Chen Sitan performing Taijiquan Yang 40 Step-Form (陈思坦: 扬式四十式太极拳)

Tai CHi Yang style 8-form.

Tai Chi Yang style 8-form (Chen Sitan).

Acupuncture for Depression

TCM Directory posted an article on about recent research on Acupuncture for Depression. Many people with depression start conventional treatment but stop it too early because of side effects, expense, lack of insurance coverage, or they recover, then relapse later. People then start looking for alternative medical treatments using Traditional Chinese Medicine.

TCM focuses on 'treating specific symptoms based on each unique patient with the use of a variety of methods such as acupuncture. Studies are now suggesting that acupuncture can be very helpful to those who suffer from depression, offering effective, long-standing results.

A research study funded by the U.S. Office of Alternative Health showed that acupuncture produced similar results when compared to Western bio-medicine. 33 female participants suffering from serious depression, and screened to rule-out psychotic or suicidal symptoms, were split into 3 separate groups, each receiving different forms of treatment. The end results showed that over half of the women who were specifically treated with acupuncture for signs of depression, using the methods and principles of Chinese medicine, experienced complete remission of their symptoms.

The Office of Alternative Health has given high regard to the study, and it is notably found to offer unique treatment for each patient.'

Acupuncture Treatment of Senile Dementia

Excerpt from an article by Yemeng Chen, President of New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, on acupuncture treatment for senile dementia, which was treated by Traditional Chinese Medicine in the 18th century if not before.

"In traditional Chinese medicine, the terms "Jian Wang (amnesia)" and "Dian Zheng (depressive psychosis syndrome)" have appeared in different volumes wherein the symptoms described are similar to those of dementia cases. The records of Emperor's Cannon of Medicine indicated that the brain is a sea of marrow and deficiency of the brain leads to vertigo and dizziness. Li Shizhen （1518- 1593）of the Ming Dynasty clearly explained that the human brain is the place of the mind. In the Qing Dynasty, Wang Qingren （1768- 1831）in the book Revision of Medical Classics advanced the theory that memory impairment in the aged is due to deficiency of brain marrow.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the etiology of the disease is attributed to deficiency of kidney-essence in the aged, as a result of which the kidney-essence and kidney Qi cannot go upward to nourish the brain. In the mean time, owing to the phlegm stagnation and blood stasis, blocks in the brain are formed and in due course, spiritual disturbance and other pathological symptoms will follow.

According to the traditional meridian theory, the Governor Vessel goes upward to vertex and enters the brain. So the acupoints of Baihui (GV 20) and Shuigou (GV 26) should be selected. According to traditional etiology, Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) should be selected to invigorate the liver, kidney and to tonify the vital energy. Omura reported that acupuncture improves not only local circulation but also brain circulation. (7, 8) Another experiment shows that acupuncture on certain specific acupoints in the head region of the Governor Vessel may activate the cerebral cortex function. Acegulutamidi solution injected into such acupoints can go through the blood-brain barrier, improve the cerebral tissue metabolism as well as brain function, and maintain its good excitable function."

To read full article: Acupuncture Treatment of Senile Dementia

Yemeng Chen, L. Ac., FICAE,
President, New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture Benefits

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Diabetic Neuopathy & Acupuncture

Billy Shonez Singh of Red Rooster Acupuncture in Commack, NY wrote a comprehensive article in his newsletter on treating diabetic complications with acupuncture, particularly diabetic neuropathy. I am posting it all here.

"It is a disease that is defined as a metabolic disorder that is characterized by either abnormally low or high blood sugar levels that lead to a variety of metabolic derangements. It is commonly characterized by fatigue, excessive urination, excessive thirst, and excessive hunger. In this country, it is the biggest cause of death or disability. In developed countries, the incidence of diabetes has doubled in the last 15 years and its going to double in the next 15 years.

The worst part of this situation is that one out of three people do not know they have diabetes. For those that are diagnosed have had it for much longer amount of time and wind up with complications such as neuropathies. According to Clinton J. Choate's article "Diabetes Mellitus (Part One)", it is estimated that 60% to 70% of diabetics have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage.

The symptoms range from:

• Pain in the feet and legs.
• Cramping, tenderness, and muscle weakness. They can occur in the legs and feet along with the arms and hands.
• Paraesthesias- pricking, tingling, or numbness along the skin.
• Blurred vision.
• Impotence

In allopathic medicine, the treatment for diabetic neuropathies involve physical therapy, medications and in severe circumstances, surgical intervention. Some of the medications used to treat paraesthetic pain and other neuropathies are tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Even though these specific medications are used in the treatment of depression, they are also used in treating peripheral neuropathies. However the side-effects are numerous and seem counterintuitive when one looks at them. For example, the antidepressant Imiprine (Tofronil) treats peripheral neuropathies by releasing norepinephrine in the central pain modulating pathways located in the brainstem and spinal cord. However a side-effect of Imiprine is impairment of mental or physical abilities and cardiovascular disease. When you look at those side-effects and compare them to the risk that diabetics have with cardiovascular disease, it seems rather counterproductive.

According to Subhuti Dharmanada, "Acupuncture therapy is a common approach to treating diabetes in China. Many Americans assume that acupuncture is only suitable for treating pain, perhaps because the initial introduction of acupuncture was mainly for this application. Increasingly, people with pain and other health problems for which acupuncture is selected also have diabetes." Acupuncture can treat neuropathies by bringing blood flow and nerve conduction to the skin to treat numbness and tingling in the extremities. Another point to mention is that blood flow and nerve restoration can also be accomplished in regards to the treatment of blurred vision and impotence. Unlike the medications mentioned, acupuncture has no side-effects.

Bibliography
Dharmanda Ph.D., Subhuti "Treatment of Diabetes with Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture" web posting date: January 2005 www.it monline.org pg.14

Choate, Clinton J. "Modern Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine: Diabetes Mellitus (Part One)" Journal of Chinese Medicine Number 58 September 1998 pg.4

Echeverry, MD, MPH, Diana M. "Diabetic Neuropathy: Treatment and Medication" updated April 4th, 2007 http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/315434-treatment