In the US, physical therapists and other health care providers are trying to gain access to provide acupuncture without the same training required of Licensed Acupuncturists (L.Ac's). One of their tactics is to change the name of what they are doing- instead of calling it acupuncture, they will call it "dry needling" or "intra-muscular stimulation". L.Ac's know that what they are doing IS acupuncture and know that acupuncture should be left to those who are fully trained in its practice. There is now a debate about this in the US.
Who knows more about the practice of Acupuncture than the Asians, though? The Korean Supreme Court has just ruled that acupuncture, by any name, is the sole domain of practitioners of Oriental Medicine and that its practice by anyone other than Oriental Medical practitioners is illegal.
The following article is from the Korean Herald:
Should acupuncture be exclusive to Oriental medicine or a general practice for Western medics too?
The medical field is in uproar over the Supreme Court’s ruling that Western medical doctors’ practice of acupuncture-related IMS violates Medical Law. While some Western doctors claim that IMS is a legitimate Westernized form of acupuncture popular throughout the world, Oriental doctors are seeking to take the ruling as an opportunity to promote acupuncture as their exclusive domain.
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled against a doctor identified by his family name, Uhm, who had his license suspended for 45 days for using acupuncture needles on his patients in 2004. According to the court file, when a local public health care center and police investigated his clinic, seven patients were lying down with needles stuck all over their bodies under infrared lights irradiators.
“Since all the spots pinned were body energy meridians according to the Oriental medical books, the practice could be referred as an Oriental medical treatment, which is guaranteed to Oriental doctors only,” the court ruled, striking down a lower court’s decision in favor of the doctor who appealed the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s suspension of his license.
Uhm insisted that his practice was IMS, intramuscular stimulation. It is used as a treatment for chronic pain conditions that occur in the musculoskeletal system, according to the Sitka Physio & Wellness clinic’s definition.
IMS is grounded in Western medical science but is believed to be heavily inspired by the Oriental medicine, where it uses acupuncture needles to penetrate deep inside muscle tissues, to target injured muscles that have contracted due to distress. It has rapidly gained popularity among Western doctors, especially those dealing with spinal areas.
The Association of Korean Oriental Medicine on Friday welcomed the ruling.
“The court has showed that any acupuncture practice conducted by other than Oriental doctors is illegal,” the association spokesman Chang Dong-min said.
“For nearly a decade, the Western medicine has attempted to intrude the Oriental medical field in the name of IMS. It is time they showed modesty,” he added.
Some Western doctors admitted that Uhm’s deeds could be regarded as an illegal Oriental medical practice.
“All the needles were involved in meridians. Had his practice been based on muscles, joints and others as indicated by Western medicine, the ruling might have been different,” a member of the Korean Society for Anesthetic Pharmacology was quoted by saying to a local daily.
The Korean Medical Association, the largest interest group of doctors, also requested the government screen the effect of the IMS practice.
“The government should make the final call. The ruling was all about whether Uhm’s individual practice was illegal, not the legitimacy of IMS itself,” the KMA stated.
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldm.com)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Acupuncture helps stroke recovery, study finds
Taipei, April 21 (CNA) Acupuncture stimulation could help the blood circulation in patients who have suffered strokes, according to a recent study conducted by a team of local doctors.
The study, published in the March edition of Microvascular Research, documented the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on 18 Taiwanese patients who had suffered strokes, Taipei City Hospital said.
The patients, all in the rehabilitation stage, received acupuncture in certain areas associated with improved blood flow and were later tested for changes, said Chen Chao-tsung, the director of traditional Chinese medicine at the hospital.
The results showed that acupuncture can decrease blood flow resistance and increase microcirculatory blood flow, a situation that is deemed helpful for the recovery of stroke patients, he said.
“Many Chinese people have trust in the effectiveness of acupuncture, but there has been little supporting evidence, aside from patients’testimony,”he said.
“The main contribution of this research was its evaluation of acupuncture therapy in a scientific way,”the doctor said.
The next step would be to come up with more scientific evidence to explain how acupuncture stimulation can be used to supplement Western treatments for stroke, he said.
The study was based on a trial launched by the Department of Health to combine oriental and western therapy. Patients in the trial can ask their doctors to refer them to Chinese medicine doctors and receive treatment at a reduced cost.
