News

17-Dec-2021: The Express High cholesterol: The Christmas spice that when added to meals could lower cholesterol About cinnamon's ability to lower cholesterol. 16-Dec-2021: Business Insider: Here's why wild ginseng roots can cost over $17,000 16-Dec-2021: New York Times: In Italy's Alps, Traditional Medicine Flourishes, as Does Covid Behind a subscription wall but details a region in Italy where the population prefers natural remedies and are sceptical of vaccines leading to the highest rates of Covid infection. 6-Dec-2021: Daily Mail: Is this FRUIT the trick for weight loss? Traditional Chinese medicine expert goes viral with alternative natural treatments - from a dried berry that makes you lose weight to a pill that 'gets everyone pregnant' Reporting on a viral TikTok user that reports on Chinese Medicine. 29-Nov-2021: The Telegraph: Marina Fogle: How I banished my night terrors that had plagued me since childhood Article behind paywall but documents how acupuncture helped Ben Fogle's wife sleep. 28-Nov-2021: The Express: How to live longer: The fruit to boost blood flow by 45% and turn the clock back 10 years Reporting on studies into blackcurrant and cardiovascular health. 28-Nov-2021: The Express: Alzheimer's disease: The vitamin deficiency found in 70% of patients - signs to spot A link to vitamin D and dementia or Alzheimer's suggests that more oily fish, eggs and sunlight may help to prevent their onset. 23-Nov-2021: BBC: Met Police to get training in spotting child abuse linked to witchcraft An important topic in traditional medicine generally as many cultures hold these beliefs about illness and misfortune. The more multicultural a society becomes the more this sort of training is needed. Training should also include cupping and Gua Sha which leave marks but are low risk and carried out with intention to heal, not harm, but can be easily misunderstood. 18-Nov-2021: National Geographic: As times and tastes change, Vietnam's bear bile industry is fading away Thankfully this industry is coming to a close. 16-Nov-2021: The Express: Arthritis: The plant substance which can slash joint pain by 50% - best supplements The mystery supplement is capsaicin, the ingredient of chili that gives it its hot flavour, long known to be a painkiller both topically and internally. 13-Nov-2021: Daily Mail: TALK OF THE TOWN: Pippa Middleton returns to school to learn homeopathy, massage, hydrotherapy and acupuncture 11-Nov-2021: The Guardian: Chakras, crystals and conspiracy theories: how the wellness industry turned its back on Covid science A longer read on how right wing conspiracy theories have infiltrated the world of wellness. 10-Nov-2021: Al-Jazeera: Chinese traditional medicine growth in Africa threatens wildlife As China expands knowledge of TCM around the world, some rare species become endangered in countries far away from China. 10-Nov-2021: The Conversation: Herbal skin treatments in Uganda get an important scientific boost Great to see Ugandan academics testing traditional herbs scientifically and then feeding that information back to locals so they can make more effective remedies at home. 10-Nov-2021: The Express: High blood pressure: The breakfast drink that lowers hypertension after a 'single' cup About the ability of orange juice to lower hypertension. The ancient Chinese could not measure blood pressure but many of its symptoms were attributed to "Qi stagnation" that was often treated with citrus fruits. 10-Nov-2021: The Express: Arthritis diet: The 13p tea to reduce painful symptoms of arthritis Not really used in Chinese medicine for this purpose but good to know. 9-Nov-2021: The New York Times: How to Exercise With Chronic Pain Mentions Tai Chi and yoga, including some modifications to the traditional forms if the original is causing knee strain. 4-Nov-2021: The New York Review: Chinese Medicine in the Covid Wards The first ever review of a book on Chinese medicine by this mainstream journal, possibly the first in any mainstream journal. 3-Nov-2021: The Guardian: Plant in traditional Samoa medicine could be as effective as ibuprofen, study shows The active ingredient is thought to be rutin found in many plants and Chinese medicines, especially citrus peels. 17-Oct-2021: The Guardian: The dark side of wellness: the overlap between spiritual thinking and far-right conspiracies Shared interests in "the questioning of authority, of alternative medicines, the distrust of institutions," have made this unlikely coupling of left-wing wellness with far-right conspiracy theorists possible resulting in "conspirituality" that is rife in the health and wellbeing community today. 14-Oct-2021: The Sun: Pain in the neck: I went for acupuncture to ease my neck pain and ended up fighting for my life with a collapsed lung This is a very real danger of acupuncture from an untrained professional, and that can include medical professionals who do not spend years learning the correct safe needle depths of every point. 12-Oct-2021: COVID-19: How Thailand is using a 'cheap and effective' traditional herbal medicine to treat coronavirus Thailand is using green chiretta (Andrographis paniculate or Chuan Xin Lian in Chinese medicine) to treat mild cases of covid-19. 