Bisoma five element acupuncture

e16125 Background: Hot flashes are a common adverse effect of androgen suppression therapy (AST) for prostate cancer. We sought to determine the effect of acupuncture on hot flash frequency and intensity, quality of life, sleep quality, and biomarkers. Methods: Men on AST who had a hot flash score (HFS) (J Clin Oncol. 2001;19:4280–4290) > 4 were treated with acupuncture with electro-stimulation twice weekly for 4 weeks and once per week for an additional 6 weeks. The treatment plan included the following points: bilateral gallbladder 34, bladder 15, 23, and 32 and unilateral governing vessel 20, heart 7, pericardium 6, liver 2, and spleen 6. Continuous low intensity electro-stimulation at 2 Hz was used to connect bladder 23 inferiorly to bladder 32. Needles were retained for 30 minutes with manual stimulation at 10-minute intervals. The primary endpoint was a 50% reduction in the HFS after 4 weeks of therapy. Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS) (J Pain Symptom Manage. 2001;22:979–989), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (Psychiatry Res. 1989;28:193–213), Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) (Med Care. 1992;30:473–483), blood serotonin, plasma CGRP, and urinary 5-HIAA were also examined. Results: 22 men were enrolled between September 2003 and April 2007 and were eligible and evaluable. After 4 weeks of therapy, 9 of 22 patients (41%, 95%CI 21 to 64%) had > 50% reduction in hot flashes. 12 of 22 patients (55%, 95%CI 32 to 76%) met this response definition after 7 weeks of treatment. No patients had a significant increase in the HFS on therapy. Hot flash related quality of life, measured by HFDIS, improved in all patients and sleep quality, measured by PSQI, improved in hot flash responders. Hot flash related biomarkers including serotonin, 5-HIAA, and CGRP were examined before and after treatment. Conclusions: Multiple placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated that 25% of patients respond to placebo treatment for hot flashes. 41% of patients responded by week 4 and 55% by week 7 in this pilot study providing evidence of a potentially meaningful benefit with acupuncture therapy. Hot flash-related quality of life was also significantly improved with acupuncture treatment. Further studies of acupuncture for hot flashes in men undergoing hormonal treatment for prostate cancer are warranted. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Vasomotor symptoms are common and can be debilitating in breast cancer survivors, particularly those who receive antiestrogen therapy. Because estrogen

The discovery of modern evolutionary anatomy shows that the persistent median artery in the upper arm is a common variant with an increasing trend. This phenomenon can explain well the transition from the eleven meridians described in the Han silk and bamboo slips to the twelve meridians finalized in Neijing and the addition of the hand- jueyin meridian in Han dynasty. After systematic analysis and comparison, the author proposes the hypothesis that "yin meridians are arteries, and yang meridians are nerve-like structures" to explain the meridian theory prior to acupuncture and acupoints in the Qin and Han dynasties. It is clear that over two thousand years ago, Chinese physicians already described the distribution, physiology, and pathology of the six main arteries and six important nerves in the human extremities. The finding suggests that it was the addition of acupuncture and acupoints that had changed the direction of TCM development in Neijing or later and promoted the maturation of qi and blood, meridians, and zangfu theories.

