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December 2007 [Volume 6, Issue 12]
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In this issue of To Your Health:
A study from Germany published in the Sept. 24, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine has shown an astonishing response rate of acupuncture for low back pain. Michael Haake and colleagues from the University of Regensburg conducted a randomized control trial of 1,162 patients with low back pain for about eight years.
Patients in the study underwent ten 30-minute sessions of acupuncture or conventional therapy of drugs, physical therapy and exercise. After six months of treatment, patients who received acupuncture improved by more than 40 percent, while those who got conventional treatment improved by only 20 percent.
The researchers concluded, "Low back pain improved after acupuncture treatment for at least 6 months. Effectiveness of acupuncture ... was almost twice that of conventional therapy."
For more information on the many benefits of acupuncture, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com.
Herb of the Month – Kadsura Stem (hai feng teng)
Kadsura stem comes from the Caulis piperis kadsurae, a type of vine that grows in China and other parts of Asia and produces a type of pepper. The stems are collected in the summer and autumn and dried in the sun and cut into slices for use. According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, kadsura stem has pungent, bitter and warm properties, and is associated with the Liver and Kidney meridians. Its main functions are to dispel wind and dampness, and to clear the channels and collateral channels. Kadsura stem is used to treat rheumatic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, and muscle spasms. It is sometimes used with other herbs, such as erythrina bark, gentian root and mulberry twigs.
The typical dosage of kadsura stem is between 5 and 10 grams, boiled in water and drunk as a decoction. Smaller amounts of kadsura stem extract can be taken up to three times per day.
As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions or adverse side-effects associated with kadsura stem, nor are there any side effects associated with taking large amounts of kadsura stem. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking kadsura stem or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.
Question: I have a calcium deposit on my shoulder. I have been doing some physical therapy for six weeks and do think my range of motion has improved. Can acupuncture aid in reabsorption of the calcium deposit into the body?
Answer: Yes. The clinical work has been with calcium deposits in the feet, called bone spurs, and electroacupuncture was used. There has not been a study of calcium deposits in the shoulder that I know of. Acupuncture treatment combined with physical therapy can reduce the pain and increase the range of motion when there are complications from calcium deposits in the shoulder. Acupuncture treatment seems to improve the overall outcome in these cases.
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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