The Chinese and New South Wales Governments have combined to build the $75 million Healthpac Centre of Excellence in Chatswood.

Willoughby Council mayor Pat Reilly says visiting Chinese doctors will work with local researchers to provide treatment integrating the two traditions.

"It is certainly going to be somewhat different to where you might have a medical centre where there's a couple of doctors who are associated with this sort of thing and the rest of them are Western docs," he said.

"This will be a mixture of both but where research into different aspects of Chinese medicine, acupuncture and Western medicine can be assured."

Research in mice has now provided a biochemical explanation that some experts are finding more persuasive, although it might account for only some of the treatment's supposed benefits. "Our study shows there is a clear biological mechanism behind acupuncture," says Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester in New York, who led the research.

Nedergaard's team wanted to find out whether the neuromodulator adenosine, which is produced when tissue is injured and has pain-dulling effects, was involved in the purported pain-relieving effects of acupuncture. After inducing pain in the right hind paws of their mice, the researchers inserted and rotated an acupuncture needle just below the 'knee', at a place known in humans as the 'Zusanli point'. For about an hour after the treatment the mice took longer to respond to touch or heat on the paw, indicating that their pain had been dulled. The team found that adenosine levels had increased at the acupuncture site, and that mice lacking a key cell receptor for adenosine did not show the same response.

"One thing that's really nice about this is they approach this question with a specific and firm hypothesis," says Vitaly Napadow, a neuroscientist who studies acupuncture at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Although sceptical that the mechanism could explain, for example, how acupuncture could relieve headaches, he says that "in conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, a mechanism such as that described in this paper might very well be important".

Dominik Irnich, head of the Multidisciplinary Pain Centre at the University of Munich in Germany, and a doctor who uses acupuncture, notes that other studies have proposed mechanisms such as the release of endorphins or other neurotransmitters. But Nedergaard says that these would act on the whole nervous system — her study found no effect when acupuncture was applied to the rodents' pain-free left legs, suggesting that there is not a central mechanism.

Edzard Ernst, who studies the effectiveness of alternative therapies at the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, UK, says that the mechanism is credible, but that the work does not address whether acupuncture is an effective treatment. "If the clinical effect is not beyond placebo, which most of the well-controlled clinical trials seem to suggest, the mechanism is irrelevant and the true mechanism is placebo," he says.

Acupunctur for mice

Acupuncture, frequently combined with herbal medicine, has been used for centuries to treat some causes of infertility. For example, acupuncture and herbs will not work to address tubal adhesions which can occur as a result of pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis. However, in this situation, an individual could still benefit from acupuncture and herbs because of the potential effect of improved ovarian and follicular function. Additionally, it is shown that acupuncture can increase blood flow to the endometrium, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining.

When should acupuncture treatment begin?

Acupuncture is similar to physical therapy in that it is a process oriented method of medical intervention. It is better to do more than less. Patients are commonly treated for three to four months before an insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or donor-egg transfer. This period of treatment seems to have a therapeutic effect.

In a study by Stener-Victorin et al from the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology Fertility Centre, Scandinavia and University of Gothenburg, women are encouraged to receive acupuncture treatments pre and post embryo transfer. Clinical observations from the Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness suggest that the most effective fertility treatments involve a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and traditional medical interventions. However, conception does sometimes occur when acupuncture and herbal medicines are used without traditional medical interventions.

A German study done in 2002 showed that of the 80 women who underwent IVF and received acupuncture, 34 women got pregnant, a success rate of 42.5%. Of the 80 women involved in the study who received IVF without any acupuncture treatments, only 21 women (26.3%) became pregnant. More recently, an American study involving 114 women showed that 51% of the women who had acupuncture and IVF treatments became pregnant versus only 36% of the women who had IVF alone. Deeper analysis of this study revealed that, while 8% of the women in the acupuncture group miscarried, the rate of miscarriage in the IVF-only group was 20%. Furthermore, women who received acupuncture also had lower rates of ectopic pregnancies

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs, affects an estimated 300 million people around the world. Although it is considered a treatable disease with proper medication, it still claims over 3,000 deaths each year in the U.S. alone. It is also one of the most common diseases for which patients turn to alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, for treatment and relief. Like all methods in Oriental medicine, acupuncture utilizes a holistic approach wherein treatment is focused on achieving overall health and well-being in order to remove the troublesome symptoms associated with asthma.