Astonishing is the best way to describe the 8th International Auriculotherapy Symposium being held from May 8–10, 2014, on The Johns Hopkins University campus, in Rockville, MD. For the first time in the symposium’s history, the very best of the international auriculotherapy experts are coming to America. Why is this symposium held in such high esteem? The previous symposiums were organized by the prestigious French Lyon Group of Medical Studies (GLEM), Lyon, France. Paul Nogier (1908–1996) created this group. Paul Nogier is well-respected for his development of French auriculotherapy and auriculomedicine. His son, Raphael Nogier, continues to promote the knowledge that his late father contributed to auriculotherapy. All of us who study acupuncture know and respect the impact of Paul Nogier. The French have a long tradition of fostering this discipline. Like a huge magnet, the GLEM attracts the top worldwide clinicians and researchers. Two Special Issues of Medical Acupuncture appear just in time for the symposium. I am sure that these ‘‘supercharged’’ Special Issues will be wellappreciated by our readership. This first Special Issue (for April) presents a full range of articles by international auriculotherapy experts: Raphael Nogier delineates the challenges the late Paul Nogier faced in establishing the map of the ear. Pierre Rabischong and Claudie Terral discuss the state of the art of auriculotherapy. Marco Romili and colleagues deal with persistent postoperative pain, which can occur when total knee replacement procedures are performed; this pain is a very common clinical challenge. Terry Oleson examines standardized ear acupuncture nomenclature with a system he devised using three-dimensional landmarks. Gary Stanton and Claire-Marie Rangon discuss the well-known auriculotherapy program at the University of Paris XI and XIII, and Lorna Kwai-Ping Suen and Chao Hsing Yeh present a study on auricular diagnosis in patients with chronic illnesses. Frank R. Bahr provides a report describing the use of ‘‘High Energy’’ points on a body meridian, which may also be found on the ear. These points may have clinical interest with respect to patients with cancer pending further investigation. The second Special Issue (for June, but, as noted, available at the symposium) will provide eight more vital contributions to the field. I have the honor to be designated the Chairperson/ Organizer of this symposium by the GLEM. It is my wish that these Special Issues will reflect the excitement of this outstanding symposium—and that these issues will prove to be a most valuable resource of the finest clinical presentations and workshops on auriculotherapy in the world. With these goals in mind, Medical Acupuncture has carefully selected some of the best articles derived from the symposium. Share with us the excitement as you read the articles in the Special Issues. For those of you who could not attend the Symposium, we share the best contributions to the Symposium in Medical Acupuncture. I wish to thank my editorial staff who helped make those Special Issues possible: Many thanks to Yael Benporat, Anne Hendren, and Billie M. Spaight. Last but not least, I wish to thank Terry Oleson for his advice and recommendations to formulate this Symposium and the generous gift of his time.

Refugees in humanitarian settings commonly experience many health needs and barriers to access healthcare; health data from these settings are infrequently reported, preventing effective healthcare provision. This report describes health needs of refugees in Moria Camp on Lesvos, Greece-Europe's largest refugee camp. A set of routinely collected service data of 18131 consultations of 11938 patients, attending a primary care clinic in the camp over 6months in 2019-20, was analysed retrospectively, focusing on chronic health conditions. The most frequent chronic conditions were musculoskeletal pain (25.1%), mental health (15.9%), cardiac (12.7%) and endocrine conditions (8.9%). In all, 70.4% of consultations were for acute health problems, with high rates of injuries and wounds (20.8%), respiratory infections (12.5%), gastroenteritis (10.7%) and skin problems (9.7%), particularly scabies. The prevalence of acute and chronic health problems is high in this setting, with some likely attributable to the deplorable living conditions in the camp. Despite its magnitude, the interpretability of routine health data is limited. A research agenda is identified, and a framework for chronic disease management in refugee camps is proposed.

Long-term health effects of chemical warfare agents on children following a single heavy exposure.

