Tag Archives: research

Migraine – BBC Morning Live feature

September 27, 2024BlogAcupuncture, acupuncturist, Chronic Pain, Headache, media, Migraine, news, pain, research, wellbeingHelen

Dr Kiran, on BBC Morning Live recommends Acupuncture as part of the strategy for migraine

Here are the links to the original show: BBC Morning Live Series 6: 27/09/2024 (from 40 to 48 minutes, approximately). Dr Kiran recommends acupuncture at minute 48 – right at the end!

Read on to find out more about migraine, including how many people suffer with it in the UK; who migraine affects; the stages and symptoms; and the triggers and treatments of this debilitating condition.

At the end of the blog are some resources to find out more about the research on acupuncture use for migraine.

Understanding Migraine: Unravelling the Mystery

On Friday 27th September, 2024, on Morning Live (BBC), the discussion, led by Dr. Kiran Morjaria, highlighted the significant impact migraines have on individuals and society, including 3 million work absences annually due to this debilitating condition. One of the show’s presenters, Michelle, and Dr Kiran both spoke of their own experience as sufferers, and it was revealed that migraine that affects approximately 1 in 7 people.

What is Migraine?

Dr. Kiran explained that migraine is a complex neurological condition.

Migraines are caused by “neurogenic inflammation in the first division of trigeminal sensory neurons”, and Dr Kiran acknowledged that this is just as complex as it sounds: involving blood vessels, nerves, and chemicals in the brain. Migraines can present with various neurological symptoms such as vision changes, weakness, and speech problems.

Who is Affected?

Migraines are more common in females aged 25-55 and can run in families, indicating a genetic component. Hormonal changes, particularly during the menstrual cycle, can also trigger migraines.

Stages of a Migraine

Migraines typically progress through four stages:

Prodrome: Occurs hours to days before the migraine. Symptoms include tiredness and yawning.
Aura: Happens 5-60 minutes before the headache. Warning signs include changes in vision, sensory disturbances, speech problems, and weakness.
Headache: Lasts 4-72 hours. Characterized by one-sided throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Postdrome: Lasts 24-48 hours. Often described as a “migraine hangover,” it can take a day or two to feel normal again.

Common Misconceptions

Migraines are often misunderstood as just bad headaches. However this is not the case: nor are they a mental health issue, although Dr Kiran pointed out that stress can trigger them, and migraines can affect the mental health of sufferers. Another misconception is around the link to stroke, and Dr Kiran explained that while migraines cannot cause strokes, there is a slight increase in stroke risk for those with migraine with aura, who should be under the care of their GP, as there are some medications they cannot have due to these risks.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment aims to reduce the severity and frequency of migraines. Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol can sometimes help, but overuse can lead to medication-overuse headaches. Prescription medications, such as triptans, are often used for more severe cases.

Preventative measures include identifying and avoiding triggers, which can be tracked using a migraine diary. Common triggers include lack of sleep, alcohol, caffeine, stress, and certain foods like chocolate. Mindfulness, acupuncture, and vitamin B2 supplements were also recommended preventive treatments that Dr Kiran mentioned.

Acupuncture with Shaftesbury Clinic

If you are interested in exploring acupuncture for migraine, see our link here to our resources page: Migraine – Condition Resources | shaftesburyclinic, as Dr Kiran recommended it, is also good to know there is research evidence to back this up, alongside recognised mechanisms of action as to how acupuncture’s effects are achieved, and those are covered (and fully referenced) on that page.

You should always go in the first instance to your GP and let them know you’re looking at this approach but we are very happy to liaise with them about your care, and we often receive referrals from medical colleagues (GPs and neurology consultants) for these issues.

