Garrison Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

We made some traditional hand-rolled Chinese pills over the weekend!

You may have heard about the recent Nobel Prize in Medicine that was awarded to a Chinese scientist for her work with the Chinese herb, Qing Hao (Artemisia annua). Some have hailed it as a victory for Chinese Medicine. Here's what our own Dr. Phil has to say about it...

An interesting study with an admittedly small sample size... "In conclusion, electroacupuncture on specific Governor vessel acupoints appears to effectively promote functional repair after peripheral nerve injury. The mechanism may relate to the Governor vessel improving the local microenvironment and ensuring continuity between the peripheral and central nerve."

Approximately 2,000 years ago, the first "textbook" of Chinese medicine, called the Huang Di Nei Jing, associated the heart with the bitter taste. ...looks like modern science finally caught up!

We're a big fans of Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), and use it frequently in our practice. Here's an interesting piece of modern research about the beneficial effect of Reishi mushroom on the neurological system. "Ganoderma lucidum, G. neo-japonicum and G. frondosa may contain NGF-like bioactive compound(s) for maintaining and regenerating the neuronal communications network."

Came across this article while doing research for my Shang Han Lun class, and found it to be an interesting use of a classical formula. Of course, treatment should always be given based on the signs and symptoms that present and according to Chinese medicine principles. In the Shang Han Lun, Banxia Xiexin Tang is used for fullness below the heart without pain. In this study the researchers used it to treat GERD and inflammation in the throat. This study demonstrates that modified Banxia Xiexin Tang (Pinellia Decoction for Draining the Heart) is very effective in combating gastro-esophageal reflux and in treating pharyngo-laryngeal inflammation.

Some of you who have come to our clinic know that we use Moxibustion (sticks of Mugwort that are burned to warm different points). Here is an interesting article on the use of medicinal smoking therapies... http://www.greenmedinfo.com//killer-germs-obliterated-medi

Recent research using fMRI technology has provided interesting insights into the possible mechanisms of acupuncture points. This study focuses on brain activity associated with the stimulation of Liver-3, a point on the dorsum of the foot. "In summary, using resting-state fMRI, true acupuncture at LR3 specifically activated/deactivated some brain areas related to vision, movement, sensation, emotion, and analgesia."

Congratulations to our own Dr. Phil, whose research on the Huang Di Nei Jing (the foundational text of Chinese medicine) was just published in a peer-reviewed journal!

Here is a wonderful way to try us out!

Sun Si-miao was a famous Chinese doctor who lived during the Tang dynasty. A modern troupe of Chinese shadow puppeteers are now retelling his story.

Confused about how acupuncture works? Here is a brief, but informative interview with Vitaly Napadow of Harvard University. In this video, Dr. Napadow discusses some of the challenges facing researchers who study acupuncture, and he describes how neuro-imaging techniques may provide new insights into the mechanisms behind this ancient form of medicine.