot is best!), good sleep every night, movement, and dealing with your stresses and emotions head on. Easy right? ;)

So many like to say, "I'm too old for that". But are you really? Or are you making an excuse or scared to try something new? Want to take a Zumba class? Take it! Want to learn to speak Chinese? Start learning!

It's all about balance and maintaining a good level of health, fitness, and mental agility throughout your lifetime, not just revving up for special occasions and then going back to the couch for the rest of the year.

According to TCM, there is a natural decline in Kidney Qi as we age (the source of our vital essence), but this does not necessarily lead to disease and injuries. Seeing your TCM practitioner and seeking preventative care regularly can greatly increase your quality of life. Heck, you're gonna be here for a long while, so why not feel great and enjoy every moment?


Here's to getting old!
Brenda Hatley, L.Ac, Dipl.OM
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-jingduan-yang/traditional-chinese-medicine_b_1654753.html?utm_hp_ref=tw 

Although the risk of disease and disability clearly increase with advancing age, poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Throughout the middle and later years, people gradually develop signs and symptoms of aging, like graying and thinning of the hair, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, infertility, diminished sexual function, menopause, forgetfulness, urinary and bowel incontinence, pain and weakness in the lower back, hip, and knees, reduced bone density, and increased risk of fractures.

Western medicine attributes some of these symptoms to deficiencies in sexual hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, which is why hormone replacement has become a focus of "anti-aging" medicine. However, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a different perspective that is energy-based. From a TCM standpoint, aging is a process of losing kidney qi and essence. We refer here not simply to the organs in our lower backs but to an energy subsystem called the kidney meridian. 

Kidney qi and essence, according to the Yellow Emperor's Classics, dating back to about 200 B.C., is responsible for brain development and function, including hearing, bone matrix, and function of bone marrows, sexual function, and capacity to conceive, and regulation of the urinary tract and the bowels. This meridian reflects the mental functions of willpower and motivation and emotions derived from fear. 

The primary interventions of TCM to balance meridians include acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and qigong. A brief discussion of a couple cases from our patients is provided to illustrate the TCM approach. 

Amy, 40, reported feeling like she was 90. She had stopped menstruating 10 years ago and lost sexual drive nine years ago, which is about when she began to suffer from urinary incontinence and osteoporosis. In addition, she had severe seasonal depression and insomnia. She was assessed by classic Chinese medicine techniques and was diagnosed with severe kidney qi deficiency. After three weekly acupuncture sessions and a course of Chinese herbal supplements, her symptoms improved significantly. 

Cathy, 65, complained of difficulty concentrating and memorizing. She attributed these symptoms to side effects from the four depression medications she was taking. She was evaluated to have kidney qi and essence deficiency and liver stagnation. Twice a week, she received acupuncture and took Chinese herbal remedies. In addition to improvement in cognitive function, she reported less lower back and knee pain, more sexual satisfaction, reduced urinary incontinence, and better mood. With her physician's guidance, she also was able to decrease her psychotropic medications. 

To age healthfully, people need to protect their kidney qi and essence as early as possible. Things that will help include getting regular and enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, regular physical activity, having a healthy sex life, and living with less fear. 

Foods that are thought to replenish kidney energy: grains, dark green leafy vegetables (cooked), black soybeans, black sesame seeds, black mushrooms, walnuts, chestnuts, fish, shrimp, seaweed, lamb, and duck. Herbs thought to support kidney energy are ginseng, Rehmannia root, and lychee nut. 

Many relaxation techniques and energy exercises can positively affect meridian balance. We particularly recommend mindfulness-based meditation, Tai Chi, and qigong. Chinese medicine-based cultivation systems like Falun Dafa go beyond anti-aging and aim for spiritual enlightenment and eternal life. 

Aging is a natural process of life, and healthy aging is achievable, particularly through integrating the best of Eastern and Western medicine. Therefore, it is advisable that you consult with a well-trained TCM doctor to discuss an individual plan that uses ancient Chinese wisdom. However, you should do so in addition to the care you already get from your doctors of conventional medicine.

Dr. Yang is a board-certified psychiatrist and is a fourth-generation doctor of Chinese medicine. His website is taoinstitute.com. 

For more by Dr. Jingduan Yang, click here.
For more on natural health, click here.

Monday, July 9, 2012

TCM For Hip Internal Rotation Injuries in Athletes

This is a very interesting and detailed article about internal rotation injuries of the hip-- a common sports injury. It's rather jargon heavy, but still a great read if you're interested in the more technical side of TCM treatments. Enjoy! 