Links

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00238dk/morning-live-series-6-27092024

Helen

Posted on: Sep-27-2024 20:01 pm

0 comment

Tags: Acupuncture, acupuncturist, Chronic Pain, Headache, media, Migraine, news, pain, research, wellbeing

Acupuncture for anxiety and stress

August 8, 2023Blog, Conditions, Research, Shaftesbury ClinicAcupuncture, anxiety, Mood, relaxation, research, Stress, wellbeingHelen

I am often asked about acupuncture for anxiety and stress. We see a lot of patients for anxiety, stress, depression and other mood or motivational issues. Acupuncture is something that a great number of these patients have said has changed their daily lives for the better. This works best if they can address other lifestyle issues (e.g. diet, exercise, relaxation strategies), and we can very often recommend strategies and experienced colleagues to concurrently support these aspects if this is desirable.
Read More Acupuncture for anxiety and stress →

Helen

Posted on: Aug-8-2023 10:31 am

0 comment

Tags: Acupuncture, anxiety, Mood, relaxation, research, Stress, wellbeing

Research Update: Recent 2023 studies on acupuncture for pain

March 27, 2023Blog, Conditions, ResearchAcupuncture, Chronic Pain, condition, Evidence, pain, researchHelen

March 27th, 2023.

In this blog post, for #AcupunctureAwarenessWeek2023, we’ll review some very recent research developments in acupuncture. Acupuncture is widely used for pain relief, and here we’ll look at brand new (2023) research, to help us consider how effective and safe it is for three specific types of pain; dental pain, thalamic pain (after stroke), and menstrual migraine. We will discuss the studies and then explain some key concepts and terms related to the research methods used in acupuncture. We’ll also provide the full references so you can enjoy reading the articles and find out more.

We’ll present:

A new RCT into acupuncture for a dental pain
A systematic review of acupuncture for a specific type of chronic pain after stroke
A protocol for an upcoming RCT on a specific type of migraine.

Each of these studies from peer-reviewed journals, and have research questions, methods and outcomes, but they all contribute to the growing evidence base for acupuncture as a valid healthcare choice alongside usual treatment.

To know more about RCT’s, systematic reviews and what they are for, keep reading to the end of the blog. Full references follow at the end.

1. Kumar & Tewari, 2023. Acupuncture for Management of Endodontic Emergencies: a Review.

Acupuncture needles in a patient's back — Acupuncture needles in a patient’s back

Kumar and Tewari (2023) reviewed the current evidence for the use of acupuncture in endodontics, with a focus on its potential to provide emergency pain relief. Root canal treatment is often used to treat painful endodontic conditions, but comes with a high incidence of postoperative pain and potential side effects from drug treatment; drug treatment not always being effective. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the risk of COVID-19 transmission due to aerosols generated during dental procedures.

Acupuncture is commonly employed for the treatment of pain, including endodontic pain and dental anaesthesia. The researchers weighed up the current evidence for acupuncture in endodontics with a literature review of five electronic databases. They selected five studies that met their eligibility criteria (n=312).

Overall, acupuncture reduced the failure of nerve block in patients with irreversible pulpitis and in controlling both during (intraoperative) and postoperative pain from root canal. Acupuncture also reduced dental anxiety, and lowered the amount of painkiller drugs needed by, thus minimising side effects of analgesia. The researchers concluded that acupuncture could play a role in managing these patients, but that more in-depth clinical research with larger studies is needed in this area due to the small number and variable quality of available studies. On the issue of Covid-19, researchers advocated a role for acupuncture, as a non-aerosol generating approach that could assist in pain management, where other techniques are not appropriate.

2. Li & Chen 2023: Acupuncture for thalamic pain after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Thalamic pain: A type of chronic pain caused by damage to the sensory area of the brain – Thalamus. Causing burning, tingling, stabbing, or freezing sensations it affects one side of the body or face, usually the opposite side to the brain injury site. Coming on straight after a brain injury, or developing months or years later, thalamic pain can impact a person’s quality of life and mental health.

In this study, Li and Chen examined this type of pain, secondary to stroke. Acupuncture is used effectively for various types of pain, including thalamic pain, and in China it’s used first-line alongside mainstream medicine immediately post-stroke. The researchers searched five electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared acupuncture with drugs for thalamic pain after stroke: Five studies met their criteria (n=368).

This review found acupuncture effective in reducing thalamic pain after stroke, with higher success rates and no significant safety difference compared to drugs. Li and Chen (2023) concluded that acupuncture is a promising treatment for thalamic pain, but called for further large-scale and high-quality trials to confirm their findings.

Note: Acupuncture should complement medical treatment, and not replace it. Acute and life-threatening situations, medical emergencies like stroke require seeking emergency medical input, without delay.

