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 'chinese medicine'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:13:44 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159028&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4704%26utm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Duniversity-of-westminster-shuts-down-naturopathy-nutritional-therapy-but-keeps-acupuncture-and-herbal-medicine There’s been no official announcement, but four more of Westminster’s courses in junk medicine have quietly closed. For entry in 2011 they offer University of Westminster (W50) qualification Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture (B343) 3FT Hon BSc Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture with Foundation (B341) 4FT/5FT Hon BSc/MSci Complementary Medicine (B255) 3FT Hon BSc Complementary Medicine (B301) 4FT Hon MHSci Complementary Medicine: Naturopathy (B391) 3FT Hon BSc Herbal Medicine (B342) 3FT Hon BSc Herbal Medicine with Foundation Year (B340) 4FT/5FT Hon BSc/MSci Nutritional Therapy (B400) 3FT Hon BSc   But for entry in 2012 University of Westminster (W50) qualification Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture&... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159028 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:43:52 +0100 5159028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159029&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4683%26utm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dprofessor-geoffrey-petts-of-the-university-of-westminster-says-they-are-not-teaching-pseudo-science-the-facts-show-this-is-not-true Jump to follow-up On 23rd May 2008 a letter was sent to the vice-chancellor of the University of Westminster, Professor Geoffrey Petts Dear Professor Petts   You may be aware an article by Zoe Corbyn, published in Times Higher Education 24 April 2008, with the title Experts criticise ‘pseudo-scientific’ complementary medicine degrees.   The subtitle of the article was Vice-chancellors should re-examine courses, say campaigners.  In the light of that, we wondered whether you had anything to add to the comments made by David Peters in todays THE.  We are preparing a response to that, and it seems fair to ask your view before we proceed. (In order to save you time, copies of the two articles are attached.)   As an expert on... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159029 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:37:57 +0100 5159029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159034&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4439%26utm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dacupuncturists-show-that-acupuncture-doesnt-work-but-conclude-the-opposite-journal-fails Conclusion The addition of 12 sessions of five-element acupuncture to usual care resulted in improved health status and wellbeing that was sustained for 12 months. How on earth did the authors manage to reach a conclusion like that? The first thing to note is that many of the authors are people who make their living largely from sticking needles in people, or advocating alternative medicine. The authors are Charlotte Paterson, Rod S Taylor, Peter Griffiths, Nicky Britten, Sue Rugg, Jackie Bridges, Bruce McCallum and Gerad Kite, on behalf of the CACTUS study team. The senior author, Gerad Kite MAc , is principal of the London Institute of Five-Element Acupuncture London. The first author, Charlotte Paterson, is a well known advocate of acupuncture. as is Nicky Britten. The conflict... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159034 Tue, 31 May 2011 15:12:26 +0100 5159034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847956&cid=t_183816_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finsect-killing-fungus-may-provide-basis-for-new-multiple-sclerosis-treatment%2F2011.05.20 A very well-written review of an orally-active drug for multiple sclerosis has just appeared in the April 25th issue of the Journal of Natural Products, a joint publication of the American Chemical Society and the American Society of Pharmacognosy. The review, Fingolimod (FTY720): A Recently Approved Multiple Sclerosis Drug Based on a Fungal Secondary Metabolite, is co-authored by Cherilyn R. Strader, Cedric J. Pearce, and Nicholas H. Oberlies. In the interest of full disclosure, the latter two gentlemen are research collaborators of mine from Mycosynthetix, Inc. (Hillsborough, NC) and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. My esteemed colleague and senior author, Dr. Oberlies, modestly deflected my request to blog about the publication of this review. So, I am instead writing thi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847956 Fri, 20 May 2011 18:00:24 +0100 4847956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615268&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FL2yg6G550yA%2F Here in Portland, we have some rare early spring sunshine, which makes me even happier to announce the birth of something new – Chinese Medicine Quarterly has its first issue up and ready to purchase. It has been quite a process, as new things always are, but we think that you will be pleased with the result.   In this issue, you will find articles addressing – in an accessible and enjoyable style – topics of interest to students and practitioners of Chinese medicine.  You’ll also notice that the issue is beautiful – most people feel somehow calmer and more excited about Chinese medicine after reading it.  I think that’s got a lot to do with the skill of our designer, Elizabeth Wolf.  She’s fantastic – and a Chinese medicine student t... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615268 Sat, 19 Mar 2011 16:44:19 +0100 4615268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4545076&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FbsPNSkaHSPA%2F Today, I’d like to start getting you all excited about something we’re releasing here in a couple of weeks.  Ready? One of the things that I’ve noticed, as a student and new practitioner, is the relative lack of industry publications in Chinese medicine. We have several decent scholarly journals (Chinese Medicine Times, the Lantern), and I expect their number to grow.  These publications are wonderful to have and the mark of a maturing profession.  They have high standards and tend to be very content-heavy with an academic/educational feel. Outside of the journals, we in the Chinese medicine profession have essentially only Acupuncture Today. While I respect what they do at Acupuncture Today, many folks have commented that the articles don’t quite satisfy their u... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4545076 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:00:03 +0100 4545076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489687&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4117 Jump to follow-up The long-awaited government decision concerning statutory regulation of herbalists, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture came out today. Get the Department of Health (DH) report [pdf] It is not good news. They have opted for statutory regulation by the Health Professions Council (HPC). This is much what was recommended by the disgraceful Pittilo report, about which I wrote a commentary in the Times, and here, A very bad report: gamma minus for the vice-chancellor, and here. The DH report is merely an analysis of responses to the consultation, but the MHRA says "The Health Professions Council (HPC) has now been asked to establish a statutory register for practitioners supplying unlicensed herbal medicines. The proposal is, following cre... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489687 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:04:09 +0100 4489687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450302&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4066 The Science Museum is a wonderful place. As a child it seemed magical. So all the more disappointing to find that it houses an exhibition that promotes quackery. The exhibition is uncritical and sometimes downright dangerous.  It does not teach you anything about science, it teaches anti-science and uncritical thinking. It was not originally like this. Most of the objects in the exhibition were originally part of Henry Wellcome’s Wellcome Museum of Medical History, based at 183 Euston Road. It was moved on permanent loan to the Science Museum in 1977 where it was known as The Wellcome Museum of the History of Medicine. > Recently the Wellcome-Trust sponsored exhibition was the subject of a blog post at Purely a figment of your imagination, written by Alex D... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450302 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:06:50 +0100 4450302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4441993&cid=t_183816_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fevery-complaint-is-gift-dr-malpanis.html Most doctors get put off by patients who complain and most doctors will either ignore these patients – or fire them ! While I’d rather have smiling and happy patients as well , I also believe that every complaint is a gift – it’s a chance to learn and improve. In fact, we actively encourage our patients to provide us with feedback – and both compliments and complaints are welcome . Compliments give us a high and tell us we are doing a good job. Complaints remind us that we can do better !As a doctor, I am focused on providing high quality medical care to my patients. However, I also run a clinic, and I may not see some basic problems ( which are easy to fix) unless someone takes the trouble to point them out to me !Most patients are quite reluctant to complain to their doctor. Fo... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4441993 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 05:03:00 +0100 4441993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285202&cid=t_183816_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchinese-bloodletting-forbidden-in-california%2F2010.12.23 In November 2010, the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) finally decided to act responsibly and forbid the prevalent practice of Chinese bloodletting by licensed acupuncturists. The practice became a concern for the DCA when allegations of unsanitary bloodletting at a California (CA) acupuncture school surfaced. The incident allegedly occurred during a “doctoral” course for licensed practitioners. The instructor was reportedly demonstrating advanced needling and bloodletting techniques. During the process, he took an arrow-like lancing instrument that is called a “three-edged needle” (三棱针), sharpened it with sandpaper, cleaned it with alcohol, and then asked a student-volunteer to roll a towel around his neck. The instructor then cleaned the student’s temporal ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285202 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:00:17 +0100 4285202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4167972&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3675 Jump to follow-up The mainstream media eventually catch up with bloggers. BBC1 TV (Wales) produced an excellent TV programme that exposed the enormous degree validation scam run by the University of Wales. It also exposed the uselessness of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Both these things have been written about repeatedly here for some years. It was good to see them getting wider publicity. Watch the video of the BBC programme, "Week In Week Out – University Challenged." “The programme examines how pop stars and evangelical Christians are running colleges offering courses validated by the University of Wales.” (I make a brief appearance, talking about validation of degrees in Chinese Medicine). In October 2008 I posted Another worthless validation: the Un... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4167972 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:45:22 +0100 4167972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065487&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FV2VPyAe9jl4%2F It’s not a great time in my life. By the ancient Chinese way of thinking, Autumn is the Metal season, the season of Dryness, the season when that which lives withers, fades, falls, and disappears from sight. The green trees briefly are arrayed in the splendor of gold and red, the cool crisp winds causing the leaves to rustle like the robes of the Heavenly Emperor as He passes by. Yang is retreating, its presence in the world decreasing, the liveliness of the Ten Thousand Things changing to a final gathering and preparation for the Winter. The long sleep comes, when (as the Greeks saw it) Persephone will reside in the Underworld and Demeter in her grief will turn her face from the Earth, leaving all that lives buried in frost and snow to survive as best it can. Autumn is the season ... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065487 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:42:26 +0100 4065487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3994127&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FfTud5G8UyI0%2F Discussion With Heiner Fruehauf   Parasites and Possession Tags: Gu syndrome, herbology, Chinese medicine, Acupuncture Related articles Thoughts from the Front Line (9) The Life-giving Sword: version 2.0 (0) Strategy in Chinese Medicine: Timing and Momentum, pt. 3 (2) (Source: Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine) Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3994127 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:58:52 +0100 3994127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946591&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FzSEivdcpd6o%2F There’s this message board that I spend a lot of time on. It’s a board dedicated to helping players of a particular Real-time Strategy Game (aka an RTS) get better. On it a very high ranked player has the following quote as part of his signature: “On your PC, the units seem to perform quite poorly. I think there might be something nearby the PC that is causing this problem for you. You may need a mirror to find out what it is.” In my practice I have an intake form that I use given to me by my friend and elder brother in Chinese Medicine, Ross Rosen. On it there are a group of questions that you won’t find in your typical SOAP notes. One question is particularly poignant: “How are you a problem to yourself/others?” The more time I spend trying to wo... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946591 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:15:43 +0100 3946591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3938421&cid=t_183816_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FncOsKc_7GXs%2F Many parents, health care professionals, and educators agree that there is a pressing need to develop effective treatments for ADHD to complement or substitute for traditional medication and behavior therapy approaches. This is because such treatments do not work for everyone, important difficulties often remain even when these treatments are effective, and evidence for the long-term benefits of these treatments remains less compelling than one would like. In addition, in the case of medication treatment, some individuals experience intolerable side effects and many have concerns about taking ADHD medication for an extended period. One alternative approach to treating ADHD has relied on the use of Compound Herbal Preparations (CHP) derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Practitioners o... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3938421 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:05:56 +0100 3938421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911707&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3385 Systems biology is all the rage, No surprise then, to see the University of Westminster advertising a job for a systems biologist in the The Department of Molecular and Applied Biosciences. Well, no surprise there -until you read the small print. Much has been wriiten here about the University of Westminster, which remains the biggest provider of junk sciencne degrees in the UK, despite having closed two of them. Senior Lecturer in Systems Biology University of Westminster – Department of Molecular and Applied Biosciences, School of Life Sciences Cavendish Site Salary £37,886 – £50,751 (Inc. LWA) The Department of Molecular and Applied Biosciences wishes to appoint a Senior Lecturer in Systems Biology. The post-holder will teach on the undergraduate and pos... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911707 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:52:20 +0100 3911707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858270&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FZz7sGh3b4pk%2F Recently I found myself “eavesdropping” on an online conversation between two professors at NCNM, namely Roger Batchelor and Ed Neal, on the subject of the Pericardium in the Classics. What came out of it was more than a little enlightening and inspired me to talk about the Pericardium a bit this week.   The essential point of the discussion was as follows: what we call Pericardium in the modern Chinese medicine disciplines is referred to as (quoting Ed’s translation here) “Mai vessel of the heart encircling luo vessel (network), following the hand (upper) Jue Yin six confirmation terrain, relating to the function whose (domain of responsibility) is the heart.” Usually this is shortened to Xin Bao, or Heart Wrapper or Heart Encirclement. Usually this is assumed to eq... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858270 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:18:50 +0100 3858270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3798679&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FawtymodYNBs%2F I’m going to do something a little different this week and write something a bit more personal this week, something a bit more, well, extemporaneous. I’ve been working on being sick for the last couple of weeks and of course the day it comes to a head is the day I have an article that needs writing. So, I’m going to aim for a little less polish and a little more from the hip this time, and my apologies if it’s not the most pristine bit of prose you’ve ever read because, well, I’m a bit under the weather. It’s likely to be more questions than answers today, but for some reason I felt that rather than pontificating I needed to show the other side a bit. Here we go.   A collection of thoughts about being in practice.   1. It’s hard being a nat... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3798679 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:06:33 +0100 3798679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753944&cid=t_183816_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_183816_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=3690974&cid=t_183816_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=3671886&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F8WVahpWo_Tc%2F   Last week we began by exploring the concept of timing in acupuncture. This week we’ll move on to herbs. Timing in Herbology Timing is equally important in herbology, as knowing where in the system the disease currently is will dictate what formula you prescribe and what modifications have to be made (I discuss this in an upcoming free PDF entitled “Beginners Guide to Acute Respiratory Disease”). For this, the Six Conformation model used by Zhang Zhongjing (called the Six Channel Model in TCM) is without question the most powerful tool we have at our disposal, telling us where the disharmony is, what its nature is, and what principles are required to fix it.  This applies in acute as well as chronic cases. For example – If the problem is diagnosed as a Cold inva... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671886 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:33:04 +0100 3671886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644885&cid=t_183816_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=3641152&cid=t_183816_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_183816_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=3629758&cid=t_183816_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=3629759&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FEeOiY-hfJhk%2F This is the first post in what will be a repeating feature (column) at Deepest Health, written by yours truly, Eric Grey.  