Traditional Chinese Medicine, or "TCM," is a holistic discipline that focuses on human health, preventative medicine, diagnostic techniques, and therapeutic interventions (e.g., Li et al., 2021; Zhang & Li, 2021). At its foundation, TCM is also heavily rooted in anatomical principles. As such, it is no wonder that the topic has been the subject of study in The Anatomical Record (AR) in recent years. In this Special Issue of AR, we highlight Traditional Chinese Medicine. Specifically, the volume brings together a collection of papers on topics ranging from acupuncture to traditional Chinese herbs to syndrome biomarkers. The authors delved into the molecular attributes of TCM syndromes and investigated the disease resistance mechanisms of acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatments for conditions affecting the digestive system, nervous system, and other organ systems. The issue has been skillfully edited by Professor Jicheng Li (Figure 1). Jicheng is a Professor at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, and has been an International Associate Editor of AR since 2007. Jicheng is an excellent scientist who actively advances AR by tirelessly engaging in manuscript recruitment and journal promotions throughout China (Figure 1). We wish to thank Prof. Li from the outset for his excellent work on this Special Issue. The Anatomical Record's initial foray into the studies of TCM began in 2018 when the entire AR Editorial Board traveled to China for the annual Board meeting. During the trip, many AR editors, including co-author J.L. and former Editor-in-Chief Kurt Albertine, experienced acupuncture treatments firsthand! (While the closest co-author HFS has admittedly even been to TCM are her bi-weekly hot yoga sessions, she was excited to learn more from this issue's interesting submissions). Thus, AR's relationship with TCM was born! Since that time, the journal has now published three Special Issues on the topic (Albertine & Laitman, 2020; Laitman & Albertine, 2020; Zhang & Li, 2021, 2023). TCM has its origins over 3000 years ago in prefeudal China, and it has been widely used throughout China for over 2000 years (Shaw & McLennan, 2016; Xu et al., 2014; Yu et al., 2006). However, despite the longevity of the practice in Asia, TCM has only recently become broadly discussed internationally (e.g., Han et al., 2023; Lam et al., 2019; Zhang & Li, 2021). The past 10 years have seen a rapid increase in the number of TCM syndrome papers published (Liu & Li, 2023), showing a growing increased interest around the world in TCM. Similarly, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was also associated with a jump in TCM publications, which mainly focused on techniques and traditional herbs that may help to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms, as a supplement to treatment by allopathic medicine (e.g., Da et al., 2021; Han et al., 2023). Traditional Chinese Medicine is rooted in the Taoist philosophy of maintaining a balance between the opposing forces of yin and yang (e.g., Cai, 1988; Fazel, 1995; Hon, 2019; Tang et al., 2008; Wang et al., 2021). From an anatomical perspective, yin and yang are also linked to various anatomical regions of the body. Specifically, yin is linked to the inferior portions of the body, including the pelvis and lower extremities, while yang is associated with the superior regions of the body, such as the upper extremities, head and neck, and including the back. Therefore, the roots of TCM are strongly aligned with anatomical premises and principles. Acupuncture, the branch of TCM in which fine needles are strategically inserted into various locations on the body, was likely first developed by Han Dynasty anatomists (Shaw & Mclennan, 2016). While the precise mechanisms underlying acupuncture remain largely unknown, it is clear that its development was based on a foundation of anatomical knowledge. In fact, the ancient Chinese Mawangdui texts dating to 200–300 BCE represent some of the earliest, detailed anatomical atlases, predating those of classic Greece (Shaw et al., 2022; Yimou & Zhou, 1988). The texts detail the human body's arrangement through divisions or routes, each linked to specific disease patterns. Interestingly, these 11 pathways bear identical names as the acupuncture meridians later discussed in the Huangdi Neijing (Neijing, 2010). The Anatomical Atlas of Truth (Yang, 1106) comprises intricate depictions of the anatomy of the trunk, along with illustrations of the 12 meridians and 5 cardinal phase points. The establishment of well-marked acupuncture points also coincided with and was informed by the increase in anatomical dissection practices during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD; Shaw & Mclennan, 2016). A recent dissection-based study investigating the anatomy deep to each recognized acupoint revealed a correlation between acupoint location and specific anatomical features (Shaw & Mclennan, 2016). Many acupoints lie superficial to key neurovascular foramina or depressions in muscles, suggesting that each needle targets a precise anatomical location (Shaw & Mclennan, 2016). In TCM, meridians are lines through which Qi (circulating life force) flows. The meridians course throughout the body and connect acupuncture points and facilitate the flow of Qi. Early work by Dr. Bonghan Kim and others has attempted to identify the meridians as anatomical structures (Kim, 1962, 1963, 1965). It has been variously argued that the meridians may lie within the lymphatic system (Byung et al., 2005), vascular system (Baik et al., 2005), within adipose tissue (Lee et al., 2009), or even on organ surfaces (Baik et al., 2009). The Chōng meridian, also known as the Penetrating Vessel or Sea of Blood, may be an ancient description of the arterial system, because it strongly corresponds with key anatomical vascular landmarks (Shaw, 2014). Tomov et al. have argued that the more recently discovered interstium may be the anatomical foundation for some of the meridians (Tomov et al., 2019). Due to its underpinnings in Anatomy, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used to treat a broad range of ailments and diverse sets of symptoms, in conjunction with allopathic medicine. Volatile oils have been used to treat the injuries to the hippocampus in mice (Gao et al., 2019). The traditional herb Myricetin has been argued to inhibit breast cancer tumor growth (Zhou et al., 2019). Electroacupuncture has been suggested to have antidepressive effects in mice (Li et al., 2021; Sun et al., 2021). Scalp acupuncture may help ischemic stroke patients regain functional connections between cerebral hemispheres, in combination with rehabilitation (Bao, Li, et al., 2021; Liu et al., 2021). Fu's subcutaneous needling technique may help alleviate shoulder pain (Bao, Wang, et al., 2021). TCM decoctions and herbs may help alleviate rhinitis symptoms (Feng et al., 2021). Biomarkers have been identified that may be associated with Yin deficiency syndrome, a condition said to be characterized by hot flashes and cardiovascular disturbances (Chen et al., 2020; Gan et al., 2020; Jiang & Li, 2023; Yi et al., 2020; Yu et al., 2018). All of these TCM approaches should be considered supplements to allopathic medicine to help alleviate symptoms during treatment. In all, Traditional Chinese Medicine is a diverse and fascinating approach to health and medicine, which can complement the practices of allopathic medicine. The research in this volume advances the understanding of the possible mechanisms underlying TCM's efficacy in addressing human diseases. We hope you enjoy and benefit from the collection of papers on TCM in this Special Issue. Xie-Xie ("thank you") for reading! Heather F. Smith: Conceptualization; writing – original draft; writing – review and editing; investigation; methodology; validation; visualization. Jeffrey T. Laitman: Conceptualization; writing – review and editing; validation.