3. Wu et al, 2023: Determining the Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for the Preventive Treatment of Menstrual Migraine: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Shaftesbury Clinic Star of Conditions — A to Z of conditions

This protocol in the Journal of Pain Research, is for Wu et al’s (2023) forthcoming systematic review and meta-analysis into the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture in preventing menstrual migraine. The researchers state that current treatments are lacking in effectiveness in this area.

Nine databases will be searched, and the Cochrane risk of bias instrument used to assess trial quality. The results will inform treatment decisions and be useful to patients, physicians, and policy makers alike: We’ll let you know, as soon as we see any update: This will be an interesting addition to the research base.

Conclusion

We covered three brand new research papers on acupuncture for three sorts of pain: dental, thalamic (after stroke), and menstrual migraine. Acupuncture may offer an effective and low-risk option for managing these types of pain, per the research we’ve seen.

Further resources on our conditions page, lead to articles about acupuncture research in different conditions here: https://shaftesburyclinic.com/conditions/.

As with this growing research field, more high-quality and large-scale studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for these pain conditions, as well as which are the most successful protocols or point combinations to use in each case.

Acupuncture represents a valid healthcare choice alongside usual treatment for many conditions. We love to talk about what we do: You can always schedule a free 15 minute consultation with one of our acupuncturists, to find out more!

Book here: https://shaftesburyclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

A note on the research

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a study design used in health research, to test the effectiveness of a medical treatment:

Participants are randomly assigned to receive either the treatment being tested, or a placebo/sham/no treatment/wait list control
Researchers look to determine whether the treatment arm is more effective than placebo
RCTs are the “gold standard” in research, designed to minimise bias and give us the most reliable evidence

Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are highly useful and reliable in research:

Systematic reviews entail a comprehensive overview of the evidence; assess the quality of the evidence and many go on to meta-analyse the data by putting together the results of numerous (RCT) studies to give a more powerful view of trends.

Good quality evidence is needed for people to make the best and most appropriate treatment decisions; for patients, their caregivers and those who make recommendations and fund healthcare (e.g. NICE, NHS England)

Next up: Mechanisms of Action

We have seen that acupuncture has been shown to benefit pain, what are the underlying mechanisms of action in the body and the brain that make this happen?

In our next blog, we’ll look the mechanisms of action for acupuncture in pain. In the meantime, check out our related pages:

Pain & Painful disorders – Condition Resources | shaftesburyclinic

Chronic Pain – Condition Resources | shaftesburyclinic

References:

Kumar, G. and Tewari, S., 2023. Acupuncture for Management of Endodontic Emergencies: a Review. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 16(1), pp.1-10.

Li, W. and Chen, S., 2023. Acupuncture for thalamic pain after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 102(9), pp.e33006-e33006.

Wu, Q., Wang, J., Lin, X., Han, D., Hu, H. and Gao, H., 2023. Determining the Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for the Preventive Treatment of Menstrual Migraine: A Protocol for a PRISMA-Compliant Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Pain Research, pp.101-109.

Helen

Posted on: Mar-27-2023 15:15 pm

0 comment

Tags: Acupuncture, Chronic Pain, condition, Evidence, pain, research

An interview with Darren Haines, Acupuncturist at Shaftesbury Clinic

November 6, 2022Blog, Interviews, Shaftesbury ClinicAcupuncture, acupuncturist, Bedford, DarrenHaines, Evidence, Interview, References, researchHelen

Acupuncturist Darren Haines joined the team at Shaftesbury Clinic in March 2022. Helen caught up with him to find out more about his journey into acupuncture, what he does in his everyday practise, and what inspires him in his work.

Fact File:

☼ Darren qualified in from The Acupuncture Academy in Leamington Spa, with a Licentiate in Acupuncture (Lic.Ac.) after 3 years’ degree-level training
☼ As a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), Darren adheres to the BAcC Codes of Safe Practice and Professional Conduct
☼ Darren has full public liability insurance and professional indemnity cover, and is licensed by Bedford Borough Council to work as an acupuncturist at Shaftesbury Clinic
☼ BAcC members are also registered with the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) a government body which regulates the regulatory and registration bodies of health and social care providers and is accountable to parliament

Helen: What was your work before acupuncture?

