Mesothelioma.com recognizes the value of acupuncture as an emerging therapy in palliative cancer care. Aggressive cancers, such as mesothelioma, can often be difficult to treat and often patients find any therapy which can induce comfort or relaxation most gratifying. Acupuncture is now widely being used not only in palliative mesothelioma treatment regimens, but for other cancers as well.

The following is a case study of a patient treated at the Advanced Allergy Therapeutics Clinic:

A 64-year old woman with a 15-year history of Irritable Bowel Syndrome experienced only minor improvement from treatments to various food allergies. She was advised to begin using digestive enzymes to assist with digestion. She had an immediate and severe reaction to one digestive enzymecapsule. This event suggested the possibility that inappropriate reactions may
occur from internal biological substances. The patient was tested for a sensitivity to her own digestive enzymes. She was then treated with Advanced Allergy Therapeutics for this sensitivity. One week later she reported that her 15-year IBS condition had resolved completely from the one treatment.

Chinese Medicine draws a link between some types of insomnia and the Heart. According to Chinese Medicine, sleep is dependent on the state of blood and yin, as they are the residence of the Mind. If they are deficient, then the Mind will wander during sleep, this we call insomnia.

A recent New York Times article suggests a link between sleeplessness and heart health. Essentially, lack of sleep may causes coronary calcifications. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study goes on to suggest that just one more hour of sleep could result in a 33% drop in calcification.

In terms of Chinese Medicine, this would make sense, as deficient blood health would result in problems with vasculature, especially coronary arteries.

If you or someone you know suffers from insomnia, please contact the office to schedule an appointment.

Recent research suggests acupuncture may provide relief to people afflicted with fibromyalgia. In a pair of studies by two separate research groups, similar results showed a significant improvement for participants in terms of pain and other symptoms. The positive results could lead to a greater acceptance of acupuncture from primary care physicians and specialists in musculoskeletal disorders who treat this common condition.

Although it is often difficult to diagnose, numbers show that close to 4 percent of the population suffers from fibromyalgia. Symptoms of the disease include widespread pain, fatigue and interruptions in sleep patterns, irritable bowel syndrome and headaches. Patients have also complained of depression, chest pains, dizziness, and anxiety. A specific cause for fibromyalgia is still unknown, but some factors that may contribute are chemical changes in the brain, an injury or trauma, or a viral or bacterial infection.

The first study1, led by Betsy B. Singh, PhD, from the Southern California University of Health Services, recruited 24 participants from the Orange County and Los Angeles areas. After a baseline assessment was completed, the candidates received 16 acupuncture treatments for eight weeks, with a three- to four-day break between treatments. The second study,2 headed up by David P. Martin, MD, PhD, from the Mayo Clinic, differed from Singh’s primarily in that it used a control group. The two groups, consisting of 25 applicants each, were treated six times within a two- to three-week period. Both groups’ acupoints were swabbed with alcohol and then covered with a bandage. The control group’s bandages were affixed with a needle that stuck out of the bandage but did not pierce the skin.

Although both studies showed marked improvement for the participants, the researchers emphasize that more studies need to be performed. The findings certainly provide positive evidence of the potential for acupuncture to effectively treat fibromyalgia. As research such as this continues to support the efficacy of acupuncture and Oriental medicine, it will open the door between Western and Eastern medicine a little wider.

Reference

1. Singh B, Wu Wen-Shuo, Hwang San Hong, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 2006;12(2):34-41.
2. Martin D P, Sletten C D, Williams B A, Berger I H. Improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms with acupuncture: results of a randomized controlled trial. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2006;81(6):749-757.

So many people ask me if acupuncture is covered by insurance that I thought I would post some information on the subject. The short answer is IT DEPENDS. It depends on the insurance policy you have purchased - or the policy purchased for you by your employer. Many insurance companies are now covering acupuncture but you really need to check with your carrier and get the details about your policy.

If you are someone taking charge of your healthcare, the last thing you need is a surprise bill in the mail because you were not sure what to expect from your insurance provider.
First, as a consumer of health insurance, you have a right to know what is covered on your policy. Your insurance card usually has a contact phone number on the back, call them directly and ask them the following questions:

1. Does my policy cover acupuncture treatments?

2. How many treatments are covered per year? In some cases there is no limit to the number of treatments, in other cases the provider may limit treatment to 10 or 20 total treatments in a plan year.
3. Does my policy cover 100% or some portion of the treatment? Somtimes, a policy will only cover 80% of the cost of the treatment, regardless of the cost.
4. Is there a deductible? A deductible is the portion not covered by the insurance coverage. For example, one person was told he had a $300 deductible. This means he has to submit $300 in acupuncture costs before the insurance company will pay for treatment.

5. Does my policy cover the condition for which I am seeking treatment.

Once you have these questions answered, you’ll be in a much better position to understand what your insurance coverage can do for you.

“I believe that the proper mix of proven complementary, traditional and modern remedies, which emphasizes the active participation of the patient, can help to create a powerful healing force in the world,” That’s not me talking that’s Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, addressing the World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of the 192 members of World Health Organization (WHO). Read more

The following is from the Journal of Chinese Medicine…

“An analysis of Canadian patients who had self-referred to acupuncturists for treatment for low back pain (LBP), found that they made significantly fewer visits to their physician for LBP care in the year following treatment (1.55 versus 4.45 in 1999, 1.41 versus 7.17 in 2000 and .86 versus 4.04 in 2001) compared to LBP sufferers who had not received acupuncture. They consequently required significantly less physician expenditure (around 25% of the cost of LBP care in the general population). (12th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care, 19-21 September 2005, Exeter, UK).”