| ABC of
complementary medicine What is complementary medicine? Complementary
medicine refers to a group of therapeutic and diagnostic disciplines that exist largely
outside the institutions where conventional health care is taught and provided.
Complementary medicine is an increasing feature of healthcare practice, but considerable
confusion remains about what exactly it is and what position the disciplines included
under this term should hold in relation to conventional medicine Return to Top
Mindfulness
training as an intervention for fibromyalgia
Evidence of postintervention and
3-year follow-up benefits in well-being. Psychother Psychosom. 2007;76(4):226-33.
Grossman P, Tiefenthaler-Gilmer U, Raysz A, Kesper U. Division of Psychosomatic Medicine,
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Basel Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. PMID:
17570961
Background: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) proposes a
systematic program for reduction of suffering associated with a wide
range of medical conditions. Studies suggest improvements in general aspects of
well-being, including quality of life (QoL), coping and
positive affect, as well as decreased anxiety and depression.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study examined effects of an 8-week
MBSR intervention among 58 female patients with fibromyalgia (mean,
52 +/- 8 years) who underwent MBSR or an active social support procedure. Participants
were assigned to groups by date of entry, and
6 subjects dropped out during the study. Self-report measures were validated German
inventories and included the following scales:
visual analog pain, pain perception, coping with pain, a symptom checklist and QoL. Pre-
and postintervention measurements were made.
Additionally, a 3-year follow-up was carried out on a subgroup of 26 participants.
Results: Pre- to postintervention analyses indicated MBSR to
provide significantly greater benefits than the control intervention on most
dimensions, including visual analog pain, QoL subscales, coping with pain, anxiety,
depression and somatic complaints (Cohen d effect
size, 0.40-1.10). Three-year follow-up analyses of MBSR participants indicated sustained
benefits for these same measures (effect size,
0.50-0.65).
Conclusions: Based upon a quasi-randomized trial and long-term
observational follow-up, results indicate mindfulness intervention to
be of potential long-term benefit for female fibromyalgia patients. Copyright (c)
2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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Effects of a
Mindfulness Meditation By Brian T.
Hafer Duke University Department of Psychology Latin Honors Thesis
April 28, 1997 HTML Version: May 19, 1997
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to
determine whether mindfulness meditation training could reduce pain and distress in a
laboratory finger pressure pain task, reduce severity of daily hassles, improve mood, and
reduce psychological distress in a community sample. Participants were randomly assigned
to one of two conditions: mindfulness meditation intervention or wait list. Participants
in the mindfulness meditation intervention condition (n = 16) attended four weekly group
sessions training them in the practice of mindfulness meditation. They also were asked to
meditate 20 minutes daily. Wait list participants (n = 17) received no intervention.
Measures of laboratory pain, daily hassles, mood, and psychological distress were
collected from all participants before and after intervention. After two sets of measures
had been collected, the wait list participants received the mindfulness meditation
intervention. A third set of measures was then collected from the wait list participants.
Results indicate that the participants in the intervention condition had decreased
severity of daily hassles, improved mood, and decreased psychological distress at the
second evaluation compared to the wait list participants. Results also indicate that
participants in the wait list had greater decreases in distress for the second half of the
laboratory pain task and greater improvements in mood during the intervention versus wait
list phases of the study. Taken together, these findings indicate that mindfulness
meditation training can reduce severity of daily hassles, improve mood, and reduce
psychological distress and may be able to reduce distress during exposure to painful
stimuli. read
the whole article
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Effectiveness of
Massage Therapy for Chronic, Non-malignant Pain: 2007 Jun;4
:165-79. Epub 2007 Feb 5. Tsao JC.
Pediatric Pain Program, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen
School of Medicine at UCLA, USA. PMID: 17549233
Previous reviews of massage therapy for chronic, non-malignant pain have focused on
discrete pain conditions. This article aims to
provide a broad overview of the literature on the effectiveness of massage for a variety
of chronic, non-malignant pain complaints to
identify gaps in the research and to inform future clinical trials.
Computerized databases were searched for relevant studies including prior reviews
and primary trials of massage therapy for chronic,
non-malignant pain. Existing research provides fairly robust support for the analgesic
effects of massage for non-specific low back pain,
but only moderate support for such effects on shoulder pain and headache pain. There is
only modest, preliminary support for massage
in the treatment of fibromyalgia, mixed chronic pain conditions, neck pain and carpal
tunnel syndrome.
Thus, research to date provides varying levels of evidence for the benefits of
massage therapy for different chronic pain conditions.
Future studies should employ rigorous study designs and include follow-up assessments for
additional quantification of the
longer-term effects of massage on chronic pain.
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Effects of
mud-bath treatment on fibromyalgia patients: a randomized clinical trial.
Rheumatol Int. 2007 May 23; [Epub
ahead of print] Fioravanti A, Perpignano G, Tirri G, Cardinale G, Gianniti C, Lanza
CE, Loi A, Tirri E, Sfriso P, Cozzi F. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical
Medicine and Immunogical Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. PMID: 17520260
The efficacy of balneotherapy in fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) has been well
demonstrated, while controlled studies using mud packs are
lacking.
We performed a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects and the
tolerability of mud-bath treatment in FS patients, who are poor
responders to pharmacological therapy.
Eighty patients with primary FS, according to ACR criteria, were randomly allocated
to two groups: 40 were submitted to a cycle of 12
mud packs and thermal baths, and 40 were considered as controls. At baseline, after
thermal treatment and after 16 weeks, patients were
evaluated by FIQ, tender points count, VAS for "minor" symptoms, AIMS1 and HAQ.
Control patients were assessed at the same time
periods.
A significant improvement of all evaluation parameters after mud-bath therapy and
after 16 weeks was observed. Mud packs were well
tolerated and no drop-outs were recorded.
Our results suggest the efficacy and the tolerability of mud-bath treatment in
primary FS.
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Reduction of
fibromyalgia symptoms through intravenous nutrient therapy: results of a pilot clinical
trial.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2007
May-Jun;13(3):32-4. Massey PB. Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Alexian
Brothers Hospital
Network, Elk Grove Village, Ill, USA. PMID: 17515022
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified Myers' formula of
intravenous nutrient therapy (IVNT) on the symptoms of
fibromyalgia (FM) in therapy-resistant FM patients.
Methods: In this pilot clinical trial, 7 participants with therapy resistant FM
were given IVNT once per week for 8 weeks. Patient's
pain levels, fatigue, and activities of daily living were evaluated weekly.
RESULTS: All participants reported decreased pain levels, decreased fatigue, and
increased activities of daily living. Participants noted
increased energy levels within 24-48 hours of the initial infusion. At the end of the
study, all participants reported increased energy
and activities of daily living as well as a 60% reduction in pain (P=.005) and an 80%
decrease in fatigue (P=-.005). No participants,
however, reported complete or lasting resolution of pain or fatigue. No side effects were
reported.
DISCUSSION: Anecdotal reports have indicated benefit for IVNT for patients with
chronic pain, including FM. However, except for 2
reports, the medical literature is devoid of any studies of IVNT for the treatment of FM.
In this pilot study, 7 participants received
IVNT once a week for 8 weeks. All participants had long-standing FM (at least 8 years) and
had tried conventional therapies, such as
antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and exercise, without significant
or lasting relief. All had improvement in
symptoms and increases in their activities of daily living, although no participant
reported complete resolution of symptoms. IVNT appears
to be safe to reduce FM symptoms.
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Nutritional
Program for Fatigue
© Michael Janson M.D. , Arcadia Press
When patients come to me for advice about specific medical problems, they usually have
been told that they need medication or surgery, and they are seeking ways to avoid those
treatments. Sometimes they have already tried medications, which have produced significant
side effects.
Usually, they have many treatment
alternatives but they have no information about their choices. One example of effective
alternatives is the reduction in blood pressure that meditation produces. Others are the
dietary changes and exercise programs that lead to lowered cholesterol. Since the medical
treatments for these two conditions are often more dangerous than the problems, it is
worth seeking safer alternatives.
Dr. Dean Ornish has shown that
patients with heart disease can often avoid surgery and reverse their heart disease with a
combination of a low-fat diet, meditation, and exercise. Norman Cousins healed his
ankylosing spondylitis (a form of arthritis of the spine) with laughter and high doses of
vitamin C. He wrote about his experience in the New England Journal of Medicine, and
followed this article with a book, The Anatomy of an Illness. Many patients have cured
their digestive disturbances simply by avoiding certain foods.
Over and over, we are seeing the
results of lifestyle changes in health care. A recent scientific medical conference put on
by the American College for Advancement in Medicine was entitled: Lifestyle
Medicine—Medicine for the Nineties. Researchers and physicians both attended and
taught at this scientific meeting. Much of it related to the role of dietary supplements
in medical therapy.
