Acupuncture improves quality of life for breast cancer patients using aromatase inhibitors

Posted By News On July 30, 2014 - 6:00am

PHILADELPHIA – Use of electroacupuncture (EA) – a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles – produces significant improvements in fatigue, anxiety and depression in as little as eight weeks for early stage breast cancer patients experiencing joint pain related to the use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) to treat breast cancer. The results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial examining the intervention led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania are published online this week in the journal Cancer. The study is the first demonstration of EA's efficacy for both joint pain relief, as well as these other common symptoms.

The results build upon earlier findings reported in November 2013, showing that EA can decrease the joint pain reported by roughly 50 percent of breast cancer patients taking AIs – the most-commonly prescribed medications to prevent disease recurrence among post-menopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Despite their efficacy, the joint pain associated with the use of AIs often leads to fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances for these patients, which researchers suggest may cause premature discontinuation of the drug. Previous studies have shown that nearly half of women taking AIs do not complete their recommended course of treatment, and that those who stop taking the drugs or don't take them as prescribed have a higher chance of dying of both breast cancer and other causes.

"Since many patients experience pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression simultaneously, our results provide an opportunity to offer patients one treatment that may target multiple symptoms," said lead author Jun Mao, MD MSCE, associate professor of Family Medicine and Community Health in Penn's Perelman School of Medicine, who directs the Integrative Oncology program in the Abramson Cancer Center. "We see patients every day who are looking for ways to combat some of the side effects of their treatment. What is particularly significant about these new results is that we can now offer more evidence-based treatment and management solutions for these women."

In the eight-week trial, researchers evaluated the short-term effects and safety of EA for AI-related joint pain and other side effects, compared with sham acupuncture (SA – a non-electric, placebo acupuncture where the needles are not actually inserted into the skin), and usual care. The study participants, who were all receiving AI therapy and experiencing joint pain, were randomly assigned to receive EA, SA or usual care. Patient-reported experiences of fatigue and psychological distress, were measured prior to the study, and periodically throughout the duration, with additional follow-up four weeks after treatment.

• Fatigue: Compared with usual care, patients receiving EA had a greater reduction in the fatigue score at week eight and the effect was maintained at week 12. On average, patients reported a 2.0 point reduction in fatigue on the Brief Fatigue Inventory, an instrument designed to assess fatigue severity on a numerical scale ranging from 0-10.
• Anxiety: By week 12, patients receiving EA reported a significant improvement in their anxiety score, whereas patients receiving SA did not. On average, patients in the EA group reported a 2.2 point reduction in anxiety on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) compared to the usual care group.
• Depression: Patients in both EA and SA groups reported a significant improvement in HADS-Depression scores (2.4 points and 2.0 points, respectively) compared with the usual care group by week eight. The effects of both EA and SA on depression were maintained at week 12.

"Our study provides a novel understanding of how fatigue, sleep and psychological distress relate to pain in patients with AI-related joint pain. More importantly, we found that acupuncture helped reduce these symptoms and the effects persisted for at least four weeks following treatment," said Mao. "There is a small but growing body of literature showing that acupuncture is effective for the management of pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression. However, studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to provide more in-depth knowledge about how these treatments, combined with usual care, are improving quality of life for our patients."

 

Source: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Katy Perry Feasts on Acupuncture-Treated Sushi

There is such a thing as acupuncture-treated sushi and Katy Perry is proud to say she’s tried it. It's an interesting way to spice up your average sushi meal.

Katy Perry took to Twitter on last Monday to reveal that she feasted on "acupuncture-treated fish" while dining with couple Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka at Park Restaurant in Montreal, Canada.

Chef Antonio Park, who prepared the tasty meal for the trio, shared a photo with his celebrity guests on Instagram, clearly elated by the A-list company.

"What a day!!!! I would like to thank my friend @instagranph & @davidburtka for coming together with @katyperry! It was an honour and pleasure to cook for you guys! #restaurantpark #parkrestaurant #fortheloveofthegame #famous #hollywood," the sushi master captioned the cute pic.

Perry, who was dressed in a fitted silk gown with a colorful Las Vegas-inspired pattern, was obviously impressed with the dinner and didn't hesitate to brag about her mouth-watering meal on social media.

"Had the best sushi/wagyu from @ChefAntonioPark. The wagyu was flown in this morning from JPN & the fish had previously had acupuncture #fancy," she wrote before adding, "Also foodie kings @ActuallyNPH & @Davidburtka brought me here so durh."

While acupuncture-treated fish may seem like an odd delicacy, the practice is actually more common than you may think, as it allows the freshest fish to be transported directly from Japan.