Darren: I worked in PR for over 20 years, with leading High Street retailers and Sports brands, at a high level, but over the years I found that the sector had changed, and it was different to the industry I started out in at the beginning of my career. At that stage, I began to feel like I wanted to make a move into a more fulfilling role, in a career that could be more rewarding.

At around this time, I had an experience where acupuncture made a real difference to the outcome of a life-changing event; seeing the difference for a family member from treatment with Philip Rose-Neil, here at Shaftesbury Clinic proved to be a strong inspiration. I then also came to see Phil myself as a patient, and speaking with him about the theories and mechanisms behind acupuncture, my interest in acupuncture as a career was piqued, and I looked into training in this field.

Helen: What attracted you about acupuncture as a career?

Darren: It was seeing the difference acupuncture could make in people’s lives; I realised that I wanted to be able to do this for others. I was also attracted by this being a holistic approach to health, and that as an acupuncturist, I would be looking to find the root cause of the patient’s presenting complaint, and to make a difference to their long-term health, rather than just a “sticking plaster” approach of short-term, or localised symptomatic benefit.

Now that I am working in this field, it is enjoyable work, and is rewarding to be able to help people back to better heath. It can give you a buzz when you are part of seeing those changes and outcomes for patients.

Helen: What does training in acupuncture entail?

Darren: It is a three-year, degree-level course, and in order to be a member of the British Acupuncture Council, it must be BAAB (British Acupuncture Accreditation Board) accredited and entail at least 3,600 hours’ training. My professional Licentiate training at The Acupuncture Academy in Leamington Spa (BAAB accredited) was centred on the traditional Five Element model of Chinese medicine theory, together with anatomy, physiology, with particular emphasis on surface anatomy for point location.

There were modules on Western Medical view of the body’s organs and systems so that we can spot red flag symptoms, and refer and treat appropriately. From a practical perspective, there was needle technique, point selection, and practical work in clinic. At least 400 hours are in the clinical setting, including treatment observations; of which 200 hours’ direct clinical work with our own patients.

I treated my pre-qualification supervised patients and my clinical assessments here at the clinic, under the mentorship and supervision of Philip Rose-Neil; having carried out my observations in his clinic. I was good to have such an experienced mentor as a sounding board, and to continue to be part of the same team [Phil has been at Shaftesbury Clinic over 11 years].

Helen: What is a typical day like for you in clinic?

Darren: As an acupuncturist you train as a generalist, which means I could be seeing patients from for many different presenting reasons. Patients very often access acupuncture for painful conditions such as back pain or migraine, but it can also be for chronic conditions such as eczema, sinusitis, and even seasonally for hay fever. Acupuncture is also known to support general wellbeing, relaxation and balance, and for these reasons people will also access it for stress, anxiety and related issues in their busy lives.

Needles are used to stimulate acupuncture points, which are chosen in relation to the presenting issues for each patient. I may also use Moxibustion (an acupuncture technique used to gently heat acupoints), Cupping, or Gua Sha, which are all acupuncture techniques used for specific situations, such as muscular and stagnation issues. The treatment plan is tailored to each patient.

As an acupuncturist, I see people from all walks of life, and approaches each patient as an individual, considering all aspects of their health and context within the treatment model, so no two days are the same.

Helen: Do you have any special interests within acupuncture practise, or patient groups that you work with specifically?

Darren: Having recently qualified, I have some areas where I have professional interests where I am planning to attend further training courses. Of these, I have a continued interest in sport from my previous work in PR, and am attending a Musculoskeletal acupuncture training course in November, which will give in-depth experience in MSK issues and their treatment, including sports injuries. I have an interest in acupuncture for fertility and pregnancy, and am looking to train further in this in the Spring, alongside Facial Acupuncture later next year.

Helen: What are your interests outside of acupuncture?

Darren: I really like watching sport, particularly to watch it live; this was a part of my previous work that I enjoyed a great deal. I love to go cycling, which is something I’ve been able to get back into recently, after a hiatus when I spent a lot of time of travelling to college (Leamington Spa), studying at home, and getting my clinical hours in. I will cycle anywhere, the roads in Bedfordshire a pretty good for it, and it is quite helpful that it’s not too hilly!