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http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32612
By Ronda Wimmer, PhD, MS, LAc, ATC, CSCS, CSMS, SPS

Over the years I have been privileged enough to work with professional and Olympic teams. One of the sports I work with is professional hockey. The common areas I treat are hip, knee and low back compensation patterns.

I would like to address compensation patterns dealing with internal rotators of the hip joint increasing the athlete's career longevity.

It is important to understand the anatomy, movement and biomechanics of the hip joint to understand how the compensation patterns are triggered. The hip joint includes the articulation of the two bones the ilium and femur. The muscles involved with hip joint internal rotation includes both primary and secondary movers. The primary movers are the anterior gluteus medius, TFL and pectineus. The secondary movers include the gracilis, adductor longus, brevis and magnus and the semitendinosis and semimembranosis. The degree of limitation of this range of motion (ROM) depends on the compensation pattern with which it stems from. So it is important to assess the synergistic muscles surrounding the area for imbalances. It is important to understand the sport and position, the player plays to understand the mechanics. It is very helpful to watch video of these athletes playing their sport to understand the movement patterns and identify compensation patterns specific to the individual player. The compensation patterns are associated with muscle overuse and in many cases tendonitis due to the nature of the athletes training and playing regimen. Typically discomfort and/or pain triggers a compensation pattern either at the origin, insertion or in the belly of the particular muscle affected. What typically ends up happening is the treatment focuses on the painful area rather than what is causing the pain, which is a compensation pattern typically stemming from other surrounding areas.
It is necessary to compare normal hip internal rotation mechanics to abnormal mechanics with these overuse compensation patterns and identify the limitations of the surrounding tissues involved. The basic treatment protocol focuses on accurately assessing of joint function, increasing range of motion by identifying the compensation patterns and releasing the muscles involved, thus preventing long-term injuries from occurring, increasing the athlete's career longevity.
Mechanical and function compensation patterns occur through overuse compensation patterns. Mechanical compensations include degenerative changes over time; pathological laxity within the hip joint and pubic symphysis ends up in vulnerable positions during functional activities; arthrokinematic restrictions that include compensation patterns dealing with excessive range of motion or decreased ROM; and lastly synovial changes that identifies impinged or hypertrophied synovial tissue.
Function compensation patterns include impaired postural control that identifies the balance of synergistic muscle tissues; impaired neuromuscular function that identifies muscular recruitment patterns are diminished; impaired proprioception that identifies synergetic ability of nerve conduction velocity becomes diminished; and strength deficits that identifies decreased muscle strength of the surrounding muscle tissues.
The standard protocol treatment focuses treating this either as a strain in most cases or tendonitis. Depending upon the philosophy of the certified athletic trainer, chiropractor, physical therapist, massage therapist implementing the treatment of R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation) is the key concept here so as to manage the edema, which can last up to three weeks. Focus then moves to restoring ligament stability by correcting subluxation and treating accessory motion restriction using joint mobilization. Exercises (closed and open chain) are then implemented to restore range of motion then we add resistance to restore strength. Once strength is restored, and we have established normal gait with normal joint mobility, the focus shifts to neuromuscular control in order to maximize dynamic and reflexive stability of the surrounding tissues. If the therapist is treating tendonitis then rest and heat would be applied rather than cold over the belly of the muscle rather than the insertion of origin site. In either case NSAIDs would be used for managing inflammation.
Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment uses the same assessment procedures, the focus here is multi-faceted depending upon the compensation pattern. The mechanism of injury is due to overuse so pre-existing factors that contribute to the internal rotators includes the consuming of the qi and Blood (creating LV and K deficiency), accumulation of dampness, invasion of external pathogens (Wind, Cold, Damp), and, of course, Blood and qi stagnation. Thus, pre-existing patterns allow external pathogens to invade more easily, disrupting qi and Blood at the specific location of pain and/or discomfort.
