Tag: acupuncture as prevention
Allergies: Yet Another Study Showing Acupuncture Effective for Allergic Rhinitis
A study in a major journal showing Acupuncture effectiveness for allergic rhinitis coming on the heels of the study discussed here. As my patients know, I was “cured” of my allergies with acupuncture, so it is one of my favorite things to treat. In this study nasal symptoms were significantly reduced in the Acupuncture…
Read MoreMaking the Invisible Visible
We all know it’s hard to prove a negative. The term “Absence Blindness” refers to a concept that when you prevent something from happening (absence) it is difficult to perceive it. In our culture, there is more willingness to deal with something once it happens (Hurricane Sandy relief), then to prevent it from happening…
Read MoreAuricular Acupuncture: Science and Review
A nice, detailed review of the science, anatomy, and physiology behind auricular acupuncture. An increase in vagal tone is a decreased stress response. Lately, I’ve linked to a number of studies about auricular acupuncture. I really should try to study auricular with HRV. Too many studies, too little time. Bonus Free Full Article http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23304215 Evid…
Read MoreAcupuncture for Better Focus? Persistence Pays Off
A patient told me the story of a friend who went religiously for Acupuncture for a year for help with focus. She’s now able to read a book every other day. It was a good reminder for me to encourage patients to “stick with it” (pardon the pun), and a good reminder for me too! …
Read MoreHormesis: Benefits of Low Dose Stressors
One strategy in my mission to improve acupuncture results is to find models in nature that explain why humans would have evolved to respond to acupuncture. What is it mimicking in nature that makes it have it’s healing properties? For example, is it an analog of grooming, or touch? I came across the concept of…
Read MoreDisaster Economics, Disaster Medical Approaches
Surowiecki: “for the most part, the U.S. has shown a marked bias toward relieving victims of disaster, while underinvesting in prevention.” Reading this last night, it struck me how similar the U.S. mentality is when it comes to health and medicine. The fascinating teaching in Chinese Medicine is that the Chinese Doctor was paid…
Read MoreMammography: Effectiveness Still Under Scrutiny
From the recent New England Journal of Medicine, their conclusion from examining the data “Although it is not certain which women have been affected, the imbalance suggests that there is substantial overdiagnosis, accounting for nearly a third of all newly diagnosed breast cancers, and that screening is having, at best, only a small effect…
Read MoreBenefits of Probiotics
Discussed the new trend in thinking about bacteria in the body and how to foster a healthier population here and here, in posts called “Bacteria: Friend or Foe?” The skyrocketing incidence of Clostridia Dificile makes this study very timely. Europe has been way ahead of us in regards to probiotics. Probiotics Linked to Lowered…
Read MoreAnother Article on Steroid Injection Risk
We’ve covered the hazards of epidural steroid injections here. But this article is a good summary of the questionable efficacy, the skyrocketing usage, and the horrors of the fungal meningitis cases. How Back Pain Turned Deadly ..There are the doctors who overprescribe an invasive back-pain therapy that, in studies, has not proved useful…
Read MoreAntidepressants: #1 Drug
Rate of antidepressant drugs has increased 400% if you compare 1988-94 to 2005-2008. Depressing…Some concerns about antidepressants here, here, and here. 1st Antidepressant ranking among prescription drugs among U.S. adults up to age 44. Antidepressants are the most common prescription medication for Americans age 18-44, and the third most common drug across all ages….
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