At home, I love to cook, I will make all sorts of different things, and again after qualifying from college, it is great to be able to find the time to do this again.

Having previously lived in London for work, and moved this way for quality of life, I do like to be able to go back into London for leisure.

Helen: How can prospective patient find out more about acupuncture, and book in with you?

Darren: The clinic offers a free 15 minute call back from one of us acupuncturists, to help a you find out about acupuncture, and whether it could be suitable and helpful for your needs. This gives a realistic appraisal of what we can offer, so you can decide whether this is the approach for you. I’m available for bookings on Wednesday evenings from 5:30pm to 8pm, and Fridays 9:30am to 6pm. You can call the secretaries on 01234 511522, or book online via our website.

My colleague Louise England works on Tuesdays; Gillie Salter on Mondays; and Philip Rose-Neil Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. We are always really happy to chat about what we do

Helen: Thank you for talking to me about your work today, Darren!

Helen

Posted on: Nov-6-2022 18:29 pm

0 comment

Tags: Acupuncture, acupuncturist, Bedford, DarrenHaines, Evidence, Interview, References, research

Mechanisms of action – Acupuncture and neurotransmitters in the body

August 30, 2022Blog, Conditions, ResearchAcupuncture, Evidence, pain, researchHelen

We know from research that acupuncture affects many bodily systems, so here we shall take a look at the nervous system and its chemical messengers: neurotransmitters.

In simple terms, a neurotransmitter is a chemical substance released at the end of a nerve fibre, which diffuses across a synapse (junction between nerves), and transmits the signal along to a nerve fibre or muscle fibre, for example.

This process is involved in the transmission of pain signals in the body, and is also one of the well-understood mechanisms of acupuncture pain relief. The role of acupuncture in modulating neurotransmitters involved in pain has been well discussed, as well as researched in great detail.

Specific neurotransmitters, and acupuncture’s effect on them:

Zhang et al (2022) give the research on those in turn; opioid peptides; γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA); Norepinephrine; 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) aka serotonin; and glutamate.

The researchers look in detail about what acupuncture research has shown in terms of mechanisms of action for each neurotransmitter, and to summarise:

Endogenous opioid peptides (a type of neurotransmitter) are produced in the body as a direct result of acupuncture treatment. These have been shown in numerous studies to have a positive effect on analgesia (pain relief). By name, these are enkephalins, endomorphins, dynorphins, and nociceptin, and they are the body’s own natural painkilling substances
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA); this is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It has a painkilling effect. It has been demonstrated through research studies that acupuncture can upregulate GABA expression; another part of how acupuncture helps with pain
Norepinephrine (noradrenalin in the UK); another neurotransmitter, the release of which is enhanced by acupuncture. Norepinephrine is also capable of inhibiting pain in the body
5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), or serotonin; is a neurotransmitter that is involved in analgesia (pain relief). 5-HT is secreted in the brain during acupuncture administration, making it another known mechanism of action for acupuncture analgesia
Glutamate; a central nervous system neurotransmitter, is involved in the transmission of pain signals in the spinal cord. Acupuncture downregulates glutamate, as part of how it provides pain relief

Overall a combination of demonstratable mechanisms is clearly at play, and can be seen and measured to be the cause of why acupuncture can help pain.

How were the studies done?

Studies on mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia are based on animal models, where levels of neurotransmitters and their effects are measured objectively, removing the possibility of placebo effect as a cause of pain relief.

Human trials are also used where this is measurable in an ethical and objective way, through fMRI (brain scans showing which areas light up), and blood levels of neurotransmitters as well as pain ratings.

A complicated picture

There are other analgesic mechanisms of acupuncture besides those above, and it is hard to unpick the overall contributions of each, and it may be the case that it depends upon the region targeted, quality of pain and other factors. For this reason, the acupuncturist’s experience and overall assessment of the individual on the day of treatment contribute to the overall outcome.