In traditional Chinese medicine, asthma is considered not just a disorder of the lungs but also of the kidneys and the stomach. This explains why the acupoints that correspond to the acupuncture treatment of asthma are located along the lung, kidney, and stomach meridians. Acupoints along the bladder meridian are also treated since bladder function is considered important for the overall health of the body's organs.

Acupuncture is widely used as a preventative medicine technique, and as such, is most effective when used to treat initial attacks or mild bouts of asthma. The disease is one of 40 considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) that may benefit from acupuncture. One study conducted by the University of Vienna Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care showed that at least 70% of the patients suffering from asthma reported improvement after undergoing regular acupuncture treatment for a span of 10 weeks.

Asthma treatment with acupuncture

Who says alternative medicine (acupuncture) is for quacks?

Following the decision of the FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate the use and practice of alternative medicine, there might just be hope for millions of alternative therapists who have repeatedly been ridiculed by the medical profession. Commonly referred to as "quack doctors", healers who practice unorthodox treatments may finally get the recognition they have been seeking for centuries.

The practice of alternative medicine has been around long before medical schools and hospitals. "What's funny is that alternative medicine has often been regarded as baseless and misleading by traditional doctors when it is, in fact, the real traditional medicine," says Dr. Joe Bankston of the Office of Alternative Medicine.

The National Library of Medicine classifies alternative medicine as "an unrelated group of non-orthodox therapeutic practices, often with explanatory systems that do not follow conventional biomedical explanations." These include, but are not limited to, the following disciplines: folk medicine, herbal medicine, diet fads, homeopathy, faith healing, new age healing, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy, massage, and music therapy.

Because these methods are unconventional and not thoroughly explained by scientific trials, the U.S. FDA had been hesitant in recognizing the legitimacy of these treatments. As a result, the practice has remained underground for decades, and patients have been resorting to shady deals in order to avail of drugs and services. Also, because alternative medicine has been shunned by the scientific community, the possibility of these therapies being studied further remained remote.

Prior to the FDA legislation, the Complementary Healthcare Consultative Forum started regulating the practice of alternative medicine by accrediting practitioners of alternative medicine, early last year. It also aimed to develop a more effective system of monitoring over the counter supplements 

Director of the Office of Complementary Medicine Dr. Fiona Cumming says more surveillance will be placed on the safety of herbal products, and a new advertising code drawn up to regulate claims made by manufacturers.

"We have been looking at ways to streamline the regulations of complementary medicines, delivering absolutely safe quality products for consumers, but allowing more timely access onto the market," she said.

What regulation can do

"Regulating alternative medicine may only be beneficial to patients and consumers, because this would give patients more options in choosing legitimate health care, not being limited to conventional treatments," says Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio. Rep. DeFazio pushed for the law which gave the National Institutes of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine the power to provide funding for independent research into alternative health care methods.

The formation of regulation policies will provide a new approval mechanism for natural medicinal products, in order to make potentially life-saving treatments more widely available to consumers, as opposed to the excessive limits on the availability of alternative medical treatments in the past.

With the growing acceptance of alternative medicine as a legitimate treatment for various conditions, the public can only expect a wider array of such medical products and services in the market. The patient will be able to select which kind of treatment he or she wants, without any fear of rejection or castigation by conventional practitioners. Although this is probably far from happening, it might not be long before you find alternative healers side-by-side with your physicians in the hospital.

acupuncture By Shakira Andrea Sison

A study has found that acupuncture not only helps to relieve pain but is a cost-effective way of doing so.

More than 3,400 patients suffering from neck pain were studied over a three-month period by scientists based at the Berlin Institute of Social Medicine. About half received acupuncture in addition to routine care.

The researchers, whose study is reported in the journal Pain, found that the extra cost of the acupuncture treatment resulted in health benefits that were great enough to make the treatment cost-effective.

“Acupuncture isn’t controversial any more,” said Claudia Witt, who led the project. “We’ve shown that it works.” She added that it was in no way comparable to other alternative therapies. ”

One in five people in Britain suffers from long-term pain and about half of these have taken time off work because of it. While acupuncture is provided in the majority of pain clinics in Britain, access to the treatment is limited.