Qi/Blood Stagnation
This is to maintain the flow of qi and Blood circulation throughout the body. By maintaining this circulation of qi/Blood, the physiological manifestation of injuries and pain are non-existent. However, if this qi/Blood become stagnant, the flow within the channels around the affected joint becomes blocked and impaired creating pain along the affected joint. The main physiological manifestation includes pain that is stabbing and fixed for Blood stagnation and wandering and distended pain for qi stagnation.
LV/K Deficiency
The LV supports the tendons by nourishing them through LV Blood, and the K nourishes the bones. Over years of overstraining, working long hours (standing all the time), constitutional weakness and/or prolonged illness, the qi and Blood depletes/consumes specifically the qi and Blood of the LV and K. In either case, the lack of nourishment of both the tendons and bones gives rise to ankle joint injuries. Once again, age is a factor. As we get older the LV/K functions decline and the K Jing and LV Blood are unable to nourish the tendons and bones sufficiently.
Wind, Cold, Damp Invasion
Wind, Cold and Damp pathogens are able to invade through the joints because that is where qienters and exits. Wind characteristics tend to be always moving and changing, and present with pain moving. Cold characteristics create qi and Blood stagnation due to the contracting nature within the channels and tendons; and thus present with severe ankle pain. Damp characteristics create obstructions within the channels, due to the accumulation creating heaviness leading to stagnation, thus present with fixed ankle pain, swelling with a heavy sensation and possible numbness.
Pre-existing conditions that allow these external pathogens to invade include Yang and/or Yin Deficiency. Heat is another factor that can be a result of Wind, Cold Damp invasion. If an athlete has had long term W-C-D invasion and has accumulated sitting stagnation, this will generate heat. This also disrupts the qi and Blood circulation in the channels causing accumulation, and progresses to stagnation in the channels around the affected joint. In TCM, this is referred to as Damp Heat. Heat presents with redness, feeling of heat around the joint and swelling.
The internal rotators can vary depending upon individual presentation, however for the sake of simplicity we will focus on the association with the Kidney channel. When addressing the Kidney channel, points that can be used would follow bleeding K1, along with the following points following include K3 (same side), R3, HT7 (opposite side), K6/LG7 , pick points for Zang/Fu organ imbalances and qi and Blood relationships and see if Ah Shi points are still present of so then puncture.
If using electroacupuncture for the internal rotators then using Kidney channel setup unilateral leads with (+) lead on UB23 to the (-) lead on SP11 or K9 for 2 Hz continuous for 20-30 minutes. Usually I use homeopathic remedies like Arnica Montana 30c internal and topical rather than herbal formulas because the athletes get drug tested for banned substances. For those athletes/patients without drug testing then appropriate formulas (these are just examples there are many different combinations depending upon the company formulas are ordered from): Blood and qi Stagnation - Die Da Wan; Qi/Blood Stagnation plus Wind/Dampness (excess) – Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang; Deficiency – Ren Shen Yang Ying Wan; LV/K Deficiency as well as Wind & Dampness – Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang; Clear Heat – Jiang Huang Wan. Again these are just examples.
Use The Right Points
Using acupuncture points for treating underlying conditions - pick points that you feel are appropriate for your patient. Here are a few examples of traditional points that can be used.
Qi and Blood Stagnation
Ah Shi points – regulates circulation of Qi and Blood in channels
SP10 – disperses Blood stagnation.
LI4 – Source point, dispels Blood stagnation, promotes circulation of Qi in the channels
LV3 – Source point, dispels Blood stagnation, promotes circulation of Qi in the channels
GB34 – Sea point, harmonizes movement of affected joints and strengthens tendons
SP6 – crossing point of the Three Yin Channels of the Foot
UB17 – gathering point of the Blood.
Sedating method all points
LV/K Deficiency
K3 – Source point, strengthens bones and tonifies K. Tonify method
LV3 – Source point, strengthens tendons and tonifies LV. Even method
GB34 – Gathering point for Marrow. Even method
GB39 – Gathering point for tendons and reinforces tendons and bones. Tonify method
ST36 – Sea point of ST channel, promotes production of Blood and tonifies SP/ST. Tonify method
