MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'acupuncture,'. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:54:02 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753944&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FfrIUnkRRHj0%2F After posting an earlier post discussing the first of my five maxims, a request came up to present the rest of them. Never one to shy from a good request, today I’d like to present Reynolds’ Second Maxim, which is “Don’t hear horses and think zebras” which could also be phrased “Thou shalt not overcomplicate!” “This will be the seventh time we have destroyed Zion…” I remember going to the movies to see “The Matrix Reloaded” during the course of which a neat and tidy story which everyone was familiar with was exploded into about a million little subplots and alternate storylines with a new cast of characters that became hard to keep track of and events and motivations that didn’t make a great deal of sense. That a... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753944 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:24:04 +0100 3753944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733181&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FbBG8PXmqLTM%2F Let’s conclude this series on strategy in Chinese medicine with our final two points.   Treating Erratically Martin Luther once said that Mankind is like a drunkard who upon falling off his horse on one side overcompensates and promptly falls off the other side. In Chinese medicine, the opposite of sticking with the same protocol no matter the situation is constantly changing what you’re doing. Now, I want to draw an important distinction here. The speed with which you have to make adjustments will depend on many factors, especially the modality being used. The very nature of acupuncture is such that you’re both creating and reacting to changes in the patient’s energy field, which by its nature is subtle. This just naturally leads to treatments in most cases being ... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733181 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:42:21 +0100 3733181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718400&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F%25e2%2580%259cnaturopathic-oncology-a-new-specialty-of-pseudoscience%2F2010.07.01 On “wholistic” medicine If there’s one aspect of so-called “alternative medicine” and “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM) is that its practitioners tout as being a huge advantage over what they often refer to sneeringly as “conventional” or “scientific” medicine is that–or so its practitioners claim–alt-med treats the “whole patient,” that it’s “wholistic” in a way that the evil reductionist “Western” science-based medicine can’t be. Supposedly, we reductionistic, unimaginative physicians only focus on disease and ignore the “whole patient.” Of course, to me this claim is belied by the hectoring to which my own primary care physician has subjected me about my horrible diet and lack of exercise on pretty much every visit I’ve had wi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718400 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:00:53 +0100 3718400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3690974&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FB6cDgBsZyCI%2F The past two weeks we’ve been discussing timing as it pertains to acupuncture and herbology. Let’s now tackle momentum. As you may recall, the quote we have been referencing from the Art of War is this: “When a falcon strike breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing. When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of momentum.” What Sun Zi is talking about here is the accomplishing of something difficult, moving mountains as it were. In Chinese medicine this can be compared to dealing with difficult and intractable cases, the likes of which unfortunately are rapidly increasing in number here in the U.S. These cases are often created by incorrect or ineffectual treatment of a condition that is made orders of magnitude more complicated by the failed treatmen... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3690974 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:39:47 +0100 3690974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644885&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FBI9oTIC2MlQ%2F This week I’d like to introduce a vital concept from the world of Classical Chinese military strategy, namely that of timing and momentum.  In the Chinese military classic The Art of War, Sun Zi states: “When a falcon strike breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing. When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of momentum.” In everything we do, whether using acupuncture, herbs, tui na, or even speaking with a patient, following this concept is what allows us to accomplish great things on behalf of our patients, while not following it will lead to frustration and lack of results. Let’s break this into two subjects and cover them individually. Timing In the current culture of TCM, the evidence-based protocol is king. A hypothetical example: &#822... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644885 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:55:57 +0100 3644885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641349&cid=t_373853_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F08%2Fthought-provoking-posts-on-science-health-and-beliefs%2F The blogosophere is pretty hot right now – some really interesting topics being discussed, enough to make me think again about my own biases. The first one is the popular Science-Based Medicine blog that rarely fails to challenge those that prefer ‘belief’ over ‘evidence’ – do not proceed to this blog if you think homeopathy or reiki is ‘good for your health’, this blog does not mince words!  Three posts have particularly caught my eye recently – this one on some of the reasons people (even scientists!) find it hard to change tack when new evidence is found; this one on the misinterpretation of acupuncture trials; and this one on the role of adenosine in pain relief. The first post really struck me as I look at my own bias towards nonb... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641349 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:58:15 +0100 3641349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641152&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FhHdOBR_78Hc%2F by G. Michael Reynolds, DOM If there’s one lesson that everyone learns very quickly once they start treating, it’s that modern patients have complex conditions that don’t readily fit into any of the ready-made boxes we have formed for them, whether from a Classical or TCM standpoint. Patients usually have multiple ailments all stacked on top of each other like a messy garage. Like said messy garage, some things are new, some things have been there a long time, some things no one knows where they came from, and sometimes there are even animals and insects hiding out. All of this is what you have on your plate the second a patient comes into your clinic, sits in front of you and says “my shoulder hurts” (the ubiquitous ailment). We’re all familiar with tha... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641152 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:03:37 +0100 3641152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635916&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FhHdOBR_78Hc%2F by G. Michael Reynolds, DOM If there’s one lesson that everyone learns very quickly once they start treating, it’s that modern patients have complex conditions that don’t readily fit into any of the ready-made boxes we have formed for them, whether from a Classical or TCM standpoint. Patients usually have multiple ailments all stacked on top of each other like a messy garage. Like said messy garage, some things are new, some things have been there a long time, some things no one knows where they came from, and sometimes there are even animals and insects hiding out. All of this is what you have on your plate the second a patient comes into your clinic, sits in front of you and says “my shoulder hurts” (the ubiquitous ailment). We’re all familiar with tha... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635916 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:03:37 +0100 3635916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633500&cid=t_373853_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F06%2Fthe-second-agreement-dont-take-anything-personally%2F Don’t take anything personally. That’s the second agreement of Don Miguel Ruiz’s classic, “The Four Agreements.” I need a reminder today. So I open his book to that chapter and read: Whatever happens around you, don’t take it personally… Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves. All people live in their own dream, in their own mind; they are in a completely different world from the one we live in. When we take something personally, we make the assumption that they know what is in our world, and we try to impose our world on their world. Even when a situation seems so personal, even if others insult you directly, it has nothing to do with you. What they say, what they do, and the opinions they give are according to the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633500 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 10:35:01 +0100 3633500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629758&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FFbSoXJesHM8%2F         Greetings Deepest Health readers. My name is G. Michael Reynolds, DOM and this is, officially, my maiden voyage on DH. As you may have heard, I’ve recently joined forces with Eric so that with our combined efforts we might be able to accomplish significantly more than we could going it alone. I am the author of the soon-to-be-retired Chinese medicine blog The Life-giving Sword which will be absorbed into DH as a weekly column by the same name, still written by yours truly. My column is scheduled to appear here on Wednesdays with a shorter blog post likely to appear on Mondays for now. I’ll get to what sorts of things I’ll be talking about in a minute.   First, let’s talk about the name. The Life-giving Sword is actually the name of a book on philosophy... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629758 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:22:00 +0100 3629758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625499&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpain-relief-study-has-potential-with-a-spin%2F2010.06.03 The development of drugs and other treatments for specific symptoms or conditions relies heavily on either serendipity (the chance finding of a beneficial effect) or on an understanding of underlying mechanisms. In pain, for example, there are limited ways in which we can block pain signals –- such as activating opiate receptors, or inhibiting prostaglandins. There are only so many ways in which you can interact with these systems. The discovery of a novel mechanism of modulating pain is therefore most welcome, and has the potential of leading to entirely new treatments that may have a better side effect profile than existing treatments and also have an additive clinical effect. A recent study by Nana Goldman et. al., published in Nature Neuroscience, adds to our understanding of pain re... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625499 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:00:53 +0100 3625499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3592408&cid=t_373853_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FdHy_o-316kw%2F Here’s a finding that’s likely to cause a sticking point for Pfizer. Acupuncture worked as well as Effexor in combating hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms that can accompany breast cancer treatments, and its benefits last longer without causing side effects, according to research presented at an American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology meeting in Boston After 12 weeks of treatment, symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats were reduced for 15 additional weeks for women who had undergone acupuncture, compared with two weeks for those who had taken Effexor, which is best known as an antidepressant. “It was a more durable effect,” lead researcher Eleanor Walker of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit tells Reuters. The patients who were treated wit... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3592408 Mon, 24 May 2010 12:12:17 +0100 3592408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581608&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fscience-media-misinterprets-new-acupuncture-studies%2F2010.05.20 Two recent acupuncture studies have received some media attention, both purporting to show positive effects. Both studies are also not clinical efficacy trials, so cannot be used to support any claims for efficacy for acupuncture –- although that is how they are often being presented in the media. These and other studies show the dire need for more trained science journalists or science blogging –- they only make sense when put into a proper context. No media coverage I read bothered to do this. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581608 Thu, 20 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3581608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545503&cid=t_373853_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fis-is-possible-to-improve-ovarian.html Image via WikipediaI had just advised a young woman who had oopause ( poor ovarian reserve) to try empirical therapy, with DHEA, wheat germ , yoga and acupuncture , before we started her IVF treatment. She wanted to know the rationale behind my advise. " Doctor, on one hand you are saying that I have poor ovarian reserve, which means that I only have few eggs left in my ovaries. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have and I cannot make any new eggs any more. In that case, how will taking all these medicines help me to grow more eggs during my IVF cycle ? "This was my reply." Yes, it is true that we cannot make you grow new eggs. Your ovary contains all the eggs you will ever have. These eggs are in a resting phase, and are contained in primordial follicles. Each month some of ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545503 Sat, 08 May 2010 12:38:00 +0100 3545503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545411&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F177573%2F East Pricks West: Will the U.S. health care system and Western medicine every fully embrace and cover the costs of acupuncture treatments? Slowly, things are changing, according to a recent New York Times article. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545411 Sat, 08 May 2010 00:30:41 +0100 3545411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538230&cid=t_373853_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fivf-and-alternative-medicine-best-of.html Many IVF patients these days use acupuncture and will often ask me whether it's fine to do so or not . I advise patients to explore additional alternative medicines options such as yoga as well. Some of my patients think that the fact I am advising this stuff means I must be a quack. Others are happy that I have an open mind and am willing to explore alternatives with them.I never want my patients to feel they have left any stone unturned. The truth is that many patients will explore alternative medicine without telling their doctor. I prefer taking a proactive approach, so they know I am on their side, and that they do not need to hide anything from me !I am quite happy with this approach if the intervention is simple , harmless and inexpensive. I then feel that it's worth trying, even if... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538230 Thu, 06 May 2010 10:01:00 +0100 3538230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460167&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2923 There is something very offensive about the idea that a ‘bachelor of science’ degree can be awarded by a university, as a prize for memorising gobbledygook. Once the contents of the ‘degrees’ has been exposed to public ridicule, many universities have stopped doing it. All (or nearly all) of these pseudo-degrees have closed at the University of Salford, the University of Central Lancashire, Robert Gordon University, the University of Buckingham, and even at the University of Westminster (the worst offender), one course has closed (with rumours of more to follow). I’ve already written about the course in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University of Salford (Chinese medicine -acupuncture gobbledygook revealed) and at the University of Westminster: see... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460167 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:51:20 +0100 3460167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3443650&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fself-help-test-drive-can-rain-really-brainwash%2F This is the fourth post in a five-part series by contributor Carole Braden about her experiences with relaxation CDs from Centerpointe Research Institute. Find part three of her series here. The “solution” – as every piece of correspondence from the Centerpointe Institute calls these latest Holosync additions to my iTunes library – did not deliver instant and gratifying transformation. Nope. I would like to report that, within four short weeks of strapping myself into my regulation stereo headphones, I found myself utterly footloose and fancy-free with a sweet little bun baking in my (obviously miscalibrated) oven, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, in addition to being certifiably unpregnant, I became, well, bothered. Per the instructions, I’d begun listening to “The Div... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3443650 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:01:09 +0100 3443650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3440745&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Ffight-your-allergies-au-naturel%2F Spring allergies blow. This may be one of the loveliest times of year, but let’s face it – some of us are just plain miserable. Stuffy nose, dry cough, itchy eyes – your face feels like a punching bag. Sound familiar? Instead of spending your paycheck on over-the-counter meds, check out these natural remedies courtesy of The Huffington Post that may actually let you enjoy smelling the flowers this season. Eat This When you feel a flare-up coming on, avoid foods that build up mucus like raw and cold foods  (sushi), dairy products (ice cream), corn (even corn syrup), simple sugars, grains (wheat, rye, or barley), boozing, and smoking. Instead, try whole grains like quinoa, amaranth, and brown rice. Many fruits contain bromelain, a natural antihistamine, so eat pineapples, papayas, cra... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3440745 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:34:28 +0100 3440745 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3399036&cid=t_373853_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2Famacupuncturehttp%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Ffinal-proof-that-acupuncture-works.html Finally, scientists are now documenting with brain imaging studies and other high-tech tools how acupuncture arouses areas of the brain that register pain and are activated in recuperation.As a medical physician for over 51 years, I strive to give you the best medical information on controversial medical subjects, and help your read betwwen the lines. You must come to your own conclusions. I have no ties to any organization, pharmaceutical, or lobby group. As an practicing medical acupuncturist since 1982, I find western medicine and medical acupuncture are very complimentary. This results in astounding healing in pain management, addictions to cigarettes and food, and a host of other maladies. Visit drneedles is blogging" at the end of each blog for a complete alphabetical list of all my ... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3399036 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:39:00 +0100 3399036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385241&cid=t_373853_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fis-acupuncture-safe.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385241 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:08:00 +0100 3385241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374098&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Facupuncture-for-kids-sort-of%2F photo: Thinkstock Sticking kids with needles usually doesn’t go over too well. And traditional acupuncture for adults involves tiny, skin-puncturing needles. (They don’t go deep.) However, Shonishin (show-NEE-shin) is an ancient Japanese therapy that’s completely non-invasive. Without a single needle, Shonishin allegedly strengthens the developing organ systems of newborns to ten-year-olds. Pediatric specialists in Asia have been using Shonishin on children for hundreds of years, but its practice emigrated to U.S. within the last two decades. Using small metal tools, a practitioner painlessly and gently taps, rubs, and brushes (but never penetrates) a youngster’s skin. This 10-20 minute treatment has been known to treat colds, viruses, infections, poor digestion, se... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374098 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:50:55 +0100 3374098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3266931&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2747 Every single request for information about course materials in quack medicine that I have ever sent has been turned down by universities, It is hardly as important as as refusal of FoI requests to see climate change documents, but it does indicate that some vice-chancellors are not very interested in openness. This secretiveness is exactly the sort of thing that leads to lack of trust in universities and in science as a whole. The one case that I have won took over three years and an Information Tribunal decision against the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) before I got anything. UCLAN spent £80,307.95.(inc VAT at 17.5%) in legal expenses alone (plus heaven knows how much in staff time) to prevent us from seeing what was taught on their now defunct “BSc (Hons) homeopa... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3266931 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:59:15 +0100 3266931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243842&cid=t_373853_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F05%2Fnewsweek-do-antidepressants-work-for-many-people-yes%2F I admire Newsweek writer Sharon Begley’s work … especially when she explains ways we can try to rewire our brain. But I found last week’s cover story irresponsible. If, for no other reason, than its title and subtitle: “The Depressing News About Antidepressants: Studies Suggest That the Popular Drugs Are No More Effective Than a Placebo. In Fact, They May Be Worse.” Then I may as well kill myself. That’s how I would have read the article four years ago, before I started questioning all the information available today on mood disorders and drug treatment, before I started working with a physician from Johns Hopkins who could help me tease out the hope from articles like this, so I wasn’t tempted to take my life upon reading there was no way out of ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243842 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:39:19 +0100 3243842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3239787&cid=t_373853_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2FBOHRlH_EqJQ%2Fcomplimentary-alternative-medicine-cancer Seems like alternative medicine and diets never get rational airtime. Some people slam them, writing off as quackery anything non-allopathic. Others become super cheerleaders letting alternative medicine and diets engulf their identity in a creepy almost cult like fashion. Neutral patients are left in the middle with little rational, scientific based information nor sensible peer support conversations about “natural” health and healing. On discussion boards it seems everyone’s either adamantly defending products and regimens with absurd anecdotes (quite different from sensible coping strategies) or they’re bashing the hell out things. Few readers learn anything other than propaganda for or against. I’m a big fan of patients being proactive, whether it is about alternative... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3239787 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:35:16 +0100 3239787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3236060&cid=t_373853_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2FBOHRlH_EqJQ%2Fcomplimentary-alternative-medicine-cancer Seems like alternative medicine and diets never get rational airtime. Some people slam them, writing off as quackery anything non-allopathic. Others become super cheerleaders letting alternative medicine and diets engulf their identity in a creepy almost cult like fashion. Neutral patients are left in the middle with little rational, scientific based information nor sensible peer support conversations about “natural” health and healing. On many cancer chatrooms and discussion boards smart patients share tips on how to best manage chemo side effects or the pros and cons of surgical procedures. But on discussion boards where someone mentions alternative medicine all bets are off: everyone’s either adamantly defending products and regimens with absurd anecdotes (quite different from... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3236060 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:24:11 +0100 3236060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3231780&cid=t_373853_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2FBOHRlH_EqJQ%2Fcomplimentary-alternative-medicine-cancer Seems like alternative medicine and diets never get rational airtime. Some people slam them, writing off as quackery anything non-allopathic. Others become super cheerleaders letting alternative medicine and diets engulf their identity in a creepy almost cult like fashion. Neutral patients are left in the middle with little rational, scientific based information nor sensible peer support conversations about “natural” health and healing. On many cancer chatrooms and discussion boards smart patients share tips on how to best manage chemo side effects or the pros and cons of surgical procedures. But on discussion boards where someone mentions alternative medicine all bets are off: everyone’s either adamantly defending products and regimens with absurd anecdotes (quite different from... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3231780 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:59:09 +0100 3231780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3197546&cid=t_373853_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fbattlefield-acupuncture-niemtzow-technique-needle-battlefield-acupressure-marcucci-technique-pain-control-acute-traumatic-injury-haiti%2F by Lisa Marcucci, MD – trauma surgeon and medical acupuncturist (Healthcare professionals only – questions or feedback on the use of this technique in Haiti can be sent to insidesurgery dot com then at sign then gmail followed by com). One of the more distressing items being reported out of the developing medical catastrophe in Haiti is the lack of even rudimentary anesthesia and analagesia for the treatment of amputations and severe acute traumatic injuries. One possible strategy for treating patients in pain that is rapidly effective, and has little mortality or serious morbidity risk is the use of battlefield acupuncture, a technique pioneered by Air Force Col Richard Niemtzow, MD PhD in 2001. Because Dr. Niemtzow’s battlefield acupuncture technique is most effective ... Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3197546 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:37:33 +0100 3197546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3137558&cid=t_373853_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FoyHN9uIrVs8%2F Women who have had breast cancer may see themselves feeling more sensual and able to enjoy sex if they have acupuncture to treat some of the frustrating side effects of some cancer treatments, such as hot flashes and night sweats, say researchers. Hormone therapy, used to treat some types of breast cancers, is often taken for up to five years after a woman has completed chemotherapy. However, the side effects are often more than simply annoying. They can have a significant impact on quality of life. Not being able to sleep well is the root of many problems at the best of times, but it can be much more difficult when you’re trying to win a battle against a potentially fatal disease. There are medications currently available to counter some of the side effects but they are not always e... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3137558 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:06:22 +0100 3137558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3118877&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2544   Snow on December 18th                             Roaring fire Lindy contributes acute comments regularly here.  She is also an accomplished musician.  She has kindly allowed me to post here four of her re-written carols. Adam lay ybounden  |  Hark the Herald  |  Holly and the Ivy  |  Merry Gentlemen Adam lay ybounden The Middle English dialect is not easy to follow, so the original is reproduced in the right hand column.  The original, sung by choir of King’s College Chapel, is on YouTube. Atoms lay y’bounden In primordial soup; Six billion years did pass A’fore they coul... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3118877 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:40:12 +0100 3118877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178780&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2Flondon-news-220307_NEW.wmv This article was meant to celebrate their collective efforts and to celebrate the fact that those efforts are beginning to percolate upwards to influence the powers that be. It seems invidious to pick on one example, but if you want an example of beautiful and trenchant writing on one of the topics dealt with here, you’d be better off reading Andrew Lewis’s piece "Meddling Princes, Medical Regulation and Licenses to Kill” than anything in a print journal. I was a bit disappointed by removal of the comment about the Prince of Wales.  In fact I’m not particularly republican compared with many of my friends.  The royal family is clearly good for the tourist industry and that’s important.  Since Mrs Thatcher (and her successors) destroyed larg... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178780 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:01:58 +0100 3178780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3096864&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2507 This article was meant to celebrate their collective efforts and to celebrate the fact that those efforts are beginning to percolate upwards to influence the powers that be. It seems invidious to pick on one example, but if you want an example of beautiful and trenchant writing on one of the topics dealt with here, you’d be better off reading Andrew Lewis’s piece "Meddling Princes, Medical Regulation and Licenses to Kill” than anything in a print journal. I was a bit disappointed by removal of the comment about the Prince of Wales.  In fact I’m not particularly republican compared with many of my friends.  The royal family is clearly good for the tourist industry and that’s important.  Since Mrs Thatcher (and her successors) destroyed larg... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3096864 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:01:58 +0100 3096864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3096810&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fcracking-down-on-quackery%2F Professor David Colquhoun from University College London in the United Kingdom wrote an editorial that is sure to ruffle some feathers in many healthcare circles. The editoral, which appeared in this week’s Christmas issue of BMJ.com, said that the medical establishment’s acceptance of holistic approaches to medicine was embarrassing. In the early 1900s, doctors tried to eliminate snake oil and secret remedies from being sold as cure-alls to unsuspecting consumers. While they may have eliminated some of it, not long after, in the 1970s or so, alternative and complementary medicines gained popularity, although many in the so-called mainstream medicine considered them to be snake oil as well. And, not only were homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture, reflexology and many  other tr... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3096810 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:36:45 +0100 3096810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912193&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2351 Conclusion I was told by the Univerity of Kingston that “The course is one which the University has validated and continues to be subject to the University’s quality assurance procedures, such as internal subject reviews, annual monitoring and external examining” The only conclusion to be drawn from this is that “quality arrurance procedures” work about as well in universities as they did in the case of baby Peter. No doubt they were introduced with worthy aims. But in practice they occupy vast amounts of time for armies of bureaucrats, and because the brain does not need to be engaged they end up endorsing utter nonsenes. The system is broken. Resistance is futile.  You can see a lot of the stuff here It is hard to keep secrets in the internet age. Thanks ... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912193 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:15:26 +0100 2912193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2857412&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2310 More boring politics, but it matters.  The two main recommendations of this Pittilo report are that Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine should be subject to statutory regulation by the Health Professions Council Entry to the register should normally be through a Bachelor degree with Honours For the background on this appalling report, see earlier posts. A very bad report: gamma minus for the vice-chancellor The Times (blame subeditor for the horrid title), and some follow up on the Times piece The Health Professions Council breaks its own rules: the result is nonsense Chinese medicine -acupuncture gobbledygook revealed Consultation opens on the Pittilo report: help stop the Department of Health making a fool of itself  Why degrees in Chinese med... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2857412 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:23:19 +0100 2857412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2685387&cid=t_373853_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F10%2Fmore-about-acupuncture-press-needles-as-a-placebo%2F Slightly tangential to my normal topics, I located this article today on a placebo procedure that may work for acupuncture. Many people will be aware that in acupuncture, it’s really difficult to truly conduct a double-blind trial where both the person receiving and the person giving the treatment are unaware of which is the ‘active’ treatment. In fact ongoing criticism of many studies such as those reviewed in Cochrane reviews (and the recent post I made of Ernst’s review of 32 Cochrane reviews) is that in giving the ‘placebo’ treatment, the comparison is not really between acupuncture and placebo acupuncture, but it is instead of acupuncture with ’something else’, and in doing this, much of the ‘active’ component of acupuncture ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2685387 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:08:26 +0100 2685387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2670962&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F7yVJz1-C864%2F I’m continuing to be neck deep in business planning. Today we finalized a bunch of copy for our website, came closer to opening a business bank account, got a bunch of things finalized with the lawyer, and had our first “official” meeting as a LLC (hilarious – board meeting with two people at the kitchen table). I’m going to start getting all of these steps together and all the tips and tricks I came up with to give as a free PDF to folks on Deepest Health someday soon. That is, when things calm down a bit. Hopefully, soon, I’ll get some time to actually get back into learning the MEDICINE. :) I’d like to let Portland-area Chinese medicine enthusiasts (and folks with plenty of frequent flier miles) know about some fantastic opportunities coming yo... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2670962 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:19:52 +0100 2670962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2662360&cid=t_373853_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Facupuncture-growing-in-popularity.html Recently the Sleep Education Blog has reported on two reviews and a new study of acupuncture for insomnia; the evidence to support its use remains limited.But a new government report shows that acupuncture is growing in popularity. The report examined the use of complimentary alternative medicine (CAM) in the U.S. in 2007.It found an overall decrease in visits to CAM providers in 2007 compared with 1997; but visits to acupuncturists increased by three times. People in the U.S. made an estimated 17.6 million visits to acupuncturists in 2007.Why is there a growing interest in acupuncture? The report outlined a few reasons.First, more states now license this practice; as a result the number of licensed providers has increased in the last decade. Insurance coverage for CAM therapies also has i... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2662360 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:03:00 +0100 2662360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660485&cid=t_373853_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fnew-study-of-electroacupuncture-for.html Last week the Sleep Education Blog reported on a recent review of acupuncture for insomnia. The Hong Kong researchers found that study results are “somewhat promising,” but inconclusive.Now the same research team has published the results of their own study. It appears in today’s issue of the journal Sleep.The study involved a community sample of 60 Chinese adults with a mean age of 48 years; 77 percent were women. They reported having insomnia three or more nights per week; their struggle with insomnia had been ongoing for an average of nine years.Half of the group received electroacupuncture. Fine needles were inserted at special points of the body – called “acupoints.” This included locations on the head and ears.Then an electric stimulator was connected to the needles, deli... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660485 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:42:00 +0100 2660485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2657723&cid=t_373853_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FNwUIs3qXV4o%2F Let’s play Jeopardy! Answer: 33.9 billion on CAM. {cue the Jeopardy! music} Question: How much did Americans spend on complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) in 12 months? On top of the trillions of dollars (with a “tr”) spent annually on health care in the United States, Americans are spending almost 34 billion - with a “b” - on alternative treatments. According to the NIH/National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, about 38% of Americans use some sort of CAM to either stay healthy or help manage or treat illness or symptoms of illness. CAM covers a wide variety of practices, too numerous to mention. But the most commonly known are: acupuncture chiropractics homeopathy supplements The Center broke down the costs even further: $22 bill... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2657723 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:16:53 +0100 2657723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2657925&cid=t_373853_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F31%2Ffriday-funnies-return%2F And you thought I’d abandoned y’all… Never fear, I can’t miss my weekend preparation, so here we go again! I’m no fan of ergonomics for ‘preventing pain’, despite my couple of postgraduate papers in it! So when I found these couple of cartoons, I’m sorry I couldn’t stop myself… I’ve been needling acupuncturists for a while now – perhaps after this I should stop? OK, OK, I’m retreating NOW! Have a great weekend! (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2657925 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:22:46 +0100 2657925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2634047&cid=t_373853_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Facupuncture-for-insomnia-another-review.html Is acupuncture an effective treatment for insomnia? In February the Sleep Education Blog reported on a scientific review of the evidence.The researchers were from Emory University; they found that acupuncture has potential as an insomnia treatment. But there is only limited evidence to support its use.A new review from Hong Kong provides another perspective. The review looked at both Chinese and English studies.Data from 20 studies were analyzed; the studies compared traditional needle acupuncture against “benzodiazepines.” These hypnotic sedatives are one type of medication used to treat insomnia; but newer “nonbenzodiazepines” are more commonly used today.The majority of the studies concluded that acupuncture was more effective than benzodiazepines. Acupuncture was effective at a... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2634047 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:07:00 +0100 2634047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2616877&cid=t_373853_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F20%2Fits-been-a-while%2F Regular visitors to my blog will have wondered about the break in transmission – and I’m sorry, it’ll continue for another fortnight. The past fortnight I’ve been recovering from having my tonsils removed – something that I am now convinced should happen when you’re young enough to think that jelly and icecream is a fabulous treat, and have quite a lot more ‘bounce-back’ than I had.  Not a pleasant experience, but hopefully one that will pay off in time.  This coming fortnight I’m going to Rotorua to the NZ Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting.  It’ll be a busy time because I’m giving three papers and running the occupational therapy workshop – oh and a bit of sight-seeing as well, with any luck.  I was a kid las... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2616877 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:19:05 +0100 2616877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613856&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1899 Jump to follow-up .The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) is the first place I asked to see teaching materials that were used on its homeopathy “BSc” course. The request was refused, and subsequent internal appeals were refused too, Clearly UCLAN had something to hide. An appeal to the information commissioner took almost two years to be judged, but the case was won. The eventual decision by the Information Commissioner rejected all the grounds that UClan had used to evade the Freedom of Information Act. UClan appealed against the judgement and I still haven’t got the stuff but that hardly matters now, because the course in question shut its doors. In any case, plenty of stuff from similar courses has leaked out already. Meanwhile, in September 2008,... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2613856 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:21:41 +0100 2613856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610924&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1899 .The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) is the first place I asked to see teaching materials that were used on its homeopathy “BSc” course. The request was refused, and subsequent internal appeals were refused too, Clearly UCLAN had something to hide. An appeal to the information commissioner took almost two years to be judged, but the case was won. The eventual decision by the Information Commissioner rejected all the grounds that UClan had used to evade the Freedom of Information Act. UClan appealed against the judgement and I still haven’t got the stuff but that hardly matters now, because the course in question shut its doors. In any case, plenty of stuff from similar courses has leaked out already. Meanwhile, in September 2008, UCLAN announced an in... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610924 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:21:41 +0100 2610924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598176&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F2zi4YM3IR68%2F Several weeks ago, I wrote about the need for a new paradigm, one that integrates Eastern inductive and Western reductive methodology so that efficacy can truly be measured in alternative medicine trials. In that post, which was part of the DWIHC Comparative Effectiveness Research Series, I argued that Western researchers continue to try to squeeze a square peg into a round hole, and in doing so, ignore the subjective element that is an inherent part of the fabric that we call Eastern medicine. This past week, I ran across a study in Menopause that not only supports this contention but also challenges us to more closely examine the limitations of current investigations into alternative therapies. ACUFLASH (the Acupuncture on Hot Flashes among Menopausal Women Study) was a randomized, contr... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598176 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:07:48 +0100 2598176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511286&cid=t_373853_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FXJhoa8MEBe4%2F Undergoing surgery is difficult enough, between worrying about the actual procedure, worrying about what the surgeon may find or do, and of course, worrying about pain after the surgery. And, for many people (up to 80%), comes worry about being nauseous and vomiting after surgery. This nausea and vomiting doesn’t affect everyone, but it’s not an unusual complication after surgery and it’s due to the anesthetic. Acupressure, similar to acupuncture but using pressure points instead of needles, has been found to be successful in helping many people relieve pain and other discomforts, so researchers wanted to see if they (acupressure and acupuncture) could help relieve the nausea and vomiting. According to an article from Health Behavior News Service, Wrist Acupuncture or Acu... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511286 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:15:47 +0100 2511286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469751&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FycBixXuIHOk%2F As I said before, I’ve been spending a significant amount of time studying for and taking my NCCAOM board exams.  As I said in my last post… “…I’ve successfully completed the foundations and biomedicine exams already.  I found them to be much different from what I was expecting. I know I am not allowed to share much about my experience - but I’ll just say that I don’t think any commercially available study aid helped me…” This includes the much lauded TCMTests.com.  Don’t get me wrong, I think they offer a great service.  If nothing else, they allow you to have some degree of comfort with the format and general content of the test.  However, the specific topics covered in the real test were not touched on much by the practice... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469751 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:23:57 +0100 2469751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452541&cid=t_373853_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1606 This article, which was some time in gestation, appeared shortly afte the last degree in homeopathy in the UK closed its doors. So perhaps it should have been called The Return of Reason. What’s interesting is that it has become commonplace for the mainstream newspapers to print articles like this and to dump some of their whackier lifestyle articles. The print version had a much better title too, The Retreat from Reason, with a two-page spread.. They published the entire ‘Patients’ Guide to Magic Medicine‘ as a sidebar on page 4. To these has now been added, inspired by Jack of Kent, Libel: A very expensive remedy, to be used only when you have no evidence. Appeals to alternative practitioners because truth is irrelevant One part of the article that I particular... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452541 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:18:35 +0100 2452541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452542&cid=t_373853_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1593 Jump to follow-up The first post was NICE falls for Bait and Switch by acupuncturists and chiropractors: it has let down the public and itself. That was followed by NICE fiasco, part 2. Rawlins should withdraw guidance and start again. Since then, something of a maelstrom has engulfed NICE, so it’s time for an update. It isn’t only those who are appalled that NHS should endorse voodoo medicine on the basis of very slim evidence who are asking NICE to rethink their guidance on low back pain. Pain specialists are up in arms too, and have even started a blog, ‘Not Nearly as NICE as you think …‘, to express their views. Equally adverse opinions are being expressed in the Britsh Medical Journal. A letter there is signed by over 50 specialists in pain medicine. It ... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452542 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:20:28 +0100 2452542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441449&cid=t_373853_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1542 Conclusions Relative to “best care” in general practice, manipulation followed by exercise achieved a moderate benefit at three months and a small benefit at 12 months; spinal manipulation achieved a small to moderate benefit at three months and a small benefit at 12 months; and exercise achieved a small benefit at three months but not 12 months. In other words, none of them worked very well. The paper failed to distinguish between manipulation by physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths and so missed a valuable chance to find out whether there is an advantage to employing people from alternative medicine (the very problem that this NICE guidance should have dealt with) Steve Vogel, another member of the guidance development group, is an osteopath. Osteopathy has cast off it... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441449 Fri, 29 May 2009 18:09:14 +0100 2441449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441306&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fnice-recommends-cure-for-all-known.html Sufferers of chronic mental illness were celebrating today when they heard that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has finally recommended that the Kadir-Buxton method for treating mental illness should be made available immediately by the NHS.Advice issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) recommends that the millions of people with mental health problems lasting more than six weeks should receive the Kadir Buxton treatment without delay. Experts praised Nice's first guidance on tackling mental illness as a breakthrough in treating a problem that costs the country an estimated £5.1bn every year, including £1bn of the NHS budget, and leads to the loss of around 5m working days. Mental health issues affect up to one in three adults each year and l... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441306 Wed, 27 May 2009 08:01:00 +0100 2441306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441450&cid=t_373853_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1516 First the MHRA lets down the public by allowing deceptive labelling of sugar pills (see here, and this this blog). Now it is the turn of NICE to betray its own principles. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) describes its job thus “NICE is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.” Its Guidance document on Low Back Pain will be published on Wednesday 27 May 2009, but the newspapers have already started to comment, presumably on the assumption that it will have changed little from the Draft Guidance of September 2008. These comments may have to be changed as soon as the final version becomes available. The draft guidance, though mostly sensible, has two re... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441450 Mon, 25 May 2009 15:24:25 +0100 2441450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774806&cid=t_373853_130_f&fid=38947&url=http%3A%2F%2Frealpt.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fmore-evidence-of-acupunctures-lack-of.html Acupuncture (sticking needles at specific points to a certain depth in the skin) is not an effective treatment for chronic low back pain. This may sound surprising as the media has jumped all over a new study that supposedly shows that acupuncture is more effective than "usual care". Unfortunately - as the media usually does - they've misinterpreted the results of the study. In fact the study showed that there is no difference in the effectiveness between "fake" and "real" acupuncture. Meaning, there is no effect of acupuncture.Steven Novella over at Science-based Medicine does a masterful job of explaining this in detail. Please visit his post on this study to become enlightened by logical and scientifically based thoughts and discussion - as opposed to hype.Jason L. Harris (Source: Evide... Evidence Based Rehab blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774806 Wed, 20 May 2009 16:13:00 +0100 2774806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405136&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Facupuncture-more-wibble-from-times.html Emeritus Professor of WibbleThe mainstream media’s love affair with alternative “medicine” has always puzzled doctors. Acupuncture in particular has a huge fan base, even though there is not a jot of evidence to show that it is anything more than an elaborate placebo. Has something changed? Today, the Times reports on a research paper from the respected Archives of Internal Medicine:Scientists find acupuncture can help to relieve chronic back painNot really. That is not what the paper shows.If you look at the paper itself, rather than The Times treatment of it, the conclusion is that:It remains unclear whether acupuncture or our simulated method of acupuncture provide physiologically important stimulation or represent placebo or nonspecific effects.Annals of Internal MedicineQuite. P... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405136 Mon, 11 May 2009 21:49:00 +0100 2405136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365006&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1372 Jump to follow-up It seems that bits of good news don’t come singly. First honours degrees in acupuncture vanish, Now a big chain of shops selling Chinese herbs and acupuncture has gone into administration. It seems that, at last, people are getting fed up with being conned out of their hard-earned money Herbmedic Barking A local [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365006 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:37:52 +0100 2365006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414822&cid=t_373853_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1372 This report was on 1st April,  The company’s web site shows no sign of any problems, In fact they are still advertising jobs. So was this an April Fool joke? No it wasn’t.  A visit to Companies House soon settled the matter. The whole company is insolvent, as of 27 March 2009.. Download the whole administration notice and the company report.   Criticisms of Herbmedic This chain of shops was investigated by the BBC’s Inside Out programme. (September 25th 2006). “We sent an undercover reporter to branches of the Herbmedic chain in southern England. On each occasion, the reporter claimed to be suffering from tiredness and was prescribed herbal remedies after a consultation lasting less than five minutes. The herbalists, who describe themselves as ... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414822 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:49:36 +0100 2414822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2321570&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FhK6Wsppumv0%2F Well, it’s finally come to this - the final quarter of my formal institutional training in Classical Chinese Medicine. Wow.  I mean, really, wow.  There are quite a few of you out there who are in the same boat I am - looking graduation in the face.  It’s exciting, yes, but it’s also a little hard on the nerves.  In my case, I have a number of personal and professional obligations criss-crossing through my schedule.  They all have to be satisfied if I am going to end my NCNM career with a bang.  I spent several hours today thinking about how best to approach the sheer cliff that is my next twelve weeks. Along with my normal class obligations, my Student Government (SGA) duties, my family life and my thesis writing (and a whole lot more I won’t list here) - I h... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2321570 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:33:48 +0100 2321570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414826&cid=t_373853_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1284 The Health Professions Council (HPC) is yet another regulatory quango. The HPC’s strapline is “Working with health professionals to protect the public” At present the HPC regulates; Arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists/podiatrists, clinical scientists, dietitians, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, prosthetists/orthotists, radiographers and speech & language therapists. These are thirteen very respectable jobs. With the possible exception of art therapists, nobody would doubt for a moment that they are scientific jobs, based on evidence. Dietitians, for example, are the real experts on nutrition (in contrast to “nutritional therapists” and the like, who are part of... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414826 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:18:12 +0100 2414826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2308085&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1284 The Health Professions Council (HPC) is yet another regulatory quango. The HPC’s strapline is “Working with health professionals to protect the public” At present the HPC regulates; Arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists/podiatrists, clinical scientists, dietitians, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, prosthetists/orthotists, radiographers and speech & language therapists. These are thirteen very respectable [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2308085 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:18:12 +0100 2308085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2263868&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6378 These crazy Japanese. Now they are using acupuncture to supposedly “calm” tuna so that they don’t thrash about so much before they die, resulting in better tasting sushi! The company in Osaka that patented the technique claimed that calm tuna thrashed about less in their death throes. Once the fish have received the brief treatment the blood becomes purer and the flesh has a better flavour, Toshiro Urabe, the president of the Osakana Planning Company, said. So acupuncture has found it’s way not only in humans but in animals and indeed your pets. MMR posts on acupuncture from the Malaysian Medical Resources Acupuncture for better sushi (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2263868 Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2263868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2205541&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1170 It is almost six months now since I posted Quackery creeps into good universities too -but through Human Resources. One example given there was the University of Leicester. This is an excellent university.  It does first class research and it was the alma mater of the incomparable David Attenborough who [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2205541 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:19:10 +0100 2205541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414829&cid=t_373853_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1170 It is almost six months now since I posted Quackery creeps into good universities too -but through Human Resources. One example given there was the University of Leicester. This is an excellent university.  It does first class research and it was the alma mater of the incomparable David Attenborough who has done more than anyone to show us the true beauty and wonder of the natural world. Nevertheless, their well-meaning occupational health department had a section about “complementary therapies” that contained a lot of statements that were demonstrably untrue. They even recommended the utterly outrageous SCENAR device. So I pointed this out to them, and I had a quick and sympathetic response from their HR director. But three months later, nothing had changed. Every now and the... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414829 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:35:07 +0100 2414829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207949&cid=t_373853_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Facupuncture-for-insomnia-is-there-point.html Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine. It has been around for thousands of years. Can it be used to treat insomnia today? A new scientific review takes a look at the evidence. The authors looked at 30 studies. What did they find? Acupuncture improved some aspects of sleep in 93 percent of the studies.But the quality of the studies varied greatly. Only a few studies compared acupuncture with an unreal, “sham” control treatment. These studies produced mixed results.Most of the studies relied on subjective sleep reports. Few studies recorded objective sleep data.Acupuncture techniques also varied greatly. This makes it hard to compare the results.The authors conclude that acupuncture has potential as an insomnia treatment. But there is only limited evidence to support its ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207949 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:43:00 +0100 2207949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182626&cid=t_373853_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Febm-and-bbm.html As an IVF specialist, I often need to give bad news to patients. A particularly frustrating problem is telling patients with poor ovarian reserve that they have a poor chance of getting pregnant. This condition is called oopause; and many of these patients need donor eggs in order to achieve a pregnancy.However, it can be hard to come to terms with this, and many will search for options and alternatives as to what they can do to improve their ovarian response. There is a lot of anecdotal information about what other women with high FSH levels have done to have a baby with their own eggs, including options such as alternative medicine, such as herbs, acupuncture and yoga. In fact, there are many Bulletin Boards, Forums and websites put up by patients, which discuss these options.I encourage... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2182626 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:42:00 +0100 2182626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2169056&cid=t_373853_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fhistory-of-acupuncture-otzi-wins.html HISTORY OF ACUPUNCTURE, OTZI WINSAcupuncture is over 5,000 years old. It was not just practiced in China. The Egyptians talked about vessels that resembled the 12 meridians in 1550 B.C.. in their medical treatises called the Papyrus Ebera. The South African Bantu tribesman scratched parts of their bodies to cure disease.The Arabs cauterized their ears with hot metal probes.The Eskimos used sharp stones for simple acupuncture. Brazilian cannibals shot tiny arrows with blow pipes to diseased parts 
of their bodies to cure disease. Primitive sharp stones and bamboo were later replaced by fish bones, bamboo clips and later various shapes of needles made of metal. Today very fine hair thin needles are used. With advanced technology and precision instruments, these needles are placed at specif... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2169056 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:50:00 +0100 2169056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2167636&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6114 A a meta-analysis recently published online in BMJ suggests that acupuncture only provides limited benefit “at best” for pain relief. The data was pooled from 13 trials in which some 3000 patients with acute or chronic pain were randomized to acupuncture, placebo acupuncture, or no acupuncture. Overall, acupuncture showed a small benefit over placebo acupuncture, and placebo appeared moderately better than no acupuncture. Read the original study here: Acupuncture treatment for pain: systematic review of randomised clinical trials with acupuncture, placebo acupuncture, and no acupuncture groups BMJ 2009;338:a3115 from the Malaysian Medical Resources Acupuncture of Limited Benefit for Pain Relief (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2167636 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2167636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144897&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D984 This letter appeared in the Times on Friday 30 January, 2009. It was prompted by the news from the University of Salford, but its main purpose was to try to point out to the Department of Health that you can’t hope to regulate alternative treatments in any sensible way while continuing to push under [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144897 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:24:14 +0100 2144897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2138348&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D945 Jump to follow-up Acupuncture in the BMJ A new review appeared in the BMJ today. It is by Madsen et al., from the Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen. Here are the conclusions. The analgesic effect of acupuncture is small and cannot be distinguished from bias resulting from incomplete blinding. The analgesic effect of placebo acupuncture is moderate but very [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2138348 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:27:55 +0100 2138348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2128935&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5973 strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources VIDEO: Cleaner Air Increases Life Expectancy, Sham Acupuncture Just as Effective as True Acupuncture, School-Based Physical Activity Programs Beneficial (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2128935 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2128935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2125749&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D885 Congratulations to the vice-chancellor of the University of Salford, Michael Harloe. Times Higher Education announced on 15th January 2009 Salford to shut complementary medicine BSc. “The University of Salford is to stop offering undergraduate degrees in acupuncture and complementary medicine because they are no longer considered “a sound academic fit”.” This is the first time that [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2125749 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:52:36 +0100 2125749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075526&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D675 The National Health Executive (”the Independent Journal for Senior Health Service Managers) asked for an article about quackery. This is a version of that article with live links. Download the pdf version. On May 23 th 2006 a letter was sent to the chief executives of 467 NHS Trusts. It was reported as a front page [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075526 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:27:28 +0100 2075526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2022033&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D555 It may be only post-1992 universities that run degrees in nonsense, but you can find plenty even in the highest places. Like St Bartholomew’s (founded in 1123).  That well known source of misleading medical advice, The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health (FiH), published last March, “Teaching integrated health at Barts and the London“. This consists [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2022033 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:26:07 +0100 2022033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017826&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F477034875%2Fweek-in-review.html Embryo adoption reopens controversy. Back to the question of when does human life begin, and so what are our responsibilities toward all those frozen embryos out there.Sports gene test available for little kids. So little Johnny has the genes to be a sprinter, push him in that direction (whether he enjoys it or not)? One can also think of more disturbing uses, like using such a test for embryo election (excuse me, I’ve been in a reproductive rights course this semester, so these issues are top of mind!).Overseas clinical trials under the microscope—concern whether medical and ethical practices are being adhered to in developing countries. Out of sight, out of mind?Studies show arrogance and abusive behavior by doctors contributes tomedical mistakes, preventable complications, and even ... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017826 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:31:25 +0100 2017826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947844&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D351 Today brings a small setback for those  of us interested in spreading sensible ideas about science.  According to a press release “The BMJ Group is to begin publishing a medical journal on acupuncture from next year, it was announced today (Tuesday 11 November 2008). This will be the first complementary medicine title that the BMJ Group has [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947844 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:57:50 +0100 1947844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1939944&cid=t_373853_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2F442825857%2F I approved several comments a few minutes ago. I have some ambivalence about the acupuncture post… on one hand I do not personally believe that acupuncture– something I do happen to ‘believe in’– has any promise for treating addiction. On the other hand I learned long ago that there is nothing to be gained by standing between a patient and his/her ‘alternative medicine caregiver’. There is no way to convince a person who takes nutraceuticals that they are wasting their money; there is no way to convince a person that the chiropractor simply cannot move vertebrae around (he can’t!); and there is no way to convince a person that the acupuncture treatment is not going to fix his addiction. I remember an argument when I was an anesthesiologist, w... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939944 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:33:39 +0100 1939944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908967&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D261 It was a great delight to visit Amsterdam on 25 October to speak at a meeting off the Vereniging tegen de Kwaksalverij (Society against quackery).  Unfortunately their excellent web site is in Dutch, so the best you can do at the moment is to use the Google translation, with its frequently hilarious renderings.  Better translations [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908967 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:31:21 +0100 1908967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1876630&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D259 It seems that validation committees often don’t look beyond the official documents. As a result, the validations may not be worth the paper they are written on. Try this one. One of the best bits of news recently was the downfall of Matthias Rath.  He’s the man who peddled vitamin pills for AIDS in Africa, and encouraged [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1876630 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:07:27 +0100 1876630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1853935&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D258 We know all about the sixteen or so universities that run “BSc” degrees in hokum. They are all “post-1992″ universities, which used to be polytechnics. That is one reason why it saddens me to see them destroying their own attempts to achieve parity with older universities by running courses that I would regard as plain [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1853935 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:33:59 +0100 1853935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1760355&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D252 After the announcement that the University of Central Lancashire (Uclan) was suspending its homeopathy “BSc” course, it seems that their vice chancellor has listened to the pressure, both internal and external, to stop bringing his university into disrepute. An internal review of all their courses in alternative medicine was announced shortly after the course  closure.   Congratulations [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1760355 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:07:16 +0100 1760355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764448&cid=t_373853_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D252 After the announcement that the University of Central Lancashire (Uclan) was suspending its homeopathy “BSc” course, it seems that their vice chancellor has listened to the pressure, both internal and external, to stop bringing his university into disrepute. An internal review of all their courses in alternative medicine was announced shortly after the course  closure.   Congratulations [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764448 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:20:14 +0100 1764448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1750162&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D4247 Harriet Hall reviews Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst in Science-based Medicine The authors had made this strong statement: While there is tentative evidence that acupuncture might be effective for some forms of pain relief and nausea, it fails to deliver any medical benefit in any other situations and its underlying concepts are meaningless. With respect to homeopathy, the evidence points towards a bogus industry that offers patients nothing more than a fantasy. Chiropractors, on the other hand, might compete with physiotherapists in terms of treating some back problems, but all their other claims are beyond belief and can carry a range of significant risks. Herbal medicine undoubtedly offers some interesting remedies, but... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750162 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1750162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717883&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D247 My original piece on Integrative Baloney@Yale was posted on May 16th, after I got back from a visit there. The talk I gave there included a short video. My movie, Integrative baloney@Yale, was made entirely from clips taken from Yale’s own YouTube movies which showed something approaching three hours of its “1st [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717883 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:11:16 +0100 1717883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1692173&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D4025 Doctors in the past has used Sterile Water Injections as a placebo. Yeah, for the patient who insists on that “miracle injection” sometimes that’s what the doctor may administer Recently Swedish workers looked at Acupuncture versus subcutaneous injections of sterile water as treatment for labour pain (Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2008;87(2):171-7) The main results of this study were that sterile water injections yielded greater pain relief (p (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1692173 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1692173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1688967&cid=t_373853_127_f&fid=34828&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrclouthier.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Finfertilitylets-try-more-natural-route.html After reading this article i might suggest some alternatives. They are as follows:1. Dietary changes2. Saliva testing to assess hormonal balance3. Acupuncture for fertility4. Neuroemotional technique for emotional issues related to pregnancy and mothering5. Clinical nutritional approaches that balance the bodies biochemistryIf you need any help in areas that seem to work a little better, let us know. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier) Dr. Steve Clouthier blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1688967 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:18:00 +0100 1688967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655851&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D241 The article below is an editorial that I was asked to write for the New Zealand Medical Journal, as a comment on article in today’s edition about the misuse of the title ‘doctor’ by chiropractors. Titles are not the only form of deception used by chiropractors, so the article looks at some of [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655851 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:00:31 +0100 1655851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652774&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D240 This, I fear, is pure plagiarism, Robert Shrimsley’s piece in today’s Financial Times was so funny that it just begged to be quoted. Here it is. Surely this is a call to action. The news that Radovan Karadzic has been hiding out as some kind of homeopath has confirmed all prejudices about alternative medicine. [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652774 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:31:58 +0100 1652774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1561528&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D239 During the last year, there has been a very welcome flurry of good and informative books about alternative medicine. They are all written in a style that requires little scientific background, even the one that is intended for medical students. CAM, Cumming | Trick or Treatment | Snake Oil Science | Testing treatments [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1561528 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:47:08 +0100 1561528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1532074&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D235 A report has appeared on Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine. The report is written by people all of whom have vested interests in spreading quackery. It shows an execrable ability to assess evidence, and it advocates degrees in antiscience It would fail any examination. Sorry, Prof Pittilo, [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1532074 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:05:15 +0100 1532074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1494744&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D233 We have often had cause to criticise Boots Alliance, the biggest retail pharmacist in the UK, because of its deeply unethical approach to junk medicine. Click here to read the shameful litany. The problem of Boots was raised recently also by Edzard Ernst at the Hay [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1494744 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:35:46 +0100 1494744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488814&cid=t_373853_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F303263303%2F We all know acupuncture as an old medical procedure that originated in China — a practice of inserting thin needles into specific body points to improve health and well-being. Now, new data from a randomized, controlled trial found that acupuncture provided significant reductions in pain, dysfunction, and dry mouth in head and neck cancer patients after radical neck dissection. According to David Pfister, MD, Chief of the Head and Neck Medical Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) — who led the study and who presented the results at the ASCO Annual Meeting: “Chronic pain and shoulder mobility problems are common after such surgery, adversely affecting quality of life as well as employability for certain occupations. Nerve-sparing and other mod... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488814 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:00:39 +0100 1488814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1446635&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D231 The extent to which irrationality has become established in US Medicine is truly alarming I wrote about Quakademics in the USA and Canada on my last trip to the USA, and on my May trip I visited Yale, where I decided to try a full [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1446635 Fri, 16 May 2008 15:15:37 +0100 1446635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1439659&cid=t_373853_133_f&fid=35090&url=http%3A%2F%2Faspiehomeeducation.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Facupuncture-in-bristol.html "Give acupuncture a go!"Even if you are needle phobic like me, just do it! You'll be amazed!Parenting and home educating our special children requires a lot of energy, and if we really want to help them learn and flourish we need to be in good shape ourselves. So, if you're feeling run down, do try acupuncture! And if you live in and around Bristol, I'd recommend Alan Peck, at the Centre for Whole Health. Tel: 0117 923113"Acupuncture is used to restore and maintain health; it works by re-balancing our body's energy flow. It can alleviate digestive and nervous problems, back and joint pains, headaches, menstrual and menopausal problems and also help us to cope with everyday stresses. Acupuncture treats body/mind/spirit as a whole." (Source: Aspie Home-Education) Aspie Home-Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439659 Tue, 13 May 2008 11:45:00 +0100 1439659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1394104&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D227 Times Higher Education has published a league table showing that the University of Westminster is head of the league table for the number of courses in quackery. With fine timing, I just acquired the slides for their lecture on "vibrational medicine". See a selection of them. It seems that Amethyst; the 'Transmutator' . . .emits high Yin energy so transmuting lower energies and clearing and aligning energy disturbances . . .". This is part of a vocational "Bachelor of Science" degree. It is beyond parody. You couldn't make it up. (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1394104 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:16:15 +0100 1394104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1387089&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D228 This blog, along with many others, has had plenty to say about the Prince of Wales’ unconstitutional meddling in public affairs. The lovely description, Quacktitioner Royal, was coined by NHS Blog doctor. The Times published a letter from Edzard Ernst and Simon Singh on April 16th. In their forthcoming book, Trick or Treatment? Alternative [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1387089 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:47:42 +0100 1387089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1329315&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D224 In a wonderful demonstration of common sense, the BBC has removed all the alternative medicine pages from BBC Health web site. I expect that it was helped in making that decision by the many complaints it had received about statements on these pages that were simply not true, The existence of these pages [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1329315 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:36:12 +0100 1329315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1289915&cid=t_373853_136_f&fid=36165&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpurpleride.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Facupuncture.html has been used as an alternative treatment for neuropathy. Richard has found it very helpful in reducing the pain he has in his hands and feet from thalidomide induced neuropathy.The word "acupuncture" comes from the Latin word acus (needle) and punctura (penetration). The procedure originated in China over 2000 years ago. Today it encompasses many styles and techniques.Generally acupuncture refers to a family of procedures used to stimulate anatomical points. Manual manipulation and/or electrical stimulation of thin, solid metallic needles is most often are used to provide stimulation; other methods include manual pressure, electrical stimulation, magnets, low power laser, heat, and ultrasound.Three important acupuncture concepts include qi, yin/yang, and Five Elements.Qi is translated as... The Beast... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1289915 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:35:00 +0100 1289915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1252695&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D220 This afternoon I went to the Coliseum to see a revival of Jonathan Miller’s 1986 production of the Mikado. It was beautifully staged. The well-known patter song of Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner of Japan, begged for a version that deals with anti-science (original here). The serious post will come later. [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1252695 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:16:44 +0100 1252695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1247857&cid=t_373853_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F02%2F21%2Fdepressed-anxious-addicted-try-ear-seeds-3%2F The practice of acupuncture is believed to have been developed in China and has been around for centuries to treat many common physical ailments. Recently though, acupuncture has been gaining momentum in mental health applications as well. A New York Times article reports that acupuncture and “ear seeds” in particular is a growing trend in the treatment of conditions such as depression, anxiety and addiction. The article titled, “A Traditional Therapy Finds Modern Uses”, discusses the application of ear seeds to a patient being treating for cigarette addiction. Specifically, the application of ear seeds is referred to as auricular therapy and involves applying seeds from the Vaccaria plant, using small bits of tape, to specific areas on the outside of the ear. Reportedly the seed... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1247857 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:44:25 +0100 1247857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1238293&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D219 This is the third post based on a recent trip to North America (here are the first and second) One aspect of the endarkenment, the Wal-Mart model of a university, is very much the same in the US as in the UK. At one US university, an excellent scientist offered the theory that an alien spacecraft [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1238293 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:36:35 +0100 1238293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1218443&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpodcast.cbc.ca%2Fmp3%2Fsundayedition_20080204_4624.mp3 Thursday 24 Jan. The original reason for going to North America was an invitation from the Toronto Secular Alliance and Center for Inquiry. The talk for them was given a lot of publicity, for example here and here and from the totally admirable Orac. Toronto seems to be no worse than anywhere else when it [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1218443 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:07:16 +0100 1218443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1197585&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D216 This is the first of a several posts that have arisen from a visit to North America. One thing that the trip led to was an interest in how HR departments influence science -if you have a story about that, please email me. Following the media publicity that surrounded the lecture in Toronto, I [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1197585 Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:12:43 +0100 1197585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1142877&cid=t_373853_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D215 As I have often said, you don’t need to be a scientist to see that most alternative medicine is bunk, though it is bunk that is supported and propagated by an enormously wealthy industry.. There were two good examples this week, John Sutherland, who was until recently professor of English literature at UCL, understands it very [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1142877 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:24:23 +0100 1142877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1013316&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34591&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbadscience.net%2Ffiles%2Fwhydoctorsdonttalktothemedia.mp3 How doctors describe the many interactions between a person, their illness, and society has little purchase in the crudely dualistic world of popular culture. (Source: badscience) badscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1013316 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:42:38 +0100 1013316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=913474&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34591&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.badscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D542 Ben Goldacre The Guardian Saturday September 29 2007 One thing that always fascinates me, as I tug on my pipe in this armchair, is how reductionist, how mechanical, how sciencey and medical we like our stories about the body to be. This week a major new study was published on acupuncture. Many newspapers said it showed acupuncture performing [...] (Source: badscience) badscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=913474 Sat, 29 Sep 2007 01:42:43 +0100 913474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903287&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34591&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.badscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D540 I was just on Radio 4’s PM program talking about the acupuncture study that’s in the news today, you can listen to it here (37 minutes in to the programme): www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/pm/ Here are some references and background bits and bobs. The paper itself was very interesting. It took 1200 people, with an average of 8 years back pain [...] (Source: badscience) badscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903287 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:34:40 +0100 903287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682726&cid=t_373853_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F20%2Fpain-control-in-cancer-patients%2F Filed under: Alternative Therapies, All CancersTelling your doctor or nurse about pain is not a sign of weakness and you should not accept pain as a normal part of having cancer. You have a right as a cancer patient who is experiencing pain, to ask for pain relief. When you are free of pain, you can sleep and eat better, enjoy the company of those around you, and can continue on with work and hobbies.If your doctor suggests no other options to reduce your pain after discussing it with him, then ask to see a pain specialist or ask your doctor to consult with a pain specialist which may be an oncologist, anesthesiologist, neurologist, or neurosurgeon. Use a pain scale when talking with your doctor. For example your pain might be 5 on a scale of 0 to 10. Other important factors you should dis... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682726 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682726