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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:

Enuresis, the technical term for bedwetting, is a common occurrence in childhood, affecting between 15-20 percent of all children age 5 and younger. Although there is no single cause of bedwetting, several factors that promote the condition have been identified, including stress, changes in sleep patterns, nervous system disorders and hormonal imbalances. Although most cases of bedwetting resolve by the time a child reaches adolescence, children who constantly wet their beds may suffer feelings of shame and low self-esteem.

One of the lesser known forms of treatment for enuresis is acupuncture, and as a recent study shows, a specific type of acupuncture, Korean hand therapy (KHT), may hold promise in treating the disorder. Korean hand therapy stimulates acupuncture points without puncturing the skin, but using metals, magnets or electrical current. In the study, published in the journal Medical Acupuncture, children randomized to receive acupuncture in the form of low-intensity electromagnetic current reported improvement in the number of dry nights they experienced.

Of the 26 children who completed the study, more than half were considered cured three months after the treatments ended, and there were no reported side-effects in any children who received KHT in the form of the electromagnetic current. "This study suggests that KHT offers a safe and reasonable treatment option for childhood primary nocturnal enuresis," concluded the study's author.

If one of your children seems to have a problem with bedwetting, acupuncture may be the right way to treat it. To locate a doctor of acupuncture in your area, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com/locator.

Reference:

Jodorkovsky R. Treatment of primary noctural enuresis with hand therapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Medical Acupuncture 2003;14(2):28-31. Available online at www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/journal/vol14_2/article5.html.

Isatis leaf is just that - the leaf of the isatis plant, a biennial herb originally grown in India and China, and now cultivated in the U.S. and elsewhere. The leaves are small and yellow, and usually contain four or more petals. They are collected in the summer and autumn, and prepared by letting them dry naturally in sunlight.

Isatis leaf has antiviral, antibacterial, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used for febrile diseases such as mumps, measles and influenza. It is also used in combination with other herbs such as scrophularia, coptis and dandelion to treat canker sores, sore throats and skin problems. In traditional Chinese medicine terminology, isatis leaf is bitter and salty in flavor and cold in nature, and is used to remove excess fire and blood heat.

Fresh and dried isatis leaves are available at Asian markets, ayurvedic supply stores and some specialty health food stores. Extracts and infusions are also available. Because isatis leaf is considered quite powerful, it should not be used by patients with a weak and cold spleen or stomach. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions with isatis leaf. As always, make sure to consult with a qualified health care provider before taking isatis leaf or any other dietary supplement or herbal remedy.

References

Ming O, et al. An Illustrated Guide to Antineoplastic Chinese Herbal Medicine. Hong Kong: The Commercial Press, 1990.
Rui H. Recent progress of traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine 1995;1(4):242-248.
Weiner J, Weiner M. Herbs That Heal. Cambridge, MA: Quantum Books, 1994.
Lou F, et al. Natural antineoplastic compounds and their structure-activity relationships. Abstracts of Chinese Medicine 1988;2(4):484-495.
Newall, Anderson, Phillipson. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.

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 had high blood pressure for nine years. Last year, while being hospitalized for food poisoning, they found I had low potassium, Further tests found my adrenal glands were causing my loss of potassium and my high blood pressure. What course of treatment should I follow?

Answer: There are several different possible treatments for your condition. The Western laboratory analysis should be combined with the signs and symptoms gathered from a Chinese medicine diagnostic evaluation to determine a treatment plan. It would probably involve acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herbs, dietary reccomendations, and lifestyle changes. You need to have a personal evaluation for more information specific to your case.

Question #2: Can acupuncture succesfully treat endometriosis? And is acupuncture effective if a person is taking hormone therapy?

Answer: Endometriosis is a condition that produces abdominal pain and other painful symptoms. Regular acupuncture can relieve the pain, reducing its severity and frequency. The cause is the proliferation of tissue in the abdomen. Chinese herbal medicines are also sometimes used. Hormonal therapy will not prohibit therapy, but it may, or may not, have an effect on treatment.

