Acupuncture for Nausea and Vomitting

Ever thought about using acupuncture for nausea or vomiting? Then watch this video to find out more..

Great video explaining the magic of exercise

A great video explaining the many wonderful benefits of why exercise is so important.Just do only 30 minutes a day. Watch, be inspired and then exercise.

BBC Breakfast- acupuncture for insomnia

Even thought of trying acupuncture for back pain? Watch the video on acupuncture for back pain

Clare Nasir describes her experiences using acupuncture to complement IVF

Acupuncture for IVF

Many more women (and couples)are seeking help when trying to conceive and often turn to acupuncture for help. Below is an article which suggests that acupuncture can help along side conventional treatment. For more information visit http://www.traditionalacupuncturebristol.co.uk/assets/factsheets/factsheet-female_infertility.pdf New research demonstrates a consensus amongst acupuncture experts on best practice treatment protocols for acupuncture enhancement of assisted reproductive technology (ART) fertility treatments. ART includes all fertility treatments in which both the eggs and sperm are handled. ART includes in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). In this study, researchers set out to determine if a consensus exists on high priority acupuncture points for the enhancement of ART. Acupuncture IVF and IUI ART has been used in the USA since 1981 to help women become pregnant. Although acupuncture and Chinese medicine for the treatment of infertility is a time honored practice, the combination of acupuncture with ART has emerged in recent years as an effective approach for improving pregnancy and live birth rates. In this study, researchers administered three rounds of questionnaires to fifteen international acupuncture fertility experts to determine if a consensus exists on best practice protocols. The investigation revealed that several key components are central to acupuncture in combination with ART. The timing of an acupuncture treatment in relation to the menstrual cycle is of great importance. An acupuncture treatment administered between day 6 and 8 of the “stimulated ART cycle” is optimal. In addition, it is ideal to have two acupuncture treatments “on the day of embryo transfer.” Pre-transfer acupuncture points of high priority are SP8, SP10, Liv3, ST29 and CV4. Post-transfer points include GV20, K3, SP6, P6 and K3. Auricular acupuncture points Shenmen and Zigong were also determined to be of high priority. About the Healthcare Medicine Institute: HealthCMi provides online acupuncture CEU credit to licensed acupuncturists and publishes current events related to acupuncture, herbal medicine and important innovations in healthcare technology.

New research on back pain

Below is an extract from the daily mail looking at research which demonstrates the prevalence of back pain in young adults. Painful: One in three young adults suffer from backache, researchers have found Young adults are paying the price for spending hours slumped in front of the television as one in three suffer from back pain, research has suggested. Research company Mintel found that the proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds suffering from pain was similar to that of pensioners. The study found that 34 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds suffer from back ache compared with 38 per cent of over-65s. Two fifths of Britons across all age groups suffer from back pain, the research found. Michelle Strutton, from Mintel, said: 'The high incidence of back pain in Britain’s youngsters is pretty alarming. 'Too much time sitting, weakens muscle tone and this can lead to back pain. 'Many of Britain’s youngsters lead a sedentary lifestyle and lack of sport may well be contributing to back pain as well as poor posture. 'Britain’s youth are spending hours at a time slumped in front of TV and computer screens, which is doing nothing to strengthen their backs. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2178560/How-young-couch-potatoes-giving-bad-backs-hours-box.html#ixzz21dl8BvPa I see many people from back pain in my clinic and I agree with some of the points above. Many clients now are office based spending many hours I front of the computer often in poor positions resulting in altered biomechanics which in turn leads to back pain. The key is a combination of patient education, encouraging exercise, manual theraphy and possibly acupuncture. So switch off your computer and do something more interesting instead.

Acupuncture on the increase in the UK

A major national survey of practitioners of acupuncture in the UK provides an up-to-date overview of the profession and concludes that acupuncture provides a substantial contribution to the country’s healthcare. A team of UK authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of 800 practitioners randomly chosen from the four major national acupuncturists’ professional associations. Data collected included demographic details, association membership, statutorily regulated status, practice setting, style of acupuncture practiced, diagnostic methods used and needle response sought. Practitioners additionally recorded details of their 10 most recent patients, including demographic details, primary reason for consulting and lifestyle advice provided. Of the 330 practitioners who responded, 29% were doctors, 29% physiotherapists, 15% nurses and 27% independent acupuncturists. Of these, 62% were women with median age of 48 years. The majority (68%) practiced in independent settings, while 42% practiced within the National Health Service. Patients most commonly consulted for low back, neck, shoulder and knee pain, as well as headaches and migraine. Treatment for infertility by independent acupuncturists was found to have increased by fivefold over a period of years. Based on the survey results, the authors estimate that almost four million acupuncture treatments were provided in the UK in 2009, of which approximately one-third were provided within the NHS. They conclude that the primary complaints for which patients consult acupuncturists reflect the growing evidence base on acupuncture for these conditions, and suggest that the survey data provides a basis for future decision-making regarding policy and practice. (Acupuncture in practice: mapping the providers, the patients and the settings in a national cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open. 2012 Jan 11;2(1):

Acupuncture for painful periods

Non-invasive electro-acupuncture stimulation applied at Hegu L.I.-4 and Sanyinjiao SP-6 can significantly reduce the pain of dysmenorrhoea, according to a Taiwanese group. A randomised controlled trial enrolled 66 patients with primary dysmenorrhoea (without pelvic pathology) and randomly assigned them to an experimental or control group. In the experimental group, acupuncture-like trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (AL-TENS) at a mid-range frequency (1000-10,000Hz) was applied at Hegu L.I.-4 and Sanyinjiao SP-6 twice weekly for eight weeks, while the control group received AL-TENS at non-acupoints. After the intervention, the average total pain score in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group (2.9 vs 5.4). Significant differences were also observed between the groups in the average change in pain scores pre- and post-intervention (4.5 vs 1.39). Pain severity post-intervention was also significantly different between the two groups. (Effects of noninvasive electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI4) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoints on dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Feb;18(2):137-42).

Tai chi improves balance and walking in Parkinson's

Tai chi improves balance and walking in Parkinson’s patients Practising tai chi twice a week can help Parkinson's patients improve their balance and walking ability, according to an American study. A randomised, controlled trial assigned 195 Parkinson's patients with mild to moderate disease to one of three groups: tai chi, resistance training or stretching. The patients engaged in 60-minute exercise sessions twice weekly for 24 weeks. The tai chi group performed consistently better than the resistance-training and stretching groups in a number of postural stability tests. The tai chi group also performed better than the stretching group in all secondary outcomes (including measures of gait and strength, functional-reach and timed up-and-go tests) and outperformed the resistance-training group in stride length and functional reach. Tai chi lowered the incidence of falls  compared with stretching, but not compared with resistance training. The effects of tai chi training were maintained at three months after the intervention. (Tai chi and postural stability in patients with Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med. 2012 Feb 9;366(6):511-9).