To The Point

Spring, 2008 #5

In this issue

  • Spring is the time for renewal
  • More promising acupuncture studies
    • February 2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology confirms that acupuncture can relieve menstrual pain
    • February 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal reports that acupuncture increases IVF success by 65%
    • Researchers from University of Padua have recently reported that traditional Chinese acupuncture can help alleviate migraine attacks.

Spring is the time for renewal

We are hovering at the edge of our long-awaited change from winter to spring. Especially here in Chicago where winter seemed to go on and on this year, there is a sense of renewal and new life all around us. Just as winter was a time to conserve energy and reduce activity, spring is a time of regeneration and new beginnings.

Spring is represented by the wood element and includes the liver and its complementary organ, the gallbladder. These two organs are usually the primary targets for springtime cleansing and health regimens.

  • Element: Wood
  • Color: Green
  • Nature: Yang
  • Organs: Liver, Gallbladder
  • Emotion: Anger

According to the philosophy of Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body. When the liver functions smoothly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body also flows easily. So, for optimum health this spring, move your Qi! Here are some easy ways to move your Qi.

  1. Eat Green - Green is the color of the liver and of springtime. Eating young plants, such as fresh, leafy greens, sprouts, and immature cereal grasses, can improve your liver’s overall functions and aid in the movement of qi.
  2. Taste Sour - Foods and drinks with sour tastes are thought to stimulate the liver’s qi. Put lemon slices in your drinking water, use vinegar and olive oil for your salad dressing or garnish your sandwich with a slice of dill pickle.

  3. Enjoy milk thistle tea - Milk thistle helps protect liver cells from incoming toxins and encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances, such as alcohol, medications, pesticides, environmental toxins, and even heavy metals such as mercury.
  4. Get Acupuncture treatments- Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help improve the overall health of your liver as well as treat stress, anger and frustration, which are often associated with liver qi disharmony.

Seasonal acupuncture treatments can correct minor annoyances before they become serious problems.

More promising acupuncture studies

1. A recent German study published in the February 2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology confirms that acupuncture can relieve a woman of her menstrual pain. The majority of patients receiving acupuncture reported at least a 33 percent improvement in their pain level.
“Patients with chronic dysmenorrhea [menstrual pain] treated with acupuncture as an adjunct to routine care showed significant improvements in pain intensity and quality of life compared to patients who received routine care alone,” said Dr. Claudia Witt of Charite University Medical Center in Berlin. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 198, Issue 2, Pages 166.e1-166.e8 (February 2008)

2. In the February 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal, it was reported that acupuncture increased the chances of pregnancy in IVF treatments by 65%. The remarkable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture was delivered either just before or just after embryo transfer – the moment when the embryo fertilized in the laboratory must attach itself to the wall of the womb to establish a pregnancy.

The research was carried out by scientists from the University of Maryland and the VU University Amsterdam in Holland. Researchers claim that because acupuncture costs only about $75 per session compared to $6000 to $10,000 per cycle for IVF, it would be a cost effective, safe and efficient way of boosting success rates in fertility treatment.

It is thought that acupuncture stimulates the neurotransmitters that trigger the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, which controls the menstrual cycle and a woman’s ovulation. Acupuncture is also thought to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and boost the production of endogenous opioids, inducing the body to relax. British Medical Journal, doi:10.1136/bmj.39471.430451.BE (February 2008)

3. Researchers from University of Padua, Italy, have recently reported that traditional Chinese acupuncture can help alleviate migraine attacks. Their findings showed true acupuncture can prevent migraine attacks even in individuals resistant to standard medication. According to the article published in the Headache journal, one group received sham acupuncture and another was treated with acupuncture in traditional manner. The group receiving genuine treatment reported better results.

Italian scientists say acupuncture prevents migraine by altering nerve signals or affecting neurotransmitters released in the central nervous system.

And for those of you who enjoy a bit of tabloid gossip, Vogue magazine ( May, 2008) reports that actress Gwyneth Paltrow attributes her battle with post-partum depression in 2006 to scaling back from her pre-baby treatments like acupuncture. “I didn’t know I had it until after it was over," the 35-year-old actress said. "I just didn’t know what was wrong with me. I felt really out of my body. I felt really disconnected. I felt really down ... I felt pessimistic.”
Both Acupuncture and Herbs can be very helpful in treating many types of depression. To learn more check out my article on Acupuncture and Depression.

*Practice update: as of May 1st all treatments will be $90*

Some of the above information comes from acufinder.com

If you find other articles in the coming months, please let me know.

You can contact me by:
Phone: 312-399-5098
E-mail: tcm007@rcn.com
Web site: www.tcm007.com

Thank you for your continued support and be healthy.