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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October 2003 [Volume 2, Issue 10] 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: www.acupuncturetoday.com/newsletter/TYH/subscribe.php In this issue of To Your Health: Korean Hand Therapy Reduces Bedwetting in Children Herb of the Month: Isatis Leaf Acupuncture Q & A: This Month's Highlights from the "Ask an Acupuncturist" Forum Korean Hand Therapy Reduces Bedwetting in Children Enuresis, the technical term for bedwetting, is a common occurrence in childhood, affecting between 15-20 percent of all children age 5 and younger. Although there is no single cause of bedwetting, several factors that promote the condition have been identified, including stress, changes in sleep patterns, nervous system disorders and hormonal imbalances. Although most cases of bedwetting resolve by the time a child reaches adolescence, children who constantly wet their beds may suffer feelings of shame and low self-esteem. One of the lesser known forms of treatment for enuresis is acupuncture, and as a recent study shows, a specific type of acupuncture, Korean hand therapy (KHT), may hold promise in treating the disorder. Korean hand therapy stimulates acupuncture points without puncturing the skin, but using metals, magnets or electrical current. In the study, published in the journal Medical Acupuncture, children randomized to receive acupuncture in the form of low-intensity electromagnetic current reported improvement in the number of dry nights they experienced. Of the 26 children who completed the study, more than half were considered cured three months after the treatments ended, and there were no reported side-effects in any children who received KHT in the form of the electromagnetic current. "This study suggests that KHT offers a safe and reasonable treatment option for childhood primary nocturnal enuresis," concluded the study's author. If one of your children seems to have a problem with bedwetting, acupuncture may be the right way to treat it. To locate a doctor of acupuncture in your area, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com/locator. Reference: Jodorkovsky R. Treatment of primary noctural enuresis with hand therapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Medical Acupuncture 2003;14(2):28-31. Available online at www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/journal/vol14_2/article5.html. Herb of the Month: Isatis Leaf Isatis leaf is just that - the leaf of the isatis plant, a biennial herb originally grown in India and China, and now cultivated in the U.S. and elsewhere. The leaves are small and yellow, and usually contain four or more petals. They are collected in the summer and autumn, and prepared by letting them dry naturally in sunlight. Isatis leaf has antiviral, antibacterial, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used for febrile diseases such as mumps, measles and influenza. It is also used in combination with other herbs such as scrophularia, coptis and dandelion to treat canker sores, sore throats and skin problems. In traditional Chinese medicine terminology, isatis leaf is bitter and salty in flavor and cold in nature, and is used to remove excess fire and blood heat. Fresh and dried isatis leaves are available at Asian markets, ayurvedic supply stores and some specialty health food stores. Extracts and infusions are also available. Because isatis leaf is considered quite powerful, it should not be used by patients with a weak and cold spleen or stomach. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions with isatis leaf. As always, make sure to consult with a qualified health care provider before taking isatis leaf or any other dietary supplement or herbal remedy. To learn more about the benefits of herbal medicine, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral. References Ming O, et al. An Illustrated Guide to Antineoplastic Chinese Herbal Medicine. Hong Kong: The Commercial Press, 1990. Rui H. Recent progress of traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine 1995;1(4):242-248. Weiner J, Weiner M. Herbs That Heal. Cambridge, MA: Quantum Books, 1994. Lou F, et al. Natural antineoplastic compounds and their structure-activity relationships. Abstracts of Chinese Medicine 1988;2(4):484-495. Newall, Anderson, Phillipson. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 1996. 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 had high blood pressure for nine years. Last year, while being hospitalized for food poisoning, they found I had low potassium, Further tests found my adrenal glands were causing my loss of potassium and my high blood pressure. What course of treatment should I follow? Answer: There are several different possible treatments for your condition. The Western laboratory analysis should be combined with the signs and symptoms gathered from a Chinese medicine diagnostic evaluation to determine a treatment plan. It would probably involve acupuncture, Chinese medicinal herbs, dietary reccomendations, and lifestyle changes. You need to have a personal evaluation for more information specific to your case. Question #2: Can acupuncture succesfully treat endometriosis? And is acupuncture effective if a person is taking hormone therapy? Answer: Endometriosis is a condition that produces abdominal pain and other painful symptoms. Regular acupuncture can relieve the pain, reducing its severity and frequency. The cause is the proliferation of tissue in the abdomen. Chinese herbal medicines are also sometimes used. Hormonal therapy will not prohibit therapy, but it may, or may not, have an effect on treatment. Have a question about acupuncture and Oriental medicine? Visit AcupunctureToday.com's "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum at 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.