This is a collection of news articles about Chinese medicine and related topics. As the list has grown over time I have organised it into yearly blocks.
Since the media carries its own bias I have included links to the source material, opposing articles and sometimes a very brief summary of my thoughts wherever possible.
has a more comprehensive list, including copies of ones that only appeared in print.
report on additional stories that do not find their way into the regular media, often summaries of studies published recently.
15-Mar-2024: BBC:
Seven ways to improve your sleep according to science
Sleep is one of essential pillars of health, often forgotten about in the fast-paced modern world where time is money. However, health is time and good sleep will give you more of it.
13-Mar-2024: Metro:
The exact amount of steps you need to walk each week to extend your life by 3 years
A
study finds that its considerably less than 10,000 per day; just 5,000 steps three times per week increases life expectancy by 2.5 - 3 years and save the NHS £15 billion.
13-Mar-2024: Guardian:
No one should see a chiropractor thinking they are seeing a doctor
The
British Acupuncture Council forbids the use of the title 'doctor' in our marketing, unless we are medical doctors, in order to avoid this kind of confusion, even if we have a genuine doctorate. There are clear differences in knowledge and authority to diagnose and prescribe that medical doctors possess which other health professionals do not have and which some professions seek to exploit by conferring the title of 'doctor' on their members. By the same token, no one should see a doctor thinking they are seeing an acupuncturist or herbalist, even if they want to offer a more 'holistic' service. There are some very different skills and experience required to practice either of these modalities safely and effectively.
However, it should be pointed out that it was
medical schools who created this confusion in the first place in the 17
th century, taking the title from academics who had completed their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), the highest degree a university can offer, and conferring it on medical students who had only passed a Bachelors degree in medicine as a sign of prestige. The term actually comes from Latin for "teacher," while the title physician comes from "physica" meaning "relating to nature," neither of which really apply to medical doctors today.
28-Feb-2024: Metro:
Surprising new treatment helps ease depression
A
study into auricular acupuncture found it more effective than drugs when administered twice a week and tgat specific points were more effective than nonspecific.
19-Feb-2024: BBC:
'Brutal' donkey skin trade banned by the African Union
A cruel and unsustainable practice that is fortunately not allowed in the UK. The RCHM released
this statement to that effect.
12-Feb-2024: Guardian:
How to have healthy joints: Don’t be afraid to slouch and always wear trainers: six simple tips for healthier joints from the experts
Some more advice from experts, this time on joint health. Much of this has been a part of Chinese medical philosophy which emphasises movement to stay healthy and as such has no "ideal posture" and even a slightly slouched one in many traditional exercise systems. Not too sure on the "always wear trainers" advice though, especially when
this lecturer in sport sciences seems to say the opposite.
12-Feb-2024: Guardian:
Intermittent fasting: what is it, how does it work – and is it right for you?
Some experts talk about the current health trend of intermittent fasting, its benefits, risks and evidence. Although Islam and Ayurvedic medicine are famous for their fasting practices, ancient China also had its own version called
Bigu 辟穀, "avoidance of grains," which would have initiated a ketogenic state and was a part of medical, longevity and spiritual practices.
10-Feb-2024: Guardian:
'The teacher cupped her crotch. She never went back': when yoga turns toxic
A reminder of some of the dangerous elements in 'healing' culture due to its lack of proper regulation. It is always worth remembering that
yoga is a modern phenomenon with roots in western calisthenics and often serving a modern capitalist agenda. The same can be levelled at many
Chinese medical practices which were developed in the 1950s out of nationalist interests. However, Chinese medicine in the UK has tried hard to professionalise itself but the government has resisted statutory regulation. Therefore, it is still advisable to check out your practitioner's qualifications, additional training and experience before you visit.
9-Feb-2024: Telegraph:
Tai Chi 'more effective' for reducing blood pressure than jogging or cycling
A study published in
JAMA found that 12 months of Tai Chi reduced systolic blood pressure by 7.01 mmHg, compared to 4.61 mmHg from aerobic exercise.
8-Feb-2024: Guardian:
The experts: osteopaths on 20 easy and effective ways to treat back pain
Some simple, common sense ways to manage and prevent this common ailment.
2-Feb-2024: New York Times:
Medical Meditation? Clinical Yoga? Alternative Therapies Go Mainstream.
A recent article in
JAMA showed that adult pain patients using nontraditional medical care to supplement or substitute mainstream medicine has risen to 37% in 2022, from 19% in 2002.
29-Jan-2024: Forbes:
No, Washington Post, Acupuncture Still Doesn’t Work
Responding to the
July article in the Washington Post, this writer accuses the review that the article is based on of
cherry picking studies, while ironically cherry picking his own study on safety from 30 years ago when the profession was considerably less informed and organised as it is today. He also caricatures acupuncture theory using a simplified explanation from the 19th century that most Chinese medical scholars today would not agree with. These are commonly known as the
Straw Man Fallacy, twisting the opponents argument into one that is easy to knock down without drawing a distinction. Finally, in a clear
Ad Hominem Fallacy, he attacks the author of the article instead of the argument by saying that, "Alas, good credentials don’t always mean that you can trust the holder of those credentials," an argument that can equally be applied to his own impressive resume, when considering the poor reasoning of his argument.
18-Jan-2024: Metro:
Dragons' Den entrepreneur makes history with miracle 'ear seeds'
Ear seeds are part of auricular acupuncture as a means of stimulating points between sessions. They usually use
vaccaria seeds on some tape but the idea of making them from metals on clear backing so they look like tiny piercings is brilliant. As always it is a good idea to consult an acupuncturist regarding how to incorporate them into a comprehensive treatment plan if you want to use them for anything other than jewellery.
Unfortunately this story has caused a controversial start to the year for Chinese medicine with charity
Action for ME complaining about unfounded claims, and the
BBC defending the episode saying she was only recounting her personal story that inspired the business idea and it was not an endorsement of the product, but pulling it anyway. Statements were also released by the
BAcC and
RCHM, both making good points. One thing all agree on is that you should "only take medical advice from appropriately qualified healthcare professionals and to ensure that any treatment decisions are evidence-based and fully informed." A
review of evidence for acupuncture and moxibustion has been published, although not looking at ear seeds specifically. However, they are rarely used as a stand-alone intervention in Chinese medical practice.