The study, published in the March edition of Microvascular Research, documented the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on 18 Taiwanese patients who had suffered strokes, Taipei City Hospital said.
The patients, all in the rehabilitation stage, received acupuncture in certain areas associated with improved blood flow and were later tested for changes, said Chen Chao-tsung, the director of traditional Chinese medicine at the hospital.
The results showed that acupuncture can decrease blood flow resistance and increase microcirculatory blood flow, a situation that is deemed helpful for the recovery of stroke patients, he said.
“Many Chinese people have trust in the effectiveness of acupuncture, but there has been little supporting evidence, aside from patients’testimony,”he said.
“The main contribution of this research was its evaluation of acupuncture therapy in a scientific way,”the doctor said.
The next step would be to come up with more scientific evidence to explain how acupuncture stimulation can be used to supplement Western treatments for stroke, he said.
The study was based on a trial launched by the Department of Health to combine oriental and western therapy. Patients in the trial can ask their doctors to refer them to Chinese medicine doctors and receive treatment at a reduced cost.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Free fertility boot camp
If you are in Chicago and are trying to conceive, you have to jump on this one.
In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, my wife, Jeanie Bussell (one of the top fertility acupuncturists in the country) and the Tiffani Kim Institute (one of the first and best medical spas in the country) are presenting the Fertility Boot Camp, Saturday April 30th, from 9-4. Call 312-260-9020 right now and sign up, then read the rest of this post.
This one-day retreat features experts in the fields of Reproductive Endocrinology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Urology, Oriental Medicine, Nutrition, Psychology, and more. This program has been offered in the past and the reviews were glowing. Participants loved the fact that this retreat is so intimate and personal. You don't have to share your story if you don't want to, but past participants really bonded. And over 60% of past participants conceived within 6 months! This event is open to both women and men.
Fertility-friendly snacks and lunch will be provided. In the past, this retreat cost nearly $200. For National Infertility Awareness Week, they are offering it for FREE. Space is limited and this class will fill up, so call and reserve your spot today.
Details: Where? Tiffani Kim Institute, 310 W. Superior in Chicago
When? Saturday, April 30th, 2011 from 9-4
Cost? Free
Register? Call 312-260-9020 now
In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, my wife, Jeanie Bussell (one of the top fertility acupuncturists in the country) and the Tiffani Kim Institute (one of the first and best medical spas in the country) are presenting the Fertility Boot Camp, Saturday April 30th, from 9-4. Call 312-260-9020 right now and sign up, then read the rest of this post.
This one-day retreat features experts in the fields of Reproductive Endocrinology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Urology, Oriental Medicine, Nutrition, Psychology, and more. This program has been offered in the past and the reviews were glowing. Participants loved the fact that this retreat is so intimate and personal. You don't have to share your story if you don't want to, but past participants really bonded. And over 60% of past participants conceived within 6 months! This event is open to both women and men.
Fertility-friendly snacks and lunch will be provided. In the past, this retreat cost nearly $200. For National Infertility Awareness Week, they are offering it for FREE. Space is limited and this class will fill up, so call and reserve your spot today.
Details: Where? Tiffani Kim Institute, 310 W. Superior in Chicago
When? Saturday, April 30th, 2011 from 9-4
Cost? Free
Register? Call 312-260-9020 now
Friday, April 8, 2011
Stroke recovery
I have a patient who at age 58 suffered a debilitating stroke. This was two years ago. Since then, his ability to walk has been severely impaired by lack of strength and poor balance. His right hand is contorted like a lobster claw- he cannot use the fingers independently and frequently he would have cramping pain in the hand that required he take narcotic medication. But worst of all is that he has aphasia. He cannot express himself. His only words are "oh" and "why". He also has trouble understanding questions and instructions. His wife brought him to me to try and help the pain in his hand.
After 3 weeks of twice-weekly treatment, he is improving. He can now move all his fingers independently. He requires medication for the pain less frequently, and when he does need it, tylenol is sufficient to relieve the pain and he no longer needs narcotics. His balance is better and he can walk further and more steadily. Yesterday in speech therapy, he said the first full sentence since his stroke two years ago.
We still have a long way to go, but this is very encouraging, especially considering that it has been so long since his stroke. There is a documentary out now called "9000 needles" about a man who goes to China for his stroke rehab and makes an amazing recovery. If you know anyone who has suffered a stroke, suggest to them that they get acupuncture. In China, stroke's are not such a big deal as they are here.
