- Yun Y. Effect of facial cosmetic acupuncture on facial elasticity: an open-label, single-arm pilot study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;424313. doi: 10.1155/2013/424313. Epub 2013 Jul 28.
- Nozomi Donoyama. Cosmetic acupuncture to enhance facial skin appearance: a preliminary studyAcupunct Med 2012;30:152-153
- Kuo TC . The soreness and numbness effect of acupuncture on skin blood flow. Am J Chin Med. 2004;32(1):117-29.
Welcome
About Me
Monday 19 September 2016
Research evidence shows cosmetic acupuncture works
Sunday 11 September 2016
Friday 9 September 2016
How to treat Vitamin D deficiency with Chinese medicine?
Below are some questions I have been asked by my clients and my answers
as follows:
Q: Do I have vitamin D deficiency?
A: If you often feel lethargic, tired, experience non specific aches and pains, with a general sense of being unwell, this could be a sign of vitamin D deficiency.
In addition, if you
are in a job, i.e. office worker, with minimal exposure to natural sunlight; or
that your current health condition / constitution (i.e. women of menopause age
or above) you maybe at increased risk of developing VD. It is advised that you
book an appointment with your General practitioner to have your blood VD level
checked.
Statistic shows that 90% of the obese population, in the UK, has VD deficiency [1]. The South Asian community in the UK have a higher prevalence of VD deficiency compared to the White English population, due to different lifestyle[2].
Q: Do I need any treatment?
A: The early stage of VD deficiency can present with non to mild symptoms, which can be easily overlooked as a “minor” problem.
The main function of VD is regulating the calcium and phosphorus
metabolism and plays a key role in
osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children. A recent study from Cambridge,
found that VD is a custodian of cell signaling stability in health and
disease. It contributes to many human diseases, such as Alzheimer's
disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), hypertension
and cardiovascular diseases [3]. If you have VD
deficiency, this can increase your risk of developing serious illness (listed
above).If you are experiencing mild signs and symptoms, it is advised that you check
your VD level and if necessary to start early treatment, in order to re-balance
your calcium and phosphate levels.
Q: How to treat VD insufficiency?
A: Vitamin D deficiency in Western medicine is usually treated in the form of artificially manufactured oral supplements (solutions or capsules), which are available for purchase over the counter. Unfortunately, the general public often self administer vitamin D, without knowing the recommended intake and this can result in high to toxic 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels [4]. A randomised, placebo controlled clinical trial report showed calcium supplementation in healthy postmenopausal women is associated with upward trends in cardiovascular event rates. This is potentially detrimental to health and should be carefully weighed against the likely benefits of calcium on bone health[5]. It is in my opinion, based upon my extensive clinical experience, the safest treatment for VD deficiency, should be naturally derived e.g. regulate diet, lifestyle and the use of natural herbal medicine and acupuncture.
Q: What is Chinese medicine’s opinion on VD deficiency?
A: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, the Kidneys dominate bone, growth and regeneration. Bone health (strength and density) depends on the quality of Kidney Essence. Vitamin D is first absorbed via the skin (from sunlight) and transported and metabolized in the Liver. However, hyrdroxylation (the first step of degradation of organic compounds) in the liver is only capable of producing 25 hydro vitamin D3, which is almost inactive. Compared with the kidneys ability to activate 25-hydroxycholecalcifero into 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, it is endogenous vitamin D3 (1000x higher than its almost inactive form in the liver).The aetiology behind vitamin D deficiency is due to Kidney deficiency, from a TCM perspective.
For further reading on “Kidney dominate bone theory,” please reference
my previous publication..
Q: How to treat VD deficiency in Chinese medicine?
A: Any kidney tonification method can benefit VD. These include the use of acupuncture treatment, focusing on the following key kidney meridian points, eg. KI 3, KI 6, BL23, DU4, applying reinforce manipulation. Kidney tonifying herbs can be selected according to the principle of syndrome differentiation diagnosis. For example, for Kidney Yin deficiency, use modified Liuwei Dihuang Wan. For Kidney Yang disharmony, use modified Jingui Shenqi Wan.