SP6 – crossing point three yin channels of the foot, tonifies Blood and strengthens SP/LV and K. Even method
Wind Invasion
Sedating method
LI4 – relieve external Wind and symptoms
SJ5 - relieve external Wind and symptoms
UB12 - relieve external Wind and symptoms
SP6 – crossing point LV/SP/K channels, eliminates wind by regulating Qi/Blood
SP10 – improves circulation of Blood and is able to eliminate Wind through increasing Blood circulation
Ah Shi – regulating local circulation of Qi/Blood
GB40 - regulating local circulation of Qi/Blood
GB41 - regulating local circulation of Qi/Blood.
Cold Invasion
Moxibustion *
LI4 – relieve external Wind and symptoms. Sedate *
SJ5 - relieve external Wind and symptoms. Sedate *
ST36 – Sea point, dispels cold, warms channels, and tonifies Qi. Tonify *
UB60 – local point, regulate Qi/Blood circulation Sedate *
GB40 - local point, regulate Qi/Blood circulation. Sedate *
Damp Invasion
SJ6 – resolve damp, eliminate wind, eliminate cold
SP6 – Crossing point three yn channels, eliminate damp, activate SP/ST
SP9 – Sea point, eliminate damp, activate SP/ST
ST40 – Connecting point, eliminate damp, activate SP/ST
GB40 – Source point, local point, regulate circulation Qi/Blood, eliminate damp
UB63 – Accumulation point, local point, regulate circulation Qi/Blood, eliminate damp
UB64 – Source point, local point, regulate circulation Qi/Blood, eliminate damp
Sedating method
Damp Heat Invasion
ST44 – eliminate Damp Heat
SP6 – crossing point three yin channels of foot, clear heat, eliminate damp in channels
SP9 – Sea point, clear heat, eliminate damp in channels
GB34 – Sea point, clear heat, eliminate damp in channels
GB40 – clear heat, eliminate damp in channels
UB60 – eliminate damp, promote urination, dispels external pathogenic factors
SJ6 – promotes circulation Qi in channels, reduces eat, eliminates damp, dispels external pathogens
The success in assessing compensation patterns for the prevention and treatment of internal rotators of the hip joint in elite hockey players is to understand the associated anatomical, biomechanical, physiological, neurological implications. It is also important to be familiar with the player's position within the sport, which provides information as to what muscles are primarily used. In addition to understanding the individual biomechanical compensation patterns of the athlete while skating fresh versus when fatigued. These interrelated components are very important with a TCM diagnosis. It is important to understand that each athlete is different and TCM treatment strategies constantly vary among these individual athletes. It is also important to note that protocol based treatment strategies are not as effective and athletes may get short-term relief and ultimately end up injured mid to late season due to this approach especially in the use of electroacupuncture treatments.
The "thought process" used with elite athletes is no different than the "thought process" used with the general population. Where I see the main distinction tends to be when the individual patient comes in for treatment. Elite athletes tend to come in much earlier in the process of overuse compensation patterns then the general population. Thus, the ability to prevent more serious tendonitis compensation patterns are greater with the elite athletes because the sooner a compensation pattern is treated the quicker the athlete can return to play because the compensation was counterbalanced. Typically the general population waits until it is so bad before they get treated that there are numerous compensation patterns present; therefore, it takes longer to counterbalance the condition/s. So it is paramount that a go assessment is done to identify what compensation patterns are present and follow movement to look for the root of the problem so you have the whole picture rather than treating symptom based. This makes a big difference in the time and treatment outcome. This is called field expedience at its finest.
References
  1. Arnheim, Daniel and William Prentice. Principles of Athletic Training 14 ed. St.Louis: Mosby Year Book, 2010.
  2. Mellion, B. Sports Injuries and Athletic Problems. Hanley and Belfus Inc., 1988.
  3. Baechle. Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning. NSCA, Human Kinetics, 1994.
  4. Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ed. Zhang Enqin. Publishing House of Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1990.
  5. Power, Howley. Exercise Physiology, Brown, Benchmark, 1997.
  6. Prentice, W. E. Rehabilitation Techniques in Sports Medicine, 5th ed., WCB Saunders, 2010.
  7. Prentice, W. E. Therapeutic Modalities in Sports Medicine, 6th ed., WCB Saunders, 2008.
  8. Webb, G. Sports Injuries: Diagnosis and Management. W.B. Saunders Company, 1990.
  9. Reaves, W., Bong, C. The Acupuncture Handbook of Sports Injuries and Pain. Hidden Needle Press, 2009.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Why are athletes wearing coloured tape?