The technique is further detailed on the restaurant's website, which explains how  "fishermen insert needles so that the trauma of death is avoided, allowing the cut to remain exceptionally tender."

 And apparently, Perry felt inspired by the acupuncture-treated fish, as she opted to test out the practice, which involves the insertion of extremely thin needles throughout one's skin to target specific points on the body.

"Getting ready for you Montreal!" the 29-year-old pop star captioned her latest Instagram pic, in which she's lying face down, mid-treatment.

Acupuncture Lowers Blood Pressure

By HealthCMi, www.healthcmi.com | July 8, 2014

New research finds acupuncture effective for reducing high blood pressure and preventing damage to the kidneys. Acupoint LI11 LocationIn a controlled laboratory experiment, researchers applied two acupuncture points to laboratory rats with hypertension and renal interstitial fibrosis, a kidney disease characterized by destruction of the renal tubules and capillaries. Acupuncture “significantly decreased” blood pressure and decreased “damage of kidney morphology.”

 Three groups were compared. Group 1 received acupuncture. Group 2 was a control group and group 3 received pharmaceutical medication. The drug group received perindopril, an ACE inhibitor used for the treatment of high blood pressure and other forms of heart disease. The acupuncture group received electroacupuncture at LI11 (Quchi) and ST36 (Zusanli) for a period of 20 minutes, once per day. Blood pressure, kidney morphology, optical densities of kidney collagen with immunohistochemistry, and expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method changes were measured.

The acupuncture group had similar results as the medication group in that TGF-beta1 mRNA expression was decreased. The acupuncture group showed significantly lower blood pressure and less pathological structural changes to the kidneys. The pathological depositional area of collagen in the acupuncture group also showed clinical benefits with a significant reduction of both type I and type III collagen. The researchers concluded that acupuncture at LI11 and ST36 “probably intervenes the process of RIF (renal interstitial fibrosis) by reducing synthesis of kidney type I, III collagen and restraining expression of TGF-beta1.”

This new research supports research released last month. Investigators measured the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of hypertension in a human clinical case study. Two acupuncture points were identical across both studies: ST36, LI11. Additionally, the human study included LI4, ST9, CV6, CV6 and SP6. The patient showed significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Another recent investigation conducted jointly at the University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, Irvine uncovered how acupuncture lowers blood pressure. The investigators discovered that acupuncture reduces hypertension by stimulating brain neurons to decrease neural activity in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) to stimulate a decrease in SNS activity thereby reducing blood pressure.

The UC (University of California) researchers “have shown that electroacupuncture stimulation activates neurons in the arcuate nucleus, ventrolateral gray, and nucleus raphe to inhibit the neural activity in the rVLM in a model of visceral reflex stimulation-induced hypertension.” The UC researchers concluded that acupuncture reduces hypertension through downregulation of excess sympathetic nerve activity.

Three acupuncture groups were compared. Group 1 received electroacupuncture at P5, P6, LI10 and LI11. Group 2 received LI4, LU7, ST36 and ST37 electroacupuncture stimulation. Both groups showed decreases in hypertension with group 1 showing the greatest reduction in blood pressure. Group 3 received electroacupuncture at LI6, LI7, K1, UB67. This group did not have the clinical benefits as in groups 1 and 2. As a result, the researchers conclude that electroacupuncture is effective in the reduction of hypertension and the effects are point specific.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., successfully treats high blood pressure using acupuncture techniques. Give him a call today!

VA Hospital Tries Alternatives To Pain Medications

The Veterans Hospital in White River Junction is trying out new programs designed to relieve pain without strong medications. VA doctors are now prescribing acupuncture, yoga and aquatic therapy as alternatives. 

 Acupuncture has not yet been fully integrated into the hospital’s menu of treatment options, but for about six months now, Dr. Freda Dreher has been inserting sterile needles not much thicker than a human hair into a few people looking for pain relief.

“So I will start with a needle right at the shoulder that’s been painful,” she said to Carol Hitchcock, Executive Assistant to the hospital Director.
Hitchcock is a veteran who has served in Afghanistan, but her excruciating shoulder injury resulted from a motorcycle accident many years ago.

“It just hurt so bad that I couldn’t do anything, and I tend to be pretty tolerant, but I couldn’t tolerate it any more,” Hitchcock recalled.

But she didn’t want to take powerful, potentially addicting pain killers either, especially since there is so much concern about opioids. So about once a month - it used to be once a week - she comes into this examining room and sits or lies down on a table to get non-medicinal relief.

After Dr. Dreher inserted about a half dozen micro-thin needles into her arm, the patient looked and sounded more relaxed.