To conclude, Chinese medicine has a ‘two way regulation effect.’ The use of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can effectively balance the kidney yin/yang, which governs and stimulates the body's natural production of vitamin D and calcium. The use of artificially manufactured Vitamin D and calcium supplements can, therefore, be avoided, preventing VD toxicity.
Kidney tonifying herbs contain active ingredients and compounds used for maintaining health and preventing premature aging for millennia. In ancient China, from Emperors to ordinary civilians, regardless of social rank, everybody enjoyed reaping the benefits of consuming kidney tonifying pills and decoctions.
Reference:
1. Grace C. High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in a United Kingdom urban morbidly obese population: implications for testing and treatment. SurgObesRelat Dis. 2014;10(2):355-60.
2. Kift R. Lifestyle factors including less cutaneous sun exposure contribute to starkly lower vitamin D levels in U.K. South Asians compared with the white population. Br J Dermatol. 2013;169(6):1272-8.
3. Berridge MJ. Vitamin D: a custodian of cell signalling stability in health and disease. BiochemSoc Trans. 201; 43(3):349-58.
4. Shea R. ANNALS EXPRESS: Self-administration of Vitamin D supplements in the general public can result in high to toxic 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Ann ClinBiochem. 2016; 15.
5. Mark J Bolland. Vascular events in healthy older women receiving calcium supplementation: randomised controlled trial.BMJ. 2008; 336(7638): 262–266.
Monday 5 September 2016
FSN – A Magical Acupuncture for Pain Release
- Langevin, H.M. "Subcutaneous tissue fibroblasts cytoskeletal remodeling induced by acupuncture: evidence for a mechanotransduction-based mechanism". J Cell Physiol 2006; (3) 207
- Langevin, H.M.. "Mechanical signalling through connective tissue: A mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture". 2001; FASEB J (1) 15.
- Anderson, G.B. "Epidemiological features of chronic low back pain". 1999; The Lancet (1) 354
Saturday 2 July 2016
Why NICE is wrong?
Saturday 12 March 2016
6 reasons why acupuncture need herbs
It originated in China. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are based on the same philosophy, same diagnosis method and same treatment principles. They are inseparable in thousands of years of history. Like your left hand needs your right hand to be truly effective.
From Hua Tuo (145-208AD) and Zhang Zhongjing (150-219AD) to Sun Simiao (581-682AD) and Li Shizhen (1518-1593). They all are good at both acupuncture and herbs.
When treating most conditions the effect of acupuncture effect lasts from a few hours to a few days. The treatment effect is unlikely to last a whole week. Some patients feels better after acupuncture treatment, but 2-3 days later their symptoms come back. In China some patients get acupuncture every day or every other day to maintain the effects, but it is very difficult to have such frequent acupuncture sessions for most patients. Chinese herbs can enhance the effect of acupuncture and extend the effect time.
Although acupuncture can treat many diseases, there are still some diseases for which acupuncture is not suitable, or cannot be relied upon solely. Acupuncture is superior for treating musculoskeletal pain, emotional disorder and functional disorder of internal organs, but if there is organ function failure and in some severe conditions, acupuncture must be combined with herbs to achieve good effect.
Randomized clinical trial showed acupuncture combined with herbs will lead to better treatment results[1]. Laboratory research shows that the combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs can significantly enhance curative effects in treating model rats with PCOS[2]. Other research results indicated that acupuncture has a synergistic effect on the pharmacokinetics of Chinese herb medicine [3].
Some patients are too busy to have weekly acupuncture treatment or they have to terminate their treatment because of a business trip or holiday. Some patients live too far from a practitioner. In these situations they can take some herb tablets or powders so we can still bring the symptoms under control until the disease is cured.
Reference
- You XM. Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Efficacy of Simo Decoction and Acupuncture or Chewing Gum Alone on Postoperative Ileus in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatectomy. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015; 94(45):1968
- Ma RJ Combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs in treating model rats with polycystic ovary syndrome. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(4):353-61.
- Wu X. ,Comparative pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of schisandrin, deoxyschisandrin and schisandrin B in rats after combining acupuncture and herb medicine (schisandra chinensis). Biomed Chromatogr. 2014; 28(8):1075-83