February 2007 [Volume 6, Issue 2]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Suffering From Anxiety? Don't Worry - Try Acupuncture
• Herb of the Month - Abalone Shell (shi jue ming)
• Acupuncture Q & A: This Month's Highlights From the "Ask an Acupuncturist" Forum

Suffering From Anxiety? Don't Worry - Try Acupuncture

According to the 2002 National Health Interview Study, 30.8 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma at some point during their lifetime. Furthermore, several studies have shown that anxiety can increase asthmatic symptoms and restrict airflow even further. Fortunately, increasing research suggests acupuncture can play a role in reducing symptoms of anxiety associated with asthma and other conditions.

An article published in the January 2007 issue of the journal Explore examined the use of acupuncture to see if it was effective for treating anxiety in a group of 68 adults with asthma. The researchers found that a series of 12 acupuncture treatments was effective in treating symptoms of anxiety, compared to patients who were given standard medical treatment.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine has shown promise in treating a variety of conditions without the use of drugs or other medical procedures. To learn more, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com.

Herb of the Month - Abalone Shell (shi jue ming)

Known in some circles as the "sea ear," the abalone is a type of mollusk that grows predominantly in the waters in and around California. There are nine types of abalone in North America, each somewhat different in size and appearance. Each has a one-pieced shell, which is rounded or oval-shaped, with a dome on one end. While the meat of the abalone is considered a delicacy in many cultures, the shell is used in herbal remedies.

Abalone shell is used to treat conditions such as vertigo, dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, and eye-related pain, and to improve visual acuity. Abalone shell is often combined with other substances, such as oyster shell and white peony. The typical dosage of abalone shell is between 15 and 30 grams, crushed and decocted with water. If abalone shell is being combined with other items, it should be added to the decoction earlier than the other ingredients.

Powdered abalone shell can be found at many Asian markets and specialty stores. Raw abalone shell should be used to calm the liver, while calcined shell (refined with water) can be used to treat eye conditions.

Abalone shell should be given with caution to patients with indigestion or cold in the spleen and stomach caused by insufficiency. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions or side-effects associated with abalone shell. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking abalone shell or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.

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 receive responses from a licensed acupuncturist. Here is one of this month's questions and answers:

Question #1: Having a bipolar II disorder for 20 years now, cycling up and down about 10 times a year, I have had to conclude at the age of 63 that all treatments by medication and/or therapy have not done the trick of restoring a balance to my nervous/hormonal system. Life consisting of recurrent depressive episodes is pretty unpleasant as a result. Have you any experience of acupuncture achieving a balancing effect for some length of time in such a case? After all, just relieving the symptoms of one depressive episode would not be worth it, as the problem is not one episode, but the whole process of rapid cycling.

Answer: Treatment for the symptoms of bipolar disorder can be done with acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs. It is reasonable to expect a decrease in the severity and frequency of cycles, though more or less may be achieved. You would want to have a consultation because results are individual. In general, you would have 10 to 15 treatments, one to three times per week, either during your episodes or in-between. More or less treatment may be necessary.

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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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