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This issue features a number of articles you will want to share with your family, friends and co-workers. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to them via e-mail. If you have received this e-mail newsletter from someone else, you may subscribe free of charge and begin receiving your own copy by going to:

Piriformis syndrome is caused by tightness of the piriformis, a small muscle located in the buttocks that rotates the hip. The piriformis runs horizontally; directly beneath the muscle is the sciatic nerve, which runs vertically through the leg. When the piriformis becomes tight, it can place pressure on the sciatic nerve, resulting in pain that can radiate all the way down the leg. Several therapies have been used to treat piriformis syndrome, including physical therapy, deep tissue massage and muscle relaxants, all with varying degrees of success.

In this study from the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a researcher in China attempted to treat piriformis syndrome in 75 patients using a different therapy - acupuncture. Patients were needled at three points on the gallbladder meridian (GB 30, 34 and 39), with "bird peck needling" used at GB 30 and a twisting-reinforcing-reducing method at GB 34 and 39. Needles were retained for 30 minutes, with manipulation once every 15 minutes. Acupuncture was given once a day, with 12 sessions constituting one course of treatment. In some patients, more than one course of treatment was delivered.

A patient was considered "cured" if the signs and symptoms of pain disappeared, and the patient could move the hip freely. Treatment also was considered effective or ineffective depending on the degree to which symptoms were alleviated.

At the end of treatment, 55 patients (73.3 percent) were deemed "cured"; acupuncture was "effective" in another 18 patients (24 percent). The researcher noted that piriformis syndrome is associated with the Gall Bladder meridian, and that "it is easy to induce a strong needling sensation" on this meridian. He added that the technique "has a special and strong effect," and could become a popular application in the clinical setting.

Reference

Shu H. Clinical observation on acupuncture treatment of piriformis syndrome. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine March 2003;23(1):38-39.

White peony is one of several herbs that belong to the paeonia family. There are literally hundreds of varieties of peony; other well-known versions are the red peony and the tree peony. Peony root is brownish in color and resembles a small, thin potato; the root is used in various herbal remedies.

White peony is one of the most oft-used herbs in Chinese herbal medicine. It is an extremely effective tonic herb and is used to purify the blood, which in turn purifies the skin; in fact, one of the most oft-used blood tonics has white peony as one of its prime ingredients. White peony is also used to relax muscles; lower blood pressure; relieve cramps and spasms (especially menstrual cramps); and reduce pain. Its antispasmodic and analgesic qualities are magnified when used with licorice root.

The recommended dosage for white peony root 5-10 grams daily, boiled in water for oral use. Dosage may vary depending on the condition being treated and the severity of the condition. White peony root is most often available as a powder, either as a standalone herb or as part of an herbal formula.

Since white peony is considered "cold" in traditional Chinese medicine, it should be used with great caution when treating patients with excess cold or yang deficiency. Most herbalists would advise against taking white peony root when cold-deficiency diarrhea is present. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions with white peony root. As always, make sure to consult with a qualified health care provider before taking white peony or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.

References

Blumenthal M, et al. (eds.) The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, p. 364.
Schonbeck J. White peony root. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Gale Group, 2001.
Teeguarden R. Radiant Health: The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs. New York: Warner Books, 1998, pp. 192-193.

Acupuncture Q & A: This Month's Highlights from the "Ask an Acupuncturist" Forum

The "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum provides a place for interested parties to ask questions about acupuncture and Oriental medicine and have them answered by a licensed acupuncturist. This month's questions:

Question #1: I have a friend who had spinal fusion over a year ago. He still experiences the same pain he had before the surgery. Would acupuncture be beneficial for relieving pain or perhaps promoting healing? Should he perhaps consider other types of treatments other than acupuncture?

Answer: Acupuncture is a good place to begin to relieve his symptoms and promote healing. There are also physical exercises and passive movements that can be used for the treatment of his symptoms. Surgery usually will complicate the treatment, but often there is a very good response. The response usually requires patience, so he would want to allow three or four months to notice significant improvement.

Question #2: I know most people want to know whether acupuncture can help in weight loss, but I have the opposite question. I know someone who is 5'5" and weighs only 92 pounds. She is planning to have children in the next year and wants very much to gain some weight before then, but has tried everything. Can acupuncture help her?

Answer: Yes. The effect of acupuncture is one of balance, which for an obese person is to lose weight. An underweight person would gain weight. A complete examination and evaluation, with dietary recommendations, would also be part of treatment. There are also Chinese medicinal herbs to use in preparation for pregnancy.

Have a question about acupuncture and Oriental medicine? Visit AcupunctureToday.com's "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum at https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/ask.