In the Chicagoland area, you can see me at A Center for Oriental Medicine in Wilmette, and at the Tiffani Kim Institute in Chicago's River North area.
After 3 weeks of twice-weekly treatment, he is improving. He can now move all his fingers independently. He requires medication for the pain less frequently, and when he does need it, tylenol is sufficient to relieve the pain and he no longer needs narcotics. His balance is better and he can walk further and more steadily. Yesterday in speech therapy, he said the first full sentence since his stroke two years ago.
We still have a long way to go, but this is very encouraging, especially considering that it has been so long since his stroke. There is a documentary out now called "9000 needles" about a man who goes to China for his stroke rehab and makes an amazing recovery. If you know anyone who has suffered a stroke, suggest to them that they get acupuncture. In China, stroke's are not such a big deal as they are here.
In the Chicagoland area, you can see me at A Center for Oriental Medicine in Wilmette, and at the Tiffani Kim Institute in Chicago's River North area.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Acupuncture no better than placebo???
You must be wary of studies that make such bold conclusions. This article will discuss problems with research into acupuncture.
There is a fundamental incompatibility with using Western methods to evaluate Eastern techniques. In the West, the gold-standard of research is the Randomized, Controlled,double-blind Trial (RCT). In this design, subjects are randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group that receives either no treatment or a placebo. There are concerns that if patients know that they are receiving the real treatment, that this expectation could alter their response (they think they should be getting better and therefore do get better, independent of the treatment they receive). This is why the patients are blinded- that is they don't know whether or not they are receiving the real treatment. And the subjects in the control group do not know that they are not receiving a real treatment. There is also concern about the influence that the treatment provider can have if he or she knows who is receiving the real treatment vs. placebo. If I know you are getting the real treatment, I may treat you differently somehow and that could alter your response. For this reason, the one providing the treatment is also blinded. This is what they mean by a double-blind study. Both the person receiving the treatment and the one administering the treatment do not know who is getting the real thing and who is getting placebo. This design works best for pills. It is arguably impossible to use this model for acupuncture research.
But the RCT not the only way to determine something's effectiveness. I have read skeptic columns who assert that the lack of RCT evidence is PROOF that acupuncture does not work by anything more than placebo. My response to this is, "Can someone show me the RCT that show's that hip replacements work? If not, then any benefit that the patients experience must be due to expectations." Think about it; it is impossible for a surgeon to do the procedure and not know whether or not she performed the real replacement. Hip replacements have helped a lot of people and we don't need an RCT to prove it.
I find the placebo argument amusing. Although the number of skeptics has dropped significantly over the past 15 years (with the Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins, the World Health Organization, the National Institute of Health, and the American Medical Association all concluding that acupuncture DOES work), there are still a few die-hard skeptics that insist that acupuncture only works as a placebo. Most patients do not come to acupuncture as a first-line approach to a problem. For low back pain, a lot of my patients will start with over-the-counter medication, then see a physician, then physical therapy, then a chiropractor, and then finally come to see us. And then 90% of our back pain patients experience relief. For the placebo hypothesis to hold up, that patient must have had no faith that medication, Western orthopedics, physical therapy NOR chiropractic could possibly help them. But for some reason, they were sure that the acupuncture (their fifth choice) would be effective. I'm confident you see the flaws in that logic. Why do acupuncturists give the best placebo? If it is truly that we take more time with our patients and that alone truly improves patient outcomes, then don't all physicians then have the obligation to provide this "placebo" care?
Another argument against the placebo hypothesis regards animal acupuncture. There are points that, when stimulated, produce measurable changes in animal physiology. For example, there are points that will increase the t-cell counts of rats. Even skeptical rats experience this improvement. The camel at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago had an arthritic hip a few years ago and could not run. She was treated with acupuncture and was soon running again. This story was covered in the Chicago Tribune and the WGN news. Again, this was a skeptical camel. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-09-08/news/0409080104_1_animal-acupuncture-camel-lincoln-park-zoo
But there are studies out there with headlines that read, "Acupuncture no better than placebo". First let's talk about what is placebo acupuncture. In fact, it does not exist. One method that researchers (usually MD's and not acupuncturists) use is called "Sham Acupuncture" where they pretend to put a needle into an acupoint but do not insert it all the way. Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture typically inserts needles, but not all forms of acupuncture do. Japanese style frequently uses this superficial technique and get great results.
