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August 2012 [Volume 11, Issue 8]
To Your Health is brought to you by:
In this issue of To Your Health:
Ancient Relief for a Modern Disease
By Daniel Ramirez
On most days, the lobby of Being Alive in West Hollywood, Calif. is filled with laughter and banter from patients waiting for their next acupuncture session to get in tune with their qi. They are patients who come from different backgrounds, but share one thing in common - they all are living with HIV/AIDS and are seeking relief through this more than 3,000-year-old ancient medicine.
Being Alive is a 1,200-member non-profit HIV/AIDS organization that for nearly 15 years has been offering acupuncture, along with other alternative treatments, to help people living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles.
A narrow hall, a paneled patient area and therapy room house Being Alive's twice-weekly acupuncture clinic where volunteer therapists and interns treat up to 60 members a week.
The volunteer therapists include instructors and interns from Yo San University in Santa Monica, Calif.
Since its introduction, acupuncture has been one of Being Alive's more popular programs, with countless members on its waiting list to fill slots of limited appointments.
The organization, like many other similar HIV holistic programs, has relied heavily on its volunteers and various donations to keep providing complementary services to this community.
Herb of the Month – Rhubarb (da huang)
What is rhubarb? What is it used for?
Although most people think rhubarb is a fruit, it's actually a vegetable, and one of only a handful of perennial vegetables on the planet. There are several varieties of rhubarb available.
The most common type, rheum rhaponticum, is found in the U.S. Chinese rhubarb (rheum palmatum or da huang) is similar in appearance to the American version, but has a much stronger taste and a slightly different chemical composition.
Rhubarb is an extremely hardy plant, and can grow in almost any environment. The plant's stalks are stiff and can grow up to three feet in length; each stalk is tipped with a large, textured, spade-shaped leaf. Rhubarb leaves are considered poisonous and should not be eaten. The root is used medicinally.
Rhubarb root has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine; its uses were first documented in the Divine Husbandman's Classic of Materia medica, which was written approximately 2,200 years ago. Originally, herbalists used rhubarb as a laxative, and to evacuate the bowels and improve the digestive tract. Rhubarb has also been found useful in treating jaundice, endometriosis, and (topically) burns and skin ulcers. Furthermore, rhubarb has the ability to fight infectious fungi such as candida, and infections of the lungs and eyes.
How much rhubarb should I take?
As a decoction, herbalists recommend putting 1-1.5 teaspoons of pulverized, crushed rhubarb root in one cup of boiling water and letting the mixture for 10 minutes. The tea can be taken twice a day. Most herbal preparations of rhubarb, however, are individually prepared for each patient. Rhubarb may be combined with other herbs.
What forms of rhubarb are available?
Wild rhubarb still grows in various parts of the U.S. Dried rhubarb is available at nearly every Asian market or specialty health food store. Some stores also sell rhubarb extracts and tinctures.
What can happen if I take too much rhubarb? Are there any interactions I should be aware of? What precautions should I take?
Rhubarb should not be taken by children under the age of 12, or by women who are pregnant or nursing. It should also not be taken by patients with acute or chronic intestinal disorders, such as Crohn's disease.
The most common side-effect noted with rhubarb is abdominal cramping; however, this condition is often relieved by reducing rhubarb dosage. Excessive use of rhubarb can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and possible liver and kidney damage. Long-term use can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and hypokalemia (a metabolic imbalance characterized by low potassium levels in the blood).
Due to a possible loss of potassium, rhubarb root should not be taken in combination with cardiac medications, diuretics or steroids. Loss of potassium can be decreased by combining rhubarb root with licorice root.
As always, make sure to consult with a licensed, qualified health care professional before taking rhubarb or any other dietary supplement.
Question about side effects of electroacupuncture: I have a question that I'm hoping to get an answer to regarding electro acupuncture. I received my first acupuncture treatment for anxiety/depression and the acupuncturist placed needles in my scalp, wrists and feet. He attached an electro stimulation machine to the needles in my head and the duration was around 45 minutes. Is this something I need to be concerned about? What are the risks?
Answer: Risks are associated with having a pacemaker for your heart. If you do not have a pacemaker, you need not have concern or alarm. Electro-acupuncture is done with 9 volts or less of current. The purpose is to take the place of manually stimulating the needle for the time it is in place. On the scalp the current does not penetrate below the skin. Electro-acupuncture is commonly used on the scalp without side effects. It is totally different than western medicine electro-shock therapy. Usually the ear points are used with e-stim for symptoms of anxiety and depression though there are also points on the scalp.
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