Kinesio taping is becoming more well known and popular among "average Joe's" and pro-athletes alike. I have been using KT tape/ acu-tape, as it is also comonly known, for a couple of months now for my own sports injuries and for my patients and have had some amazing results! In my personal experience, it has helped with swelling drainage after an acute muscle pull, realigned soft tissue that was wrecked with scar tissue, and most importantly it decreased pain. In my patient's case, she was suffering from some rather severe post-opp knee pain and crepitus (grating and crackling both felt and heard inside a joint) under her knee cap. With the correct acupuncture treatment combined with the application of acu-taping, she was able to complete in a mud run pain free. Pretty amazing! I really look forward to some more studies to be done to see what they will have to say, but honestly, the proof is in the pudding. If it makes the patient/athlete feel and perform better, then it works (placebo or not)!

-Brenda Hatley, L.Ac, Dipl.OM
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Why are athletes wearing coloured tape?
In the Euro 2012 Championship, Italian striker Mario Balotelli was sporting three tramlines of blue sticky tape on his back.
And at Wimbledon, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has had his elbow patched up with the same stuff.
So what's behind this latest sporting fad?
The Japanese makers of Kinesio tape say it gives players an edge by mending injuries.
Sticking plaster?
Although it might seem like a new idea, the tape has been around since the 1970s.
Dr Kenzo Kase says he came up with the design because he found standard taping techniques, like conventional strapping, too restrictive for his patients.
Although standard strapping provides muscle and joint support, it limits movement and, according to Dr Kase, gets in the way of the healing process by restricting the flow of inflammatory fluids below the skin.
Kinesio tape is different, he says, because it lifts the skin to assist this lymphatic flow, which, in turn, reduces pain and swelling.
However, Dr Kase admits there have been too few studies to prove these scientific claims.
Psychological crutch?
Dr Kase says people have been using his tape with success for more than 30 years. But he recognises that only solid scientific evidence can silence critics.
"We have many people researching but the society of Kinesio taping therapy itself - the International Kinesio Taping Association - is only five years old. We need more evidence. We do not have research reports. Part of the reason people are using Kinesio tape is to find the science."

Another element to consider is the power of persuasion or "placebo effect" - if you believe something will work then you will see results.
John Brewer, a sports professor at the University of Bedfordshire, said: "Personally, I think it is more of a placebo effect. There is no firm scientific data to show that it has an impact on performance or prevents injuries.
"My concern is that there is little that you can put on the skin that will have a real benefit for the muscles that lie deep beneath.
"The power and stress going through the joints is immense.
"But, saying that, I can't see it would cause any real problem, other than making you lose a few hairs."
In theory, anything that can lessen the oscillations or vibrations that go through the muscle when you are doing intense sport will be beneficial, he said.
Phil Newton, a physiotherapist at Lilleshall, one of the UK's National Sports Centres, said: "It's a multimillion-pound business, yet there's no evidence for it. There's a whole host of companies making this tape now.
"A lot of medical practitioners do use it.
"It is different to the various types of tape that physios have been using for donkey's years to strap sprained ankles and so on.
"This is a relatively new type of tape that is thin and light weight. The idea behind it is fascial unloading - reducing pressure in the tissue below the skin."
Dr Newton remains dubious. "Looking at the tensile strength of the tape I don't see how it could do it unless it is down to stimulating the senses. The power of placebo is very strong and shouldn't be underestimated."
He predicts the Olympics will be awash with the stuff. "It'll be a show of multicoloured tape.
"We'll probably see athletes in the Olympics sporting a few union jacks made out of it," he said.
Dr Kase certainly hopes so.
He said: "Olympians are very top athletes. Top athletes are very different from regular athletes. They are hypersensitive and they worry. My tape will give lots of comfort to them. This is not drugs."

Summer Solstice Happy Hour at STUDIOMIX

20 Jun 2012
Come by STUDIOMIX this Friday anytime from 4:30 to 10:00 for our Summer Solstice Happy Hour! Open to anyone and everyone. We will have food, drinks, classes as usual, performances, music, and EAR ACUPUNCTURE BY ME! =D Hope to see you there!

Acupuncture Can Increase Weight Loss

7 Jun 2012
Yes, it's true! Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been utilized in China for centuries to manage weight and overall health. As stated below, acupuncture is not a "quick fix" that will help you shed pounds after one 20 minute session. Instead, it addresses your underlying causes of that weight gain and helps to increase metabolism and regulate the imbalances in your body for a more sustainable and healthy weight loss. There are a myriad of causes for putting on the pounds ranging from poor lifestyle choices and stress to thyroid imbalances and menopause.

From a TCM perspective, weight gain can often be attributed to a dysfunction in the Spleen and Liver. The Spleen is responsible for our digestion and transformation of food into Qi, the vital energy in our bodies. If the Spleen is out of balance, it can lead to “Dampness”, producing symptoms like fatigue, poor digestion, a heaviness feeling, and weight gain. The Liver is our mood regulator--it is responsible for the smooth flow of QI and Blood in our whole body. When we feel stressed, anxious, angry, or unhappy there will most often be a Liver Qi stagnation, meaning the Qi and Blood in our bodies is not flowing properly.