For now, we’ll call the column “Chinese medicine and Western philosophy” because I can’t think of anything better.  An improved name will come to me in a dream, I hope.  The idea is to release the column weekly. As I’ve discussed before, my first academic love is Philosophy.  I was trained in a mostly analytic Western philosophy tradition at Oregon State University.  I completed most of the work for my Masters in Applied Ethics at the same institution.  As an undergraduate, I didn’t focus very much and I do have some regrets about how seriously I took the opportunities that lay before me.  Ultimately, the same goes for my grad... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629759 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:55:51 +0100 3629759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545503&cid=t_183816_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=3490749&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FYdPac0M5OPI%2F The responses are in, tabulated, and have been considered.  Over the last several days, I’ve pondered those responses as well as my own thoughts, and believe I’ve got the rough outline of a very exciting path forward for Deepest Health. I want to share some of the survey results with you. On the Internet, sometimes everything can become a bit disembodied.  One of the most interesting things for me in the survey was getting a sense for the real people behind the comments and emails.  While it doesn’t compare to meeting you all in person, it does require considerably less time in an airplane. Look for a post tomorrow announcing the winner of the contest! – Demographics – Respondents were overwhelmingly from the US, with a smattering from other countries.  Th... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490749 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:00:14 +0100 3490749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460167&cid=t_183816_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=3440745&cid=t_183816_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=3044885&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F80bdOWzU1ZI%2F Hey everyone, Well, the winter holidays are upon us here in the Northern hemisphere. For those of you in school, that means you’ve probably got some free time coming up. Why not use some of that to get going on the honorable project of learning to read classical texts of Chinese medicine? Sounds like fun to me. I wrote recently about a special deal for Deepest Health readers on a bundle of two books – Richard Goodman’s Classical Chinese Medicine Texts. These are great books for learners, ideally set up to take complete newbies through the steps of picking up critical language skills. As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be heading up an online study group around the texts. We will work through a Google Group and have weekly “assignments” and discussions,... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044885 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:11:21 +0100 3044885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2971986&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FMqs-9W2MXxw%2F I’ve been a little slow out of the gate with this one, folks, and I’m sorry about that. Richard Goodman, author of the excellent Classical Chinese Medical Texts: Learning to Read the Classics of Chinese Medicine Vol I has released Volume II of the series! I have to say that I have never encountered a clearer, more enriching text about Chinese language anywhere. For those of us who don’t have easy access to someone to teach us classical Chinese in person, this text is a great resource. Even if you are already learning Chinese (modern or classical) you will find tremendous benefit in the book.    As I’ve discussed in many places, I believe that learning to read the Classical texts of Chinese medicine is one of the most important, and least appreciated, skill... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2971986 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:41:32 +0100 2971986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2958984&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FwYtxQ25lvgI%2F Today, on a walk I was taught an important lesson by some late migrating geese. In the late summer and autumn, we get a whole lot of geese flying overhead in my neighborhood. We live pretty close to a couple of wildlife refuges, one being specifically devoted to waterfowl. In general, in Portland, the autumn is always accompanied by the resonant, melodic sound of Canadian geese fleeing Canada. It’s one of those things that is commonplace, yet never seems to lose its magic. I’ve noticed a lot of things in Autumn are like that – the leaves turning, the miracle of the harvest, the start of formal schooling and so on. Anyway, today I had one of those magic moments – fog bank just rolled in, walking on a hill in clear view of the setting full moon and the rising sun refl... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2958984 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:51:45 +0100 2958984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912193&cid=t_183816_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=2890648&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2329 Two weeks left to stop the Department of Health making a fool of itself. Email your response to tne Pittilo consultation to this email address HRDListening@dh.gsi.gov.uk I’ve had permission to post a submission that has been sent to the Pittilo consultation. The whole document can be downloaded here. I have removed the name of the author. It is written by the person who has made some excellent contributions to this blog under the pseudonym "Allo V Psycho". The document is a model of clarity, and it ends with constructive suggestions for forms of regulation that will, unlike the Pittilo proposals, really protect patients Here is the summary. The full document explains each point in detail. Executive Summary Statutory regulation lends prestige, but needs to be balanced ... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890648 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:37:04 +0100 2890648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2857412&cid=t_183816_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=2757755&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2131 This report outlines areas of potential consensus to guide research funders, researchers, commissioners and complementary practitioners in developing and applying a robust evidence base for complementary practice.” As happens so often, there is implicit in this sentence the assumption that if you spend enough money evidence will emerge. That is precisely contrary to the experence in the USA where spending a billion dollars produced nothing beyond showing that a lot of things we already thought didn’t work were indeed ineffective. And inevitably, and tragically, NICE’s biggest mistake is invoked. “It is noteworthy that the evidence is now sufficiently robust for NICE to include acupuncture as a treatment for low back pain.” [p ] Did the advisory group not read... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2757755 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:33:41 +0100 2757755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734159&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FD3vMPBNw14w%2F At our new clinic, Watershed Community Wellness, we will be hosting and teaching a number of classes and other gatherings. Brandt Stickley, renown pulse teacher and Gift Economy visionary is currently teaching classes in Contemporary Pulse Diagnosis, for example. We will be offering free classes for patients about herbal formula preparation, eating in alignment with the seasons, Qigong healing, self massage and much more. We also hope to become a hub for co-teaching and sharing experiences for Chinese medicine and massage practitioners and students concerning a wide variety of topics from cosmology to website creation to moving beyond the Community Acupuncture model. Today, I’m happy to announce a new class offering of interest to anyone who would like to understand the basics of Cla... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734159 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:08:41 +0100 2734159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2725098&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FwQM1W9Qy2SU%2F Interestingly, I believe that I was the first person to create a Wikipedia page about Classical Chinese Medicine. Since then, it has been rewritten, co-opted and sometimes even just erased! Currently, the Wikipedia community is discussing what to do with the article (which now contains almost nothing of my original write-up) and it would be great if Deepest Health readers could go join the fray. The neutrality of the article is being disputed, it is said there are factual errors within it and some have even suggested it should just be merged into the “Traditional Chinese Medicine” page! For my part, I think one of the commenters over on the talk page makes a good point. We should just have a “Chinese Medicine” page that then talks about the standardization process u... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2725098 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:54:50 +0100 2725098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719838&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FdR7W0mhImwU%2F You know how it’s sometimes quite a pain to input Chinese on your computer? Well, I do. I use a program called QIM that works pretty well, but I’ve always longed for a better solution. Well, my friends, Apple has done it again. Without buying a tablet PC, without installing any weird software, for $29 bucks (my upgrade fee) sometime this September, I’ve got the solution. But it’s cooler than I could have imagined. (Click the image to “embiggen”) That’s right – by using the already completely awesome multi-trackpad on the Macbook I already love more than is entirely necessary I will now be able to (at least TRY) to draw characters. I can see this really opening up my character writing ability. Only time will tell how great it truly is. For in... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719838 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:33:52 +0100 2719838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712232&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FnwsiM9j1eyc%2F I want to try something new. Many of my readers have asked me to do more discussion of the Classical texts. I have been hesitant because my command of Chinese is not great and the available translations are mostly disappointing (if my teachers are to be believed). However, my need to dive into them continuously and do whatever I am able to with them is becoming more important. My thought is that the web of readers (some of you being accomplished translators) will catch any egregious errors… hopefully… Actually, therein lies the articulation of a problem. I have been taught about Classical texts using two main methods. The first method is more rigorously scholarly and does demand an ever developing Chinese language ability. This method is very useful for getting practical inform... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712232 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:00:45 +0100 2712232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699753&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FKD2qH0RJ79A%2F Here are the last few paragraphs of my thesis in Chinese medicine for my MSOM degree at National College of Natural Medicine. As you can probably tell, I did not go as far with any of my research topics as I would have liked. I saw it mainly as a way to learn what resources existed, and sketch a general outline of where I would like to go with my investigations. I have to be frank, I haven’t yet taken the time to explore these topics much more deeply – I’ve been trying to rejuvenate myself from the rigors of school while also opening the clinic and writing more on this blog. However, I have all of the resources amassed and lots of brainstorms and outlines ready to be further explored. I’ll definitely share my ongoing investigations with Deepest Health readers. &#821... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699753 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:12:00 +0100 2699753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2695497&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FUjtaw8zyV0Y%2F This article is already ridiculously long. However, let it suffice to say that I found many documents I had downloaded from the internet or scanned from books at the library – all pertaining to this formula or one of its variants. Again, as I further uncover, digitize, clarify and organize my vast library of data not only will I have the great experience of reengaging with that material but I will make it easier to access and more accessible to the AI of Devonthink. Thanks for reading! Related posts:Why Chinese herbal formula science is the most advanced medicine out thereHow Devonthink is blowing my mind and rekindling my love for Chinese Medicine (Part 1/2)Questions for the ancients Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. (Source: Deepest Health: Explori... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2695497 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:59:33 +0100 2695497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688658&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2043 Conclusion This selection of slides shows that much of the stuff taught in degrees in herbal medicine poses a real danger to public safety and to public health. Pittilo’s idea that imposing this sort of miseducation will help safety is obviously and dangerously wrong. The Department of Health must reject the Pittilo recommendations on those grounds. Follow-up (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688658 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:24:29 +0100 2688658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2678749&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FkyiHYH8dTU4%2F When reading my copy of the latest Qi-unity report from the national organization (AAAOM) I was surprised to see the words “Classical Chinese Medicine.” To be frank, the AAAOM has never shown much interest in such things, as far as I have seen. The report indicated that a new program is being created at PCOM that is Classical in orientation. It seems that Jeffrey Yuen, who is often noted for his Daoist lineage, is joining the faculty. Ostensibly, it is Yuen who will be overseeing or ushering in this new curriculum. On the PCOM website, they say, “This is a great chance for students to study two respected systems of Chinese medicine.” said Gina Lepore, Campus Director of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine’s New York campus. “Students do not have to cho... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2678749 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:56:07 +0100 2678749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2670962&cid=t_183816_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=2670815&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2007 Conclusion Recent events show that the halcyon days for alternative medicine are over. When the Pittilo report first appeared, it was greeted with derision in the media. For example, in The Times Alice Miles wrote “This week came the publication of the Report to Ministers from the Department of Health Steering Group on the Statutory Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Other Traditional Medicine Systems Practised in the UK. Otherwise known as twaddle.” In the Independent, Dominic Lawson wrote So now we will have degrees in quackery. What, really, is the difference between acupuncture and psychic surgery? People will no doubt continue to use it and that is their right and their responsibility. But if the government w... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2670815 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:45:35 +0100 2670815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639642&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FxJkj4uozkyQ%2F Breaking from my stated editorial calendar a little bit – I will most likely put the Awareness posts during the week so they get more exposure. Saturdays are traditionally pretty light as far as blog readership goes, so I’ll leave my weekends a little looser. Today, I’d like to ask a question. Someday, I’ll make it a poll. Do you adhere to a specific school or approach of Chinese medicine? By that, I mean do you tend to practice following the guidelines of a particular school, tradition or teacher and seldom depart from that? The “no” vote indicates that you are more or less eclectic – taking from various traditions (Wen Bing, Shang Han, modern TCM, Worsley, etc) as they suit the situation at hand. I think the question itself is likely to generate ... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639642 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:07:49 +0100 2639642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2634390&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1950 Acupuncture has been in the news since, in a moment of madness, NICE gave it some credence, Some people still seem to think that acupuncture is somehow more respectable than, say, homeopathy and crystal healing. If you think that, read Barker Bausell’s book ot Trick or Treatment. It is now absolutely clear that ‘real’ acupuncture is indistinguishable from sham, whether the sham control uses retractable needles, or real needles in the ‘wrong’ places. There has been no clear demonstration of long-lived benefits in any condition, and it is likely that it is no more than a theatrical placebo. In particular, the indistinguishability of ‘real’ and sham acupuncture shows, beyond reasonable doubt that all the stuff about “energy flow in meridians&#8... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2634390 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:15:35 +0100 2634390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630249&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FHYhbIKUWyrY%2F I promised I would release portions of my thesis (written for my degree in Classical Chinese Medicine) online.  Reading through it, I realize that most of you are likely to be mostly uninterested in the first three chapters.   In those chapters, I write a brief history of the concept of pseudoscience through time, elucidating any concepts that I find to be particularly relevant.  If you’re really interested, and aren’t going to irritate me with non-stop philosophical quibbling (yes, I’m talking to you, and you know what I mean), I’ll send you the first three rousing chapters. This last chapter is where most of the heavy lifting is done, and I didn’t work on it nearly as much as I wanted to.  I just didn’t have time.  I hope by posting it here, I&#82... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630249 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:23:37 +0100 2630249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2616779&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FInfZ9kLP3m4%2F Hey everyone, Well – it’s safe to say that Eric Grey is back on the Chinese medicine blogging scene. I know you’re all breathing a huge sigh of relief. I’ve received a lot of input over the last weeks from students, practitioners and friends who helped me to understand what Deepest Health needs. Most of the ideas I put forward in the last post will be employed. I will be making changes gradually, and all of them are meant to improve the functionality of the site in ways that I think all of you will find to be both helpful and exciting! The new editorial calendar will proceed as follows: Mondays : The practice : Information pertaining to the practice of Chinese medicine as it is for me – acupuncture (including moxibustion and allied arts) and Chinese herbal fo... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2616779 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:26:33 +0100 2616779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613856&cid=t_183816_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_183816_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_183816_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=2588343&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FHeFAdWkiqvg%2F Edit (8:14am) : Forgot the editorial calendar!  