Considerable changes in primary outpatient healthcare can be expected in the coming years due to various trends observed in Western countries, such as an ageing population, an increasing number of patients with chronic illnesses, GP shortages, a trend towards patient-centred care and the digitalization of healthcare. Knowing the population's preferences and subgroup preferences in these developments helps policymakers make healthcare delivery more responsive to patients' needs. Primary data were collected using a representative sample of the adult Swiss population in the fall of 2020. Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) were conducted, where one of the DCEs included an acute health problem and another a routine examination. In the survey, respondents were shown five different choice tasks, each containing two hypothetical alternatives for primary outpatient healthcare models. They were asked to choose their preferred alternative for each choice task. The DCEs enabled the measurement of the population's preferences for nine attributes of primary outpatient healthcare that are currently under discussion (e.g., task shifting, new technology in healthcare and shared decision-making). The data were analysed using panel latent class logit models (LCA) to determine preference heterogeneity and relative importance scores for the attributes. Data from 4745 respondents were included in the analysis. The LCA indicated two classes for acute health problem and three classes for routine examination, with varying latent preference structures. Both DCEs showed similar preference patterns: for one class with younger and more educated respondents, health insurance premium development was most important, followed by participation in decision-making, whereas having a doctor as the health professional was less important. Another class with older and less educated people attached more importance to personal continuity of care and the health professionals being a medical doctor. Younger and more highly educated people are more open to current developments in outpatient primary healthcare, such as task shifting, than older and less educated people, especially if this reduces their health insurance premiums in return. The public was involved in the design of the DCE and as the respondents of the survey used in this article.

Perceived control over menopausal hot flushes: exploring the correlates of a standardised measure

Over 900 experiments on dogs and 135 clinical investigations of healthy people and patients of psychiatric and cardiological departments were performed. With the aid of a 8-channel biopotential amplifier and integrator, bioelectrical potential (BEP) directly from internal organs or from various skin zones were recorded. The quantitative parameters of the BEP--their square values and the sum of the square values of BEP recorded simultaneously from several points of the organism--were measured. The effect of low (1 Hz) and high (28 GHz) frequency electrical stimulation was studied. The stimulation of spleen, liver, stomach, small intestine and corresponding acupuncture points had the greatest effect on the quantitative parameters of the BEP in stomach and small intestine. During patient investigation, the most remarkable changes of the studied parameters were noticed in the BEP recorded from the acupuncture points of the affected internal organ meridians. The existence of the common points between Eastern medicine and Western science are discussed. The analysis of the BEP quantitative parameters proves the existence of electrophysiological equilibrium parameters in the organism--bioelectrical homeostasis. The possible theories of electrical circulation in the organism and their relations with traditional acupuncture theoretical concepts are also discussed.

Chapter 118 - Analgesic and Other Medicinal Properties of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Seeds