“I sleep, which I hadn’t done for a number of years,” Hitchcock said. “I can actually sleep now because of this. The pain is not there. I guess it’s cyclical, right? So I feel better, so I am healthier, so I sleep better and my weight is under control now, so everything just aligns."
Sometimes, Hitchcock said, the pain disappears instantly. Other times, as on this day, it slowly wanes through the day.

“So right this second, I don’t feel any different, but the whole health approach is amazing. Changed my life,” Hitchcock said.

The VA is also trying to change lives and reduce opioid dependence with other techniques. Therapists say aquatic physical therapy is bringing results.

So is yoga.

In a large conference room, three Vietnam-era veterans sat cross-legged on rubber mats as instructor Brianna Renner—a former Marine--lead them through assorted poses.

“So welcome everybody, we’ll start by finding a comfortable seated position. Any there any areas you guys want to work on today?” Renner asked them.

“Body and mind,” came a voice from the back.

“Body and mind - that narrows it down,” Renner chuckled.

Collectively, these men have been suffering from back injuries and surgeries, depression, and arthritis. Some are taking prescribed pain pills but they would like to take fewer - or none.
Those are laudable goals, says Julie Franklin, an anesthesiologist who practices pain management at the VA Hospital.

 

A 2012 article in the Journal of American Medicine concludes that veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan with mental health diagnoses, including PTSD, were especially likely to receive opioids for pain, even though that population is also at the highest risk for abusing those drugs.

“Patients who are addicted or who have problematic opioid use need to be helped to reduce or come off medication that actually may be providing more harm than good for that patient,” Franklin said.
A 2012 article in the Journal of American Medicine concludes that veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan with mental health diagnoses, including PTSD, were especially likely to receive opioids for pain, even though that population is also at the highest risk for abusing those drugs.

At the VA Hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock medical residents are observing the alternative therapies for possible use with civilians. They say no one sees acupuncture or yoga as overnight solutions, but they would like to see more patients give them a try.

Those who do will be tracked, so that the Hospital can determine whether alternative methods do a similar job as prescription medicines.

Read more on Eagle Acupuncture's website!

Acupuncture Helping Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

The movie "The Hurt Locker," which won the Best Picture Oscar in 2008, helped portray what our veterans are being exposed to during wartime. It's easy to see, through the lens of a camera, why we see traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurring at such high rates. TBI is defined as a non-degenerative, non-congenital insult to the brain from an external mechanical force, leading to possible concussion, skull fractures, internal hemorrhage, or other internal injuries. This may result in permanent or temporary impairment of cognitive, physical, and psychosocial functions, with an associated diminished or altered state of consciousness.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., of  Eagle Acupuncture, treats veterans for multiple conditions

Veterans are at high-risk for TBI, and blast-related concussions because of the frequent exposure to improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers, land mines, mortar rounds, and rocket-propelled grenades. These types of injuries account for upwards of 65 percent of combat injuries, and of these, 60 percent of theses vets have symptoms of TBI. Symptoms can be mild to severe. Mild symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, lack of concentration, irritability, sleep problems, balance issues, and ringing in the ears. More severe symptoms include being easily confused, forgetful, and troubled with constant and intense headaches. Difficulty with speech and difficulty with decision making are also common symptoms that require ongoing rehabilitation. Many of these symptoms are debilitating.

Too often, these returning veterans are unemployable, and unable to attend school for re-training. This presents a tough challenge for a young veteran who has his or her whole life ahead of them upon returning. Medical treatment often consists of rehabilitation, mental health counseling, vocational rehabilitation, and group therapy. Patients can be on a long list of medications to treat the various symptoms. Common medications are antidepressant, sleep aides, migraine medications, anti-seizure medications, and narcotics.

At the George E. Whalen Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in Salt Lake City, Utah, acupuncture is being used to provide some relief to these patients. Acupuncture has become one component of the Integrative Medicine program being offered, under the umbrella of Holistic Medicine. Patients are seen on an outpatient basis, where they are being treated for a variety of health issues, including, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. With the use of even a few basic points, patients are reporting a decrease in the intensity of their headaches, better sleep, and an ability to cope on a daily basis.

One patient ("Jim") came to the acupuncture clinic for treatment of severe headaches and sleeplessness. Jim, a 27-year-old Iraq war vet, got caught in crossfire in 2003. A bullet entered his helmet, but did not penetrate his skull. The blast resulted in a blood clot located in the parietal area of his brain. For the first year, Jim's words were slurred and his concentration and short-term memory adversely affected. He reports developing severe, debilitating headaches, which he describes "helmet-like." He's haunted by nightmares. This combination causes him to lose a lot of time at work, which results in some depression and worry over financial issues. After staff worked with Jim over several weeks, he began to respond, reporting a decrease in his headaches, better sleep, relaxation, and an ability to cope better with his chronic pain. He was also taught to use several of the points while at home, and finds this helpful in diminishing his headaches before they get too severe.

