It has been fun watching the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. As an acupuncturist, I find it especially interesting to see the information circulating about Traditional Chinese Medicine (although some of it is mis-information).One clinic in the Olympic athlete’s’ village is offering acupuncture and traditional Chinese massage. Both athletes and coaches are taking advantage of the services. You can read the full article from the Times Online, a British newspaper. Be aware, however, that the article somewhat sensationalizes Chinese herbal medicine, focusing on animal products that are almost never used in the United States and are uncommon even in China.

In fact, according to the official Olympic website, Chinese athletes are not using herbal medicine during the games, to prevent the appearance of an unfair advantage (although there is no evidence that the substances in common Chinese herbs would be considered doping).

Athletes are also taking advantage of cupping, an adjunctive technique in Chinese medicine. Chinese swimmers and marathon runners have been seen with cupping marks on their backs. Don’t worry– the marks will disappear in a few days and cupping feels fabulous!

On the lighter side, here is a link to an article from Weird Asia News. A Chinese acupuncturist broke the world record for self acupuncture by inserting 2008 decorative acupuncture needles into himself. Do not try this at home– and I promise that I will never use this many needles on a patient!

Can you ward off nearsightedness? Recent news suggests that it may be possible to prevent children from developing myopia.

In China, eyestrain accounts for 45 percent of nearsightedness. The Chinese Education Ministry blames poor lighting and the many hours that students spend studying and reading books. To help save students’ vision, the Ministry is proposing that schools organize twice-daily eye exercises.

Researchers in the United States have found that 33 percent of Americans are nearsighted and half of Americans have some type of vision problem.

A new study from Australia found a correlation between eyesight and time spent outdoors. Children who spent the most amount of time outside, regardless of the type of activity, had less incidence of nearsightedness. Researchers think that sunlight may prevent the eye growth that can lead to myopia.

So, how much protection do you give your eyes? Make sure that you take breaks from reading and computer use, giving your eyes time to focus in the distance. Avoid both excessive glare and dim light. And find excuses to spend time outdoors!

An Italian study found that acupuncture relieved pain for migraine sufferers.  Acupuncture out-performed three controls: two groups that received “sham” acupuncture and one which received no preventative treatment.  Improvement in symptoms continued for six months.

Acupuncture appeared to help even in patients who had not gotten relief from standard Western medication.

Preliminary evidence from six research trials has found that Chinese Club Moss may be effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease.  It has been shown to increase cognition and function in Alzheimer’s patients and to reduce behavioral disturbances.Researchers theorize that the beneficial effects of Chinese Club Moss are related to its ability to block the enzyme acetyl cholinesterase. You can read more in this article from Nursing Times.

Recent research from Germany found acupuncture to be effective for treating painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea). Women in the control group did not receive acupuncture while women in the treatment group were given 15 acupuncture treatments. After three months, the women in the acupuncture treatment group reported less pain and a better quality of life than women in the control group. These benefits continued for at least another three months after treatment ended.Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can be helpful for a wide range of women’s health issues, such as infertility, morning sickness, and menopausal symptoms. See my March blog post on acupuncture for improving IVF success.

This past Saturday, I volunteered at Veterans Acupuncture Care (VAC) Metrowest in Framingham, MA. VAC offers free auricular (ear) acupuncture treatments for veterans and their families. The treatments are primarily geared toward stress reduction, but like all forms of acupuncture they help to restore balance in the entire body. Treatments are done in a community acupuncturesetting in one large room, with patients sitting upright in chairs.

We only saw one patient this Saturday, a veteran who had been to VAC before and gave it glowing reviews. We are hoping to publicize this service because it has the potential to benefit many more people.

The stress reduction aspect of the treatment can be particularly helpful for veterans who are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although it is not a new disorder, PTSD has been highlighted in the news in the past several years due to the large percentage of cases among troops stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, many people believe that the military hospitals do not have enough resources to accommodate everyone who needs treatment.

Preliminary studies have found acupuncture to be useful in the treatment of PTSD.

VAC Metrowest is made possible with the support of Acupuncturists Without Borders, a group that also uses auricular acupuncture to help survivors of natural disasters, like Hurricane Katrina.You can contact them to find veterans projectsin other states.

The Metrowest clinic is open every Saturday from 10am-12pm at the Framingham Civic League, 214 Concord Street. No appointments are necessary. Please tell everyone who might benefit from these treatments. For more information, leave a comment here or contact us.

Many people are surprised at the breadth and scope of disorders that can be treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  However, I generally tell people that acupuncture and TCM are not appropriate for emergency or life-threatening conditions.  If you break your leg or are having sudden chest pains, for instance, go to the emergency room.  This is where Western medicine excels.

The truth is, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine traditionally have been used for an even wider range of conditions, including many that we would consider emergencies.  For example, ancient texts include acupuncture and herbal prescriptions for treating drowning and stroke.

For another case of TCM being used for an urgent condition, read this article from the Arbroath Herald, a Scottish newspaper.  A few months ago, a Chinese doctor trained in TCM was aboard a flight from China to the UK.  When several teenagers began suffering from fever, diarrhea, and stomach pain caused by food poisoning, the pilot considered an emergency landing.  Using acupressure and massage (acupuncture needles are not allowed in carry-on luggage), Dr. Qin was able to relieve the symptoms and make the students comfortable enough to tolerate the four hours remaining in the flight.

While my original recommendation remains, for emergencies please seek care from an MD, Dr. Qin shows us that TCM can provide some care when Western medicine is unavailable – and by using just his hands and his knowledge!

Scientists are studying the impact of a Chinese mushroom (Phellinus linteus, or song gen in Chinese) on breast cancer tumors.  Preliminary research shows that extracts from the mushroom reduced the growth of cancer cells and blood vessels that supplied the tumors.  The mushroom has also shown promising results for treating skin, lung, and prostate cancer. 

While this mushroom has been used in Asian medicine, researchers are unclear how the extract may be used in Western medical treatment.

Acupuncture has long been used to treat hot flashes in perimenopausal and menopausal women.  Now, researchers in Norway have found acupuncture to be helpful in treating hot flashes caused by Tamoxifen, a common treatment for breast cancer.

Real acupuncture performed better than “sham” acupuncture, relieving hot flashes both day and night by 50%.  Benefits continued for at least three months after the last acupuncture treatment.

Researchers in China and Japan reviewed 908 cases in 9 different studies and found that qigong practice for at least two months can lead to a reduction in blood pressure among people with hypertension.  On average, study participants reduced their systolic blood pressure by 17.03 mm Hg and their diastolic blood pressure by 9.98 mm Hg.  These results were superior to those of control groups, but not better than results for participants treated with prescribed anti-hypertensive medication.

For more information on qigong and tai chi in Chinese medicine, see my blog post from May, The Many Benefits of Tai Chi.