November 2003 [Volume 2, Issue 11]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Scalp Acupuncture Provides Long-Term Relief of Locomotor System Pain
• Herb of the Month: Red Peony
• Acupuncture Q & A: This Month's Highlights from the "Ask an Acupuncturist" Forum

Scalp Acupuncture Provides Long-Term Relief of Locomotor System Pain

The locomotor system is comprised of the skeleton and skeletal muscles, which allow for movement. Among the most common ailments of the locomotor system are arthritis (problems within the joints, such as inflammation) broken bones (usually caused by falls or accidents), and slipped discs (which occur when cartilage in the spinal column shifts out of position, causing pain and discomfort). The results of a study conducted in Germany, using a new form of scalp acupuncture, have found that as little as one session can relieve several types of locomotor system pain, and that the relief can last weeks (or even months) without any additional treatment.

In the study, 104 patients with severe movement-associated pain were treated with a single application of scalp acupuncture. Different points were used on different patients, based on individual diagnoses of the patient's necks. Needles were inserted and left in place for three to nine minutes, which allowed the researchers to take topometric measurements of the patients' movements. A visual analog scale (0-100, 100 being worst possible pain) was used to chart the severity of the patients' pain before and after treatment. In addition, a few weeks (or months) after the therapy, the patients were interviewed by telephone concerning their subjective state of health.

Results: 93.3 percent of the patients received at least some relief from scalp acupuncture; 50 percent stated that they experienced complete relief of symptoms. Average visual analog scores dropped significantly from pretreatment (63/100) to post-treatment (19/100). A total of 58.5 percent of patients experienced both subjective relief or complete elimination of symptoms (via the VAS scores) and objective relief (as shown through an improvement in topometric measurements).

The researchers concluded that scalp acupuncture "seems to be a therapeutic method capable of erasing pain memories rapidly and sustainably." They added that their results "should be a motivation for further research" into the use of scalp acupuncture for other conditions, such as asthma and allergies.

Herb of the Month: Red Peony

Red peony is one of three species of peony used in traditional Chinese medicine. The others are white peony (bai shao) and tree peony, or moutan (mu dan). When referring to red peony, the root of the plant is used in herbal preparations.

Traditionally, red peony has been used for bleeding or lack of blood movement, depending on its preparation. In animal tests, red peony extracts stop blood platelets from clumping, although these tests have yet to be replicated in humans. Other tests have shown that red peony can help patients with viral hepatitis.

Red peony is most commonly available as a capsule, although it also sold in powder and extract forms. The recommended dosage for red peony is 1-3 grams in capsule form three times per day.

Red peony has been given a class one rating by the American Herbal Products Association, meaning that it is safe to consume when used in recommended doses. However, it should not be used by women who or pregnant or lactating. At this time, there are no well-known drug interactions with red peony. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed, qualified health care provider before taking red peony or any other herbal product or dietary supplement.

To learn more about the benefits of herbal medicine, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral.

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: Has "bleeding" acupuncture been proven effective in treating knee injuries in professional athletes?

Answer: Most of the time, bleeding acupuncture is not necessary. The acupuncture technique in which a small drop of blood is drawn, bleeding acupuncture, is more often used for feverish conditions. Acupuncture treatment in general is known to be effective for professional knee injuries.

Question #2: I am getting severe chronic shoulder pain. I am seeing an acupuncturist at the moment. Heat seems to help. It (the pain) starts at the top of the neck by the ear, down to the triangle of the shoulder area. Dull pain is experienced. Can you help?

Answer: I cannot help personally, but if you continue seeing your acupuncturist, he or she should be able to. Generally, a therapeutic course of treatment is 10 sessions, so have some patience. Chronic conditions are more difficult to work with.

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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