April 2010 [Volume 9, Issue 4]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Acupuncture Effective for Severe Menstrual Cramps
• Herb of the Month – Lepidium Seed (ting li zi)
• Ask an Acupuncturist

Acupuncture Effective for Severe Menstrual Cramps

Severe menstrual cramps, otherwise known as primary dysmenorrhea, is one of the most common gynecological complaints. It can affect as many as half of young women.

A recent study in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology might have an answer for this painful disorder in the form of acupuncture treatments. A group of Korean researchers looked at 27 studies done on acupuncture for dysmenorrhea, which involved a total of 3,000 women.

By comparing findings, they determined "promising evidence" for the use of acupuncture to treat dysmenorrhea, as compared to either herbal or pharmacological medicine.

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

Reference

• Cho S-H, Hwang E-W. Acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea: a systematic review. BJOG 2010 Feb 17 [Epub ahead of print].

Herb of the Month – Lepidium Seed (ting li zi)

Also known as pepperweed and tansy mustard, lepidium is an annual plant, which grows to a height of 18 inches and bears feather-like leaves and white flowers. The plant grows in the Hebei and Liaoning provinces of China. The entire plant is harvested in the summer and dried in the sun. After drying out, the seeds are collected for use in herbal remedies.

In traditional Chinese medicine, lepidium seed has bitter, pungent and cold properties, and is associated with the Lung and Urinary Bladder meridians. Among the conditions lepidium seed is used to treat are asthma, edema and pleurisy. It can also be used to treat abdominal distention and dry mouth. Lepidium seed is often used with zizyphus and rhubarb.

The typical dose of lepidium seed is between 3 and 9 grams, boiled in water and taken as a decoction. It is often mixed with honey. Whole, dried lepidium seeds can be found at most Asian markets and specialty stores. Some herbal shops also sell lepidium seed powder, which can be mixed into herbal decoctions.

Some side effects have been noted in patients taking large amounts of lepidium seed, including nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate and lowered blood pressure. As a result, it should not be taken before consulting with a licensed health care provider. As always, make sure to speak with a qualified health care practitioner before taking lepidium seed or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.

Ask an Acupuncturist

Question: Could acupuncture help shin splints? I am a 70-year-old woman who exercises nearly every day on the treadmill and stationary bike. For the last 5 months, I have been having pain with exercising, which appears to be shin splints. I have had x-rays, etc, and nothing shows up. I have also had treatments with a chiropractor. It will seem to be better and then get worse. I really miss exercising.

Answer: It is quite likely acupuncture treatment can help to relieve your pain. There are questions about it the acupuncturist will ask you to know more about it. In general, you would have ten or twelve treatments to find out how you are able to respond.

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