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Points - Recent Research

Acupuncture for Symptom Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study

A Method of Selecting Acupoints for Acupuncture Treatment of Peripheral Facial Paralysis by Thermography

Potent Anti-Microbial Activity of TCM Herbs Against Candida Species

Acupuncture for Symptom Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study

Lee H, et al. College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Korea.

We investigated the feasibility of a future acupuncture trial in the symptom management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Twenty-five patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria were recruited and given 14 sessions of individualised acupuncture treatment for 6 weeks. Improvement in symptoms was assessed using ACR 20, 50 and 70; disease activity score (DAS28); tender joint count; swollen joint count; morning stiffness and health-related quality of life using the Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire and the SF-36 at baseline and after 6 weeks. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was also assessed. At 6 weeks, 44%, 20%, and 12% of patients achieved ACR 20, 50 and 70 responses, respectively. Acupuncture also produced statistically significant improvements in DAS28, pain and global activity, swollen joint count, health-related quality of life (SF-36) and ESR. No major acupuncture-related adverse events were reported. Acupuncture treatment as used in this pilot study was safe and well-tolerated. The use of acupuncture for symptom management in RA warrants further investigation.

Clin Rheumatol. 2008 Jan 10 

Source PubMed

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A Method of Selecting Acupoints for Acupuncture Treatment of Peripheral Facial Paralysis by Thermography

Zhang D. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China. zhangd112233@sina.com.

The purpose of this study is to select acupoints for acupuncture treatment of peripheral facial paralysis according to the temperature on the face of the patient detected by thermogram, to determine an objective acupoint selection method for acupuncture treatment. In the test group of 60 cases of facial paralysis, the infrared thermogram on the face was detected at the first visit, and then acupuncture was given at the acupoints on the affected side with a temperature difference of over 0.5 degrees C from the healthy side for one therapeutic course, and in each successive course the acupoints were re-determined according to the results of thermogram examination and were administrated till the end of the total therapeutic course, and 120 cases of the control group were treated with acupuncture at conventionally selected acupoints. The results showed that the cured and basically cured rate was 90.0% (54 cases) in the test group and 77.5% (93 cases) in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.05); and the total sessions of acupuncture were less and the course of treatment was shorter in the test group than those in the control group (both p < 0.001). The utilization rate of the acupoints selected by facial thermogram in the test group was in order of Dicang (ST 4, 92.3%), Yingxiang (LI 20, 90.6%), Taiyang (EX-HN 5, 85.5%), Yangbai (GB 14, 76.6%), Quanliao (SI 18, 72.3%), and so on. In conclusion, acupuncture at the acupoints selected by thermogram for treatment of facial paralysis in the cured rate, the therapeutic course and sessions of acupuncture is significantly superior to acupuncture at the conventionally selected acupoints, and the thermogram-aided acupoint selection method is beneficial to objectivity and modernization of acupoint selection for acupuncture and moxibustion treatments.

Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(6):967-75

Source: PubMed

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Potent Anti-Microbial Activity of TCM Herbs Against Candida Species

Seneviratne CJ, et al. Department of Oral BioSciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Anti-candidial activities of eight traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herbs were evaluated against six different Candida species. TCM preparations were screened for antifungal activity using a standard agar diffusion assay. Following identification of potential candidate herbs, their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined using the standardised NCCLS M-27A broth microdilution assay. Among TCM herbs, Rhizoma Coptidis had potent antifungal activity against Candida glabrata, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis, but not against Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis and Candida parapsolosis. The MIC values of the Rhizoma Coptidis against C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. tropicalis were 50, 50 and 100 mug ml(-1) respectively. We report here, for the first time, the potent antifungal activity of Rhizoma Coptidis and Cortex phellodendri Chinesis on three different non-albicans Candida species, C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. tropicalis and hence their possible use as therapeutic agents.

Mycoses. 2008 Jan;51(1):30-4

Source: PubMed

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February 2008
Volume 6, Number 2

Happy New Year of the Rat, 4706 (or Mighty Mouse)

TCM Treatment of Bronchial Asthma In Clinical Practice

Acupuncture Styles

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