Regular acupuncture treatments and herbal supplements are some of the best ways to keep your Liver “smooth” and your Spleen “dry”, but for the busiest among us, another great option is attending an ear acupuncture clinic! Ear clinics are quick (usually about 20-30 minutes per session) and very affordable, many offering treatments on a sliding scale from $5-$15.

Spot of Qi Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine is now in the process of setting up an ear clinic, so if you are interested in trying it out, stay tuned!

Here's to your health,
Brenda Hatley, L.Ac, Dipl.OM
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Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese traditional medicine (TCM) that goes back thousands of years. Traditional acupuncturists believe that illness occurs when the body’s vital energy cannot flow freely.
If one of the energy points (chakras) becomes blocked, this can result in problems.
By using tiny needles and placing them at various different acupuncture points, any blocked energy can be released, restoring the body’s overall physical, mental and emotional balance.
Often, a person who is overweight is blamed for eating too much but this may not be the case. Being overweight or obese can be caused by underlying illnesses such as thyroid dysfunction, polycystic ovaries or diabetes, to name just a few.
Acupuncture isn’t a magic instant fix where you stick a few needles in and suddenly begin to lose weight, but it can be used to address any underlying health issues that are causing weight gain and thus help to correct the problem.
Is There Scientific Evidence for Acupuncture?
Yes! Acupuncture for weight loss is used widely in China and there are many published scientific papers showing that it can help.
For instance, a study at Nanjing College of TCM found that acupuncture affected the sympathetic adrenal system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system and helped them to function better, resulting in weight loss.
A study in Poland looking at post-menopausal obesity in women who qualified for hormone replacement therapy, found that acupuncture with a low calorie diet was more successful at treating menopausal obesity than the low calorie diet alone.
The authors concluded, "Acupuncture seems to be an additional useful healing method in treatment of menopausal obesity."
A more recent study held at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center in Taiwan in 2010 found that a new method of acupuncture, laser acupuncture, had a therapeutic effect on people with obesity.
Researchers recorded the patient’s body weights and body mass index before treatment and four weeks after treatment, and found that acupuncture resulted in a mean reduction in body weight of 3.17kgs and in a body mass index reduction of 1.22kgs.
The authors concluded, "Acupuncture was found to exert a therapeutic effect on simple obesity by reducing both body weight and body mass index."
Acupuncture Can Suppress Appetite!
Acupuncture has also been shown to help you lose weight by suppressing your appetite and lessening those urges to snack on unhealthy foods. Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia found that if they attached a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device called an AcuSlim to acupuncture points on the ear and stomach, they could help the patient lose weight.
Sixty overweight patients were put on a slimming diet. One group was then given the AcuSlim stimulation of their ear and stomach acupuncture points, and the other group was given the AcuSlim stimulation on their thumb (where there are no acupuncture points).
Only four of the patients in the thumb group managed to lose any weight, whereas the number of people losing weight in the ear and stomach group was significantly higher and 95 percent of them noticed a reduction in appetite.
The authors concluded, "Frequent stimulation of specific auricular acupuncture points is an effective method of appetite suppression which leads to weight loss."
These are just a few examples of the scientific evidence that is available showing acupuncture assisting in weight loss.
A Word of Warning
If you see any Chinese herbalists advertising weight loss pills in their window or on a website, DON’T take these pills. They are diuretics. They make you lose water.
While this may help you to lose weight initially, it is actually dangerous and may affect your metabolism and actually increase your weight in the long term.
Acupuncture on its own or with a sensible diet is perfectly good enough at treating weight problems and you do not need to take diuretic pills.
If you wish to find a reputable acupuncturist, please go to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture to find an acupuncture physician near you: http://medicalacupuncture.org/
Sources:
1. Acupuncture for Weight Loss, The London Acupuncture Clinic. Web. 6 June 2012. http://www.londonacupuncture.co.uk/showCondition.asp?ArticleID=46
2. What is Traditional Acupuncture? Acupuncture.org.uk. Web. 6 June 2012.
3. Effect of acupuncture on weight loss evaluated by adrenal function, J Tradit Chin Med. 1993 Sep;13(3):169-73.
4. [The effectiveness of low-calorie diet or diet with acupuncture treatment in obese peri- and postmenopausal women], Ginekol Pol. 2003 Feb;74(2):102-7.
5. Clinical observations on laser acupuncture in simple obesitytherapy, Am J Chin Med. 2010;38(5):861-7.
6. Stimulation of auricular acupuncture points in weight loss, Aust Fam Physician. 1998 Jul;27 Suppl 2:S73-7.
Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/ She is the mother of five children and practices natural childbirth, delayed cord clamping, full term breastfeeding and organic food diet.
Reviewed June 6, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
By Joanna Karpasea-Jones HERWriterJune 6, 2012 - 4:14am