Basic research on high-tech acupuncture and integrative laser medicine has been successfully performed all over the world during the last decades, using a broad spectrum of innovative biomedical engineering methods. One of the main goals is to combine basic research on high-tech acupuncture with necessary further experimental and clinical pilot studies for the first time. Acupuncture has been used for medical treatment for thousands of years. Using electroacupuncture, needle or laser needle stimulation, and modern biomedical techniques, it was possible for the first time to quantify changes in biological activities caused by acupuncture. The patient is in China—the analysis for the efficacy of acupuncture is performed by experts in Europe. This “transcontinental teleacupuncture” is a way which was realized by our research team within joint Sino-Austrian and Sino-European projects. The investigations are carried out over thousands of kilometers; for example, 24-hour electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings from patients are registered in China, and the data are transferred directly after the acupuncture treatment to an analysis computer at the Medical University of Graz. The acupuncturists in China are informed about the results immediately based on the analysis protocol. These Sino-European studies included this special issue that contains 26 interesting publications, of which 12 are related to needle acupuncture, 5 to laser acupuncture, and 9 to electroacupuncture. Apart from body acupuncture, special emphasis is also given to auricular acupuncture. The investigations cover animal experimental studies and studies in healthy volunteers and patients, as well as basic and clinical research on evidence-based high-tech acupuncture, integrative laser, and translational medicine based on acupuncture and moxibustion. A first introduction of new developments of acupuncture stimulation equipment is also featured among the papers. It has to be mentioned that this special issue has a total impact factor of 124.124 and contains, among others, the following topics: (i) modernization of acupuncture (evidence-based medicine, integrative laser medicine), (ii) high-tech acupuncture, (iii) development of innovative acupuncture stimulation methods (needle, laser, and electroacupuncture), (iv) methods for the quantification of peripheral and central effects of acupuncture, (v) scientific evaluation of complementary medical methods (acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, and laser therapy), (vi) computer-controlled acupuncture, (vii) teleacupuncture, (viii) laser needle acupuncture, (ix) red- and infrared laser stimulation, (x) violet laser acupuncture, (xi) biomedical assessment of acupuncture. Modernization of acupuncture is a contemporary issue. The bridging between Eastern and Western medicine was successful using modern biomedical engineering technology, as described in this special issue. The next task is to make the arising possibilities and results useable for all involved persons.

Should a menopausal woman take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to see her through a period of uncomfortable symptoms, or will light clothing and avoidance of caffeine and alcohol control her hot flushes? If she has a trouble-free menopause should she in any case have HRT to protect her against postmenopausal osteoporosis and coronary heart disease? Dr Wilson’s book, a Which? Consumer Guide, will help women approaching the menopause to understand the potential benefits and possible disadvantages of HRT and the importance of exercise, eating well and minimising stress in achieving a sense of wellbeing. The book is informative and well balanced though there are occasional lapses. The author’s advice to postmenopausal women to take extra calcium is at odds with published evidence that dietary calcium has little if any effect in preventing bone loss after the menopause, and certainly none to compare with that of HRT. A reference to a paper claiming that HRT induces so-called “drug dependence”, with neither an explanation of the claim nor a mention of the counter-arguments subsequently published, seems needlessly alarmist. These criticisms apart we recommend the book for any women wanting to know more about managing her menopause.

Substance dependent patients are trapped within their addictive behavior. They must deny, minimize, rationalize, intellectualize and project to keep going. Therapists see this as poor motivation in \'difficult\' patients with a chronic relapsing disorder. Patients \'avoid\' therapists and therapists \'avoid\' patients. The problem for patients, love-ones and society lingers on. Society (patients) must trust caregivers in order to seek help. Caregivers must be committed to caring for substance dependent patients. This gap can only be bridged if the caregiver accepts this \'chronic relapsing illness\', is skilled in motivational interviewing, and is able to balance duty of care and beneficence with the respect for autonomy (self determination) and the right to refuse treatment. The essence of the moral dilemma lies within the concept of patient competency to make informed decisions in the face of being \'trapped within his/her illness. The argument that the patient, at some stage of his/her illness, is not competent to make a rational treatment decision will be discussed. The paper will focus on motivational interviewing, autonomy, virtue, human rights, duty to care, justice and common good, and the need to induce sound moral arguments in the treatment strategies of patients with substance dependence. Key Words: Substance dependent, Moral, Caregiver South African Psychiatry Review Vol.8(1) 2005: 11-14

Anthropogenic impacts, for example residues from mining, industrial processes such as smelting or overuse of pesticides and fertilisation, are causing degradation and elevated heavy metal concentrations in farmland soils. Food or feed crops grown on this land can become contaminated with heavy metals with their consumption potentially leading to the accumulation of contaminants in human or animal populations, causing both chronic and acute health problems. Arable soils contaminated with heavy metals have a negative influence on regional economies by restricting sustainable agricultural development and the trade of goods. Second-generation bioenergy crops, based on perennial lignocellulosic crop species, are considered to be the future of the bioenergy industry and are the focus of intense research. Perennial energy crops have a low demand for nutrient inputs and higher lignin and cellulose contents than the biomass of annual crops. Moreover, they appear to be a viable economic alternative to food or feed production at heavy metal-contaminated arable lands. Besides offering an immediate cash crop for polluted soils, their deployment may eventually lead to the future recovery of those areas for arable crops thanks to their capacity for phytoremediation.