11-Oct-2021: The Express: Supplement warning: The popular mineral that doubles risk of dementia for certain women Calcium may increase risk of dementia amongst women with cerebrovascular disease. The surge of calcium from supplements may also increase risk of heart attacks making it better to acquire from diet. 7-Oct-2021: Yahoo! News: This Is How Acupuncture Has Been a Huge Help in Managing My Chronic Back Pain In my experience this combination of acupuncture and core strengthening exercises are always needed to manage chronic low back pain. 5-Oct-2021: The Mirror: Harry needed acupuncture to stay calm before wedding to Meghan Markle, claims book 29-Sep-2021: Cocktail of pesticides in almost all oranges and grapes, UK study finds It might be worth buying organic. 27-Sep-2021: The Conversation: What Otzi the prehistoric iceman can teach us about the use of tattoos in ceremonial healing or religious rites 27-Sep-2021: BBC: Arthritis: The drink that can 'reverse inflamation' and offer fast pain relief Mainly looks at bromelain in pineapple but also gives a shout out to other dietary herbs such as grapes, onions, garlic, asparagus, and cabbage. 24-Sep-2021: BBC: Eliyantha White: Sri Lankan shaman dies of Covid after touting cure He was even supported by government ministers, showing a need for critical thinking and not just towing the line during these dangerous times. 16-Sep-2021: The Guardian: From crackpot Covid theorists to antivaxxers, hubris and fear haunt the wellness community Opinion piece highlighting many of the problems in the wellness community. While Chinese medicine has overlaps with the wellness industry, the Chinese were also the first to invent inoculation to prevent a more serious infection. 1-Sep-2021: CNN: Meet 'EMMA': The AI robot masseuse practicing ancient wellness therapies Is this the future of Chinese medicine? Do you feel a treatment session would be the same without the human connection? 25-Aug-2021: United Press International: U.S. Naval battalion becomes first to use battlefield acupuncture This form of ear acupuncture marks a new stage in the U.S. military's gradually acceptance of acupuncture. 25-Aug-2021: Metro: What is touch therapy - and how does it activate the 'love hormone'? Looking at the therapeutic effects of touch in massage therapy. 24-Aug-2021: Daily Mail: Emma Willis resembles a human pin cushion as she becomes the latest star to have facial acupuncture 23-Aug-2021: The Conversation: Poison or cure? Traditional Chinese medicine shows that context can make all the difference A short piece on the historical use of poisons in Chinese medicine. 15-Aug-2021: Well + Good: Getting 'Acu-Stoned' Is a Real Thing, According to Acupuncturists A topic that is surprisingly under-discussed. 13-Aug-2021: BBC News: Metabolism peaks at age one and tanks after 60, study finds Not really about traditional medicine but has a huge impact on the traditional notion that middle age spread is due to our metabolism slowing down and instead points the poor dietary and exercise habits that we acquire as we age. 10-Aug-2021: Daily Mail: So can we defeat the long covid epidemic too? As the numbers affected soar to two million in England alone - and the list of symptoms it causes multiplies - we reveal how an army of scientists is going into battle again Mentions using acupuncture, meditation and yogic breathing alongside drug therapies as scientists start to think more holistically how to manage the fallout from Covid-19. 6-Aug-2021: BBC News: Malaria in Africa: Parasite 'resistant to artemisinin' 2000 years of use in Chinese medicine and it was still effective. A few decades in western medicine's hands we have bred resistant parasites. That's progress! 4-Aug-2021: The Guardian: Getting to the point: an acupuncturist reveals how to be a successful wellbeing practitioner Short piece on how an acupuncturist shifted focus to online wellness consultations during the pandemic. 3-Aug-2021: The Guardian: Trial to test if cannabis-based mouth spray can treat brain tumours Further work on the medical benefits of cannabis, including looking at "priming" effects, or the ability of a natural substance to make cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy thus improving its effectiveness while helping to alleviate side-effects. 31-Jul-2021: The Guardian: Ink positive: how tattoos can heal the mind as well as adorn the body Tattoos have been used as a form of healing in many cultures and times. The article mentions Otzi the Iceman, a 5300 year old neolithic mummy with tattoos on his body. What it does not mention is that many of these are on acupuncture points that deal with back pain where he suffered from arthritis and used a different ink that may have been medicinal herbs. See this article in inflammopharmacology for more information. 30-Jul-2021: Independent: Tokyo 2020: What are the Dark Circles on the Swimmer's Backs? Another Olympics, another article on cupping. The circles come from suction cups drawing blood to the surface and it was originally done with small cuts as a form of bleeding therapy. Today it is usually done "dry" without bleeding like a massage but using suction to pull the skin up instead of hand pressure pushing down. 30-Jul-2021: Daily Mail: Lizzo strips down to get acupuncture and cupping therapy... after shooting down wild online rumor that she killed a fan while stage diving Feeling my age here as I have no idea who this is but fair play to her if she is getting acupuncture and promoting it to the public. 