Acupuncture patients were given "shocks" in one experiment to prove that acupuncture has a physical, not just psychological effect.

The shocks were successful:

The experiment, conducted by researchers at the Department of Complementary and Integrative Medicine at University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, looked at brain scans of volunteers who were given mild electric shocks.

Firstly they were given the shocks without acupuncture, and then they were given the same shocks while acupuncture needles were placed between the toes, below the knee and near the thumb.

Researchers then compared MRI scan images – which can measure the small metabolic changes that take place in active parts of the brain – to see whether the responses differed.

Dr Nina Theysohn, who will present the research in Chicago on Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, said: "Activation of brain areas involved in pain perception was significantly reduced or modulated under acupuncture."

These areas included the contralateral supplementary motor area, somatosensory cortex, precuneus bilateral insula and ipsilateral somatomotor cortex. All are involved in pain perception.

The scans also showed that acupuncture worked as a placebo, said the researchers, affecting activity in areas that govern expectation and comprehension of pain such as the anterior insula.

Dr Theysohn said: "Acupuncture is supposed to act through at least two mechanisms—nonspecific expectancy-based effects and specific modulation of the incoming pain signal.

"Our findings support that both these nonspecific and specific mechanisms exist, suggesting that acupuncture can help relieve pain."

But Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, urged caution. www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8168134/Acupunctures-effect-isnt-just-psychological.html

 

Become a ski bum and enjoy integrative medicine:

Vail Integrative Medicine Group has announced it is moving into the Vail Athletic Club as part of the club’s multidisciplinary “Vitality Center.”

To celebrate, Vail Integrative Medicine Group is offering a free assessment and/or adjustment to either new clients or those who have not visited in at least three months.

Vail Integrative Medical Group provides medical neurology, chiropractic, physical therapy and massage therapy and has offices in Vail, Edwards and Eagle. To learn more, call 970-479-6262

Become a group leader in integrative medicine:

Therapist / Group Leader

 DO YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR MIND-BODY MEDICINE?

The Gawler Foundation has been a leader in Integrative Medicine for over 25 years and is renowned for its lifestyle programs with cancer, multiple sclerosis and wellness. If you have a passion for helping others and authenticity in your commitment to a healthy lifestyle and practice of meditation, the Foundation is offering a wonderful opportunity to work in this demanding but rewarding arena.

We are seeking an exceptional person to join our experienced team of therapists as a group leader and counselor to work in our residential programs in the Yarra Valley and non-residential programs in Melbourne. This position is part-time, the equivalent of 3 or 4 days per week and includes some evening and weekend work.

If you have relevant tertiary qualifications and a capacity to work as a generalist across a range of modalities relevant to Integrative Medicine and lifestyle programs, this position is of interest to you. Expertise in group leadership and counselling are essential.

For a position description or for further information please visit www.gawler.orgor contact Rudi at rudi@gawler.orgor 03 5967 1730. Please send applications to Ms Rudi Uriot, The Gawler Foundation, 55 Rayner Court, Yarra Junction VIC 3797

Breathing relieves stress!

There are plenty of ways to relieve stress — exercise, a long soak in a hot bath, or even a massage. But believe it or not, something you’re doing right now, probably without even thinking about it, is a proven stress reliever: breathing.

As it turns out, deep breathing is not only relaxing, it’s been scientifically proven to affect the heart, the brain, digestion, the immune system — and maybe even the expression of genes.

Mladen Golubic, a physician in the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine, says that breathing can have a profound impact on our physiology and our health.

"You can influence asthma; you can influence chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; you can influence heart failure," Golubic says. "There are studies that show that people who practice breathing exercises and have those conditions — they benefit."

He’s talking about modern science, but these techniques are not new. In India, breath work called pranayama is a regular part of yoga practice. Yoga practitioners have used pranayama, which literally means control of the life force, as a tool for affecting both the mind and body for thousands of years.

Take A Breath

Judi Bar teaches yoga to patients with chronic diseases at the Cleveland Clinic. Bar uses yoga and modifications of traditional yoga breathing exercises as a way to help them manage their pain and disease.

Meditation is good medicine:

Most of my colleagues are aware of my dedication to the practice of meditation as a part of treatment for many conditions. It is known that my hospital staff, family, friends and patients are encouraged to pursue meditation practice and it has been my experience that in practice it all makes sense.

It is not difficult to convince myself of the value of meditation. My greatest challenge is to constantly remind myself and to practice even when I have not had time to sleep. It makes sense as a physician and as a healthy human being that being calm and balancing the mind is a common source of happiness.

In integrative medicine, mind-body practices focus on the interactions among the brain (physical), mind and behaviour, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical functioning and promote health.

Meditation techniques include specific postures, focused attention or an open attitude toward distractions. People take part in the meditation process using certain techniques to suspend the stream of thoughts and relax the body and mind.