Sorry! It should be no surprise to any of you that I think blogging is a valuable activity for those of us in the field of Chinese medicine.  I’ve fielded a couple of questions in the last week from Chinese medicine students and practitioners interested in starting their own blogs.  They are wondering, mostly, what the benefits and drawbacks of blogging are for most people, but CM professionals in particular.  Seemed to be likely fodder for a blog post. Personal Development For me, blogging has been productive of a tremendous amount of personal growth.  Forcing myself to put my nascent, fragile ideas out into the universe has required some amount of courage (and, possibly hubris) and has helped me to reshape those ideas into someth... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2588343 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:04:08 +0100 2588343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2464287&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F-k7oX_A_tjY%2F So, I passed my thesis defense! I have a few revisions to make - when I’m done with those and have final approval I will (a) breathe a big sigh of relief, (b) begin posting portions of my thesis for discussion on the blog.  As I see the topic, particularly of the last half of the document, being the ground for the next decade or two of my intellectual work - it seems prudent to discuss it with as many people as possible.  How else am I going to get good ideas?  ;) The thesis process was a good one, overall. I know that most Chinese medicine students don’t have to produce something like a thesis - opting instead to do a final project or something of that nature.  If you would have asked me six months ago what I thought about our writing a thesis, I would have given you a pre... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2464287 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:50:11 +0100 2464287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442173&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FQjkdjOfOZjo%2F Now, if you know anything about Google search and “long tail” search results, you’ll know that the title of this blog post is going to get me some very interesting visitors.  That being said, I want to give a shout out to all of YOU, my stalwart readers who have stuck with me through ups and downs, through thick and thin, through Yin and Yang, through boom and bust.  I know, I know, the content has been slow in coming.  You miss me, and I miss you!  But, the user base has actually GROWN and that is very heartening.  People want to hear more! I have just about four weeks left of school at NCNM.  Two of those weeks are substantial (one more board exam, my thesis defense, a couple of projects) and two are going to be really tough to sit through.  :)  We have lots of ... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442173 Thu, 28 May 2009 14:01:16 +0100 2442173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365006&cid=t_183816_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=2353967&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FLP9Kf_Yz8RI%2F Engaging in the program I set out a couple of weeks ago hasn’t been much of a problem.  Finding the extra moments to use for writing to the blog has been more of a challenge.  :) I have altered the program in a couple of important ways, however.  It just hasn’t worked for me to limit the formulas to those I indicated at the outset.  Instead, I find myself naturally gravitating to working with 3-5 formulas each week as I work with patients.  Given that I’m not taking the Chinese herbs portion of my NCCAOM board exam until the summer, I’m okay with not doing a rigorous and systematic review of formulas in the next 12 10 weeks. The Bladder and Kidney channels have gone alright.  To be entirely honest, it’s been hard to get back into the kind of basic, point... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353967 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:45:49 +0100 2353967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347979&cid=t_183816_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fhaving-hard-time-with-chinese-medicine.html It has always amused me that a certain sort of patient will throw their hands up in horror if a doctor suggests some 1% Hydrocortisone ointment for their patch of dry itchy skin and then rush off to the back door of the local Chinese takeaway where an elderly Chinese gentleman charges them £10 for a plastic bag full of Trill. Infuse in hot water for half an hour and the resulting potion cures all ills. It must cure everything because it is Chinese and it must be safe because it is "natural".Do you have trouble pushing rope uphill? Have some Jia Yi Jian.It is a ‘100% natural solution, which can be taken regularly, without the harmful side effects and risks often caused by similar western remedies’.Sounds plausible. But what exactly is in "Jia Yi Jian"?The unlicensed product ‘Jia Yi J... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347979 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:34:00 +0100 2347979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2308084&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1329 In March 2007 I wrote a piece in Nature on Science degrees without the science.  At that time there were five “BSc” degrees in homeopathy. A couple of weeks ago I checked the UCAS site for start in 2009, and found there was only one full “BSc (hons)” left and that was at Westminster University. Today [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2308084 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:12:35 +0100 2308084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2294604&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeepesthealth.com%2Fpodpress_trac%2Ffeed%2F583%2F0%2Ffugkfc.mp3 Hello everyone, I have big plans for the Deepest Health podcast.  I really enjoyed doing my clinical updates, but they proved a little too time intensive for my current workload.  In the future, I’ll be providing all kinds of information in audio format.  Despite this planned diversification, let it be known that I enjoy doing interviews more than I enjoy doing any other kind of podcast.  Perhaps it’s the nascent journalist within me? When I contacted Mark Silver, founder of the Heart of Business and Portland local, I was hoping to entice him to come and speak to students at NCNM.  I succeeded in that, with the additional bonus that he was kind enough to offer to do a podcast interview with me for Deepest Health!  Score!  After a few fits and starts, we managed to make o... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2294604 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:34:45 +0100 2294604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414826&cid=t_183816_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=2259850&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeepesthealth.com%2Fpodpress_trac%2Ffeed%2F583%2F0%2Fdeepesthealthpodcast13.mp3 Hello everyone, I have big plans for the Deepest Health podcast.  