Acupuncture will not be able to provide a cure for Veterans with TBI, but it will give them some relief when used in conjunction with other medical treatments.

SOURCE: George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs, Salt Lake City, UT

Acupuncture Pain Killing Mystery Revealed

Researchers have discovered that acupuncture causes a special biochemical reaction that reduces inflammation and muscle pain. The study, published in Molecular Neurobiology, investigated the effects of needling one acupuncture point on the leg. The research team measured a remarkable effect. Acupuncture point SP6, Sanyinjiao, is depicted in this image. Manual acupuncture stimulation downregulated M1 macrophages (pro-inflammatory cells) and upregulated M2 macrophages (anti-inflammatory cells). As a result, acupuncture reduced pain and swelling.

Tony Burris, L.Ac., of Eagle Acupuncture, is a pain-relief specialist.

This neurobiological acupuncture continuing education study solves a great mystery, how does acupuncture work? The secret is in the biochemistry. M2 macrophages are an important source of IL-10 (interleukin-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in immune responses. Cytokines are proteins released by cells that regulate reactions between cells. Manual acupuncture successfully downregulates M1 macrophages and upregulates M2 macrophages thereby promoting the release of greater IL-10 concentrations. As a result of IL-10 release, pain and inflammation significantly reduce.

This study measured responses in muscle tissues and confirmed that M1 to M2 macrophage phenotype switching is triggered by acupuncture stimulation. Acupuncture literally flips a switch wherein initial inflammatory responses are reduced and the secondary healing responses are promoted. M1 macrophage downregulation and M2 macrophage upregulation triggered by acupuncture was positively associated with reductions in muscle pain and inflammation.

 The researchers tested the biochemical process by adding an IL-10 blocking agent in the laboratory experiment. When IL-10 was chemically blocked, acupuncture did not reduce pain and swelling. However, when no blocking agent was applied, acupuncture successfully reduced both pain and swelling. The M2 macrophage upregulation by manual acupuncture successfully created a greater source of IL-10. The researchers note, “These findings provide new evidence that MA (manual acupuncture) produces a phenotypic switch in macrophages and increases IL-10 concentrations in muscle to reduce pain and inflammation.”

Macrophages are required by the body to resolve muscle injury. During injury, M1 macrophages are produced and release inflammatory biochemicals including pro-inflammatory cytokines. M2 macrophages have anti-inflammatory properties and promote the release of interleukin-10. An injury process features an initial inflammatory stage wherein M1 pro-inflammatory macrophages are upregulated. A secondary recovery phase wherein M2 anti-inflammatory macrophages are upregulated helps to promote healing and repair. Manual acupuncture successfully triggered the phenotype switch wherein the M1 macrophages were downregulated and M1 macrophages were upregulated thereby allowing increased IL-10, reductions in pain and decreased swelling.

Acupuncture continuing education in the form of basic research and clinical medicine has helped to measure positive patient outcomes and the biochemical mechanisms by which acupuncture exerts its beneficial medical effects. This latest study helps to unlock one of the greatest secrets of acupuncture, how does it stop pain? Now, scientists can quantifiably measure specific biochemical processes triggered by acupuncture and the resultant positive health outcomes. Getting To The Point The acupuncture point tested in this investigation was SP6 (Sanyinjiao, Three Yin Intersection). SP6 is located 3 cun directly above the tip of the medial malleolus, on the posterior border of the medial aspect of the tibia. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, SP6 strengthens the spleen, transforms dampness, spreads liver qi and benefits the kidneys. SP6 indicated for the treatment of abdominal pain & distention, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, prolapse of the uterus, sterility, difficult or delayed labor, nocturnal emissions, enuresis, dysuria, lower limb atrophy or motor impairment, lower limb hemiplegia, vertigo due to blood deficiency and insomnia. SP6 is the meeting point of the three lower yin meridians: spleen, liver and kidney. A globe and DNA are represented here.


