May 2010 [Volume 9, Issue 5]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Acupuncture Can Alleviate Depression During Pregnancy
• Herb of the Month – Magnolia Bark (hou po)
• Ask an Acupuncturist

Acupuncture Can Alleviate Depression During Pregnancy

Depression with pregnancy is more common than you might think. One study estimates that about 13 percent of pregnant women will experience depression during their second trimester. This is made even more difficult because pregnant women cannot take any antidepressants.

Now, a study in the March issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology may provide a way to help these women. A group of researchers at Stanford University provided one of three treatments to 150 pregnant women with major depression. The women received either acupuncture specific to depression, general acupuncture or massage therapy for 12 sessions over eight weeks. At the end of the treatments, they found that the women who received depression-specific acupuncture treatment had a 63 percent response rate, compared to either of the other two control treatments (44 percent).

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that depression-specific acupuncture could be considered a "viable treatment option."

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

Reference

• Manber R, Schnyer RN, Lyell D, et al. Acupuncture for depression during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol 2010 Mar;115(3):511-20.

Herb of the Month – Magnolia Bark (hou po)

Magnolia bark comes from the magnolia tree, a deciduous arbor that grows in the Sichuan, Hubei and Zhejiang provinces of China. The tree is often used as a type of ornamental for gardens, and is an important source of timber, with green leaves and fragrant flowers that vary in color from white to purple.

The bark is harvested first by being peeled from the tree, then dried, boiled (until the internal surface of the bark turns a dark red or brownish gray), steamed until soft, and rolled into cylindrical pieces. At that point, the bark is again dried and prepared with ginger juice for later use.

In traditional Chinese medicine, magnolia bark has bitter, pungent and warm properties, and is associated with the Liver, Lung, Spleen and Stomach meridians. Traditionally, it has been used to treat asthma, coughs and abdominal problems. It is often used with other herbs, such as atractylodes, tangerine peel, and apricot kernels.

The typical dosage of magnolia bark is between 3 and 10 grams, boiled in water for oral use as a decoction.

Dried, rolled magnolia bark can be found at many herbal shops and specialty stores. However, magnolia bark does not last long in storage, so stocks of the bark need to be replenished rather often. Magnolia bark is also incorporated into larger herbal formulas. Extracts of magnolia bark are available in capsule and tincture form.

Magnolia bark has been given a class 2B rating by the American Herbal Products Association, which means that it should not be used by women who are pregnant. In addition, magnolia bark contains a compound called magnocurarine, which has a sedative effect; large amounts can reduce blood pressure. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions associated with magnolia bark. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking magnolia bark or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.

Ask an Acupuncturist

Question: The February issue of Qi Mail caught my attention: "Acupuncture has shown great success treating a wide array of sleep problems... Therefore, those who use acupuncture for insomnia achieve not only better sleep, but also an overall improvement of physical and mental health." I have suffered chronic insomnia my entire life. Is there any literature on the efficacy of acupuncture on insomnia you can point me to?

Answer: You could start with the study: Cheuk DKL, Yeung J, Chung KF, Wong V. Acupuncture for insomnia. A qualified practitioner would look specifically at your case in terms of your energetic patterns and create a treatment plan designed for you. I've seen great success w/ the treatment of insomnia.

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