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June 2003 [Volume 2, Issue 6] To Your Health is brought to you by:

This issue features a number of articles you will want to share with your family, friends and co-workers. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to them via e-mail. If you have received this e-mail newsletter from someone else, you may subscribe free of charge and begin receiving your own copy by going to: https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/newsletter/TYH/subscribe.php In this issue of To Your Health: Using Gallbladder Points to Relieve Piriformis Pain Herb of the Month: White Peony Acupuncture Q & A: This Month's Highlights from the "Ask an Acupuncturist" Forum Using Gallbladder Points to Treat Piriformis Pain Piriformis syndrome is caused by tightness of the piriformis, a small muscle located in the buttocks that rotates the hip. The piriformis runs horizontally; directly beneath the muscle is the sciatic nerve, which runs vertically through the leg. When the piriformis becomes tight, it can place pressure on the sciatic nerve, resulting in pain that can radiate all the way down the leg. Several therapies have been used to treat piriformis syndrome, including physical therapy, deep tissue massage and muscle relaxants, all with varying degrees of success. In this study from the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a researcher in China attempted to treat piriformis syndrome in 75 patients using a different therapy - acupuncture. Patients were needled at three points on the gallbladder meridian (GB 30, 34 and 39), with "bird peck needling" used at GB 30 and a twisting-reinforcing-reducing method at GB 34 and 39. Needles were retained for 30 minutes, with manipulation once every 15 minutes. Acupuncture was given once a day, with 12 sessions constituting one course of treatment. In some patients, more than one course of treatment was delivered. A patient was considered "cured" if the signs and symptoms of pain disappeared, and the patient could move the hip freely. Treatment also was considered effective or ineffective depending on the degree to which symptoms were alleviated. At the end of treatment, 55 patients (73.3 percent) were deemed "cured"; acupuncture was "effective" in another 18 patients (24 percent). The researcher noted that piriformis syndrome is associated with the Gall Bladder meridian, and that "it is easy to induce a strong needling sensation" on this meridian. He added that the technique "has a special and strong effect," and could become a popular application in the clinical setting. Reference Shu H. Clinical observation on acupuncture treatment of piriformis syndrome. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine March 2003;23(1):38-39. Herb of the Month: White Peony White peony is one of several herbs that belong to the paeonia family. There are literally hundreds of varieties of peony; other well-known versions are the red peony and the tree peony. Peony root is brownish in color and resembles a small, thin potato; the root is used in various herbal remedies. White peony is one of the most oft-used herbs in Chinese herbal medicine. It is an extremely effective tonic herb and is used to purify the blood, which in turn purifies the skin; in fact, one of the most oft-used blood tonics has white peony as one of its prime ingredients. White peony is also used to relax muscles; lower blood pressure; relieve cramps and spasms (especially menstrual cramps); and reduce pain. Its antispasmodic and analgesic qualities are magnified when used with licorice root. The recommended dosage for white peony root 5-10 grams daily, boiled in water for oral use. Dosage may vary depending on the condition being treated and the severity of the condition. White peony root is most often available as a powder, either as a standalone herb or as part of an herbal formula. Since white peony is considered "cold" in traditional Chinese medicine, it should be used with great caution when treating patients with excess cold or yang deficiency. Most herbalists would advise against taking white peony root when cold-deficiency diarrhea is present. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions with white peony root. As always, make sure to consult with a qualified health care provider before taking white peony or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement. To learn more about the benefits of herbal medicine, visit https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral. References Blumenthal M, et al. (eds.) The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, p. 364. Schonbeck J. White peony root. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Gale Group, 2001. Teeguarden R. Radiant Health: The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs. New York: Warner Books, 1998, pp. 192-193. Acupuncture Q & A: This Month's Highlights from the "Ask an Acupuncturist" Forum The "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum provides a place for interested parties to ask questions about acupuncture and Oriental medicine and have them answered by a licensed acupuncturist. This month's questions: Question #1: I have a friend who had spinal fusion over a year ago. He still experiences the same pain he had before the surgery. Would acupuncture be beneficial for relieving pain or perhaps promoting healing? Should he perhaps consider other types of treatments other than acupuncture? Answer: Acupuncture is a good place to begin to relieve his symptoms and promote healing. There are also physical exercises and passive movements that can be used for the treatment of his symptoms. Surgery usually will complicate the treatment, but often there is a very good response. The response usually requires patience, so he would want to allow three or four months to notice significant improvement. Question #2: I know most people want to know whether acupuncture can help in weight loss, but I have the opposite question. I know someone who is 5'5" and weighs only 92 pounds. She is planning to have children in the next year and wants very much to gain some weight before then, but has tried everything. Can acupuncture help her? Answer: Yes. The effect of acupuncture is one of balance, which for an obese person is to lose weight. An underweight person would gain weight. A complete examination and evaluation, with dietary recommendations, would also be part of treatment. There are also Chinese medicinal herbs to use in preparation for pregnancy. Have a question about acupuncture and Oriental medicine? Visit AcupunctureToday.com's "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum at https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/ask. Unsubscribe Thank you for subscribing to To Your Health. If you have received this newsletter in error or wish to unsubscribe, you may remove your name from our e-mail subscription list at www.acupuncturetoday.com/newsletter/TYH/unsubscribe.php. Update your e-mail address To update the e-mail address your newsletter is sent to, click here. If you have any questions regarding your subscription, please complete this form at www.acupuncturetoday.com/newsletterhelp/TYH.