The other method of "placebo" acupuncture is to do traditional needling at points other than the main acupuncture points, which I will call "wrong point" acupuncture. There is no spot on the body that is energetically inert. Every point will fall within an acupuncture meridian's path and inserting a needle there will affect the physiology. There was one study I read that found that "real acupuncture" was 50% effective in treating back pain, "wrong point" acupuncture was 40% effective, and standard Western care was 13% effective. The conclusion: Acupuncture does not work, because real acupuncture was not significantly more effective than "placebo". My take on this data is: one set of points helps 40% of people, another set of points helps 50%, and both are more effective than Western care. This is like saying Vicodin doesn't work because it was not significantly more effective than Ibuprofen. What they call "placebo" is not a true placebo.
And lastly, a big problem is that the RCT treats everyone the same. Chinese medicine treats everyone individually. If I have to treat everyone the same in a study, I am not practicing Chinese medicine and the results say nothing about Chinese Medicine's effectiveness. If the study does not show benefit, then the conclusion is: "This set of points does not work for everyone". And every acupuncturist already knows that using the same points for everyone will not be effective.
So don't worry about the studies that try to discredit acupuncture. For some reason, most of the literature that is arging against acupuncture is coming from the UK lately. There seems to be a real campaign to deter people from using natural (translated - affordable) remedies. Believe in the Billions of people who know first-hand that it does work. Of course it does not work for everyone, nothing does. But it's safe, effective, and should be our first line of defense. If it doesn't help, then you can proceed to the newer, less-studied, and riskier pharmaceutical and surgical interventions.
--
Jason Bussell MSOM, L.Ac
President Emeritus - IL Assn of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
There is a fundamental incompatibility with using Western methods to evaluate Eastern techniques. In the West, the gold-standard of research is the Randomized, Controlled,double-blind Trial (RCT). In this design, subjects are randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group that receives either no treatment or a placebo. There are concerns that if patients know that they are receiving the real treatment, that this expectation could alter their response (they think they should be getting better and therefore do get better, independent of the treatment they receive). This is why the patients are blinded- that is they don't know whether or not they are receiving the real treatment. And the subjects in the control group do not know that they are not receiving a real treatment. There is also concern about the influence that the treatment provider can have if he or she knows who is receiving the real treatment vs. placebo. If I know you are getting the real treatment, I may treat you differently somehow and that could alter your response. For this reason, the one providing the treatment is also blinded. This is what they mean by a double-blind study. Both the person receiving the treatment and the one administering the treatment do not know who is getting the real thing and who is getting placebo. This design works best for pills. It is arguably impossible to use this model for acupuncture research.
But the RCT not the only way to determine something's effectiveness. I have read skeptic columns who assert that the lack of RCT evidence is PROOF that acupuncture does not work by anything more than placebo. My response to this is, "Can someone show me the RCT that show's that hip replacements work? If not, then any benefit that the patients experience must be due to expectations." Think about it; it is impossible for a surgeon to do the procedure and not know whether or not she performed the real replacement. Hip replacements have helped a lot of people and we don't need an RCT to prove it.
I find the placebo argument amusing. Although the number of skeptics has dropped significantly over the past 15 years (with the Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins, the World Health Organization, the National Institute of Health, and the American Medical Association all concluding that acupuncture DOES work), there are still a few die-hard skeptics that insist that acupuncture only works as a placebo. Most patients do not come to acupuncture as a first-line approach to a problem. For low back pain, a lot of my patients will start with over-the-counter medication, then see a physician, then physical therapy, then a chiropractor, and then finally come to see us. And then 90% of our back pain patients experience relief. For the placebo hypothesis to hold up, that patient must have had no faith that medication, Western orthopedics, physical therapy NOR chiropractic could possibly help them. But for some reason, they were sure that the acupuncture (their fifth choice) would be effective. I'm confident you see the flaws in that logic. Why do acupuncturists give the best placebo? If it is truly that we take more time with our patients and that alone truly improves patient outcomes, then don't all physicians then have the obligation to provide this "placebo" care?
