Acupuncture for Histamine-Induced Itch: Association With Increased Parasympathetic Tone and Connectivity of Putamen-Midcingulate Cortex.
Of course I love this study since it validates my original finding that acupuncture responders have a pronounced, demonstrable stress reduction in contrast to acupuncture non-responders. Studies seldom differentiate between responders and non-responders, just looking for overall response in the group. full article here The points used were LI11, Sp 10, PC6, HT 7, St36….
Read MoreApplication of heart rate variability in acupuncture research (Review Article in Chinese)
This is an article I would love to be able to read, but alas, can’t get it. The conclusions match mine on the topic. Where they say “interference factors”, I might say “confounding factors”. Where they say observation index, I might say “biomarker.” However, various interference factors for HRV measurement and diverse methods for data…
Read MoreCorticotropin Releasing Factor Brain Peptides
This paper Cardiovascular functions of central corticotropin [PMIDP30922523]details the state of the knowledge of the various peptides involved in stress signaling in the brain. The group is interested in acupuncture, but identified no specific directions of research involving acupuncture. Since stress is a focus of mine in practice, I’m always looking for information that may…
Read MoreMy 10 Year Blog Birthday
I forgot to celebrate my 10 year blog birthday in the newsletter or online. This was the inaugural post from February 2009. I have over 1100 blog posts. Is that a lot? A little? I don’t know how to measure… Happy Birthday to the Blog! To be perfectly accurate, I had a previous iteration, with…
Read MoreElectroacupuncture and the Septo-Hippocampal Cholinergic System
I assume that the reason that there is an entire journal devoted to the hippocampus(!) is that it is essential to memory and laying down new memories. So to focus on the workings of the hippocampus, and optimizing its function is relevant to the epidemic of dementia and Alzheimer’s dementia. Luigi Manni has done a…
Read MoreAltered sympathovagal balance and pain hypersensitivity in TNBS-induced colitis.
This study reinforces the brain/gut relationship that is key to understanding and treating GI problems. Here, they look at HRV in conjunction with experimentally induced Irritable Bowel Syndrome in animals. Arch Med Sci. 2017 Feb 1;13(1):246-255. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2015.55147. Epub 2016 Dec 19. Altered sympathovagal balance and pain hypersensitivity in TNBS-induced colitis. Ciesielczyk K1, Furgała A1,…
Read MoreTAVNS and Acupuncture in the Clinic: J.L. and C.H. edition
After I used TAVNS on these patients in the same day, I realized they had some things in common. Both very athletic and hard workers. One patient comes in for hot flashes/Pms, the other anxiety. Both of them had a pronounced drop in their LF/HF with the TAVNS. Is it reproducible? We will see. I’m…
Read MoreInvestigation of Metabolic Response to Electro-Acupuncture Stimulation.
Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 28;7(1):6820. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07306-5. Full text here This graph jumped out at me. “Abnormalities in lipid metabolism, including significantly elevated LDL/VLDL and cholesterol, have been observed in the serum of normal weight migraine patients39 and pregnant migraineurs40. In our study, serum LDL in both the SMFY and GMFS group were dramatically decreased,…
Read MoreHRV in the Clinic: R.Tr edition
This is data from a new patient’s first visit. She has a hypersensitive vagal response, so can feel ill/nauseated and dizzy under certain conditions. This case may prove to be out an outlier of what I usually see in the clinic. I usually try to increase vagal activity/decrease sympathetic activity. In this case I may…
Read MoreClinical Relevance of HRV in the Acupuncture Clinic: Introduction
This is some background material for a paper I’m preparing doing a “deep dive” into what is known about acupuncture and TAVNS and the autonomic nervous system and possible clinical relevance. Clinical relevance of Heart Rate Variability Measures in the Acupuncture Clinic: Study of Acupuncture and transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation Introduction: Acupuncture and…
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