Why does inflammation seem to underlie all sickness? culprit in diseases ranging from arthritis to depression
I’m linking to this article on inflammation which I’ve covered many times in the blog, in hopes that a different writer might make it easier to understand for my readers why I’m so preoccupied with this topic! According to the authors of a 2015 British Journal of Nutrition (BJN) study, inflammation is the immune system’s…
Read MoreDoes Mindfulness Meditation Work?
For the record. The question is, as always, what is the risk/benefit assessment? I would assume the risk to be small, but that would probably depend on the “dosage” and individual’s mental make up. I’ve had a Vipassana practice off and on for decades, and have also done a lot of self-hypnosis and creative visualization. …
Read MoreTAVNS Clinical Data Not a Panacea: Li.Ma and St.Gi edition
In the spirit of “there’s no bad data only bad hypotheses” I share this data. This is from a long time patient (>3 years) who comes monthly for cosmetic acupuncture. I’ve tried TAVNS on her a few times and the results show in increase in her sympathetic/parasympathetic balance to a dramatic degree. Not once, not…
Read MoreCurrent Directions in the Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation I – A Physiological Perspective
This is the companion article to this one. Current Directions in Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation I Kaniusas E, Kampusch S, Tittgemeyer M, et al. Current Directions in the Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation I – A Physiological Perspective. Front Neurosci. 2019;13:854. Published 2019 Aug 9. doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00854 ” In line with the aforementioned inhibitory effects of vagal receptors,…
Read MoreSphenopalatine Nucleus Acupuncture for Allergic Rhinitis
A yet to be published study on an unusual approach to acupuncture for allergic rhinitis. Efficacy of Acupuncture at the Sphenopalatine Ganglion in the Treatment of Persistent Allergic Rhinitis Jiao-Ping Mi, MD,1,* Peng He, MD,1,* Fang Shen, BS,1 Xuan Yang, MD,2 Miao-Feng Zhao, BS,1 and Xin-Ye Chen, MD1 ABSTRACT Objective: The…
Read MoreTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation, implications as alternative to VNS for epilepsy
I’m linking to this abstract for reference. I don’t have access to the actual article, but it reinforces the increasing interest in TAVNS. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2019 Nov;36(6):437-442. doi: 10.1097/WNP.0000000000000576. Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation. Ellrich J1. Author information 1 Medical Faculty, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. Abstract Invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an…
Read MoreTreating Depression with Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: State of the Art and Future Perspectives
I can’t say enough about this journal article. It clearly lays out the physiology and brain anatomy involved in TAVNS with a focus on depression. But it also discusses the impact of inflammation, microbiota, and even auricular acupuncture. It is not written for the lay audience, but an incredible resource for anyone interested in where…
Read MoreAcupuncture and TAVNS HRV: St.Gi Edition
Following up on yesterday’s post this patients data shows a similar discrepancy in the data. She, also, employed deep breathing in one of the sessions. It drove down her LF/HF which can be interpreted as an increase in her stress levels, but in the same session her RMSSD went up which means the opposite. This…
Read MoreSteroid Injections Not as Safe as Previously Thought
From Harvard Medical School blog Calling steroid injections into question Steroid injections can quickly relieve inflammation in the joints, and the effects may last from several weeks to several months. I’ve seen a number of patients who got significant relief from steroid injections every three or four months. But, a new report of one…
Read MoreImpact of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis on the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
I’m including this here even though it’s only an announcement of a study that will be undertaken, because this was the initial revelation I had so many years ago about the possible link between acupuncture and stress levels. I was trying to make sense of how acupuncture helped allergy and panic attacks since the prevailing…
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