Robots No Better than Traditional Surgery for Cancer Patients
I need to put a new tab on my blog called “Boys and Their Toys”. Just kidding! I don’t need the backlash from the boys and their toys… I did a previous post on the perils of robotic surgery here. I’m sure that these companies would love nothing better than being able to promise the…
Read MoreWhat if Placebo Isn't a trick?
Interesting history of placebo and the current research. Ted Kapchuk, famous for his work on acupuncture, feels that the placebo relies on the practitioner/patient relationship. I don’t agree with that, but he’s the expert! He’s uncomfortable with trying to pin down the placebo effect to the genome, or molecular/cellular response. He seems to only be…
Read MorePrevention: Making the Invisible Visible
A previous blog post that discussed prevention touched on something I’ve grappled with ever since I was in classes learning acupuncture. And maybe this isn’t a super deep insight, and I’m sure that others much smarter than me have thought about this more. The issue with medicine (and one could argue other aspects of modern…
Read MoreEvidence-based blood pressure reducing actions of electroacupuncture: mechanisms and clinical application.
This is a summary of the research done by the Longhurst group at UCIrvine. Their studies show that for patients with mild to moderate hypertension, weekly treatment with low frequency low intensity acupuncture will decrease systolic, and to lesser extent, diastolic blood pressure by at least 6mm Hg. Monthly treatment is needed to keep the…
Read MoreCommon Over the Counter and Prescription Drugs Contribute to Depression
First Do No Harm. I guess I’m not surprised. I’ve been suspicious of Gabapentin for awhile though. Anecdotally, I’ve had a number of patients who felt quite dysphoric on it and had to stop. And, of course, birth control pills can be a serious problem for some women. ” Many patients are taking more…
Read MoreRisks of Lasik Surgery
(Click on the photo for the article from the NYTimes) Though I realize people love Lasik surgery, I’ve had my concerns ever since reading ‘Into Thin Air” by Krakauer. The doctor in the group goes temporarily blind at higher altitudes due to his Lasik surgery. Risks include dry eyes and distorted vision. And not in…
Read MoreElectronic Health Records’ Awful Toll on Doctors
Burnout and disillusionment are everywhere among medical doctors. Electronic Health records are just the latest burden. “My young colleague slumping in the chair in my office survived the student years, then three years of internship and residency and is now a full-time practitioner and teacher. The despair I hear comes from being the highest-paid…
Read MoreEndorsement of Acupuncture: SF Chronicle
“The American College of Physicians has gone so far as to recommend acupuncture as a first treatment for low back pain, and the Joint Commission’s “Pain Management Standards” now includes acupuncture as a non-pharmacological strategy for managing pain.”… “..Or maybe all those needles stimulate the body to heal itself or suppress pain. Or maybe getting…
Read MoreTaVNS and HRV monitoring: Case Study Ra.Bo. edition
This is an example of how I try use the heart rate variability analysis data to help determine best treatment options. This patient has anxiety and high blood pressure. I wanted to see if the Ear stimulation device (TAVNS) that I use would help lower her stress levels. So if you look below each group…
Read MoreEar device to block opioid withdrawal sx. No controlled studies.
On the one hand, it’s validating to see these attempts. But on the other, it seems too early to make claims. They are targeting an emotional and numerous group for this technology, which makes me suspect. It also jumps out at me that the part of the ear they are choosing to stimulate is not…
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