The Effects of Scraping Therapy on Local Temperature and Blood
Perfusion Volume
Xu QY, et al. Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China
Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Objective. We aim to study the therapeutic effects of scraping by investigating the changes of temperature and local blood perfusion volume in healthy subjects after scraping stimulation, and to explore the mechanism of scraping stimulation from the points of microcirculation and energy metabolism. Methods. Twenty-three health subjects were included in this study. Local blood perfusion volume and body surface
temperature was detected at 5 min before scraping stimulation, 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 min after scraping
using Laser Doppler imager and infrared thermograph. Results. Significant increase was noted in the
blood perfusion volume in the scraping area within 90 minutes compared to the baseline level and
non-scraping area (P < 0.001). Compared with non-scraping area, an increase of body temperature with an
average of 1°C was observed after scraping stimulation (P < 0.01). Conclusion. Scraping can
significantly improve the blood perfusion volume and increase the temperature in the scraping area,
promoting the local blood circulation and energy metabolism.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.2012;2012:490292. Epub 2012 May 14.
Source: PubMed
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Acupuncture and a Gluten-Free Diet Relieve Urticaria and Eczema in a Case of
Undiagnosed Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Ohlsen BA. Chiropractic Physician, Chiropractic, Acupuncture and Yoga Center, Buffalo
Grove, IL 60089.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case report is to describe the use of acupuncture and a gluten-free diet (GFD) for urticaria and severe eczema in a patient with undiagnosed dermatitis herpetiformis and atypical or extraintestinal celiac disease. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 48-year-old woman presented with intense urticaria, eczema, worsening heartburn, chronic constipation, headaches, and an intense feeling of heat for 4 months. Results of punch biopsies of the skin lesions and laboratory tests were inconclusive. After the acupuncture sessions reported here ended, human leukocyte antigen blood typing revealed celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis-associated human leukocyte antigen DQ-8. Results of an endoscopy and colonoscopy were negative. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient received 3 acupuncture treatments a week for 12 weeks. The patient's symptoms began in March 2008. She began using topical and oral steroids and felt that her symptoms were not responding. Acupuncture began in July 2008. At the end of the first 12 treatments, during which she was using topical and oral steroids, the urticaria and constipation resolved completely; and she had temporary relief from the heartburn. It is thought that the urticaria and constipation resolved because of the acupuncture as that was the only change. At the end of the second 12 treatments, during which time she had started Optifast, a GFD, the heartburn, headache, and eczema resolved. At the end of the third 12 treatments, all her symptoms remained resolved. Steroid treatment was discontinued after the first 12 treatments. CONCLUSION:Acupuncture and diet
changes appeared to provide relief from the urticaria and eczema of dermatitis herpetiformis beyond
that obtained by traditional treatment of a GFD alone.
J Chiropr Med.2011 Dec;10(4):294-300.
Source: PubMed
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Er Zhi Wan, an Ancient Herbal Decoction for Menopausal Syndrome, Activates
the Estrogenic Response in Cultured MCF-7 Cells
AIM OF THE STUDY: Er Zhi Wan (EZW), a Chinese medicinal preparation, has been used clinically for treating menopausal syndrome for its kidney-invigorating function, which contains simply two herbs, Ecliptae Herba (EH) and Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (LLF). Although this herbal extract has been used for many years, there is no scientific basis about its effectiveness on menopausal symptom. Here, we aimed to evaluate the estrogenic activities of EZW and to study the compatibilities of two herbs including different processed-LLF in single and mixed preparation of EZW. Moreover, the weight ratio of EH to LLF in EZW was determined according to their estrogenic activities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extractions of LLF, processed-LLF and EH were prepared separately by extracting the powders with water, 50% alcohol or 95% alcohol. Steamed-LLF and EH were extracted separately, or together, in preparing EZW extracts. A promoter-reporter construct (pERE-Luc) containing three repeats of estrogen responsive elements (ERE) was stably transfected into MCF-7 cells, and this stable breast cancer cell line was used to determine the estrogenic property. The cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. RESULTS: The results showed that EZW could significantly induce the expression of luciferase driven by an estrogen responsive element in a pERE-Luc vector. The proliferation of MCF-7 cells was not altered by this herbal treatment. The best preparation of EZW was from: (i) LLF was firstly steamed over water and then dried to make steamed-LLF; and (ii) steamed-LLF and EH were extracted separately by 95% alcohol and then mixed together according to a weight ratio of 1:1.
CONCLUSIONS: Under the optimized extracting method, EZW possessed robust effect in activating
the estrogenic activity, but which did not alter the proliferation of cultured MCF-7 cells. Thus,
EZW is an effective and safe estrogenic herbal extract.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Jun 15.
Source: PubMed
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