25-Jul-2021: The Guardian: Dietary supplements causing severe liver injuries in Australians, with some requiring transplants, study shows Just because something is advertised as natural does not mean it is safe. Seek out a professional herbalist; We spend our lives learning about our substances, including what risks are associated with them. 24-Jul-2021: The Guardian: Is medical cannabis really a magic bullet? A discussion of the debate surrounding medical and recreational cannabis. 21-Jul-2021: Forbes: Acupuncture Vs. Acupressure: What's The Difference? Acupressure is such a weird term (acu meaning "needle" in Latin yet the whole point is that it does not use needles) but it serves it's purpose for this short infomercial. 16-Jul-2021: CNN: Cannabis may have originated in northwest China, study suggests Genomic research article suggests cannabis was originally cultivated in neolithic China and was already being selected for both hemp fibre producing and psychoactive cultivars. 14-Jul-2021: Mind Body Green: Yin & Yang, Explained: How To Apply This Ancient Principle To Modern Life A short explanation of one of the most fundamental concepts of Chinese philosophy and medicine and how it can be used. 13-Jul-2021: Well + Good: Astragalus Is an Immune-Boosting Herb That Supports Longevity - Here's How To Incorporate It Into Your Wellness Routine An introductory piece on one of our best immune tonics but while it covers its use in immunology and cancer it does not mention that it should be avoided by those on immunosuppressive drugs as it could interfere with the drugs effects. 7-Jul-2021: USA Today: Fake diplomas. Prostitution arrests. Forged documents. Massage schools accused of feeding illegal business in the US. Exposing the darker side of Asian massage schools in the U.S. and highlighting the blurred lines between manual therapy, spa treatments and the vice industry for which rigorous examination, accreditation and oversight are needed to keep them distinct. 2-Jul-2021: Women's Health Mag: 7 Tai Chi Benefits, From The Mental To The Physical Simple introduction for those considering Tai Chi. 28-Jun-2021: The Guardian: The Pain that Can't Be Seen A Guardian special over 3 days with several articles that are relevant to acupuncturists and patients alike. 5-Jun-2021: Washington Post: Film recounts the birth of a radical Bronx clinic that used acupuncture to help people break drug dependence Review of a film about the Bronx detox clinic in the '70s that turned to acupuncture after losing faith in drug assisted detox programs and included none other than the stepfather of Tupac Shakur. 9-May-2021: The Guardian: Herbal and diet supplements 'have no effect on weight loss' So are traditional methods completely useless? No, but there is no magic bullet. It requires lifestyle change, including diet and exercise with some acupuncture to help overcome obstacles and find underlying root causes that need to be addressed. 9-May-2021: The Sun: HACK GONE WRONG: My face was scarred & I was temporarily blinded after trying TikTok beauty hack - please don't make same mistake I did Big Brother contestant reveals the results of attempting home acupuncture. Please leave it to the professionals! There is a reason we train for 4 years and continue learning for years more. 5-May-2021: Daily Beast: The Ancient Chinese Roots of the Viral Gua Sha Trend Quick introduction to the origins and techniques of Gua Sha that has recently been trending on TikTok. 29-Apr-2021: Independent: Indian villagers seeking Covid cure branded with hot irons by witch doctors A darker side to traditional medicine. 27-Apr-2021: Independent: Think again before putting ice on a muscle injury A repeat of the NY Times article but not behind a paywall. 25-Apr-2021: Express: Acupuncture benefits: Traditional medicine could help with hypertension and osteoporosis Basic article summarising popular uses and theories. 21-Apr-2021: NY Times: Ice for Sore Muscles? Think Again. Physiotherapy catching up on Chinese medicine. Based on Arakawa et al (2021), Journal of Physiology 130 (5). 17-Apr-2021: The Guardian: Yoga can leave you injured, psychotic and a Hindu, Christian groups claim Ignorant on so many levels but it's good to see a Hindu pointing out at the end that most yoga today has little connection to religion and is more about postures which Mark Singleton's research found has more to do with 19th century European calisthenics than any ancient Vedic scriptures. 16-Apr-2021: BBC: Denmark: Three die of salmonella poisoning linked to herbal remedy Developing story over whether a batch of psyllium husk capsules were contaminated. 7-Apr-2021: The Times: Prescribe exercise and acupuncture instead of painkillers, doctors told Acupuncture is back in the new NICE guidelines for chronic pain. 1-Apr-2021: BBC News: Bhutan's 350-year-old recipe for wellbeing 31-Mar-2021: Forbes: The Cofounders Of Yina Are On A Mission To Enliven Traditional Chinese Medicine Through Luxury Skincare A luxury skincare brand launches a range based upon Chinese Medicine. 