Author: Huiling Tang

Acupuncture for chronic functional constipation both in adult and children

Constipation is a symptom occurring in many diseases or conditions. In the general population rates of constipation varies from 2–30 % [1]. In elderly people living in care homes the rate of constipation is 50–75 % [2]. Except mechanical causes, most causes are functional chronic functional constipation and associated with decreased quality of life, include diet, hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism, side effects of medications, and rarely heavy metal toxicity.

Treatments for constipation include changes in dietary habits, laxatives, enemas, biofeedback, and in particular situations surgery may be required. Several systematic reviews, case studies and clinical trials support the use of acupuncture as a sustainable option for chronic functional constipation [3-9].

A study in 2001 has investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture on chronic constipation in children [3].  Seventeen children constipated for at least six months were treated by 10 weekly true acupuncture sessions. The frequency of bowel movements increased gradually and reached a maximal improvement only after 10 true acupuncture sessions, from 1.4 +/- 0.6/week to 4.4 +/- 0.6/ week in male and from 1.4 +/- 0.3/week up to 5.6 +/- 1.2/week in female.

A very recent clinic trial of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic severe functional constipation was published last week, Sep 13, 2016 [9].  This is a multicenter trial with 1075 patients involved. It consisted of 8 weeks of treatment and 12 weeks of follow up without treatment.  Each participant had a 50% chance of blindly receiving Electronic Acupuncture treatment and the other half were given sham Acupuncture, which would not have a great effect on them if any at all.  During the study period, each participant kept journals to track their progress or lack thereof. The results have shown significantly improved quality of life and alleviated symptoms in patients around the 8-week mark and maintained this way throughout their 12 weeks follow ups.  The patients who were administered Electronic Acupuncture had a more normalized bowel function along with: increased weekly spontaneous bowel movements, improved stool consistency, less defecation straining, lower scores in the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life questionnaire, and less need for the use of rescue medicine.

 

Reference:

  1. Andromanakos N, Skandalakis P, et al. Constipation of anorectal outlet obstruction: Pathophysiology, evaluation and management. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2006.21 (4): 638–646.
  2. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (Jun 26, 2014). “Dioctyl Sulfosuccinate or Docusate (Calcium or Sodium) for the Prevention or Management of Constipation: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness”.
  3. Broide E, Pintov S, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment of childhood constipation. Dig Dis Sci. 2001 Jun;46(6):1270-5.
  4. Rafiei R, Ataie M, et al. A new acupuncture method for management of irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized double blind clinical trial. J Res Med Sci. 2014 Oct;19(10):913-7.
  5. Jiang J, Yi Y, et al. Acupuncture: a good choice to patients with intractable slow-transit constipation. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2015 May;30(5):721-2.
  6. Li MK, Lee TF, et al. Complementary effects of auricular acupressure in relieving constipation symptoms and promoting disease-specific health-related quality of life: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2014 Apr;22(2):266-77.
  7. Zhang T, Chon TY, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture for chronic constipation: a systematic review. Am J Chin Med. 2013;41(4):717-42
  8. Lu W, Rosenthal DS. Acupuncture for cancer pain and related symptoms. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013 Mar;17(3):321
  9. Liu Z, Yan S, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Severe Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2016 Sep 13
Health and prevention , , ,

Dog-day paste/San Fu paste-Winter diseases’ prevention in summer

San Fu paste is a Traditional Chinese Medicine prevention treatment dating from the Qing Dynasty.  This treatment uses herbs ground into a powder, mixed with fresh ginger juice into a paste, then taped to points located either on the back or lower legs.  These patches remain on the skin for 2-8 hours before the patient removes them.  The treatment is traditionally done at noon (12-1pm) on specific days in summer according to the Chinese calendar.  For 2017, the dates are July 12, July 22, and August 11 in 2017.  For optimal benefits, the treatment sessions are repeated for three years.

 

San Fu is sometimes translated as the “three hidings” since it references three 10-day periods that are predicted to be the hottest days of the year – or what we sometimes call in English “the dog days of summer”.  Dog days are the hottest and most humid days of summer and the body’s Yang energy is at the highest level on these days.  The treatment is given on the first day of each Fu period; so the patient comes in once every 10 days.

 

For these chronic conditions, San Fu paste treatment can reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms for the following year:

  • Chronic respiratory disease and allergies: allergic rhinitis, pharyngitis, asthma, cough, chronic bronchitis
  • Digestion problems: indigestion, chronic diarrhea
  • Women’s conditions: irregular periods, painful periods
  • Osteoarthritis: Tennis elbow, Rheumatic and Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Poor immune system in both adults and children

If you or your loved ones are suffering from the issues above, please mark the dates on your calendar and call Tang Acupuncture at (770) 696-4675 for details.