The goal is to increase calmness and relaxation, improve psychological balance, cope with illness, or enhance overall health and wellbeing.

Meditation is yoga for the mind. It is a way to stretch the boundaries of our minds in order to get a different view of life. We are much happier when we allow the words of the Buddha to enter our minds: "Reality as it is," he said, "not as we wish it to be…"

Allowing rather than wishing gives a gravitational centre in the wheel of life, around which we may spin without getting dizzy. Meditation takes the wobble out of life in that things may flow unobstructed.

Andy Weil gets out and speaks his mind:

Author and integrative medicine guru Dr. Andrew Weil is scheduled to speak at a free event at Tucson’s Fox Theatre next Wednesday night — Dec. 8 — at 6:30 p.m.

While there’s no charge to attend, seating is limited. Anyone wishing to attend is required to RSVP at cimdev@email.arizona.edu

Weil, a Tucson resident, will speak after a screening of the film The Science of Healing, which follows Dr. Esther Sternberg to a village in Greece, where her personal experience of the power of place in healing inspired research that led to this film.

She explores the ruins of ancient Greek healing temples and visits science labs. Her journey uncovers the scientific basis of the mind-body connection, and the role of environment and emotion in the healing process.

Sternberg, a well-known expert in the mind-body connection, is currently section Chief of Neuroendocrine Immunology and Behavior at the National Institute of Mental Health. She will also be at Wednesday’s event.

 CAM evidence is really good, one author asserts:

Conventional and integrative practitioners alike are striving to work with “evidence-based” care.  This is a great thing, but if you ask the typical doc in this country, they’ll likely say that conventional medicine has a great deal more science behind it than integrative and holistic practices.  However, according to Clincal Evidence, a website from the British Medical Journal, 51% of conventional practices have “unknown effectiveness” while only 33% are “beneficial” or “likely to have benefit”.  This site doesn’t rate practices typically used by integrative holistic physicians, so a head-to-head comparison isn’t possible, but the text Integrative Medicine edited by David Rakel, MD lists interventions by degree of evidence, and many of the techniques and practices listed have at least as good (or better) stats than listed on Clinical Evidence.

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Our law office has attorneys with legal experience in FDA matters, including guiding clients involved in health care delivery, group medical and private medical practice, who are concerned about issues at the interface of federal and state law, concerned about medical board discipline or medical malpractice liability issues.  We also review and draft informed consent forms and guide clients concerning a variety of health care law issues.

If you have legal questions concerning telemedicine and telehealth practices, HIPAA legal issues, health care reform questions, or other health law matters in New York, California, Massachusetts, Washington DC, and other states, contact a lawyer who knows the rules.

Consult an experienced health care law attorney who knows complementary medicine and integrative medicine for legal advice pertaining to any project involving allied health or CAM professionals.

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Healthcare & FDA attorney Michael H. Cohen is a thought leader in healthcare law & FDA law, pioneering legal strategies in healthcare. wellness, and lifestyle markets. As a corporate and transactional lawyer, FDA regulatory attorney who also handles healthcare litigation, healthcare mediation and healthcare arbitration, and international healthcare & wellness law speaker, Los Angeles / Bay Area healthcare & FDA lawyer Michael H. Cohen represents conscious business leaders in a transformational era. Clients seek healthcare & FDA attorney Michael H. Cohen‘s legal savvy on all aspects of business law, healthcare law, and FDA law, including:

Whether advising start-ups or established companies, Los Angeles / San Francisco / Bay Area healthcare & FDA attorney Michael H. Cohen brings his entrepreneurial spirit and caring insight to cutting-edge legal and regulatory challenges. The Michael H. Cohen Law Group counsels healthcare practices, entities, and companies, such as clinical laboratories, physicians, psychologists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, nurses, healers, medical spas, sleep centers, addiction treatment centers, surgery centers, anti-aging centers, integrative medicine clinics, anti-aging practices, mental and behavioral health counselors, medical service organizations, telemedicine and mobile (m-health) companies, online health ventures, stem cell and cord blood entities; and other health and wellness enterprises. Healthcare and FDA lawyer Michael H. Cohen is admitted to practice in California, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington, D.C. Our clientele is national and international, and we also counsel healthcare and FDA clients in Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Sacramento, San Bernadino, Alameda, Contra Costa County, and other California cities and counties. Contact our Los Angeles, Ventura County, & San Francisco Bay Area FDA & healthcare attorneys today if you need a telemedicine lawyer, concierge medicine lawyer, HIPAA lawyer, FDA lawyer or FDA regulatory consultant (dietary supplements, medical devices, cosmetics, OTC drugs), advertising compliance lawyer, healthcare mediator or arbitrator, concierge medicine attorney, management services organization attorney, or other specialized healthcare legal advice or FDA regulatory consulting.

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