25-Mar-2021: Metro: Why people are turning to acupuncture to ease pain and stress 18-Mar-2021: Express: Prince Charles pens article targeting damaging anti-vax claims - 'Protect and liberate' Besides criticising the anti-vaxx movement he also comments on how the future of medicine needs to include proper regulation of treatments like acupuncture and herbal medicine. 4-Mar-2021: CNN: China approves sale of traditional medicine products to treat Covid-19 China approves three traditional formulas in granule form for the treatment of coronavirus: Qing Fei Pai Du Tang, Xuan Fei Pai Du Tang and Hua Shi Bai Du Tang. 2-Mar-2021: BBC News: Coronavirus: The misleading claims about an Indian remedy Controversy as an Indian pharmaceutical company continues to promotes herbal remedy as a cure for coronavirus despite government disapproval. 2-Mar-2021: Daily Mail: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson shows off his marked-up back after trying cupping therapy for the first time: 'Looks more gnarly than it feels' Also shows his pictures of receiving acupuncture and electro too. Also appeared in The Sun and a doctor responded on youtube regarding the evidence of its effectiveness and used the opportunity to discuss the scientific method in the research of alternative therapies. 18-Feb-2021: Wellcome Collection: The soul in the stomach Another short Wellcome article on how a 17th century alchemist used his "gut feeling" to anticipate the recent discoveries of our gut-brain connection. It also briefly covers how the Greeks knew of 3 souls in the head, heart and gut which mirror the three 'centres' in Chinese philosophy. 16-Feb-2021: Wellcome Collection: How to live well, the medieval way A light read showing that our medieval ancestors were not so different to us in their pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. Balance was the key, including diet, exercise, sleep, hygiene, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, regular physical treatments and customised plans for the wealthy. 1-Feb-2021: The Guardian: Lost touch: how a year without hugs affects our mental health Article on the importance of touch and how the Covid lockdown has affected us which is very relevant to manual therapies like acupuncture and massage too. Jan-Feb-2021 (epub ahead of print): Harvard Magazine: How Acupuncture Relieves Inflammation A second article on the discoveries documented in August on how acupuncture can be used to prevent a severe cytokine storm but during the inflammation period milder stimulation is best. Also talks about how points on the legs seem to connect to organs like the adrenals in a neural network system. 16-Jan-2021: ABC News: Qigong, used to complement COVID-19 and cancer treatment, a mental 'game-changer' The key word here is "complement". No one is suggesting Qigong as an alternative to medications but that it can reduce stress and inflammation leading to improvements in recovery and perhaps a reduction in interventions. 15-Jan-2021: Express: Acupuncture: What is acupuncture good for, does it hurt? Standard basic intro to acupuncture and what it can treat, unfortunately conducted by an oesteopath whose 4 day course sadly left him with no real understanding of the anatomical and medical knowledge imparted during the 3-5 year training plus continued development exclusively in acupuncture of traditional acupuncturists. 13-Jan-2021: The Times: Chinese medicine "demented", says Boris Johnson He actually attacks "the demented belief that if you grind up the scales of a pangolin you will somehow become more potent", not Chinese medicine as a whole and the "imbalance in man's relationship with the natural world". Unfortunately their use still persists on an industrial scale. Hopefully Boris' speech was an attempt to apply pressure on China to actively enforce their June ban. 11-Jan-2021: Cosmopolitan: Here's everything you need to know about cosmetic acupuncture Currently not being practised by any responsible practitioner since it cannot be justified in a risk analysis but may be of interest once lockdown has passed. 11-Jan-2021: The Sun: FACE SCREAM Mum's horror as baby's face balloons twice the size and grows hair after giving her steroid cream for dry skin Retelling of an old cautionary tale: manufactured Chinese herbal medicines are not always as "natural" as their advertising implies. Find a UK licensed practitioner if you want a genuine herbal product. 10-Jan-2021: The Guardian: Does vitamin D combat Covid? While vitamin supplementation is not really traditional medicine the ancient Chinese Taoists did value sunlight many mushrooms as essential for good immune health. A more academic discussion of the debate on vitamin D can be found in The Lancet. 9-Jan-2021: The Economist: Herbal remedies can help to treat neglected tropical diseases and a scientific approach will identify the best of them Similar theme to my own research: using the latest in science to understand more about herbs so we can apply them better. 9-Jan-2021: BBC News: How South African police are tackling pangolin smugglers