Reference:

Zhang, M., Shi, L., Deng, S., Sang, B., Chen, J., Zhuo, B., Qin, C., Lyu, Y., Liu, C., Zhang, J. and Meng, Z., 2022. Effective oriental magic for analgesia: acupuncture. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2022. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2022/1451342/

Bibliography:

Li, S.K., Liao, W.D., Zhao, J. and Cao, X.W., 2020. Effects of acupuncture on plasma endogenous opioid peptides in patients with stroke-associated headache in convalescence. Zhen ci yan jiu= Acupuncture Research, 45(12), pp.995-999.

Lin, J.G., Kotha, P. and Chen, Y.H., 2022. Understandings of acupuncture application and mechanisms. American Journal of Translational Research, 14(3), p.1469.

Petti, F.., Bangrazi, A., Liguori, A., Reale, G. and Ippoliti, F., 1998. Effects of acupuncture on immune response related to opioid-like peptides. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 18(1), pp.55-63.

Trento, M.M.S., Moré, A.O.O., Duarte, E.C.W. and Martins, D.F., 2021. Peripheral receptors and neuromediators involved in the antihyperalgesic effects of acupuncture: a state-of-the-art review. Pflügers Archiv-European Journal of Physiology, 473(4), pp.573-593.

Wang, W.S., Xi, H.Y., Fu, G., Fan, X.Z. and Guo, M., 2022. Study on the Mechanism of Electroacupuncture in the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain Based on Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 2/Toll Like Receptor 4 Signal Pathway. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, pp.31-37.

Wu, W.Z., Zheng, S.Y., Liu, C.Y., Qin, S., Wang, X.Q., Hu, J.L., Wan, Q.Y., Zhao, Y.N. and Xi, H.Q., 2021. Effect of Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture on serum GABA and CORT levels in patients with chronic insomnia. Zhongguo Zhen jiu= Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 41(7), pp.721-724.

Helen

Posted on: Aug-30-2022 20:32 pm

0 comment

Tags: Acupuncture, Evidence, pain, research

Acupuncture and AI?

August 15, 2022Blog, ResearchAcupuncture, Evidence, researchHelen

New Research Paper: Here is an interesting concept for future development in acupuncture: “Artificial intelligence-directed acupuncture: a review”, in the Journal of Chinese Medicine.

How might this work? Wang (2022) and colleagues say that using computing, our ability to quantify, objectify and standardise acupuncture can be increased. Not only this, but using AI perhaps the research and outcomes from published data can be used to identify the best approaches, and even predict treatment outcomes.

It’s worth keeping in mind that from the acupuncturist’s perspective (an usually that of the patient, too), a large part of the appeal of acupuncture as a complementary medicine is that the patient is considered as an individual, and that even for the same condition, the treatment plan can vary from patient to patient as it is tailored to their need, therefore full standardisation is perhaps not the goal here, but more of a case of defining approaches and benefitting from looking at the data in novel ways.

The researchers do say that “The use of AI-based data mining has led to the discovery of hidden knowledge on acupuncture point selection and prescription.” As with any field where there is complexity, it is good to have alternative approaches and paths to choose from, and as practitioners, evidence-led there is always a combination of training and experience, alongside the updates and research insights that come through from the increasing research body.

At the moment the research is focussing on AI for common conditions that have large bodies of data and research for them, e.g. Osteoarthritis of the knee and dysmenorhhoea, and looking at particular pairs and combinations of points that arise in numerous studies.

Other uses for AI to analyse the research and effectiveness have been in the manipulation of needles, which has very many possible forms, including electroacupuncture as an adjunct.

An interesting area, which promises to deliver much insight in the coming years.

If you’d like to look into it more, a few other resources are below, including recent papers from Wang et al (2021), who predict more unified guidelines for specific TCM syndromes to come forth from AI-assisted TCM therapies in the future. Feng et al (2021) also weigh in on the ability to over come subjectivity by using AI; and Alice et al (2021) look into its application to pulse diagnosis in TCM.

References:

Feng, C., Shao, Y., Wang, B., Qu, Y., Wang, Q., Li, Y. and Yang, T., 2021. Development and application of artificial intelligence in auxiliary tcm diagnosis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021.

Wang, Y., Shi, X., Efferth, T. and Shang, D., 2022. Artificial intelligence-directed acupuncture: a review. Chinese Medicine, 17(1), pp.1-10.