Ginseng Significantly Improved Fatigue in Cancer Patients after Just 8 Weeks

5 Jun 2012
American Ginseng, aka Xi Yang Shen 西洋参, is an ancient Chinese herb that is commonly prescribed for Qi and Yin deficiencies and Yin deficient heat. Now there is research showing its effectiveness in treating long-lingering fatigue in cancer patients. I love Chinese medicine!
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BY CHRISTINE HSU JUNE 04, 2012
High doses of the herb American ginseng helped patients fight cancer-related fatigue, according to Mayo Clinic researchers.

In a study of 364 cancer patients from 40 community medical centers around the U.S. and Canada, participants were randomly assigned to take either a 2,000 milligrams of ginseng administered in capsules containing pure, ground American ginseng root or a placebo for eight weeks.
Ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a natural energy booster for thousands of years, and scientists have recently found that the herb can also fight off debilitating fatigue that occurs in up to 90 percent of cancer patients.
Photo: Sheng Li/Reuters
Ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a natural energy booster for thousands of years, and scientists have recently found that the herb can also fight off debilitating fatigue that occurs in up to 90 percent of cancer patients.
Although patients taking the ginseng capsules experienced only a slight improvement in fatigue symptoms four weeks into the study, their feelings of general exhaustion significantly improved at eight weeks compared to those in the placebo group. 
"After eight weeks, we saw a 20-point improvement in fatigue in cancer patients, measured on a 100-point, standardized fatigue scale," Mayo researcher Debra Barton said in a statement, adding that the herb had no apparent side effects.
Half of the patients studied were undergoing cancer treatment at the time of the study and the other half had already completed cancer treatment.
Barton said that cancer-related fatigue can last up to five years after chemotherapy or radiation treatment and exhaustion can be associated with greater inflammation and an inability to regulate stress hormones, like cortisol.
Barton added that previous animal and laboratory research also found that ginseng can also decrease inflammation and regulate cortisol. 
Ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a natural energy booster for thousands of years, and the recent study is the first to show that the herb can also fight off debilitating fatigue that occurs in up to 90 percent of cancer patients.
"We are making progress in cancer treatment, and we do have more survivors than ever before, so we can’t just ignore these quality-of-life factors once the cancer is gone,” she said, according to WLS Radio 890AM.
Health professionals often warn patients against taking supplements that might interfere with their cancer treatment medication, and in recent years, patients undergoing cancer treatment have reported adverse reactions after taking ginseng.
However Barton said that the latest findings on ginseng are encouraging, and she noted that it was important for patients to tell their doctors about all the supplements they’re taking.
Barton plans to study how ginseng affects cancer-related biological factors like levels of inflammation and the stress hormone cortisol.
"Cancer is a prolonged chronic stress experience and the effects can last 10 years beyond diagnosis and treatment," she said. "If we can help the body be better modulated throughout treatment with the use of ginseng, we may be able to prevent severe long-term fatigue."