Dietary supplements are among the
safest and most effective choices in health care. They are almost free of side effects,
they are easy to take, they are relatively inexpensive, and they usually enhance many life
functions besides the specific condition for which they are being given. Following is an
example of how nutritionally oriented physicians might use supplements as part of the
treatment for a specific health problem. This is a suggestion that is supported in the
medical literature and in the experience of many physicians.
Remember this is an example, not a
prescription for you, and the supplement list is in addition to many other health
practices. Other supplements may be helpful, and you may not need all of these to get
results. For more information on any one supplement, look for its description in Dietary
Supplements. No one program is appropriate for everybody, but these suggestions are good
starting points from which individual programs can be modified.
Fatigue Treatment Programs One of the
most common complaints in any medical practice is fatigue (usually for both the patient
and the doctor). There are many causes of persistent fatigue, as opposed to simply being
tired from exercise or a heavy work load. There may be a serious medical disorder such as
anemia, diabetes, heart disease, chronic fatigue/immune-dysfunction syndrome (also called
CFIDS), and infection.
Some chronic everyday problems may
also cause significant ongoing fatigue, such as stress, dietary imbalance, food allergy,
nutritional deficiency, environmental toxicity, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and
low-grade depression. Sometimes the problem is as simple as a lack of adequate exercise or
boredom. There are some general principles for reducing fatigue after eliminating any of
the serious medical conditions as the underlying cause.
Again, eating properly, exercising,
and reducing emotional stressors can help increase your energy. Avoiding food allergens
and environmental toxins helps reduce exposure to the chemical stressors. A general
dietary supplement is often adequate to help fatigue due to nutritional imbalances or
borderline deficiencies.
Do not ignore the need to find out if
persistent fatigue is the result of a serious medical problem. Treatment may require
medical management in addition to lifestyle change and dietary supplements. The following
supplement program often helps with fatigue from many causes:
| |
AM |
PM |
| Basic Multiple Formula |
3 |
3 |
| Vitamin C 1000 mg |
2 |
2 |
| Niacin, timed release, 250 mg |
1 |
1 |
| Magnesium aspartate 200 mg |
1 |
1 |
| GLA 240 mg (from borage oil) |
1 |
--- |
| Vitamin E 400 IU natural, mixed |
1 |
1 |
| Coenzyme Q10 100 mg |
1 |
--- |
| Chromium 200 mcg |
1 |
1 |
| l-Glutamine 500 mg |
1 |
1 |
| l-Carnitine 250 mg |
2 |
2 |
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Trigger point
acupuncture treatment of chronic low back pain in elderly patients
Acupunct Med. 2004 Dec;22(4):170-7. Itoh K, Katsumi Y, Kitakoji H.
Department of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine,
Kyoto, Japan. k_itoh@muom.meiji-u.ac.jp
OBJECTIVE: There is some evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture in chronic low back
pain, but it remains unclear which
acupuncture modes are most effective.
Our objective was to evaluate the effects of two different modes of trigger point
acupuncture on pain and quality of life in chronic low back pain
patients compared to standard acupuncture treatment.
METHODS: Thirty five consecutive out-patients (25 women, 10 men; age range: 65-81
years) from the Department
of Orthopaedic Surgery, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine, with non-radiating low back
pain for at least six months and
normal neurological examination, were randomised to one of three groups over 12
weeks. Each group received two
phases of acupuncture treatment with an interval between them. Nine patients dropped out
during the course of the study.
The standard acupuncture group (n=9) received treatment at traditional acupuncture
points for low back pain,
while the other acupuncture groups received superficial (n=9) or deep (n=9) treatments on
trigger points.
Outcome measures were VAS pain intensity and Roland Morris Questionnaire.
RESULTS: After treatment, the group that received deep needling to trigger points
reported less pain intensity and improved quality of life
compared to the standard acupuncture group or the group that received superficial needling
to trigger points, but the differences were not
statistically significant. There was a significant reduction in pain intensity between the
treatment and interval in the group that received deep needling
to trigger points (P<0.01), but not in the standard acupuncture group or the group that
received superficial needling to trigger points.
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that deep needling to trigger points may be more
effective in the
treatment of low back pain in elderly patients than either standard acupuncture therapy,
or superficial needling to trigger points.
PMID: 15628774 [PubMed - in process]
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Complementary
and alternative therapies: what is their place in the
management of chronic pain?
Nurs Clin North Am. 2003 Sep;38(3):495-508.
Snyder M, Wieland J.
School of Nursing and Center for Spirituality and Healing, University of
Minnesota School of Nursing, 6-101 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard
Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0342, USA. snyde002@umn.edu
Nurses have used complementary therapies for many years to relieve
anxiety, promote comfort, and reduce or alleviate pain. The therapies
described in this article are examples of the many therapies available
for nurses to consider when planning care for patients with chronic
pain. The increasing body of scientific knowledge is providing more
guidance about the efficacy of specific therapies. As with all
interventions, ongoing evaluation about the effectiveness of a therapy
for each patient is an important component of quality nursing care.
Complementary therapies provide an avenue for nurses to be autonomous in
furthering the relief of chronic pain, as many of these therapies fall
within the domain of nursing. Incorporating selected therapies into the
plan of care provides multiple opportunities for nurses to demonstrate
caring, a premier characteristic of nursing. A number of the
complementary therapies, such as journaling, hand massage, and imagery,
can be taught to patients and their families, thus promoting self-care.
Anecdotal evidence and findings from numerous smaller studies provide
some support for the use of many complementary therapies to manage
chronic pain or their use as adjuncts in the treatment regimen. Still,
the nurse must weigh the risks and benefits before suggesting a therapy
to a patient. Evaluating the effectiveness of the complementary therapy
to promote comfort in patients with chronic pain is essential. Obtaining
this information is not only critical to the care of a particular
patient, but these data will assist nurses in learning more about
specific therapies. Most importantly, nurses need to pursue research to
further the scientific basis for many of the complementary therapies.
PMID: 14567205
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Scientists to
test Japanese healing art
Source: Washington Times
Date: 11 november 2003
SEATTLE, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Researchers at the University of Washington
will analyze a Japanese method of what is said to be healing energy, the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.
The study of what is called Reiki is being conducted at Harborview
Medical Center and conducted under a $304,808 grant from the National
Institutes of Health to determine whether Reiki can alleviate a chronic
muscle pain condition called fibromyalgia, suffered by about 6 million in
the United States.
The cause is unknown, but symptoms include headache, fatigue, sleeping
problems and psychological distress.
Principal investigator Dr. Nassim Assefi first observed a patient enlist
Reiki to ease cancer pain when Assefi was doing her residency. She seeks
fibromyalgia patients to participate in this research, the second major
Reiki study under a grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Reiki, a Japanese word that means universal life force, is considered
most effective for alleviating pain, depression and anxiety, Assefi said.
It emerged in the late 1800s and draws from the idea that spiritual
energy flowing through a Reiki provider can heal the patient's spirit and
body. Some Reiki practitioners also believe it can heal wounds.
--------
(c) 2003 Washington Times
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Homeopathy
An introduction by Bernie Simon
Homeopathy is an alternative system
of medicine that was founded in the early 19th century by a German physician, Dr.
Hahnemann. It had its greatest popularity in the late 19th century here in the United
States, when 15% of the doctors in this country were homeopaths. However, with the advent
of modern medicine, homeopathy began to look old and stodgy and its popularity took a
nosedive. However, since 1980 homeopathy has seen a resurgence of interest in the United
States and the U.K.; homeopathic books can be found in many bookstores and homeopathic
physicians in most towns and cities.
Classical homeopathy rests on three
principles: the law of similars, the single medicine, and the minimum dose. The law of
similars states that a disease is cured by a medicine which creates symptoms similar to
those the patient is experiencing in a healthy person. Hence an important part of the
prescription of a homeopathic medicine is a lengthy interview to determine all the
symptoms the patient is experiencing. The homeopathic physician then determines which
medicine best matches the symptoms that the patient is experiencing and prescribes it.
The principle of the single remedy
states that a single medicine should cover all the symptoms the patient is experiencing:
mental, emotional, and physical. A classical homeopath would not prescribe one medicine
for a headache and another for an upset stomach, he or she would find a single medicine
that covered both symptoms. The principle of the minimum dose has two parts. First the
homeopathic physician only prescribes a small number of doses of the homeopathic medicine
and waits to see what effect the medicine has. Second, the medicine is given in an
infinitesimal dose. Homeopaths have discovered that the effect of homeopathic medicines is
strengthed upon successive dilutions as long as the medicine is violently shaken between
each dilution. Medicines are typically used in very high dilutions such as 30C (1 part in
10^-60) or 200C (1 part in 10^-400).
It is the use of infinitesimal doses
that is the most controversial aspect of homeopathy and the reason why most conventional
doctors claim it functions only as a placebo. However, a number of controlled studies have
been performed which show the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine in treating a number
of diseases. The best summary of this research is a study published in the British Medical
Journal. The authors of this study are not homeopaths but medical school professors asked
by the Dutch government to review the existing research.
"Clinical trials of
homoeopathy.", Kleijnen, Jos; Knipschild, Paul; ter Riet, Gerben; British Medical
Journal, Feb 9, 1991 v302 n6772 p516(8).
The accompanying Resources pages list
organisations that can help you locate a homeopathic physician in your area. If you suffer
from a chronic health problem, you should be aware that homeopathic treatment will take
time and patience. You should be prepared to commit to six months or more of treatment
before the problem is resolved. Also, a homeopathic doctor may suggest changes to diet and
lifestyle as part of the treatment. If you are unable to commit to this, you should
consider another form of medical practice.
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What are
homeopathic remedies?
The remedies which homeopaths use
come from many different sources. Most are derived from plants, but minerals, metals and
some poisons which have been used medicinally for generations are also used.
After initial preparation of the raw material the remedies are made by serial dilution and
succussion (vigorous shaking) in a solution of alcohol and water. This is done a few
(three to four) times or up to many thousands of times. The liquid dilution is then used
itself as a remedy or soaked into tablets or granules for convenience.
The diluted remedies are described as being 'potentized', in recognition of the dynamic
healing power they can stimulate.
How do homeopathic remedies work?
Frequently the dilution is so great that no chemical trace of the original substance
remains but, if no chemical trace remains, how do the remedies work?
There is abundant proof that the remedies do work but homeopaths and scientists have yet
to discover exactly why they work.
A precise answer is likely to be
found outside the chemistry laboratory in the field of physics, especially
electro-magnetism. The process of dilution and succussion apparently imprints the
characteristic energy pattern, or blueprint, of the original substance onto the water in
which it is diluted. This may be likened to the transmission of television signals, where
the original scene is converted into an electro-magnetic energy pattern (a signal) which
can then be broadcast to your receiver.
A homeopathic remedy acts as a signal which energizes or stimulates the body's
self-healing powers, mobilizing the defence systems and working on the mental, emotional
and physical aspects of the body.
How the remedies are given
Remedies may be prescribed in a
number of different strengths, or potencies as they are called. The lower potencies have
been subjected to less dilution and succussion than the higher ones and are not, broadly
speaking, as powerful and long-lasting in their effects. It is the low potencies such as
the sixth (e.g. Arnica 6) which are to be found on sale in many chemists and health food
shops. High potency remedies are usually prescribed by experienced qualified homeopaths.
Remedies can be prescribed in different ways. Sometimes they are given as a single dose
(probably in a high potency) when it is likely that homeopath and patient will wait for a
period of weeks to see the patient's response. A remedy can also be given in a lower
potency, singly or repeated daily or more frequently. The homeopath will choose the method
to suit the patient and the nature of the illness. For instance, a person who has been ill
for a long time and whose body has been physically damaged may need repeated doses of a
remedy to stimulate the re-cuperative powers, whereas a young and basically healthy person
may respond very quickly to a single high potency remedy. Individual patients also respond
better to some methods than others; understanding this is part of the skill of the
homeopath and explains why attempts to prescribe for oneself may prove ineffective.
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Treatment of
Fibromyalgia With Acupuncture: A randomized, placebo controlled trial of 16
weeks duration.
Daniel Feldman, Evelin Diana Mariano da Costa Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo,
Brazil
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrom of unknown origin.Control of signs and symptoms is
difficult and usually requires a multidimensional approach. With pain being of major
concern, and with the high incidence of side effects with the current pharmacologic drugs
used to treat these
patients, alternative pain control therapies should be studied.
Acupunture is already widely used for pain management in many different
musculoskeletal conditions, even when proper evidence is still lacking.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to evualate the usefulness of Acupunture in the
treatment of patients with fibromyalgia. Sixty patients who fulfilled the ACR-90 criteria
were randomly assigned to
either one of three groups: group A, 20 patients, underwent a once a week acupunture
session for 16 weeks; group B,20 patients, underwent sham-acupunture sessions, once a week
for 16 weeks; group C,20 patients, recieved only amitryptiline 25mg. at bedtime,for 16
weeks. Patients in
groups A and B also recieved amitryptiline in the same dose. All 3 groups were similar in
baseline and demographic characteristics. Patients were evaluated at baseline, and then at
weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16 by a blinded investigator to treatment groups. Evaluation consisted
of a VAS scale for pain (0 to 10), the Short form questionnaire (SF-36) and the Beck
inventory for depression. All individuals that completed the first 4 weeks enter the
statistical analysis, with an intention to treat
with last observation carried foward design. Data were analysed by repetitive measure
ANOVA. Patients treated with acupunture were the only ones to show a statistical
significant improvement on all outcome meassures,from week 4 up to week 16. Patients in
the other 2 groups
failed to improve significantly over time. When the three groups were compared, the
acupunture group was significantly better than the other two in the VAS scale for pain and
the Becks depression score. In conclusion, Acupunture is a valuable method to increase
pain control in
these patients, and this effect does not seem to be due to a placebo effect.
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Pain
treatment with acupuncture for patients with fibromyalgia. Curr Pain Headache
Rep 2002 Oct;6(5):379-83 (Full document available at Medline) Targino RA, Imamura M,
Kaziyama HH, Souza LP, Hsing WT, Imamura ST. Division of Physical Medicine,
Department of Orthopedics and
Traumatology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Ave. Giovanni Gronchi, 1106 San
Paulo, Brazil. ucklrsu@ucl.ac.uk
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, painful musculoskeletal syndrome of unknown etiopathogenesis.
In addition to medicamentous and physical and psychologic therapies, several other adjunct
therapies have been used as alternatives in the attempt to obtain analgesia and decrease
the
symptoms that are characteristic of this problem.
This article presents a literary review on the use of
acupuncture as an adjunct or chief
treatment for patients with fibromyalgia, comparing it with an ongoing clinical experience
that has been carried out at Hospital das Clinicas in the city of Sao Paulo. The results
were found by applying traditional acupuncture, which demonstrated positive rates in the
Visual Analogue
Scale, myalgic index, number of tender points, and improvement in quality of life based on
the SF-36 questionnaire.
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Acupuncture
and sham acupuncture reduce muscle pain in myofascial pain patients. J Orofac
Pain 2002 Winter;16(1):71-6 Goddard G, Karibe H, McNeill C, Villafuerte E.
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Nippon Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. goddard@itsa.ucsf.edu
AIMS: To compare the effectiveness of dry needling in classically
recognized acupuncture points ("acupuncture") with dry needling in skin
areas not recognized as acupuncture points ("sham acupuncture") in
reducing masseter muscle pain in a group of patients with myofascial
pain of the jaw muscles. METHODS: Eighteen patients were randomly
assigned to 1 of 2 experimental groups: Ten patients received
acupuncture and 8 received sham acupuncture. A visual analog scale (VAS)
was used to measure changes in masseter muscle pain evoked by mechanical
stimulation of the masseter muscle before and after the experiment.
RESULTS: Both groups showed a statistically significant reduction in VAS
pain scores (P = .001). Seven out of 10 acupuncture subjects had a 10 mm
or greater VAS reduction in pain, while 4 out of 8 of the sham
acupuncture subjects had that great a pain reduction. There was no
significant difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Both
acupuncture and sham acupuncture reduced pain evoked by mechanical
stimulation of the masseter muscles in myofascial pain patients.
However, this reduction in pain was not dependent on whether the
needling was performed in standard acupuncture points or in other areas
of the skin. These results suggest that pain reduction
resulting
from a noxious stimulus (i.e., needling) may not be specific to the
location of the stimulus as predicted by the classical acupuncture
literature.
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Therapeutic
effects of peripheral repetitive magnetic stimulation on myofascial pain syndrome.
Smania N, Corato E, Fiaschi A, Pietropoli P, Aglioti SM, Tinazzi M. Centro di Rieducazione
Funzionale Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short- and medium-term effects of peripheral
repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) on myofascial pain.
METHODS: Eighteen patients who presented with myofascial trigger
points (TPs) at the level of the superior trapezius were separated into two groups
according to a restricted randomization scheme. Group 1 (n=9) underwent treatment with rMS
that consisted of a total of 10 sessions, each lasting 20min, in which 4000 magnetic
stimuli were administered in 5s trains at 20Hz at the TP. Group 2 (n=9) received a placebo
treatment that consisted of the application of a non-functioning ultrasound therapy device
to the TP. Patients were evaluated before treatment, at the end of treatment, and again 1
week and 1 month after the conclusion of the treatment. Clinical evaluation included
parameters for measuring pain levels (VAS, NPDVAS and algometry), the myofascial TP
characteristics and the range of cervical movement (ROM).
RESULTS: The rMS group showed a significant improvement in VAS,
NPDVAS, algometry, as well as in the characteristics of the TP after conclusion of
treatment. Improvements in the ROM were also present in rotation and controlateral
bending. This improvement persisted after 1 month. On the other hand, the placebo group
did not show any significant improvement in the tests considered.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that peripheral rMS
may have positive short- and medium-term therapeutic effects on myofascial pain. PMID:
12559244
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Fish oil
prevents the adrenal activation elicited by mental stress in healthy men.
Delarue J, Matzinger O, Binnert C, Schneiter P, Chiolero R, Tappy L.
Laboratoire regional de nutrition humaine, Hopital de la Cavale Blanche, Brest, France.
OBJECTIVES: A diet rich in n-3 fatty acids (fish oils) is associated with reduced risks of
cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, but the mechanisms remain incompletely understood.
Sympathoadrenal activation is postulated to be involved in the pathogenesis of these
diseases, and may be inhibited by n-3 fatty acids. We therefore evaluated the effects of a
diet supplemented with n-3 fatty acids on the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous
system and of stress hormones elicited by a mental stress. METHODS: Seven human volunteers
were studied on two occasions, before and after 3 weeks of supplementation with 7.2 g/day
fish oil. On each occasion, the concentrations of plasma cortisol, and catecholamines,
energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry), and adipose tissue lipolysis (plasma non
esterified fatty acid concentrations) were monitored in basal conditions followed by a 30
min mental stress (mental arithmetics and Stroop's test) and a 30 min recovery period.
RESULTS: In control conditions, mental stress significantly increased heart rate, mean
blood pressure, and energy expenditure. It increased plasma epinephrine from 60.9 +/- 6.2
to 89.3 +/- 16.1 pg/ml (p<0.05), plasma cortisol from 291 +/- 32 to 372 +/- 37
micromol/l (p<0.05) and plasma non esterified fatty acids from 409 +/- 113 to 544 +/-
89 micromol/l (p<0.05). After 3 weeks of a diet supplemented with n-3 fatty acids, the
stimulation by mental stress of plasma epinephrine, cortisol, energy expenditure, and
plasma non esterified fatty acids concentrations, were all significantly blunted.
CONCLUSION: Supplementation with n-3 fatty acids inhibits the adrenal activation elicited
by a mental stress, presumably through effects exerted at the level of the central nervous
system. PMID: 12909818 [PubMed - in process]
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Antioxidants Help Prevent Cognitive
Decline.
The following article is used with permission of International Health News.
Recent research has shown that a high
intake of vitamin C and vitamin E helps prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease and
that very high doses of vitamin E delay the progression of the disease.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School
now report that vitamins C and E also help prevent cognitive impairment in advanced age.
Their study involved 14,968 female
nurses aged 70 to 79 years who had been enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study in 1976. The
nurses had completed dietary surveys (including vitamin use) every 2 years since 1980.
Between 1995 and 2000 the nurses
participated in a telephone interview to determine their mental state and cognitive
function (ability to learn, think and remember).
The researchers found that women who
supplemented with vitamins C and E and had done so for 10 years or more scored
significantly higher on the cognitive test than did nurses who had not supplemented or had
supplemented for less than 10 years.
The difference in score would
correspond to an age difference of 1 to 2 years. In other words, long-term supplement
users had a cognitive function equivalent to nurses 1 or 2 years younger.
Just taking vitamin E or vitamin C on
its own was associated with much less benefit indicting that the combination is needed for
optimum results.
Sources: Grodstein, Francine, et al.
High-dose antioxidant supplements and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly
women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 77, April 2003, pp. 975-84
Haan, Mary N. Can vitamin supplements
prevent cognitive decline and dementia in old age? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
Vol. 77, April 2003, pp. 762-63 (editorial) June 20, 2003
Return to Top
Cognitive decline and fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes--The
EVA Study.
Heude B, Ducimetiere P, Berr C; EVA Study.
Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale U258-IFR69, Hopital Paul
Brousse, Villejuif, France. heude@vjf.inserm.fr
BACKGROUND: Dietary factors might modify cognitive decline that results from aging. Fatty
acids, which are limiting factors in brain development, are prime candidates. OBJECTIVE:
We studied the relation between erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition and cognitive
decline in free-living volunteers. DESIGN: In 1995, erythrocyte membrane fatty acid
composition was measured in 246 men and women (aged 63-74 y) from the Etude du
Vieillissement Arteriel (EVA) cohort. During a 4-y follow-up, cognitive abilities were
assessed longitudinally with the Mini-Mental State Examination. Moderate cognitive decline
was defined as a > or = 2-point decrease over the 4 y. The predictive value of fatty
acid proportions on cognitive decline was assessed with a multivariate logistic model that
included age, sex, education level, and initial Mini-Mental State Examination score as
covariates. RESULTS: Higher proportions of both stearic acid (saturated, 18:0) and total
n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids were associated with greater risk of cognitive decline;
the odds ratios were 1.91 (95% CI: 1.16, 3.15) and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.04, 2.44),
respectively, for 1-SD differences in fatty acid proportions. Conversely, a higher
proportion of total n-3 fatty acids was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline;
the odds ratio was 0.59 (95% CI: 0.38, 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: The inverse association between
cognitive decline and the ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes agrees
with results obtained in some studies that assessed fatty acid intake by using dietary
questionnaires. These results require confirmation but provide new rationale for studying
how these modifiable risk factors might be implicated in the cognitive aging process.
PMID: 12663275 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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NIH Panel Issues Consensus Statement
on Acupuncture
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When Conventional Treatment Is Not Enough: A
Case of Migraine Without Aura Responding to Homeopathy. T.E.Whitmarsh,
The journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 1997 1:2;159-162.
Following three years of unsuccessful conventional treatment, a 55 year old male suffering
from common migraine which would commence with nausea followed by vomiting every hour for
12 hours and throbbing pain well localized to the left fronto-parietal area, was refered
to Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital. Consultation with a homeopathic physician, who also has
extensive experience in diagnosis and treatment of headache disorders, leads to the
prescription of a single homeopathic remedy (Bronia) which was absolutely effective for
the condition. On follow-up 2 months later, the patient has been headache-free and had
lost no time from work. He had only talen the Bronia for 3 weeks (ie; 12 doses). He
remains attack free 3 years after treatment. This case is offered as an open, admittedly
retrospective study, comparing the best of conventional migraine therapy with appropriate
homeopathic therapy in the same patient.
(Ask your local library or hospital to help you
attain this study, or head to medline to purchase the whole study)
Return to Top
Homeopathic Treatment of Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder: A Controlled Study J. Lamont British
Homoeopathic Journal, October, 1997, 86:196-200.
Forty-three children were randomly assigned to either placebo or homeopathic treatment
groups, and then those initially given a placebo were given an individualized homeopathic
medicine. All subjects underwent a homeopathic interview to determine which individualized
remedy was appropriate. Results show significant improvement once the patient began taking
the homeopathic medicine. (Ask your local library or hospital to help you attain this
study, or head to medline to purchase the whole study)
Return to Top
Studies support acupuncture safety.
Consumer Health Digest #01-36
Your Weekly Update of News and Reviews
September 3, 2001
Members of the British
Acupuncture Council who participated in two prospective studies have
reported low complication rates and no serious complications among
patients who underwent a total of more than 66,000 treatments. An
accompany editorial suggests that in competent hands, the likelihood
of complications is small. Since outcome data are not available, the
studies cannot compare the balance of risks as benefit. Nor do the
studies take into account the likelihood of misdiagnosis (and failure
to seek appropriate medical care) by practitioners who use
traditional Chinese methods. The full-text articles are available on
the British Medical Journal site:
Return to Top
Adverse events following acupuncture:
Prospective surgery of 32,000 consultations with doctors and
physiotherapists. BMJ 323:485-486, 2001. Click Here to
Read
Return to Top
York acupuncture safety study:
Prospective survey of 24,000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ
323:486-487, 2001 Click Here to Read..
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The safety of acupuncture.
BMJ 323:467-468, 2001.
Click
Here to Read
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Treating More Than Symptoms:Naturopathy
for Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia 01-21-2004
Suzanne Lawton, once a skeptic, uses naturopathy to heal illness at its
source By KATE TAYLOR
Grab the aspirin, there's a headache coming on! Bring on the ibuprofen, the
backache's back! Not so fast, says Suzanne Lawton, a naturopath in Tigard.
Lawton uses natural medicines such as herbs, homeopathy and vitamins rather
than pharmaceuticals or prescription drugs to help people in pain.
Lawton -- who, as a naturopathic doctor, can diagnose, prescribe controlled
medications and give injections -- sees patients with asthma, allergies,
diabetes, cancer, arthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as adults and children
with attention deficit disorder, eating disorders and depression.
Her aim, she says, is to get to the source of the problem, rather than just
masking the pain with a pill. She likes to take as much time as possible
with her patients, asking them all about their lives and habits -- from what
they had for breakfast to how they handle stress -- and often sends them
home with bags of "earth medicines" such as calendula, bilberry leaf and
cleavers.
Q: What exactly is a naturopathic doctor?
Suzanne Lawton, ND: A doctor who uses natural medicines to treat the mental
and physical health of a patient. These medicines can include herbs,
homeopathy, nutrition, supplements and various physical therapies.
The philosophy of naturopathy is to treat the whole person by finding the
underlying problem and addressing it by strengthening the mental, emotional
and physical health of the person. We try to use the gentlest and most
natural medicines available that will give a successful outcome.
Q: Do you ever treat patients who are also seeing M.D.s?
Yes, as a matter of fact I find that patients are insisting that both types
of doctors work together. There's a great conflict with this -- we do great
with the specialists, but the internists often don't understand why the
patients want it. Can you imagine? A patient will say (to a medical doctor),
"I will not take this medicine until I consult Dr. Lawton. She was the one
that got me well."
Q: What conditions do you especially like treating?
Conditions such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder),
Tourette's, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), eating disorders, and
anxiety and depression in both children and adults. It's more than
gratifying to help a child overcome a bout of depression or gain control
over their ADHD and start having a more normal home and social life.
I love it when moms call and say, "Now, my biggest problem is getting my
teenager home to do their chores, they are so busy and happy with
extracurricular activities."
Q: How did you begin studying naturopathic medicine?
I first started studying natural medicine in order to discourage my
mother-in-law from using it. I have a great mother-in-law. About 17 years
ago, over the course of a year, she went from mowing her lawn to being able
to walk 20 steps before needing to pause and rest. It was a chronic
respiratory condition. Conventional doctors took such a hard line: "You're
50. Hang it up."
She called and told me how homeopathy totally changed that. Frankly, I
didn't believe her. I figured it was the medicine her doctor gave her. But
no, she had stopped taking the medicine six months earlier -- because, as
she put it, "it wasn't helping and it cost a lot." So, I went to the
library, read every book I could on homeopathy, tried some on myself, and,
amazingly, it worked.
Q: Was it then that you changed your line of work?
Fifteen years ago, I owned a medium-size health food store in West Palm
Beach, Fla. It wasn't long before I realized just how much my customers
wanted scientifically valid information about natural medicine. In order to
better serve them, I started researching herbs, homeopathy and supplements
in treating medical conditions. I had been using natural medicine on my own
family, but I wanted to be better able to explain why it works.
After a few years, several of my customers, all of whom had regular medical
physicians, suggested that I become a doctor. They said, "We trust you, and
you have really helped us."
Q: So what did you do?
Fortunately, I had an English degree, so I only had to do the two years of
science. I went to Florida Atlantic University. It was extremely hard going
to school with all those really young people. As with most pre-med programs,
the attitude there was, "We're going to get rid of 50 percent of you."
Naturopaths must complete four years of pre-med study as well as four years'
postgraduate in hard sciences, diagnosis, pathology, as well as natural
therapeutics.
Having attended the standard four-year pre-med program followed by a
four-year intensive scientific and medical post-graduate education, I can
offer my patients the education and knowledge of a medical doctor with the
expertise and philosophy of natural medicine.
Q: How do you deal with the fact that herbs are largely untested and
unregulated, at least by governmental agencies?
That's a serious problem, but for a different reason than you would expect.
Those of us who use herbs have several years of intensive training. We learn
not only the traditional usages, but the pharmaceutical analysis of the
various herbs telling us how they interact with the body and other
medications. We draw on the sizable scientific and clinical research from
around the world.
It is a common misconception that herbs don't have scientific support for
their use. My real concern is that herbs in the hands of lay people and some
M.D.s who have read a book rather than studied intensively can be very be
harmful. Equally as harmful are pharmaceutical companies jumping on the
herbal bandwagon and using either poor-quality herbs or using the wrong
parts of herbs (for example, the leaves instead of the root).
Q: What are some of the health trends that trouble you most?
We are having a rising number of housewives and business people hooked on
prescription pain medications for conditions such as migraines and
fibromyalgia. They want to get off these drugs, but don't know how.
People in general are looking for medical options other than masking
symptoms with years on pain medications or antidepressants.
Q: You seem to really love your job -- do you?
Yes, I wake up excited and go to bed content. There are not that many
professions in which you get such positive feedback from your client base.
It's gratifying to hear my patients tell me that I have made such a positive
change in their lives. Kate Taylor: 503-294-5116;
katetaylor@news.oregonian.com
Source: The Oregonian. © 2003 OregonLive.com. All Rights Reserved.
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Reiki: The Healing Power of Touch for
Fibromyalgia
Like a Native American medicine woman bringing the news of new
remedies to
her tribe, reiki master JoAnne D'Acunto captivated her audience, sitting
around her in a circle, at the South Brunswick, New Jersey Senior Center.
During a presentation about the practice of reiki on Nov. 12, she intrigued
many seeking relief from chronic pain or other ailments. "I've never heard
of it before, but it sounds very interesting and exciting," said Lena McCoy
of Princeton. "It's something I want to learn."
"I don't want to take medicines," said Edith Cachola of Kendall Park. "If I
could heal my pain within me, I will do it."
Ms. D'Acunto, a reiki master since 1991, said it is possible for people to
heal both themselves and others using the ancient Japanese practice known as
reiki. She said reiki is a Japanese word meaning life energy. It is a method
of hands-on healing that taps into a universal energy and brings the mind,
body and spirit into balance to treat both chronic and acute conditions.
During a session, Ms. D'Acunto said a reiki master traditionally works on
seven main chakras, or energy fields, in the body. Practitioners routinely
follow a series of hand positions and can place their hands above the head,
shoulders, back, stomach and limbs or anywhere a person is experiencing
injury or discomfort.
She says she uses herself as a channel for the energy to flow through her
and into the patient."I'm not the person who is doing the curing," she said
about the reiki process. "It's the energy."
Ms. D'Acunto said this transfer of energy can help alleviate things like
stress, pain, muscle tension, anxiety, depression and poor immune function
and circulation. She said it also promotes restful sleep, relaxation and a
heightened sense of well being.
"I've tapped into many ways of helping people depending on who they are,"
she said. "It's very important that you look at the spiritual, cultural,
biological, and emotional aspects of a person, and when a person comes to
meet you, you assess them in that way."
Besides practicing reiki, Ms. D'Acunto has been a psychiatric nurse for 30
years. She decided to learn more about the practice when she began to suffer
from fibromyalgia, a chronic musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder.
Because it worked so well for her in treating her own symptoms, she
eventually became a reiki master herself and opened a practice out of her
home, off Route 27 in Franklin, to help area people with their own pain and
ailments. "I wouldn't be doing it unless it worked for me," she said.
Ms. D'Acunto learned to become a reiki master at the International Center
for Reiki Training in Michigan. Anyone can receive a reiki session, but Mr.
D'Acunto said a person must receive training from a certified reiki master
in order to teach reiki. There are a total of three levels of training. At
level one, a person is taught to do reiki on themselves and others. Level
two involves learning how to use reiki to treat others at a distance without
putting the hands directly on them, and level three is the master level,
when practitioners become certified to teach others reiki. Ms. D'Acunto said
the process of becoming a master can be costly and time-consuming, depending
on the particular master teaching the technique. They set their own rates,
which can cost thousands.
An individual reiki session, however, is a lot more affordable. At Ms.
D'Acunto's practice, Pathway to Healing, she charges $65 per session or
slightly more if she makes a house call. She said she will also honor a
particular health insurance plan if it covers alternative treatments.
At his apartment in Dayton, 8-year reiki master David Peery charges $50 per
reiki session, which can last anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half.
Like Ms. D'Acunto, Mr. Peery also began learning about reiki as a way to
heal himself. Now, he mostly enjoys sharing the process with others. "I like
seeing the results of people when it's done," he said. "Even if nothing is
wrong with you, it will help you relax. I like to see the results when it is
all over. That is my benefit."
Mr. Peery said reiki is a very powerful treatment for everyone who
experiences it. "It depends on what they are carrying around with them," he
said. "It (reiki) has a consciousness of its own. It knows what it needs to
do and does it."
Besides offering reiki sessions on weeknights and weekends, Mr. Peery also
often volunteers his time giving reiki demonstrations at the South Brunswick
Library and Senior Center. At Ms. D'Acunto's recent senior center
demonstration, she got the opportunity to give a few participants a sample
reiki session. Even in the few seconds she spent working on Kaye Chiang of
Franklin Park, Ms. Chiang said she felt the reiki energy. "I could feel the
warmth," she said. "I could feel the heat transmit. I'm going right to the
library to get a reiki book and read about it." Ms. D'Acunto said the
seniors were a lot more open to reiki that she was at first.
"People now are opening their minds more to alternative work," she said.
"Being brought up as a very strict Catholic, at first I thought, what am I
doing here? I had to work through it. I wondered if I should really be doing
this because it is against my belief system." Now, Mr. D'Acunto believes in
reiki more than ever. "I think it is great when you can teach someone to do
something for themselves," she said. However, being a nurse herself, she
said she wants people to realize reiki should not be a substitute for
medicine. "I never tell someone not to go to the doctor, but as an adjunct
to medicine, the healing arts really empower people," she said.
Monmouth Junction chiropractor Dr. Dean Lupo, who often treats patients for
chronic pain and other ailments, said he wouldn't discourage a patient from
getting reiki treatments, as long as this is not the sole form of treatment.
He said he does believe in the ability to pass energy from person to person,
but he is not sure of reiki's ability to heal specific ailments. "I think
the person does receive some sort of positive energy, but I don't see the
exact correlation between the transfer of that energy for a specific
purpose," he said."
In chiropractics, Dr. Lupo said he relies on the concept that the body heals
itself through the nervous system, but he does think reiki can have
benefits. "Anything positive you can put in the body in terms of energy, it
would say, yes, absolutely do it." Ms. D'Acunto said overall, the power of
reiki depends on the person. "It's not for everyone, just like plastic
surgery is not for everyone," she said. "I call it heart work. Anything you
do for yourself with an open mind is beneficial, and if one thing doesn't
work for you, something else will."
For more information on Pathways to Healing or to schedule a reiki
appointment if you live in New Jersey, call Ms. D'Acunto at (732) 821-1516.
To schedule an appointment with reiki master David Peery, call him at (732)
329-1998 or e-mail nrgman90@netzero.com. His
next reiki demonstration at the South Brunswick Library in New Jersey will be on Jan. 10
from noon to 2 p.m.
© PACKETONLINE News Classifieds Entertainment Business - Princeton and
Central New Jersey 2003
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The Light Touch: A New Form of Therapy for Fibromyalgia
A new form of therapy is helping old wounds heal and restoring
feeling in
some patients By Karen Shideler The Wichita Eagle
Ami English of Derby calls Anodyne Therapy "the miracle medicine" for its
effect on her shoulder and arm pain. Dorothy Rindt of Wichita feels much the
same after watching the open wounds on her legs heal.
Physical therapist Ann Sundgren, a NovaCare manager, went from thinking the
light-emitting device was "hocus-pocus" to singing its praises. And while
it's not for everyone, Anodyne Therapy is making big differences in some
lives.
Anodyne Therapy is as simple as a small black pad, about the size of a hand,
attached by a cord to a black box. The pad has 60 diodes, each about the
size of a pencil eraser. The pad, diode side down, is strapped to the
patient and the machine is turned on. The diodes emit a form of infrared
light. That's it. But one 30-minute treatment often is all it takes for
patients to start feeling relief.
What kind of patients? It's almost a case of "you name it." Rindt developed
lymphedema and leg ulcers after several surgeries on her legs. One of the
wounds went all the way down to her bone. She started treatment Oct. 1 and
felt better after three sessions. By mid-November, her left leg was totally
healed, as was the back of her right leg. The deep wound was on the road to
recovery.
English sought help for pain in her shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist and hand.
"Within one treatment, my arm felt better. Within two treatments, a lot
better," she says.
Anodyne Therapy also has helped people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy,
a common condition in which the feet feel tingly, numb or painful. Because
it increases their sensation, it also increases balance and decreases falls.
The therapy also has proved useful with bursitis, tendonitis, fibromyalgia
and other conditions.
The Anodyne "black box" comes with eight pads, and all eight were used at on
ce on English. Just a couple were used on Rindt. The light from the diodes
is absorbed by hemoglobin in the blood, Sundgren says. That causes the
release of nitric oxide, which causes dilation of the blood vessels, much
like nitroglycerin does. That increases blood flow to the area, which means
more nutrients and oxygen.
Ultimately, Sundgren says, the treatment causes new blood vessels to grow in
the area. She started using the machine on a trial basis in June. "When I
first saw this, I thought, this looks like hocus-pocus," she says. Her first
patient was a man who'd had a non-healing wound for 21 years. It was healed
after 16 treatments. "After that, we thought we've got to go ahead and
purchase this machine," Sundgren says.
The only sensation the patient feels is a mild warmth beginning about 15
minutes into the treatment. "It's not like a heating pad," English says.
"It's deep...It's a completely different feeling."
Her shoulder was treated a year ago with thrice-weekly ultrasound and
physical therapy. She had 4 ˝ months of treatment then. This time, with the
same therapist and the same physical therapy, but with Anodyne, she was fine
after four weeks of twice-a-week treatment.
Five NovaCare locations are using Anodyne Therapy. The company's Web site
says these other area facilities are using it: Andover Health Care Center,
Augusta Health Care, Home Healthcare Connection in Hutchinson and Wichita,
Rose Hill Health Services, and Life Care Center in Wichita, Kansas.
Models for home use also are available; they cost about $2,500 to $3,000 or
can be rented for $250 to $320. They require a physician's order. Medicare
and some insurance plans cover the cost for patients with peripheral
neuropathy who meet certain conditions.
Sundgren said Anodyne Therapy can't be used on cancer patients, because of
the potential of drawing the cancer to a new site, or on pregnant women,
because it hasn't been tested on them. But it can be used on children as
well as on people with metal implants or pacemakers. "It's light -- it's not
electricity or sound waves." Source: The Wichita Eagle.
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Hyperbaric Therapy in Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome
Source: Journal: J of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 11(3) 2003,
pp. 37-49
Authors: EIke Van Hoof, Clin Psych; Danny Coomans, PhD; Pascale De Becker,
PhD; Romain Meeusen; Raymond Cluydts, PhD; Kenny De Meirleir, MD, PhD
Affiliations:
EIke Van Hoof, Pascale De Becker, and Kenny De Meirleir are affiliated with
the Chronic Fatigue Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of
Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Danny Coomans is affiliated
with the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, James Cook
University, Australia. Romain Meeusen is affiliated with the Department of
Human Physiology and Sports Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
Raymond Cluydts is affiliated with the Department of Psychology, Vrije
Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Address correspondence to: EIke Van Hoof,
Vakgroep MFAB/ Sportgeneeskunde, AZ-VUB KRO gebouw niveau-l, Laarbeeklaan
101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium(E-mail: mailto:EIke.Van.Hoof@vub.ac.be
).
The authors would like to thank Dr. Neil McGregor for his advice in writing
this article.
ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to determine if hyperbaric oxygen
treatment (HBOT) could be used as adjunctive therapy and if HBOT could
increase the quality of life in such a way that the functional status would
improve in patients with an infection. A randomized, controlled trial was
conducted on 15 Mycoplasma sp. infected CFS (CDC 1994) patients and 14 CFS
(CDC 1994) patients with no evidence of a Mycoplasma infection [who] were
enrolled in a convenience randomization sample from our referral clinic. No
statistical differences were found by use of univariate repeated measures
although Bodily Pain as measured by the SF-36 seems to decrease after
hyperbaric therapy (Greenhouse-Geisser: p = .010).
Trends were found using paired t-testing for Mycoplasma infected CFS
patients. The general perceived fatigue seemed to decrease after hyperbaric
therapy (General Fatigue: p = .06). Directly after one week of hyperbaric
therapy general fatigue improved (p = .03) but there was a reduction of
activity (reduced activity: p = .05) and general perceived health (general
health: p = .04). One month later the physical role increased
(Role-Physical: p = .07). Although more data is required to make firm
conclusions, trends were found. Reduced fatigue, increased levels of
activity and an improved reaction time improved significantly their quality
of life and therefore, enhanced also their functional status and thus could
be used as an adjunctive therapy.
KEYWORDS. Chronic systemic infections, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, adjunctive
therapy, quality of life
INTRODUCTION
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) was first described in the 1930s and due to
its definition by exclusion, its pathogenesis has been difficult to
delineate. During the last few decades an increasing number of studies have
started to unravel the pathogenesis of CFS. Currently the etiology is not
known and no definite pathological abnormalities have been identified,
therefore CFS is still called a syndrome and not a disease or group of
diseases.
The controversy around this syndrome is intense with the overriding theme
being whether its origin is physical or psychological. Interestingly this
very same debate has taken place for many other chronic diseases in which
initially no objective abnormalities were found followed by findings which
clearly establish a physical/organic basis to the disease, leading to their
wide acceptance.
Up until now, many therapies have been investigated in this population with
different results (1). One of the most promoted therapies seems to be
'Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Graded Exercise' (2). The
restricted lifestyle of CFS patients has led to the suggestion that a
reduction in exercise capacity contributes and prolongs their illness. It is
for this reason that exercise-training programs are added to the treatment
of CFS-patients (2). Different ailments, however, inhibits wide spread
application. First of all, CBT has not been adequately assessed for severely
affected CFS patients (3). In fact, CBT seems applicable only when a
Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS)-threshold of 70 is reached (4,5).
The Karnofsky Performance Score indicates functional disability in different
populations and is used as a communication tool in CFS. A KPS of 70 means
that the CFS patient "cares for him/herself but is unable to carry on normal
activity or do active work." This threshold (70) is in contrast with the
overall score of the CFS population which is 60-65. A person with a KPS of
60-65 "requires occasional assistance but is able to care for most needs."
Secondly, CBT is characterized by a high dropout rate (6).
So, in order to bring CFS patients to a threshold of 70 and in order to
bring CFS patients in the ability to start up an exercise program, different
strategies should be used. While CFS patients do have abnormal immune
parameters which indicate infections agents (7), hyperbaric oxygen therapy
could be considered. By applying HBOT, the quality of life should be
influenced in those patients with distorted immune parameters. A higher
quality of life suggests a higher functional status. If patients increase
their area of control by more activity or less fatigability, such as more
walking around or leaving the home, leading to more independence, this
implies a higher functional status.
Rationale for the Use of Hyperbaric Therapy in CFS
The immune system, wound healing, and vascular tone are all affected by
oxygen supply. Oxygen alone has little direct antimicrobial effect, even for
most anaerobes (8) like Mycoplasma infections. It is, however, a crucial
factor in immune function. Neutrophils require molecular oxygen as a
substrate for microbial killing. The oxidative burst seen in neutrophils
after phagocytosis of bacteria involves a 10 to I5-fold increase in oxygen
consumption (9). Here oxygen serves as a substrate in the formation of free
radicals, which directly or indirectly initiate phagocytic killing. This
endogenous antimicrobial system virtually ceases functioning under
conditions of hypoxia (10). In short, increasing the oxygen level in tissue
can allow restoration of white blood cell function and thus the return of
adequate antimicrobial action. However, whether this is applicable in a
normal physiological system or some other process may be involved is not
known.
History of Hyperbaric Therapy
The use of hyperbaric air therapy was apparently attempted before anyone
knew of the existence of oxygen (11). A physician named Henshaw first
attempted to treat patients in a chamber with altered air pressure about 300
years ago (12).
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves intermittent inhalation of 100%
oxygen under a pressure greater than one atmosphere. Initial widespread
enthusiasm for HBOT led to its inappropriate use, resulting in a backlash
against the use of HBOT (12). More recent and reputable studies have
demonstrated that the technique has a role in treating specific illnesses
(11).
The Undersea Medical Society that evaluates clinical applications of HBOT
has categorized disorders of which it is or may be useful (11). Table 1
gives an overview of the different treatment areas suggested for HBOT:
category 1 is widely accepted and category 4 has little evidence to support
its use. CFS patients with chronic bacterial infections are categorized as
an adjunctive therapy by the Undersea Medical Society.
Complications and Side Effects of HBOT
The complications of HBOT are related to. the changes in barometric pressure
and oxygen toxicity. Patients can receive mild inner ear discomfort that may
occur by using certain maneuvers. The most common complication is middle ear
or sinus trauma (9) due to the change in pressure. Any air filled cavity
that cannot equilibrate with ambient pressure, such as the middle ear is
subject to deformity and barotraumas during pressure changes in HBOT. Other
complications sometimes observed at this pressure can include nausea, tooth
and sinus pain and blurred vision (9).
Hypotheses
This controlled pilot study evaluates the utility of HBOT in CFS patients
infected with Mycoplasma hominis. In other words, can HBOT improve the
quality of life of this subgroup of CFS patients as investigated by
validated psychological questionnaires? If the quality of life improves,
patients may reach a KPS-threshold of 70 and additionally, attend CBT and
graded exercise to improve their functional status.
© 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
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These Brain Waves May Tame Fibromyalgia -
Cranial Electrical Stimulation
WebMD Medical News Archive Reviewed By Gary Vogin, MD May 1, 2001
-- As many as six million Americans are living with fibromyalgia, and in most cases
they are living with the constant, unrelenting symptoms of the condition:
widespread pain in muscles and joints, sleep disturbances, irritable bowel
syndrome, and anxiety, to name a few. But very positive results from a new
study suggest that sending mini-currents of electricity through the brain --
a procedure called cranial electrotherapy stimulation --may provide relief
from some of these symptoms.
Alan S. Lichtbroun, MD, says he learned about the electrotherapy technique
while searching for better treatments for his many fibromyalgia patients.
"This technique is gaining wide acceptance at chronic pain treatment
centers," says Lichtbroun, assistant professor at Robert Wood Johnson
Medical School, in East Brunswick, N.J. "At first I looked at this device
very skeptically -- and even now I am beginning to see some patients who had a marked
response at the beginning are gradually beginning to deteriorate --so again I wondered if
the machine had lost its power. But what I've found
is that patients eventually lose their incentive to use the machine, and
less frequent use appears to mean a return of symptoms."
Source: WebMD. Copyright (c) 1998 1996 - 2001, WebMD, Inc. All rights
reserved
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Moducare Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moducare®?
Moducare® is a patented blend of plant sterols and sterolins in a clinically
proven ratio of 100:1 that works to restore, strengthen and balance your
body's immune system. Plant sterols and sterolins are natural substances
found in all fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. These plant nutrients have
many unique health benefits. Unfortunately, we rarely get enough plant
sterols and sterolins from our diets. The simplest way to get optimum
amounts of these very beneficial natural compounds is by taking Moducare® .
Is there any research on Moducare®?
Research on plant sterols has been underway since the 1920s. Dr. Patrick
Bouic, Ph.D., at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, has been
researching the exact combination of sterols and sterolins found in
Moducare® for over a decade. There has been extensive testing and clinical
trials, including double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. The work of Dr.
Bouic and others has been published in peer-reviewed, international medical
journals.
What is a daily serving of Moducare®?
Adults: Take one capsule 3 times daily OR two capsules upon rising and one
capsule before bed.
Children: one capsule per day for children under 5; two per day for children
between 5 and 12; and children over 12 can take the adult dose.
For best results, take with water or juice between meals. For very young
children who are unable to swallow a capsule, the capsule can be opened and
the contents mixed with applesauce or other fruit or vegetable. Children and
adults can also use our new Moducare® Grape Chewable.
Do I take Moducare® for a few months and stop once my immune system is
balanced?
No. Moducare® is a daily supplement. In our diet we rarely get enough
sterols and sterolins to keep the body's immune system functioning properly.
The simplest way to get optimum quantities of these very beneficial natural
compounds is by taking Moducare®. Moducare® will not fix the immune system
but it will furnish the body with plant nutrients necessary to restore,
strengthen and balance.
How long before I might expect to see some results?
Some individuals notice an improvement immediately as the immune system
becomes restored, strengthened and balanced. Other people take Moducare for
two to three months before evaluating results.
Is Moducare® an immune "booster" like echinacea?
No. Echinacea stimulates the immune system and is not recommended for
prolonged use or for people with autoimmune conditions. Taken daily,
Moducare® begins to restore, strengthen and balance the body's immune
system.
Does Moducare® have any side effects?
Long-term studies involving over 25,000 people in standard testing and
clinical observations have found no adverse effects with Moducare®.
When the immune system becomes balanced, some individuals may experience
symptoms that indicate the body is trying to rid itself of toxins. These
symptoms are temporary and may include digestive problems, rashes, headaches
and fatigue.
Is there anyone who should NOT take Moducare®?
