February 2009 [Volume 8, Issue 2]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Stronger Evidence for Treating Tension Headache With Acupuncture
• Herb of the Month – Watermelon (xi gua)
• Ask an Acupuncturist

Stronger Evidence for Treating Tension Headache With Acupuncture

Tension headaches, which have been described as a dull pain, almost as if there was a tight band around the head, are one of the most common forms of headaches. Individual studies have shown promising results for the use of acupuncture to treat this type of headache, but a 2001 study that combined the results from 26 individual studies, six of which focused on tension headache, found, "The quality and amount of evidence are not fully convincing." The authors of this study added, "There is an urgent need for well-planned, large-scale studies to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture under real-life conditions." Now, an updated study has found that the evidence for acupuncture in treating tension headaches is indeed convincing.

In the January 2009 edition of the Cochrane Library, Linde and colleagues examined the results of 12 randomized trials, with a total of 2,317 participants. They were looking to determine whether acupuncture is more effective than no treatment or just routine care; more effective than fake acupuncture treatment; and as effective as other interventions (physiotherapy, massage or relaxation) in reducing headache frequency.

In those studies that compared acupuncture treatment to no/routine care, 47 percent of patients receiving acupuncture reported a decrease in the number of headache days by at least 50 percent, compared to 16 percent of patients receiving either no or routine care. For those studies comparing true and fake acupuncture, 50 percent of patients receiving true acupuncture reported a decrease of the number of headache days by at least half, compared to 41 percent of patients receiving sham acupuncture.

The researchers concluded, "In the previous version of this review, evidence in support of acupuncture for tension-type headache was considered insufficient. Now, with six additional [tension headache] trials, the authors conclude that acupuncture could be a valuable nonpharmacological tool in patients with frequent episodic or chronic tension-type headaches."

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

Herb of the Month – Watermelon (xi gua)

Watermelon is one of the most popular types of melons in the world. The typical watermelon is rather large (about the size of a basketball or larger), with a hard, deep green rind (occasionally colored yellow or yellow-brown), a sweet, red inner fruit, and black seeds. Some varieties of watermelon are seedless, however.

Watermelon is considered sweet and cold, and is associated with the Spleen and Stomach meridians. All parts of the watermelon, including the fruit, rind and seeds, are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The main active ingredient in watermelon is citrulline, a chemical that raises the level of urea in the blood and urine. The ground seeds are often incorporated with other herbs as a type of diuretic, and may also help clear up urinary tract infections. Another active ingredient in watermelon, curcubocitrin, may help to reduce blood pressure.

Generally, many practitioners recommend one to two cups of fresh watermelon juice to treat a variety of ailments, or 15-30 g of fresh watermelon fruit. The seeds may also be ground and used with boiling water as a type of decoction, usually in a ratio of 1 tsp. seeds to 1 pint of boiling water.

Although watermelon is considered extremely safe, it nevertheless should be avoided by people diagnosed with excess dampness, excess cold, or a combination of the two. In addition, because it promotes urination, it should be avoided by those with excessive or uncontrolled urination.

As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions associated with watermelon. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking watermelon or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.

Ask an Acupuncturist

Question: Would acupuncture help with chronic sinus problems? I have had two operations, but am still suffering mild throbbing.

Answer: TCM has treatments for the symptoms of sinusitis with both acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs. For acupuncture, have 10 to 12 treatments spread over three weeks to see how you respond. For medicinal herbs, use a soup made from the raw herbs or a preparation of the concentrated extracts. Two to three weeks would be a fair trial for this. The raw herbs and concentrates tend to be more reliable than patent medicines for these symptoms.

Do you have a question about acupuncture and Oriental medicine? Visit the "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum at www.acupuncturetoday.com/ask.

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