Acupuncture Points to Different Sides – New Research

4 Jun 2012

New research investigated the effects of needling the same acupuncture point on the left-side versus the effects of needling the acupoint on the right-side to determine if there were any physiological differences. Researchers measured the mean blood flux (MBF) in the acupuncture point LI4 (Hegu) using a Moor full-field laser perfusion imager. The study measured the results of needling LI4 on 120 human volunteers.
Methodology
The acupuncture group received acupuncture at LI4 with a 0.25 X 25mm needle to a depth of 15mm. Manual stimulation to the needle was applied with the rotation method every five minutes for a total of 30 minutes. In the control group, subjects did not receive acupuncture.
Acupuncture Affects Opposite Side
Acupuncture stimulation of right-sided LI4 caused strong amplification of the mean blood flux on the left-sided LI4. However, needling of left-sided LI4 only caused moderate amplification on both sides. The researchers concluded that the acupuncture point LI4 has lateralized specificity.
More Specificity Research
Acupuncture CEUs OnlineAcupuncture at LI4Researchers from the University of California, School of Medicine in Irvine, California concluded, “Recent evidence shows that stimulation of different points on the body causes distinct responses in hemodynamic, fMRI and central neural electrophysiological responses.” MRI results showed that “stimulation of different sets of acupoints leads to disease-specific neuronal responses, even when acupoints are located within the same spinal segment.”
 New MRI research demonstrates that acupuncture “induce(s) different cerebral glucose metabolism changes in pain-related brain regions and reduce(s) intensity of pain” for patients with migraines. The choice of acupuncture points determined specific changes in brain glycometabolism, indicating point specificity.
 New research published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine concludes that acupuncture at acupoint SP9 (Yinlingquan) increases blood flow/perfusion to the spleen and acupuncture at acupoint LV8 (Ququan) increases blood flow/perfusion to the liver. The researchers concluded, “These results provide scientific evidence of the specificity of meridians.”
A recent MRI study compared brain activity from needling acupoint SP6 with a sham point. SP6 increased activity in the inferior parietal lobe, fusiform temporal gyrus and medial frontal gyrus. The sham point did not activate the areas but instead enhanced activity in the precuneus, a part of the superior parietal lobe. The researchers concluded that true acupuncture affects brain activity differently than needle stimulation at non-acupuncture points.
 A recent study concludes, “Acupuncture is effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia, and is superior to non-acupoint puncture. The benefit of acupuncture relies on acupoint specificity.” The control group sham points were ineffective in the treatment of dyspepsia whereas the use of Stomach channel acupoints had over a 70 percent success rate.
New research published in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging demonstrates the point specific neurophysiological effects of acupuncture using MRI technology. Stimulation of acupuncture point GB40 (Qixu) enhanced “connectivity between the superior temporal gyrus (STG) and anterior insula.” Acupuncture point K3 (Taixi) increased the connection strength between the STG and the postcentral gyrus. The researchers concluded that, “The current study demonstrates that acupuncture at different acupoints could exert different modulatory effects on RSNs (brain Resting State Networks). Our findings may help to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture specificity.”
References:
1. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 951928, 7 pages. doi:10.1155/2012/951928. Identification Algorithm Analysis of Acupuncture Effect on Mean Blood Flux of Contralateral Hegu Acupoint. Guangjun Wang, Jianguo Han, Gerhard Litscher, and Weibo Zhang.
2. Point specificity in acupuncture. Chinese Medicine 2012, 7:4 doi:10.1186/1749-8546-7-4. Emma M Choi, Fang Jiang, John C Longhurst. Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine CA. Medical Science, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine. Medical Science, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA.
 3. A PET-CT study on specificity of acupoints through acupuncture treatment on migraine patients. Jie Yang1, Fang Zeng1, Yue Feng1,Li Fang1, Wei Qin2, Xuguang Liu1, Wenzhong Song3, Hongjun Xie3 , Ji Chen1, Fanrong Liang1.
 4. American Journal of Chinese Medicine, V40, 1, 1-10. 2012 World Scientific Publishing Company. Institute for Advanced Research in Asian Science and Medicine. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X12009610 . 2 Hz Electro-Acupuncture at Yinlingquan (SP9) and Ququan (LR8) Acupoints Induces Changes in Blood Flow in the Liver and Spleen. Wen-Cheng Chou, Hsu-Jan Liu, Yi-Wen Lin, Chin-Yi Cheng, Tsai-Chung Li, Nou-Ying Tang and Ching-Liang Hsieh. China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
5. Ma, T. T., Yu, S. Y., Li, Y., Liang, F. R., Tian, X. P., Zheng, H., Yan, J., Sun, G. J., Chang, X. R., Zhao, L., Wu, X. and Zeng, F. (2012), Randomised clinical trial: an assessment of acupuncture on specific meridian or specific acupoint vs. sham acupuncture for treating functional dyspepsia. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 35: 552–561. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04979.x
6. Zhong, C., Bai, L., Dai, R., Xue, T., Wang, H., Feng, Y., Liu, Z., You, Y., Chen, S. and Tian, J. (2011), Modulatory effects of acupuncture on resting-state networks: A functional MRI study combining independent component analysis and multivariate granger causality analysis. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging.