chinese medicine efficacy statements

Chinese exercise and healing remains an "'environmental medicine" encouraging a harmonious

balance between people and the planet.

Click on the topic of choice for easier selection.

1. what can acupuncture treat?

2. treatment of female infertility

3. men with fertility issues

4. reference letter for acupuncture & IVF

5. stop smoking

6. weight loss

7. migraine, vascular, cluster, and tension headache

8. sports and work-related injuries, trauma

9. before and after surgical procedures

10. reduce discomforts and side effects of chemotherapy & surgery for cancer

11. musculoskeletal disorders: arthritis, tendonitis, and fibromyalgia

12. allergy, asthma and chronic sinus disease

what can acupuncture treat?

The World Health Organization issued a report in 1996 on the efficacy of acupuncture, based on review of an extensive database of clinical trials. The conditions listed below are identified in the WHO report as having been proved through controlled trials, showing acupuncture to be an effective treatment, or for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown effective. Conditions that are listed in the NIH Consensus Panel's report are also included below, and indicated as: (NIH).

Addiction:
Alcohol dependence & detox
Opium, cocaine, and heroin dependence
Tobacco dependence

Cardiovascular and Hematological:
Cardiac neurosis
Hypertension, essential
Hyperlipaemia
Hypotension, primary
Leukopenia
Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans
Raynaud's syndrome, primary

Dental:
Dental pain (NIH)
TMJD

Dermatological:
Acne vulgaris
Neurodermatitis
Pruritis

Endocrinological:
Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin dependent

Gastro-intestinal:
Abdominal pain (acute gastroenteritis or gastrointestinal spasm)
Biliary colic
Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation
Cholelithiasis
Dysentery, acute bacillary
Epigastralgia, acute (incl. PUD, gastritis, gastrospasm)
Gastrokinetic disturbance
Nausea & vomiting
Ulcerative colitis, chronic

Genito-urinary & Renal:
Female urethral syndrome
Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic
Prostatitis, chronic
Recurrent lower urinary tract infection
Renal colic
Retention of urine, traumatic
Urolithiasis

Head/Ear/Eye/Nose/Throat:
Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)
Earache
Epistaxis, simple
Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection
Meniere's disease
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Sore throat (incl. tonsillitis)

Immunological:
Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)
Leukopenia
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Infectious Diseases
Dysentery, acute bacillary
Epidemic haemorrhagic fever
Hepatitis B virus carrier status
Herpes zoster (human (alpha) herpesvirus 3)

Neurology, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Physical Rehabilitation, Rheumatological, & Sports Medicine:
Bell's palsy
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (NIH only)
Competition stress syndrome
Craniocerebral injury, closed
Facial pain and spasm (incl. craniomandibular) 
Fascitis
Fibromyalgia (NIH)
Gouty arthritis
Headache (NIH)
Knee pain
Low back pain (NIH)
Myofascial pain (NIH only)
Neck pain
Osteoarthritis (NIH)
Pain from cancer
Periarthritis of Shoulder
Post-operative pain
Radicular and pseudoradicular pain
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Sciatica
Spine pain, acute
Sprain
Stiff neck
Stroke
Stroke rehabilitation (NIH only)
Temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction
Tennis elbow or epicondylitis (NIH)
Tietze's syndrome
Tourette's syndrome
Vascular dementia

Obstetrics & Gynecology:
Dysmenorrhea, primary
Female infertility
Induction of labor
Hypo-ovarianism
Labour pain
Lactation deficiency
Malposition of fetus
Morning sickness/pregnancy nausea (NIH)
Menstrual cramps (NIH only)
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome

Oncology:
Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, incl. nausea & vomiting
Pain from cancer

Pediatrics:
Whooping cough (pertusis) 
Post-extubation in children
(see also, infectious diseases)

Psychiatry:
Competition stress syndrome
Depression (including depressive neurosis, and post-stroke)
Schizophrenia
Respiratory
Bronchial asthma (NIH)

Miscellaneous:
Obesity
Pain due to endoscopic examination
Post-operative convalescence
Sialism, drug-induced

In addition, according to the WHO (1996), acupuncture may be appropriate for " conditions for which there are only individual controlled trials reporting some therapeutic effects, but for which acupuncture is worth trying because treatment by conventional and other therapies is difficult."

These conditions include:

Chloasma
Choroidopathy, central serous
Color blindness
Deafness
Hypophrenia
Irritable colon syndrome
Neuropathic bladder in spinal cord injury
Pulmonary heart disease, chronic
Small airway obstruction

The NIH Report (1997) concludes: "Further research is likely to uncover additional areas where acupuncture interventions will be useful."

back to the top of page.

Treatment Of Female Infertility

Used as a complementary form of therapy for women undergoing other fertility treatments, acupuncture has been proven to be especially beneficial. Some believe that acupuncture works by helping women stay more relaxed through stressful fertility treatments. In particular, studies have shown that acupuncture definitely increases the rate of pregnancy in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

A German study done in 2002 showed that of the 80 women who underwent IVF and received acupuncture, 34 women got pregnant, a success rate of 42.5%. Of the 80 women involved in the study who received IVF without any acupuncture treatments, only 21 women (26.3%) became pregnant. More recently, an American study involving 114 women showed that 51% of the women who had acupuncture and IVF treatments became pregnant versus only 36% of the women who had IVF alone. Deeper analysis of this study revealed that, while 8% of the women in the acupuncture group miscarried, the rate of miscarriage in the IVF-only group was 20%. Furthermore, women who received acupuncture also had lower rates of ectopic pregnancies.

When used to treat female infertility, acupuncture helps to regulate the reproductive hormones and aids in the maturation of eggs. The flow of the hormones FSH and estrogen are regulated within the brain, by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Acupuncture needles are inserted into meridians far away from these organs, so there's no need to worry.
Acupuncture is particularly effective in the treatment of hormonal imbalances and irregularities in the menstrual cycle. It can be applied in conjunction with traditional Chinese herbs and medicines or pharmaceuticals. In more severe cases such as PCOS or anovulation, acupuncture has been useful. Ovulatory problems, where the failure to ovulate is connected with FSH imbalances, indicating a low ovarian reserve, as well as luteal phase defect related to progesterone imbalances, are both very treatable with acupuncture.

Acupuncture can be used to help stimulate egg production and regular ovulation during the first phase of the menstrual cycle, and then provide hormonal balance during the luteal phase. PMS symptoms, anxiety, stress and the frustrations associated with trying-to-conceive (TTC) can all be helped with acupuncture. Since acupuncture also helps blood flow, it is beneficial to the building up of the endometrium (uterine lining) in preparation for the implantation of the fertilized egg. If progesterone levels are not high enough to sustain the lining of the uterus during the luteal phase of the cycle, acupuncture may lessen the chance of miscarriage by helping to sustain the integrity of the lining.download the pdf file - acupuncture for fertility, click here.

Men With Fertility Issues May Be Helped, Too
Men who suffer with infertility issues due to sperm production can also be helped with acupuncture since it may help in strengthening the sperm and enhancing the sperm count. Acupuncture has also proven to be an effective support for couples undergoing IVF as it helps to maintain balance of hormones, assists ovulation and egg maturation, and helps to reduce anxiety and stress.

Male infertility is generally the result of an inability to properly produce healthy sperm or because of a blockage that prevents sperm from joining the semen. Although a man may be embarrassed to admit that he has a fertility problem, it is important that he undergo fertility testing. Male factors are just as likely to lead to infertility as female factors, especially if he is older.

While they are rarer,hypogonadism (hypogonadism is one of the main causes of male infertility) and retrograde ejaculation (occurring in less than 1% of men with fertility problems) are two disorders that can interfere with your ability to conceive. Antisperm antibodies occur when the body develops an immune system response to sperm. Although it is more common in men, this disorder can also develop in women.

One problem that happens frequently in men is impotence. While an occasional bout of impotence is nothing to worry about, a prolonged period of erectile difficulties can signal a larger health problem.

Reference letter for Acupuncture for IVF 

I underwent acupuncture treatment with Dr Lan from 27 October 2008 until 20 January 2009 in order to assist with achieving a successful 4th attempt at IVF treatment.  It worked!

I am 36 years of age, we have attempted IVF 3 attempts over a 15 month period, and the reason that natural conception is not possible for us naturally is that my husband’s attempt at a vasectomy reversal has not been  successful.  So, to all intents and purposes, the IVF procedure known as “ICSI” was the only route we could follow.  The stats say that of 3 ICSI attempts, you have a 70% chance of conception, so we were hoping for success far earlier.  .    

In Tertia Albertyn’s widely read book “So Close”, it stated that acupuncture increases your chances of successful IVF by a high percentage.  On this basis, as well as advice from a friend who achieved success with IVF after 12 years of trying when she underwent acupuncture, we agreed to undergo acupuncture treatment in order to assist. 

Initially, Dr Lan required me to visit him twice a week in order to get my “chi” up to a certain level.  Once he was happy that my womb was stronger for holding the implanted eggs, we reduced the treatment to once a week.  Though it could be a bit painful initially, I tended to go into a meditative state during the treatment and wake up far more rested at the end of the session. 

I would like to also say, that with my 4th IVF attempt, I coupled treatment with Dr Lan with visits to a personal trainer twice a week (I have always battled to exercise regularly).  This combination had proven successful for my friend who’d tried for 12 years.  Both these treatments are de-stressing activities and I am positive that it is because of this combination, that our luck finally changed. 

I am now 7 weeks pregnant, and hopeful that this little one will stay the course! 

 Dr Lan, thank you for your quiet encouragement and support.  It was a seemingly long journey, but the rewards of this time spent are going to be far reaching and hopefully result in a person that that I look forward to treasuring forever. 

Many thanks

Kerry Schoeman (baby was carried to full term)

back to the top of page.

Stop Smoking

Acupuncture treatment is a very powerful tool for removing smoking addiction. This treatment is not very popular among the people who are planning to quit. However it is a very effective and reliable method for quitting smoking which has no side effects at all.

It is proved in studies that smokers who are given acupuncture treatment have less desire to smoke and their smoking actually decreases after the treatment of acupuncture. It is estimated that most smokers will attempt to quit two or three times, or more, before finally kicking the habit. When conventional methods to quit smoking have failed, smokers often look outside mainstream approaches and turn to alternative medicine.
Acupuncture as an alternative approach to smoking cessation has a growing number of converts. In fact, acupuncture is often a court mandated (USA) treatment for drug addicts because of its ability to reduce cravings and alleviate withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety and difficulty concentrating; and is associated with emphysema, lung cancer, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, chronic cough and an increase in frequency of colds and flu.
Acupuncture is successful with smoking cessation and has turned a growing number of cigarette smokers into permanent ex-smokers. Treatments take all of your symptoms into account and aim at balancing the energy within the body to optimize health.
The acupuncture treatments focus on jitters, cravings, irritability and restlessness; all symptoms that people commonly complain about when they quit. It also aids in relaxation and detoxification.
In one study conducted at the University of Oslo, Norway, acupuncture was found to significantly reduce the desire to smoke up to five years after the initial treatment. Subjects of the study also reported that cigarettes tasted worse than before treatment and that the treatments had effectively reduced their taste for tobacco.

The acupuncture and can be used on the body to assist with smoking cessation or ear press needles can be used; they are taped to the acupuncture points on the ear. When a cigarette craving hits, gently pressing on the needles to stimulate the acupuncture points to calm the mind and eliminate the craving.
Acupuncture is not a panacea or a magic cure in the treatment of any addiction, including smoking. But, acupuncture is effective in making it easier to quit and remain smoke-free for good.

back to the top of page.

Weight Loss and Weight Managment

Weight loss comes under the topic of "Weight Control", because we are concerned with the loss and MAINTENANCE of loss of weight. This is a multi-faceted problem, and a good program involves eating plan, exercise and stress reduction techniques.

Among different methods of weight reduction, acupuncture is found to be very effective as it works in a natural way. In this therapy, long, thin, sterilize needles are inserted into the body, which stimulates the release of endorphin offering relaxing and calming effect. It can control binging, which may originate from stress. Excessive eating results from excess stress, anxiety and frustration, which may be a major cause of weight gain. Acupuncture can control stress and anxiety and keep you relaxed so that your tendency of overeating is reduced. 

Acupuncture is effective in making it easier to lose and maintain that loss if the patient is willing to change their lifestyle.

Endorphins affect the digestive and hormonal systems so acupuncture can help rebalance the organ systems that are running too fast- or in this case too slow—i.e., the metabolism and the will power.

Acupuncture helps to reduce food cravings, increase metabolism and improve circulation. It is more specific to decrease cholesterol levels and overall body weight by mobilizing energy stores. Acupuncture also helps to reduce anxiety, reenergize body, suppress appetite and control overeating. 

A good weight loss program includes nutritional counseling and exercise as well as a commitment to make permanent lifestyle changes. The acupuncturist can help with nutritional counseling and can discuss a 5 element eating plan that the patient can live with and maintain for the long term. The patient can avoid the pit-falls of yo-yo dieting or the tendency to lose weight and then regain it.

The acupuncturist can suggest various stress reduction methods that may include breathing exercises, taijii, qi gong and meditation. And since the goal of a weight program is not only weight loss but the maintenance of that loss, an exercise program that the patient likes is the best one to choose.
Treatment for weight loss have two options:

a) Generally, treatment is scheduled once or twice a week and continued for 8-12 weeks until aim weight reduction is achieved. It involves a combination of body and auricular (ear) acupuncture, herbs and supplements, breathing exercises as well as food and lifestyle recommendations. 

b) Ear acupuncture is especially found to very effective for weight reduction. Auricular acupuncture points are stimulated using small tacks and then seed-sized beads or ear press needles are taped to these points in order to enhance the effectiveness. When patient unnecessarily gets food cravings in between the meals, then mild pressure is applied. It stimulates the release of endorphins that helps to relax and achieve control over food craving.  Acupuncture for weight loss is definitely a wonderful method.

back to the top of page.

Migraine, Vascular, Cluster, and Tension Headache
Physicians tend to classify headaches in one of the above categories. In reality, patients suffer a variety of headaches, and are more accurately understood to have what I call a "mixed headache disorder". Very few patients have one type of headache only, and one type of headache can "trigger" another type.
For example, a facial headache which originates from the sinuses can trigger a vascular, "migraine" type headache. Tension type headaches, often found at the base of the skull, can also lead to a migraine. Some headaches are associated with changes in hormone levels, and are more accurately seen as complications of premenstrual or menopausal imbalances.
As with many other pain syndromes, headache can cause a variety of symptoms which are not in the head. Digestive disorders, fatigue, interruption of sleep and mood changes can also be addressed at the same time as treatment of the headache.
Holistic treatment with acupuncture avoids the common problem of many doctors treating different areas of the body with conflicting drugs. Drug therapy also creates the risk of developing "rebound" headaches which occur when the drugs wear off. These can be very difficult to treat, as the patient must be withdrawn from the headache drugs. As most physicians have nothing other than more drugs to offer, an endless cycle of complications is the result.
Associated symptoms will be included in the treatment, as correction of a channel disorder always affects other areas of the body as well as the emotional balance. With time, the headaches become less frequent and less severe, with the goal of eliminating them altogether.

Sports and Work-related Injuries, Trauma
One of the areas in which acupuncture is most impressive is in the area of acute injury. Although this aspect of acupuncture is not well known to the public, I always advise a patient to try to have treatment within 48 hours of an injury. The results are often very satisfying to the patient in terms of pain relief, decrease of swelling, and rapid return to normal function.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been used successfully to treat traumatic injury such as, fractures, torn ligaments, sprains, strains, and cartilage damage for hundreds of years. These treatments are most effective when begun as soon as possible after the injury.
Acupuncture is used to speed up the healing process by removing blood stasis, clearing heat, reducing pain and swelling, and invigorating the affected channels. Acupuncturists who have been trained in Traditional Chinese medicine view injuries in a different way than do MDs or physical therapist. Physical therapist and MDs follow the lead of athletic trainers in determining the best way of treating injuries, where as acupuncturists use techniques to treat injuries developed by Taoist monks trained in martial arts. This healing art is known as dit da yao or tieh ta yao which basically mean "hit medicine"
All sorts of trauma, from bruises to sprains to strains to concussions and fractures, can be partially or completely treated with acupuncture and plant derived medicines. I have seen very good results for professional athletes, martial artists, performers, animal trainers and horsewomen. Even overuse injuries and weekend sports injuries respond well.
It is unfortunate that more acupuncture is not provided to patients in emergency rooms, because there are significant advantages to quickly addressing pain and swelling without the possible side effects of drugs. Even if surgery is ultimately necessary, adept application of acupuncture will assist in the healing and rehabilitative phases.
Trauma also inevitably involves emotional effects. Many injuries occur in situations of great tension, and the result is often fear, anxiety, worry and obsession. Chinese medical techniques are uniquely helpful for many of the emotional imbalances which are associated with traumatic experiences.

back to the top of page.

Before and After Surgical Procedures

Elective or emergency surgery is also a situation where acupuncture can be very helpful. Surgery is really a type of trauma, but it is controlled by the surgeon to achieve a particular result. Nonetheless, there is still swelling, bruising and pain, and loss of function just as with accidental trauma. Sometimes there is post operative pain which does not improve as expected, and acupuncture can be used to try to reduce the painful sensations. Treatment is often applied to scars as they begin to heal. Acupuncture and plant medicines are also used for scars that remain painful, or are causing referred pain. Sometimes scar-related symptoms are not obvious. For example, I have seen chronic headaches cured by treatment of scars from plastic facial surgery.
Post surgical pain is often frustrating for both surgeons and patients, and is generally poorly addressed by modern Western physicians.

back to the top of page.

Reduce the Discomforts and Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Surgery for Cancer

Research shows that the answer is yes; acupuncture cannot cure cancer, but acupuncture has an adjunctive use in anesthesia, acupuncture can be used in post-operative pain control, and acupuncture can play a role in recovering from the side effects of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Acupuncture is effective for control of local swelling, shortening the duration of hematoma and minimizing the need for pain medicine and their resulting side effects.

Nausea and vomiting which commonly occurs during chemotherapy, can often be aided by acupuncture and Chinese medicines.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy should consider acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicinals to reduce the nausea, fatigue and discomfort of treatment. A variety of studies have indicated the effectiveness of acupuncture for the nausea that may accompany various chemotherapy agents.
I am seeing increasing numbers of people who suffer neuropathy and other neurologic problems as side effects of their treatment, and this can sometimes resolve very well with acupuncture and Chinese dietary therapy.
The diagnosis of cancer causes a great deal of stress and can result in emotional imbalances and depression. In addition to the toxic effect on the heart of chemotherapy and radiation, fear can create both physical and emotional diorders of the heart.
Overwhelming fatigue is also a problem which Chinese medicine can reduce, and it may be possible to decrease the negative effect of chemotherapy and radiation on normal tissues. Increases in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets with appropriate treatment is a realistic goal, as well as other improvements in blood chemistries which may be more subtle.
Cancer surgery involves transecting the channels as well as issues unique to this type of procedure. Just as with other forms of surgery, acupuncture can be helpful in a variety of ways.

back to the top of page.

Acupuncture for Musculoskeletal Disorders: Arthritis, Tendonitis, and Fibromyalgia
The pain of chronic diseases such as arthritis, tendonitis, and fibromylagia can often be lessened by the use of acupuncture and other Oriental methods. Modern medications for these disorders commonly cause side effects that are not seen with acupuncture treatment. Symptoms associated with arthritis and fibromyalgia, such as problems sleeping, fatigue, and depression, can also respond to skillfully applied acupuncture.
Muscular or joint symptoms which worsen  with weather changes are also common.  The use of moxibustion or dietary treatment can be very helpful for relief in this area. Taiji is also important to rehabilitate the joints and muscles, but it is necessary to relieve the pain  to the degree necessary for the patient to begin an effective program of strengthening. The gentle movements of qi gong or tai qi are an excellent to help with movement as therapy.

back to the top of page.

Acupuncture for Allergy, Asthma and Chronic Sinus Disease
Asthma is a syndrome of airway inflammation and constriction which affects the patient with cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. Both allergy and viral infections can trigger an asthmatic episode, as well as exposure to directly irritating substances such as smoke and cosmetic fragrances. Asthma and allergy symptoms are increasing in our society, and often require treatment with powerful drugs which cause a variety of side effects.
Allergy to inhaled pollutants and pollen also contribute to asthmatic diseases. Most modern cities have problems with air quality outdoors, and indoor air is subject to pollution by furnishings, household chemicals, cosmetics and pet dander. Casual use of lawn chemicals that are functionally equivalent to combat nerve gases have also affected a number of my patients.
Symptoms of allergy and hypersensitivity may affect the body in the sinuses, the airways, the mucous membranes, the lungs or the skin. Some individuals develop problems in all of these areas. Sinus symptoms may include congestion, watery or sticky discharges, pain and pressure. Sinus inflammation can also trigger facial headaches as well as "migraine" type vascular headaches.
The use of acupuncture and dietary therapy can be very helpful to reduce or eliminate the signs and symptoms of allergic and irritant asthma and sinus disease. To name a few to assist clarity.

back to the top of page.

Feb 2011