References: da Silva, Morgana D., Franciane Bobinski, Karina L. Sato, Sandra J. Kolker, Kathleen A. Sluka, and Adair RS Santos. "IL-10 Cytokine Released from M2 Macrophages Is Crucial for Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Acupuncture in a Model of Inflammatory Muscle Pain." Molecular Neurobiology (2014): 1-13. Rafael Torres-Rosas, Ghassan Yehia, Geber Peña, Priya Mishra, Maria del Rocio Thompson-Bonilla, Mario Adán Moreno-Eutimio, Lourdes Andrea Arriaga-Pizano, Armando Isibasi, Luis Ulloa. Dopamine mediates vagal modulation of the immune system by electroacupuncture. Nature Medicine, 2014; DOI: 10.1038/nm.3479. Wang, Ying, Rebekka Gehringer, Shaaban A. Mousa, Dagmar Hackel, Alexander Brack, and Heike L. Rittner. "CXCL10 Controls Inflammatory Pain via Opioid Peptide-Containing Macrophages in Electroacupuncture." PloS one 9, no. 4 (2014): e94696. See more at Eagle Acupuncture's website!

Acupuncture Improves Head Trauma Recovery

New research finds acupuncture effective for regenerating brain tissue and restoring motor and cognitive function after a severe head trauma. An investigative team at the Rehabilitation Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University (Shaanxi) compared acupuncture combined with standard care with a control group receiving only standard medical interventions. The addition of acupuncture therapy to the conventional regime of care significantly reduced complications and improved the survival rate. The acupuncture group significantly outperformed the control group in all scales and indices. Acupoints of the head are depicted in this model. Notably, the acupuncture group demonstrated superior clinical outcomes including better mobility, cognitive function and improved functions of daily activities and living.

Tony Burris, L.Ac. treats head trauma in many types of athletes.

 Severe head traumas cause diffuse axonal injury (DAI) in approximately half of all cases. This investigation focused on patients having had severe head traumas causing DAI. This type of injury is different than a blow to one area of the brain. It occurs throughout a wider area and is caused by the brain moving in the skull. This type of shaking of the brain occurs in sports injuries, automobile accidents, falls and shaken baby syndrome. The latter is a form of child abuse. As a result of the trauma, inflammation and damage to the brain ensues and many patients slip into a coma and do not revive.

 This study compared 60 diffuse axonal injury patients that were divided into two groups. The control group received standard biomedical interventions including hydration & bleeding controls, anti-inflammatory medications, resuscitation and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Other treatments provided to the control group were standard protocols for the treatment of respiratory and urinary disorders including infections and the treatment of ulcers. The acupuncture group received standard biomedical care plus acupuncture. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles of treatment included tonifying the kidneys, unblocking the yang and regulating qi. The researchers note that the success of the acupuncture therapy improved significantly when applied early as an intervention measure. In addition, acupuncture performed especially well for patients for resuscitation and in the recovery phase.

The researchers applied acupuncture to the Chong, Ren and Du acupuncture channels as the primary areas. Long courses of treatment were required and individual indications were treated on a case by case basis. Treatments focused on resuscitation, restoring movement after paralysis, relieving muscle tension, improving language skills, regulating salivation, relieving urinary and fecal incontinence, promoting eating, etc.

The researchers compared the data between the acupuncture and control groups ​24 hours before the treatment began and upon the completion of six courses of care. There was no significant difference in Fugl-Meyer Assessment, LOTCA Assessment, and Barthel Index prior to treatments. An ambulance in Hong Kong is depicted. After six courses of treatment, the control group showed some improvements according to above scales. Patients in the acupuncture group significantly outperformed those in the control group in all scales and indices mentioned above. Based on the clinical outcome, the researchers conclude that acupuncture combined with rehabilitation can significantly improve DAI patients’ mobility, cognitive competence and other functions in everyday life. Prior research was the impetus for this investigation.

Other studies demonstrated the ability of acupuncture to regulate cerebral blood flow and cell apoptosis, improve electrophysiological brain activity, improve cognitive function and protect tissues from free radical damage. Prior research demonstrated that acupuncture helped reduce edema of the brain (cephaledema) and promoted expression of GAP43 and PCNA in the brain. Also, acupuncture was shown to reduce infarct sizes due to cerebral ischemia. This and other clinical and basic research prompted the investigators to conduct this study. The findings demonstrate that a rigorous regime of acupuncture care is appropriate for patients with DAI and that the intervention should start in the early stages of illness to achieve the best possible clinical outcome.

 Reference: Deng, Jingyuan, Xiaodong Sheng, Zhonghua Wang, et al. “Efficacy of acupuncture combined with comprehensive rehabilitation on cerebral diffuse axonal injury.” Chinese Journal of Gerontology 33.20 (2013): 4972-4973. - See more at: http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1335-acupuncture-improves-head-trauma-recovery-new-research#sthash.Pnkjns1D.dpuf