December 2006 [Volume 5, Issue 12]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Acupuncture Recommended for Post-Op Nausea
• Herb of the Month - Galena (mi tuo seng)
• Acupuncture Q & A: This Month's Highlights From the "Ask an Acupuncturist" Forum

In another sign of acupuncture's growing acceptance among mainstream medicine, the American Society of Anesthesiologists recently issued new guidelines for managing nausea and vomiting following surgery. The guidelines recommend acupuncture among the potential options for reducing these distressing symptoms, which often are associated with general anesthesia.

"Only one point is needed, the T6 point," said Dr. Tong J. Gan of Duke University, commenting on the society's recommendations in Reuters Health. "Physicians don't realize the high priority patients place on [reducing or eliminating] post-op nausea and vomiting. There are studies showing that patients would prefer pain over nausea and vomiting."

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine has shown promise in treating a variety of conditions without the use of drugs or other traditional measures that often come with dangerous side effects. To learn more about the benefits of this ancient healing art, including the latest research supporting its use, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com.

Galena is actually a type of ore with several industrial uses, including the creation of storage batteries, crystal radio sets and some types of glass. However, in addition to its industrial qualities, galena is sometimes used as a medicinal. Typically, it is mined, washed thoroughly and then crushed into a powder.

According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, galena has salty, spicy, and slightly toxic properties, and is affiliated with the Spleen and Liver meridians. It helps to eliminate toxins and kill intestinal parasites. Conditions that can be treated with galena include ringworm, skin rashes, rosacea, eczema, sores, ulcers, and other skin disorders. There is also evidence that galena can kill some types of fungus. It is usually combined with other herbs to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Galena is almost always used topically, with the amount of galena depending on the area being treated. If being taken orally, the maximum recommended dosage of galena is 1 gram pre day, decocted in water. Powdered galena can be found at some specialty stores and Asian markets. It is usually combined with other herbs and mixed with water to form a type of paste or poultice.

Because of galena's high lead content, both long-term use and short-term, high-dose use are strongly discouraged. As always, consult with your acupuncturist before taking galena or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement. To learn more about the benefits of herbal medicine, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral.

The "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum provides a place for interested parties to ask questions about acupuncture and Oriental medicine and receive responses from a licensed acupuncturist. Here are a few of this month's questions and answers:

Question #1: Hello, I am 16 and have had terrible headaches for four years. My neurologist has tried every medication possible, so now he is thinking about seeing if acupuncture will help. The thing is, I am scared to death of needles. Does it hurt? And for a headache, where would they put the needles?

Answer: Most of the time, the pins are placed on points on the head where the headache hurts. These points are usually located on the back of the neck and the top of the hands and feet. In this case, acupuncture is done with pins, not needles. The pins are thin enough to fit inside a hypodermic needle; if there is any pain, it's certainly less than the pain of the headache itself. Usually the points make the headache go away or at least not be as painful. In order to reduce the frequency of your headaches, you need a complete series of treatments, usually 10 to 15.

Question #2: Can acupuncture be helpful with withdrawal from long-term use of Ativan or other drugs? The patient is a 64-year-old male who recently attempted suicide twice in 10 days. He has completed all inpatient and outpatient programs, and sees a psychiatrist every week or two.

Answer: Acupuncture treatment can definitely ease the symptoms of drug withdrawal. Many drug courts use acupuncture treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Relief is provided, but patient needs vary. In the best of situations, he would have daily treatment until his symptoms passed; generally less than two weeks. To better know how treatment would help him, he should see an acupuncturist for a personal evaluation.

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

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