February 2010 [Volume 9, Issue 2]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Stop Eczema Itch With Acupuncture
• Herb of the Month – Juncus (deng xin cao)
• Ask an Acupuncturist

Stop Eczema Itch With Acupuncture

An estimated 15 million people in the United States suffer from eczema, which usually looks like dry, scaly red skin patches accompanied by intense itching. Standard treatment can include corticosteroids, which have some serious side effects.

Now, a group of German researchers may have an answer to provide relief from the itching.

Thirty people with eczema were treated with acupuncture right after being exposed to an allergen such as dust mites or pollen. It turned out that the subjects all reported lower levels of itchiness. Even more interesting, when they got a second exposure to the allergen, their flare-ups were less severe.

The researchers concluded: "Acupuncture at the correct points showed a significant reduction in type I hypersensitivity itch in patients with atopic eczema."

Reference

• Pfab F, Huss-Marp J, Gatti A, et al. Influence of acupuncture on type I hypersensitivity itch and the wheal and flare response in adults with atopic eczema - a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Allergy. [Epub ahead of print]

For more information on the many benefits of Oriental medicine, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com.

Herb of the Month – Juncus (deng xin cao)

Juncus is one of the most unusual looking herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. The English translation of deng xin cao means "lamp wick herb," which is what the herb resembles in appearance after being dried. There are more than 20 known species of juncus, many of which grow in lakes, ponds and marshlands. Only the pith, the soft, sponge-like cylindrical center of the plant is used in herbal remedies.

Juncus has sweet, bland and slightly cool properties, according to the precepts of traditional Chinese medicine, and is associated with the Heart, Lung and Small Intestine meridians. It acts as a diuretic, and is often used to treat dysuria and other urinary conditions. In addition, juncus helps treat edema. Juncus is often used as a sedative to promote sleep and reduce the incidence of irritability and insomnia in both adults and children.

The type of juncus being used will depend on the condition being treated. Unprocessed juncus is used to regulate the flow of water in the body and promote urination. Charred juncus acts as a sedative.

The typical dosage of juncus is between 3 and 5 g, added to hot water and drunk as a decoction. Powdered juncus can also be applied topically to help relieve pain and swelling.

Juncus should not be administered to patients with urinary incontinence, or those who have been diagnosed with deficiency of the middle jiao. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions associated with juncus. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking juncus or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.

Ask an Acupuncturist

Question: My dad lives in India and has many medical problems. The most recent one is gallstones and urinary infections due to gallstones (I don't know how they are related by the doctor seems to think they are related).

Recently he got introduced to an acupuncture practitioner and has started going for two sessions in a week. The doctor mentioned that the treatment will not only target gallstones but will show improvement in other areas as well.

It's been two weeks since the treatment started. My dad says that he smells a foul odor in his urine. Other than that, he doesn't feel any different. He is slowly losing hope. Is there any particular time frame after which my dad can get an ultrasound done to see if the stone size has reduced?

Answer: I always have patients in similar situations come with ultrasound results describing the size and location of the stone(s) before I begin treatment and then at regular intervals after treatment has begun. That can vary for each patient; as they see improvement (or not) may be a good time for a follow up ultrasound.

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