Moducare® should not be taken by transplant patients i.e. those who have
received any foreign organ or tissue including bone marrow and corneal
transplants. People with synthetic/artificial replacement or reconstruction
(e.g.hip, knee, breast or pacemaker) are not affected.
Are there any recommendations associated with taking Moducare®?
If you are pregnant, nursing, diabetic, an organ transplant recipient or
have multiple sclerosis, do not use unless on the advice of and under the
direct supervision of a health care professional.
(Source: www.moducare.com)
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Hypnosis May Be Useful IBS Treatment
Large Study Shows Good Long-Term Symptom Relief
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
on Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Oct. 21, 2003 -- A new study shows hypnosis may be an effective, long-term therapy for the
poorly understood and hard-to-treat gastrointestinal disorder known as irritable bowel
syndrome.
In the largest long-term study of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to date,
seven out of 10 patients reported an improvement in symptoms after treatment and four out
of five responders maintained the improvement for years after stopping hypnosis. Those who
did not maintain a response to hypnosis only deteriorated slightly.
"We have known that this treatment is effective, but this study confirms that
patients can maintain the improvements for many years," researcher Wendy M.
Gonsalkorale, PhD, tells WebMD. "There is growing interest in hypnosis for the
treatment of IBS, but too few patients know about it."
Most Sufferers Are Women
As many as 58 million Americans suffer from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and
four out of five sufferers are women, based on figures from the American College of
Gastrointerology. Typically people with IBS have recurrent symptoms of abdominal pain,
distention, and altered bowel movements -- diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of
both. Because there is no obvious cause for the array of gastrointestinal disturbances
experienced by patients and conventional GI treatments often do not work.
It has been almost two decades since British researcher Peter Whorwell and colleagues
first reported on the use of hypnotherapy in the treatment of IBS. Since that time other
small studies have also shown hypnosis to be effective, but this new research, appearing
in the latest issue of Gut, is the first to follow a large group of patients for years
after treatment.
For the study, Gonsalkorale and Whorwell followed 204 patients for up to six years.
Researchers asked patients to score their IBS symptoms, as well as their overall quality
of life, and levels of depression and anxiety immediately before hypnotherapy and after
the treatment. They also responded to a mailed questionnaire sent at least a year and no
more than six years after treatment ended. The hypnotherapy course consisted of 12-weekly,
one-hour sessions.
Almost three-quarters of the patients (71%) gave positive reports following hypnotherapy,
and 81% said they maintained their improvement over time. The sustained improvements
reported by most of the patients could not be attributed to other treatments because fewer
than one in 10 used other treatments following hypnotherapy.
"This study demonstrates that the beneficial effects of hypnotherapy appear to last
at least five years," the researchers write. "Thus, it is a viable therapeutic
option for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome."
Cheaper Than Drugs?
Researcher Olafur S. Palsson, PsyD, who has studied IBS says the number of patients in the
new study and the length of follow-up put hypnosis in a favorable light and possibly show
it may be the most effective long-term treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. But he says
that it is still rarely offered to IBS patients and is not often covered by insurance.
"Hypnotherapy still carries the aura of mystery and magic, and is not really used
much for medical conditions in this country," Palsson says. "It requires special
training that clinicians in most medical settings simply do not have. And it is considered
more costly than drug therapy because it requires repeated sessions."
The University of North Carolina researcher says hypnosis may actually be much cheaper
than other treatments because the long-term results appear to be so promising.
"There are only a couple of medications approved for the treatment of irritable bowel
syndrome, and it can be expensive to keep patients on these medications long-term,"
says Palsson. "For many patients, hypnotherapy is a very cost-effective way of
improving outcome."
SOURCES: Gonsalkorale, W. Gut, 2003; vol 52: pp 1623-1629. Wendy M. Gonsalkirale, PhD,
senior therapist; research coordinator, hypnotherapy unit, Withington Hospital,
Manchester, U.K. Olafur S. Palsson, PsyD, gastrointerology department, University of North
Carolina, Chapel Hill.
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Small device gets rid of pain
JOHN MINER, Free Press Health Reporter 2004-05-14 02:57:55
London scientists have developed a hand-held device that knocks out
pain with magnetic impulses, raising the possibility of providing patients
an alternative to powerful drugs such as morphine. The breakthrough by
researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute has drawn international
attention with invitations to present its research at a World Health
Organization meeting in Spain next week and to a Washington conference in
June.
The device was tested on two groups of patients at St.
Joseph's
hospital-- one with fibromyalgia and another with rheumatoid arthritis.
"What we found was a significant reduction of pain in
fibromyalgia and
a very significant reduction of pain in arthritis patients," said Alex
Thomas, a bioelectromagnetics scientist with Lawson.
Another study is being launched, involving 60 people from
St. Joseph's
outpatient pain clinic.
Individuals with chronic pain wear the headset at least
twice a day
for 40 minutes for a week.
One of the things researchers will examine is how long the
pain relief
lasts.
The units, which cost $1,000 to build, replace a $2-million
machine
that filled two labs at Lawson.
The initial research on magnetic impulses started at Lawson
in 1995
with snails.
Knowing snails preferred cool surfaces, the scientists
placed the
snails on a 40 C surface and measured how long it took them to react. The
consistent answer was five seconds.
When the snails were given a dose of morphine, they would
sit for
about 15 seconds before reacting.
Then researchers exposed them to a specific magnetic field
and got an
equivalent reaction to morphine.
Thomas said the magnetic field used in the research is very
low, less
than the field produced by an electric hair dryer.
Though people can't detect the magnetic fields, they are
picked up by
the brain, which will react to specific pulses.
"We can convince the brain that the signals relaying
pain information
are inaccurate and really there is no pain," Thomas said.
The scientists also found specific magnetic impulses will
actually
increase pain levels.
No side effects have been found with the devices and there
has been no
evidence they are addictive, Thomas said.
If they were produced commercially, they could be made for
about $400
each. And with the right business investment, they could be on the market
within six months, he said. But Thomas said getting the product to market
could take 10 years because of scientific controls.
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FTC sues "Balance
Bracelet" Marketer
The Federal Trade Commission
has charged California-based marketers
of the "Balance Bracelet," a purported pain relief product, with
making false and unsubstantiated claims. In its complaint filed in
federal district court in Los Angeles, California, the FTC alleges
that Media Maverick, Inc. http://www.balancebraceletusa.com/
of San
Luis Obispo, California, and its officers Mark Jones and Charles
Cody, have deceptively claimed that the bracelet provides a
fast-acting, effective treatment for many types of pain. The bracelet
is a C-shaped metal bracelet that is allegedly "electro-polarized" by
an undisclosed process. The defendants promoted the bracelet through
nationally disseminated 30-minute infomercials and on the Internet.
Their advertisements claimed that the bracelet relieves arthritis
pain, joint pain, back pain, and injury-related pain, among other
things. The ads also claimed that pain is caused by excess static
electricity in the body, which purportedly comes from an imbalance of
positive and negative energy, and that the Balance Bracelet returns
the body to its "natural ionic balance." However, the rationale is
complete nonsense and clinical testing has found that "ionized
bracelets" are no more effective at relieving muscular and joint pain
than placebo (non-ionized) bracelets. The bracelet sells for $79.90,
plus shipping and handling. In May 2003, the FTC charged the
marketers of a similar product, the Q-Ray Ionized Bracelet, with
making false and unsubstantiated pain-relief claims as well as
failing to honor their advertised money-back guarantee. The
defendants in the Q-Ray case entered into a stipulated preliminary
injunction halting the pain-relief claims for the product. That case
currently is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Illinois. [FTC Challenges claims that the "Balance
Bracelet" relieves pain. FTC news release, May 18, 2004]
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/05/maverick.htm
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Local Doctor Pioneers
Fibromyalgia Treatment
Increase Of Magnesium Is Key, Doctor
Says
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A local physician, Dr. Rodger Murphree, has
pioneered a successful treatment program for fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is an illness that affects more than 3.7 million
Americans, predominantly women, and is characterized by chronic pain
that can cause muscle aches, stiffness, soft tissue tenderness,
general fatigue and sleep disturbance.
It can affect several areas of the body and is thought to be caused
by stress. Currently, there is no known cure for the illness. The
average fibromyalgia patient takes seven different medications for
symptoms.
Aina Williams, 61, suffers from fibromyalgia, and five years ago she
was trying every medication on the market. None improved her
condition.
"In January of this year, it came back full force in not only my
legs, it was pretty much all over my body -- my arms, my jaw.
Everything hurt, and I was getting pretty desparate," Williams said.
Read on..... http://www.nbc13.com/news/3319764/detail.html
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