Acupuncture and pain by Hannah Devlin from The Times

I only have two words for this: Toyohari Acupuncturists

Blind woman tries again for state acupuncture license

Associated Press

AUSTIN — A blind student of acupuncture is making a second request for a state license to practice the trade after being rejected last year because of her lack of vision.

The licensure committee of the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners was set to rehear Juliana Cumbo's request for a license today. She would be the first blind person to be issued a state license, board members said.

"I wanted to be more involved in health care … and I thought it was a perfect profession for a blind person," Cumbo said of her decision to pursue acupuncture, a method of diagnosing, treating and preventing illness by placing thin needles along specific points on the body.

The 31-year-old practices as a graduate intern in the student clinic of the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin. She has earned a master's degree in acupuncture and Oriental medicine and passed the national board exams.

"Juliana is an exemplary practitioner … and she is extremely talented," said Will Morris, president of the Austin academy. "I am proud to sign her diploma."

Meng-sheng Lin, the licensure committee chairwoman, said she's inclined to repeat her vote against Cumbo's application. She said Cumbo's case was the first time she had encountered the issue.

"I'm just trying to fulfill my duty to protect the public," said Lin, an acupuncturist in Dallas. "Would you go to a blind acupuncturist?"

Lin said acupuncture can lead to bleeding, which could be a problem if it went unnoticed and created a situation where the acupuncturist or patient could become contaminated.

Hoang Ho, a member of the acupuncture committee who also voted against Cumbo's license, said licensing Cumbo would be a liability for the board if something were to go wrong.

"You have to know exactly the point" to insert the needle, said Ho, who practices acupuncture in Kerrville and San Antonio. "There are a lot of blood vessels, and there can be injuries."

Cumbo, who said she also has a bachelor's degree in classical guitar, completed 3,218 hours of training in acupuncture. About a third of that was clinical experience in which she worked on 592 patients without any formal safety complaints, said Xiaotian Shen, the director of the Austin clinic and one of Cumbo's teachers.

Cumbo received extra hands-on training, and now she is better at finding acupuncture points than many students who can see, Morris said.

Shen said Cumbo was tested on a live model to pass the national boards.

Dr. Terry Rascoe, the acupuncture board's presiding officer, said the committee could approve Cumbo's request, reject it or ask the full board to consider it. The case could also go before a state administrative judge.

Cumbo's lawyer, David Cohen of Austin, said denying Cumbo a license "on the basis of her blindness alone" would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Tongue diagnosis

Tongue diagnosis

Your tongue accurately reflects the state of your digestive system- from rectum to esophagus, including the stomach, small intestines, colon (large intestine), pancreas, spleen, liver and gall bladder. 

Imagine, you don't need a battery of tests to find out what part of your digestive tract is in stress. You can diagnosis the whole GI tract and corresponding organ integrity all in one easy view- just stick your tongue out and take a good look at it.

As a whole the tongue reflects the condition of the digestive system and the organs associated with blood, nutrient assimilation, and excretion. You can also see how 'hot' or how 'cold' your internal organs are. Therefore it has a high value as a diagnostic tool.  

Specific sections of the tongue mirror the condition of particular parts of the digestive system and the digestion related internal organs.

The following correspondences exist in this relationship:

A- the tip area reflects the rectum and the descending colon. B- the peripheral area reflects the large intestine. C- the middle region corresponds to the small intestine. D- the back edge region relates to the liver, gallbladder, duodenum, and pancreas. E- the near back region corresponds to the stomach. F- the back region ('the root of the tongue') reflects the esophagus. G- the underside of the tongue reflects the quality of blood and lymph circulation in each corresponding area.

Structural characteristics

Like each particular area of the body, the tongue can be used to evaluate one's overall condition.

Zetsu Shin as it is called in Japanese, is one of the most important forms of diagnosis used in Chinese medicine. Two main aspects are considered in tongue diagnosis.

First is the structure of the tongue. Is it wide or narrow, thick or thin, pointed or rounded? Such qualities convey information concerning the individual's basic constitution and overall strengths and weaknesses of body and mind.

Width:

• a wide tongue reflects an overall balanced physical and psychological disposition.

• a narrow tongue reflects a lack of physical adaptability with pronounced strengths and weaknesses. Mentally, thinking may be sharp but tend toward seeing a narrow view.