Wang, Y., Shi, X., Li, L., Efferth, T. and Shang, D., 2021. The impact of artificial intelligence on traditional Chinese medicine. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 49(06), pp.1297-1314.

Helen

Posted on: Aug-15-2022 14:19 pm

0 comment

Tags: Acupuncture, Evidence, research

New Research : Acupuncture Tapping in Psychotherapy

August 10, 2022Blog, Research, Shaftesbury ClinicAcupuncture, anxiety, Chronic Pain, Evidence, mental health, researchHelen

A new research article looks at acupuncture points and psychotherapy in practise. The interesting new article in the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, discusses the use of acupuncture points within psychotherapy (the reference, and links to original article are below).

A holistic approach is increasingly being understood to include more that one modality to increase how effective an approach can be. This is well known for crossing the borders between, say mainstream medicine in areas like pain, but possible less so in the sphere of mental health, despite the fat that acupuncture and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) have long included protocols for health on all levels of mind and body.

Traditional acupuncture uses needle stimulation on a network of specific points, tailored to the patient and presenting condition. In addition to, or instead of needles, acupuncturists can also use heat or acupressure (needle-less stimulation of points).

Tapping of a specific set of points in a protocol, is a fairly ew approach to self-care when experiencing anxiety or pain symptoms, for example. This can be done when the patient has been trained on how to do this, and increasingly this has been adopted in other settings. Today, other techniques incorporate some of the benefits of acupuncture alongside talking therapies, and there is a decent and growing research body here.

Per this research article Feinstein (2022 – ref and link below) the research and use of this are coming to the fore; there are “28 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, 125 clinical trials, 24 case studies, 26 reports describing systematic observations, 17 mixed-method clinical trials that included a tapping component, and 88 articles addressing clinical procedures, theory, mechanisms, or related issues” (Feinstein, 2022).

Sometimes called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), this shows the way in which cross-modality approaches can be applicable to real life cases. The acupuncture component of this has indeed been shown to be an active part of EFT (Church et al, 2018).

The overall outcome from looking at the state of research into the integration into psychotherapy of using tapping of acupuncture points is promising, and that the growing evidence base documents the effectiveness, speed, and durability of the approach.

References:

Church, D., Stapleton, P., Yang, A. and Gallo, F., 2018. Is tapping on acupuncture points an active ingredient in Emotional Freedom Techniques? A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 206(10), pp.783-793.

Feinstein, D., 2022. Integrating the manual stimulation of acupuncture points into psychotherapy: A systematic review with clinical recommendations. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2022-61876-001

Helen

Posted on: Aug-10-2022 13:52 pm

0 comment

Tags: Acupuncture, anxiety, Chronic Pain, Evidence, mental health, research

An interview with Gillie Salter, Acupuncturist at Shaftesbury Clinic

May 17, 2022Blog, Interviews, Shaftesbury ClinicAcupuncture, acupuncturist, Bedford, Evidence, GillieSalter, Interview, References, researchHelen

Gillie Salter joined the team at Shaftesbury Clinic in March 2022. Helen caught up with her for a chat to find out what brought her to acupuncture; the types of clients she works with; and what inspires her in her work…

Fact File:

- ☼ Gillie graduated from the Acupuncture Academy (Leamington Spa) in December 2020 after 3 years’ degree level training, with a distinction in the Professional Licentiate in Acupuncture
- ☼ She is a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), the UK’s leading Regulatory Body for traditional acupuncture, and the largest, with over 2,500 members.
- ☼ BAcC members must have at least 3,600 hours’ degree-level training; 400 or more of which in a clinical setting
- ☼ The BACC is regulated by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), which is accountable to the UK Parliament

Helen: What was your work background before acupuncture?

Gillie: My background is in nursing, having worked as a district nurse, where I really enjoyed the work, in particular meeting and looking after people from all different backgrounds. Later on, I studied further, gaining a Masters degree in Medical Anthropology.

Helen: For people who haven’t come cross it before, can you tell us a bit more about medical anthropology?

Gillie: Anthropology in general looks at what makes us human, how people live, and is a holistic approach, with medical anthropology specifically looking at how the practise of medicine, and health and wellbeing are understood and approached in different cultures and settings. For my dissertation, I used Ethnography, which is a systematic way to study cultural phenomena, within an elderly day care setting.