 

 

Health and prevention , , , , , ,

Watermelon: fruit and herb in one

Watermelon is a one of the best fruits for summer.  Just imagine when you finish your workout in such a humid and hot summer day, a huge bowl of icy watermelon in front you, I am pretty sure you will dive in and enjoy it in no time. Watermelon is called “Natural White Tiger Decoction” in Chinese Medicine. White Tiger Decoction is a formula to treat the condition of “heat” with major symptoms of high fever, extremely thirst and sweat, and flooding pulse.   Watermelon has the effect of releasing inner heat, generating fluid and moistening dryness. So it is used to treat “summerheat” patterns, especially those with significant thirst and dark, scanty urine in the practice of Chinese Medicine. After eating watermelon, people will probably go to the restroom within a very brief time and the symptom of thirst and heat will be released. The major known ingredients of watermelon are citrulline, arginine, betaine, lycopene, phytofluence, vitamin C, et al. The above diuretic effect of watermelon is probably secondary to increased synthesis of urea in the liver from the actions of citrulline and artinine.

If eating too much watermelon, someone may experience excess urination, dry throat and even nosebleed. This could be the “side effect” of watermelon if overeating. This is because too much urination could consume more fluid (Yin essence) of the body, then the condition of fluid depletion will result Yin deficiency finally.

Another caution should be taken is not to eat the icy watermelon right after it is taken out of the refrigerator. The nature of watermelon is cold and it is turning freezing after staying in the refrigerator for several hours. This could be harmful to the Yang of the body and give big burden to the digestion system. Someone may have the symptoms of catching a cold or even diarrhea after eating ice cold watermelon. The suggestion is let the watermelon stay in the room temperature for a while before taking.

Nutrition and diet ,

Acupuncture is among the first line of therapies for both acute and chronic pain

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has published their evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for treating nonradicular low back pain in the Journal Annals of Internal Medicine. The guidelines are based on a review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies conducted on noninvasive drug and non-drug treatments for low back pain.

Nonradicular pain refers to pain that does not irradiate from, and is not caused by, damage to the spinal nerve root. The pain is typically characterized as acute (lasts under 4 weeks), subacute (lasts between 4 and 12 weeks), and chronic (lasts for more than 12 weeks). Low back pain affects millions of people in the United States, and the condition is one of the most common reasons for people missing work.

The ACP last published their clinical practice guidelines in 2007. Since then, some of the evidence has changed, and the 2017 guidelines include evaluations of mindfulness-based therapies, motor control exercise (MCE), and tai chi. New guidelines from the American College of Physicians recommend noninvasive ways of treating nonradicular low back pain.

The committee recommends that patients with chronic low back pain start by undergoing non-drug therapy and exercising. Among the suggestions in the guidelines, acupuncture treatment is the one recommended for both acute and chronic lower back pain.

Dr. Nitin S. Damle, the president of the ACP comments on the newly issued recommendations:

“For the treatment of chronic low back pain, physicians should select therapies that have the fewest harms and costs, since there were no clear comparative advantages for most treatments compared to one another. Physicians should remind their patients that any of the recommended physical therapies should be administered by providers with appropriate training.”

Pain management ,

maintain your health in the summer

It was Beginning of Summer (7th solar term) at May 5 which means the summer begins officially. Everyone can’t wait for the vacations. To keep in good health in the summer and enjoy your vacation either at the beach or in the mountain, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been providing variety of approaches for thousands of years.

Protecting the Yang of the body is the first recommendation from Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine), the oldest and most important classical book of TCM. From early spring, the Yang essence is rising and spreading to the upper part and surface of the body. It is the main reason why we feel more energetic and alert in the spring and summer than in the winter. We will get sweaty more often not only because the hot weather but the Yang is more superficial than in the winter. A moderate sweating is good for the health since the sweat will release the toxin as well as the negative emotion. However excessive sweating could be harmful because the body would lose too much Yang essence together with the sweat especially to the people who have chronic conditions. Staying in the air-conditioned room or abusing icy drinks or ice cream to prevent sweating all the time isn’t good either for the health or for the earth. Since the pores are open in the summer, it is very easy to be influenced by pathogenic factors like coldness with dampness if staying in the office too cold.

Summer is a perfect season to reinforce the immune system to deal with some disorders like allergy and chronic respiratory diseases. There is a treatment rule in TCM that “treating winter diseases in summer”. Quite some chronic conditions in the winter are because of the deficiency of Yang essence. Protecting the Yang in the summer ahead by either life style adjustment or acupuncture and herb supplement has been acting as an effective prevention approach in China for hundreds of years.

 

Health and prevention ,