November 7, 2013 in Chinese Medicine by admin

Acupuncture and Stress

According to Health and Safety Executive 2011 report, up to half a million people in the UK experience work-related stress every year, which often results in illness. There are many  factors that affect stress levels including alcohol, smoking, exams, pregnancy, divorce, moving, death in family, lifestyle, drugs, poor nutrition and unemployment.

Lead author Dr Ladan Eshkevari, of Georgetown University, In the first study of its kind,  found the ancient Chinese therapy reduces levels of a protein linked to chronic stress. This is reported by Daily mail.

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November 7, 2013 in Chinese Medicine by admin

Acupuncture and Obesity

According to research in Birmingham University, Obesity rates in the UK are the highest in Europe and have increased dramatically over the past few years to such an extent that in excess of 20% of the population are now obese and the costs to the UK economy exceed £3 billion per year. In Birmingham, over 25% of the population are obese – the third highest rate in the UK.

The Nature magazine published an article on Acupuncture treatment for obesity:

“Although acupuncture is being utilised to treat a variety of important health problems, its usefulness in obesity management has not yet been fully evaluated. The aim of this review paper was to survey and critically evaluate the descriptive and controlled trials of acupuncture for enhancing weight loss. The underlying principles of acu-point stimulation are described, with an emphasis on auricular (ear) acupuncture, the method most often chosen for obesity studies. The difficulties of selecting suitable placebo controls are highlighted. To date, most trials have been descriptive in nature, of short duration (12 weeks), and designed using nonstandard treatment protocols. Despite the unique challenges involved, further careful study of acupuncture’s potential usefulness as an adjunct in weight management is recommended. An agenda for future research in this area is provided. ”

 

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September 28, 2013 in News by admin

Cardiff-Peking universities: Chinese medicine cancer treatment hope

Combining traditional forms of Chinese and Western medicine could offer new hope for developing new treatments for some cancers, say experts from universities in Cardiff and Peking.

Prof Wen Jiang from Cardiff University said they have discovered how a formula of traditional Chinese medicine works to stop cancer spreading.

The universities have been collaborating for two years.

Prof Jiang described the breakthrough as “ancient medicine, modern thinking”.

Experts from the Cardiff School of Medicine joined forces with Peking University in 2012 to test the health benefits of the Chinese herbal medicine called Yangzheng Xiaoji.

Pathways

The formula, consisting of 14 herbs, has previously been shown to be beneficial to cancer patients but until this latest research, the way in which it works had remained unknown.

The joint research has investigated how the formula works and discovered that it blocks a pathway, stopping the spread of cancer cells in the body.

Prof Jiang, the director of the Cardiff University- Peking University Joint Cancer Institute at Cardiff, explained: “Traditional Chinese medicine where compounds are extracted from natural products or herbs have been practised for centuries in China, Korea, Japan and other countries in Asia.

“Although a few successes, most of the traditional remedies are short of scientific explanation which has inevitably led to scepticism – especially amongst traditionalists in the West.

“As a result, we set out to test the success of a Chinese medicine and then consider how combining it alongside traditional methods like chemotherapy could result in positive outcome for patients.”

The professor said the Chinese formula has been shown to be beneficial to patients with certain solid tumours, when used alone and in conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy.

He added: “It suggests that combining the formula with conventional as well as new therapies could hold the key to developing new treatments for cancer patients.

Clinical trials of the combined treatment for lung and other cancers have already begun and were providing positive results, Prof Jiang added.

July 7, 2013 in Chinese Medicine by admin

Acupuncture pain molecule pinpointed

A molecule which may control how acupuncture relieves pain has been pinpointed by US researchers.

From BBC:

Experiments in mice showed that levels of adenosine – a natural painkiller – increased in tissues near acupuncture sites.

The Nature Neuroscience study also found that in mice resistant to the effects of adenosine, acupuncture had no effect.

Pain experts said the findings may partly explain how the treatment works.

Adenosine is known to have many roles in the body including regulating sleep and reducing inflammation, the researchers said.

Other research has shown that it becomes active in the skin after an injury to act as a local painkiller.

In the latest study, the researchers were looking at the effects of the molecule in the deeper tissues which acupuncturists target with fine needles.

The team performed a 30-minute acupuncture session at a pressure point in the knee of mice that had discomfort in one paw.

They found that in mice with normal functioning levels of adenosine, acupuncture reduced soreness by two-thirds, as assessed by nerve sensitivity measurements.

In mice specially engineered to lack the receptor for adenosine, acupuncture had no effect.

And during and immediately after an acupuncture treatment, the level of adenosine in the tissues near the needles was 24 times greater than before the treatment, the researchers said.

Then using a drug which extends the effects of adenosine, they found that the benefits of acupuncture lasted three times as long.

Variety of effects

Study leader Dr Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, said: “Acupuncture has been a mainstay of medical treatment in certain parts of the world for 4,000 years, but because it has not been understood completely, many people have remained skeptical.

“In this work, we provide information about one physical mechanism through which acupuncture reduces pain in the body,” she added.

Acupuncture is used for a wide range of treatments but on the NHS its use is limited to lower back pain.

Experts pointed out that acupuncture may mediate its effects in a number of different ways.

A spokesman from the British Pain Society said: “We have known for a long time that acupuncture alters the response to pain by modulation of some of the pain pathways in the spinal cord, and also by the release of endorphins.

“It is very interesting that scientists have found an alteration in the tissue levels of adenosine, which helps to explain some of the modulatory effects of acupuncture on pain perception.”

Professor Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Peninsula Medical School agreed the study might go some way towards explaining how acupuncture reduces pain.

“We need, I would argue, independent replications with more rigorous controls before we can fully accept its findings.

“The curious thing with acupuncture is that we seem to understand better and better how it might work and, at the same time, we have more and more reason to doubt that it works.”

Source of Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10185247

June 30, 2013 in Testimonials by admin

Ms J Waters – May 2013

Having Attended St John’s Hill Clinic for a number of years, I can only state that the treatment receive from Dr Daian Zou is helping me to function in life without having to rely on a large dose of strong pain killers taken daily. I found that not only did the pain killers not stop most of the plain, but upset my stomach which gave a general feeling of being unwell.

June 1, 2013 in Testimonials by admin

A breath of fresh air – Ms. Hugh

I just want to say ‘Thank You’ for your help with Acupuncture and Acupressure. I appreciated it very much, & received benefits.

Also have been helped by your taking the pulse & examining the tongue, and your talking to me about these – most helpful.

…

With regard to your treatment & Acupressure with me for about ONE hour! – amazing. I received so much help from that – as if I became more aware of my body.

I have written rather than calling in at your clinic, as I did not want to interrupt your work.

After my experience of Western Medicine, it was a breath of fresh air, having treatment from you – many many thanks.

May 6, 2013 in Testimonials by admin

Mrs Gwilt

A number of years ago I developed a severe back pain due to a slight curve of the spine which the Xray had shown. The doctor prescribed pain killers & a set of exercises for me to do. A friend who at the time was having acupuncture for her shoulder advised me to consult Dr. Daian to see what she could do for me, which I did. She explained that it would never be healed but she could help.

At the time most weeks I was in pain. Not only that but I found it difficult to sleep. Now (after treatment) rarely does the pain wake me. I am not without pain but it is under control of which I am highly grateful.