I really enjoyed doing my clinical updates, but they proved a little too time intensive for my current workload.  In the future, I’ll be providing all kinds of information in audio format.  Despite this planned diversification, let it be known that I enjoy doing interviews more than I enjoy doing any other kind of podcast.  Perhaps it’s the nascent journalist within me? When I contacted Mark Silver, founder of the Heart of Business and Portland local, I was hoping to entice him to come and speak to students at NCNM.  I succeeded in that, with the additional bonus that he was kind enough to offer to do a podcast interview with me for Deepest Health!  Score!  After a few fits and starts, we managed to make o... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2259850 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:27:28 +0100 2259850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2259851&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FnaU0fQqqKGI%2F Some of you know that I am the student body President over at National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM).  When I started my term, we created a survey to ask the students what they would most like us to do with our time and (their) money in the 2008-2009 school year.  One of the top responses was, “Bring us speakers we care about!”  We set about constructing a speaker series that began with Patch Adams (amazing, more on that another time) and will wrap up with Craig Mitchell in May. Anyway, we have two lectures coming up pretty quickly.  I’d like to talk briefly about both during the week.  Today, I’d like to announce that Heiner Fruehauf, founding professor of the Classical Chinese Medicine program at NCNM, will be speaking this Thursday from 4-6pm on the NCN... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2259851 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:33:39 +0100 2259851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2236544&cid=t_183816_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeepesthealth.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F03%2Fjohnsoncreekflooding.mp3 So, you may remember all this talk about the Awareness project.  The idea was (and is, though evolved now) that we wanted to bring all of our senses to bear IN THE WORLD as people nourished by particular types of practices to really live what the Classics tell us about.  This in turn would be productive of particular kinds of character traits that would, in turn, inform our medical practice and so on.  A kind of evolutionary development watered at the deepest level by taking seriously the Classical literature - particularly that of our spiritual traditions and our medical traditions. Something like that. Anyway - you might have thought we forgot.  We didn’t.  It just needed some time to come to maturity.  It’s still doing that… coming to maturity.  It takes time. ... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2236544 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:03:01 +0100 2236544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182626&cid=t_183816_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=2125749&cid=t_183816_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=2056508&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D645 Herbal medicine is, unlike homeopathy, not ridiculous, It is merely Pharmacology, as practised up to circa 1900.  Whereas good trials have now shown acupuncture to be sham and homeopathy to be a placebo, there has been very little good research on herbs. Most herbalism could fairly be described giving to sick patients an unknown dose [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056508 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:13:45 +0100 2056508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1760355&cid=t_183816_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_183816_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=1739650&cid=t_183816_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D251 The Times today has done a good job on giving publicity to the case against following the advice of the Pittilo report. It simply makes no sense to have government regulation of acupuncture, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine until such time as there is evidence that they work. It makes even less [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739650 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:04:15 +0100 1739650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1139835&cid=t_183816_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Feffects-of-yoga-and-tui-na-on.html A study conducted by the Pulmonary Division at University of São Paulo (Brazil) intended to verify whether techniques of yoga with and without the addition of traditional Chinese medicine modality Tui Na would "improve pain and the negative impact of fibromyalgia on patients' daily life." The results are published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine [2007 Dec; 13(10):1107-14].Forty women with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to two groups. One group participated in Relaxing Yoga (RY) and the other received Relaxing Yoga plus Touch (RYT), for "eight weekly sessions of stretching, breathing, and relaxing yogic techniques." RYT patients also received manipulative techniques of Tui Na, an ancient hands-on Chinese technique that uses acupressure to bring the body into b... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1139835 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:19:00 +0100 1139835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486819&cid=t_183816_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Ffibromyalgia-treatment-update.html Medical researchers from the Division of Rheumatology and the Center for the Study of Nutrition Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA) review and summarize the recent literature involving fibromyalgia treatment options in next month's Current Opinions in Rheumatology (2007 Mar;19(2):111-7).They cite prior research that shows that medication and self-management approaches can improve symptoms and overall wellbeing in fibromyalgia patients, and discuss recent studies showing encouraging results of studies on the effects of the anticonvulsant pregabalin (Lyrica) and two seratonin and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors, duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran.Studies evaluating different forms of exercise continue to support the belief that incre... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486819 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:58:00 +0100 486819