Helen: What led you from nursing and medical anthropology, toward acupuncture?

GIllie: After having my two children, the logistics of going back into nursing just weren’t practical, so I took on other roles including as a teaching assistant, and volunteer work, before combining my experience and interest to study acupuncture. I had looked into acupuncture and became certain that it was for me, after attending an open day at the TAA college in Leamington Spa, which inspired and impressed me.

Helen: What do you value about acupuncture that sets it apart from other approaches?

Gillie: It is the cultural aspect of the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) approach that appeals to me, looking at the whole person within the treatment approach, in contrast to the Biomedicine (Western, allopathic) approach which works from viewing the mind and the body as being separate from each other.

Helen: Do you have any special interests within acupuncture practise, or patient groups that you work with specifically?

Gillie: I enjoy all aspects of the variety that comes my way, as acupuncture can contribute so much to many different people, for their concerns and conditions. I treat all ages, including children.

Helen: How can someone interested in acupuncture find out more, and book in with you?

Gillie: Myself, and the other acupuncturists at Shaftesbury Clinic, offer a free 15 minute phone call, video chat or in-person consultation for a prospective patient to speak to one of us, and ask any questions they have about acupuncture.

This way, they can be given the information they need, and a realistic appraisal of what we can offer, so they can decide whether this is the approach for them.

There are a few ways to book: There’s a link here on the website to book in for a 15 minute chat, or for a treatment; alternatively they could ring the clinic direct to book on 01234 511522; or send the clinic an email, or contact form from the website.

Helen: Finally, when are you available to see patients in Bedford, Gillie?

Gillie: I work Mondays at Shaftesbury Clinic (based at Bedford Consulting Rooms). My colleague Phil Rose-Neil works Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; Louise England on Tuesdays, and Darren Haines on Wednesday evenings and Fridays.

Helen: Thank you for talking to me about your work today, Gillie!

Helen

Posted on: May-17-2022 10:18 am

0 comment

Tags: Acupuncture, acupuncturist, Bedford, Evidence, GillieSalter, Interview, References, research

Acupuncture Research Resources

May 15, 2021BlogAcupuncture, BAcC, Evidence, research, resources, trialsHelen

Over 4 million acupuncture treatments are carried out annually in the UK. Musculoskeletal pain is the most common presenting symptom, although people seek acupuncture for a wide variety of conditions and issues.

Acupuncture has a very high satisfaction rate amongst users, according to research.

References: British Acupuncture Council Research Digest, evidence based factsheet about acupuncture research including specific research, trials and mechanisms of action for acupuncture in various conditions.

Helen

Posted on: May-15-2021 10:35 am

0 comment

Tags: Acupuncture, BAcC, Evidence, research, resources, trials

Acupuncture and depression, mental health

March 18, 2021Blog, Conditions, Research, Shaftesbury Clinicanxiety, Depression, mental health, Mood, Nervous system, research, wellbeingHelen

by Helen Smallwood, Shaftesbury Clinic

This blog post will concentrate on the use and research regarding acupuncture and mental health, and with a particular focus on depression.

Important to know: Chronic health conditions should be addressed under direct medical supervision of your GP or consultant, and acupuncture would be an adjunct or complement to usual care – we advise that you let you doctor know when you use this approach.

Acupuncture is known by many as being holistic, which means it looks at the workings of the body and the mind overall in an integrated way, as opposed to seeing them as separate entities. Some people are surprised to the extent to which acupuncture has been used and researched for mental health as their first impression is that acupuncture is a very physical therapy and they are mainly associating it with its uses for pain and injuries.

On a research database search, “acupuncture” + “mental health” yields over 48,000 hits of academic articles, 5,600 of which are “RCT”‘s (Randomised Controlled Trials) which are a high standard of research comparing acupuncture to another procedure, an inert control or “sham acupuncture” intervention. Finding that of these 5,600 studies, 43% have been carried out since 2017 shows that wide and increasing scientific research is ongoing in this area.

Helen

Posted on: Mar-18-2021 9:56 am

0 comment

Tags: anxiety, Depression, mental health, Mood, Nervous system, research, wellbeing