• a very wide tongue reflects a generally loose and expanded physical condition and a tendency toward more psychological concerns.

Tip:

• a rounded tip reflects a flexible yet firm physical and mental condition.

• a pointed tip reflects a tight, perhaps even rigid physical condition and an aggressive or even offensive mentality.

• a very wide tip reflects an overall weakness of the physical body and a flaccid or even "spaced out" mental condition.

• a divided tip reflects a tendency toward physical and mental imbalances with the possibility of sharp fluctuations in thinking and mood.

Thickness:

• a flat tongue reflects a balanced condition and the ability to flexibly adapt to circumstances.

• a thin tongue reflects a more mental orientation, with a tendency to be more gentle and easy going.

• a thick tongue reflects a more physical orientation, with the tendency to be assertive or even aggressive.

In comparison to structure, the condition of the tongue is influenced more by daily lifestyle and provides information about an individual's current state of health. Qualities to look for include:

Color:

• Dark red: indicates inflammation; lesions or ulceration; and sometimes a degeneration of the related organ.

• White: indicates stagnation of blood; fat and mucus deposits; or a weakness in the blood leading to such conditions as anemia.

• Yellow: indicates a disorder of the liver and gallbladder, resulting in an excess secretion of bile; deposits of animal fats, especially in the middle organs of the body; and possible inflammation.

• Blue or Purple: indicates stagnation of blood circulation and a serious weakening of the part of the digestive system that corresponds to the area of the tongue where the color appears.

The color on the underside of the tongue can also be used to determine the internal condition. In general, the colors and their indications listed above are the same, with the following exceptions:

• Blue or Green: In excess, either of these color reflect disorders in the blood vessels and in blood quality and circulation.

• Purple: In excess, this color reflects disorders of the lymphatic and circulatory system. It indicates a weakening of the immune ability and of the blood vessels.

Texture:

• a swollen or enlarged tongue: indicates a Jitsu, or full state.

• a shriveled or withered-looking tongue: indicates a Kyo, or empty state.

Movement:

• the flexibility of the tongue also reflects the condition of the digestive system. Characteristics to look for include:

  • a flexible, supple, smoothly moving tongue.

  • a stiff, tense, or inflexible tongue.

  • a loose or lolling tongue.

  • a tongue with a pronounced slant to the left or right when it is extended.

Pimples or projections of the tongue's surface indicate the discharge of fat, protein, and sugar. Where in the body this discharge is coming from can be determined by the specific area of the tongue on which it appears. You can find the correlation between the areas of the tongue and the digestive tract.

Tongue diagnosis 

“Is there a doctor on board?” Was the urgent plea for help from the pilot of a Boeing 747 on an Air China flight from Beijing to Heathrow on Saturday, February 23, 2008.

Pupils from the Bishop Challoner School in south-east London were returning from a nine-day school trip to China when several of the students became critically ill from food poisoning picked up from their last meal in their hotel in Beijing. 

The students had become severely dehydrated and went into shock from relentless vomiting part way through the 11-hour flight.

Dr Wendong Qin, a doctor of Chinese medicine from Shandong province, came to the rescue.  There were no Western medicines on board to help the students, but Dr. Qin was able to utilize acupuncture points to relieve the symptoms that the teenagers were suffering from including stomach cramps, headaches and shock.

As more and more of the group became sick, the back of the aircraft was turned into a makeshift hospital.  Before he had treated the teenagers, Dr Qin said that the pilot had considered making an emergency landing at an alternative airfield, but afterwards felt confident enough to fly on to London.

"About four-and-a-half hours before we arrived in London, the pilot sent a message asking if there was a doctor on board. I went to see what was wrong and found many boys and girls suffering sickness and diarrhea accompanied by severe stomach pains and a high fever.” Dr. Qin said when interviewed.

"The aircraft did not have the necessary medicines so I decided to use traditional Chinese methods, including acupuncture. Unfortunately, I had no needles, as you are not permitted to carry sharp objects on an aircraft, so I used my fingers instead on the acupuncture points of the boys worst affected and the symptoms lessened.

"I treated each patient for 10 to 15 minutes and they felt much better, the sickness and diarrhea had stopped and the pain had gone."

Emergency Acupuncture Source: Arbroath Herald, February 2008