Another argument against the placebo hypothesis regards animal acupuncture. There are points that, when stimulated, produce measurable changes in animal physiology. For example, there are points that will increase the t-cell counts of rats. Even skeptical rats experience this improvement. The camel at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago had an arthritic hip a few years ago and could not run. She was treated with acupuncture and was soon running again. This story was covered in the Chicago Tribune and the WGN news. Again, this was a skeptical camel. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-09-08/news/0409080104_1_animal-acupuncture-camel-lincoln-park-zoo
But there are studies out there with headlines that read, "Acupuncture no better than placebo". First let's talk about what is placebo acupuncture. In fact, it does not exist. One method that researchers (usually MD's and not acupuncturists) use is called "Sham Acupuncture" where they pretend to put a needle into an acupoint but do not insert it all the way. Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture typically inserts needles, but not all forms of acupuncture do. Japanese style frequently uses this superficial technique and get great results.
The other method of "placebo" acupuncture is to do traditional needling at points other than the main acupuncture points, which I will call "wrong point" acupuncture. There is no spot on the body that is energetically inert. Every point will fall within an acupuncture meridian's path and inserting a needle there will affect the physiology. There was one study I read that found that "real acupuncture" was 50% effective in treating back pain, "wrong point" acupuncture was 40% effective, and standard Western care was 13% effective. The conclusion: Acupuncture does not work, because real acupuncture was not significantly more effective than "placebo". My take on this data is: one set of points helps 40% of people, another set of points helps 50%, and both are more effective than Western care. This is like saying Vicodin doesn't work because it was not significantly more effective than Ibuprofen. What they call "placebo" is not a true placebo.
And lastly, a big problem is that the RCT treats everyone the same. Chinese medicine treats everyone individually. If I have to treat everyone the same in a study, I am not practicing Chinese medicine and the results say nothing about Chinese Medicine's effectiveness. If the study does not show benefit, then the conclusion is: "This set of points does not work for everyone". And every acupuncturist already knows that using the same points for everyone will not be effective.
So don't worry about the studies that try to discredit acupuncture. For some reason, most of the literature that is arging against acupuncture is coming from the UK lately. There seems to be a real campaign to deter people from using natural (translated - affordable) remedies. Believe in the Billions of people who know first-hand that it does work. Of course it does not work for everyone, nothing does. But it's safe, effective, and should be our first line of defense. If it doesn't help, then you can proceed to the newer, less-studied, and riskier pharmaceutical and surgical interventions.
--
Jason Bussell MSOM, L.Ac
President Emeritus - IL Assn of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Invited to participate in the National Headache Foundation conference
I was honored to be invited as the only acupuncturist involved with this year's Midwest Regional conference of the National Headache Foundation. The event will be June 25th, 2011 at the Marriott Hotel in Downtown Chicago. If you suffer from chronic headaches, check out the NHF at http://www.headaches.org/ and come to the conference.
Thank you to the organizers for inviting me. I look forward to educating the public and the doctors about how acupuncture can help ease the suffering from headaches.
Thank you to the organizers for inviting me. I look forward to educating the public and the doctors about how acupuncture can help ease the suffering from headaches.
Monday, March 21, 2011
an email sent to me about The Asian Diet
Dear Mr Bussell,
I stumbled on your book at the Pilates Center on Morse Avenue in Chicago and read it within a week. I love how you break down the different functions of each food item we eat and the yin and yang. I just bought my first home and have no clue which box I packed it in and my issues are surfacing again. I would love to schedule a session with you. I am a 31 year old fairly healthy 130lb female who is lactose intolerant and who just realized eating healthy is key (as I have a family history of breast cancer and diabetes). So any tips would be appreciated. Thanks a lot for your help and for sharing your knowledge in your book "The Asian Diet", it definitely made an impact on my life.
I stumbled on your book at the Pilates Center on Morse Avenue in Chicago and read it within a week. I love how you break down the different functions of each food item we eat and the yin and yang. I just bought my first home and have no clue which box I packed it in and my issues are surfacing again. I would love to schedule a session with you. I am a 31 year old fairly healthy 130lb female who is lactose intolerant and who just realized eating healthy is key (as I have a family history of breast cancer and diabetes). So any tips would be appreciated. Thanks a lot for your help and for sharing your knowledge in your book "The Asian Diet", it definitely made an impact on my life.
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