National Cancer Institute Favorable on Acupuncture

National Cancer Institute Favorable on Acupuncture

Questions and Answers About Acupuncture

1. What is acupuncture?

   Acupuncture applies needles, heat, pressure, and other treatments to certain places on the skin to cause a change in the physical functions of the body. The use of acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is a medical system that has been used for thousands of years to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.

   Acupuncture is based on the belief that qi (vital energy) flows through the body along a network of paths, called meridians. Qi is said to affect a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical condition. According to TCM, qi has two forces, yin and yang. Yin and yang are opposite forces that work together to form a whole. The forces of yin and yang depend on each other and are made from each other in an unending cycle, such as hot and cold, day and night, and health and disease. Nothing is ever all yin or all yang, both exist in all things, including people. Many of the major organs of the body are believed to be yin-yang pairs that must be in balance to be healthy. When a person's yin and yang are not in balance, qi can become blocked. Blocked qi causes pain, illness, or other health problems. TCM uses acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and massage to restore health by unblocking qi and correcting the balance of yin and yang within the person.

   Most acupuncturists in the United States practice acupuncture according to the traditions of Chinese medicine. However, there are other types of acupuncture, including some used for medical treatment, that have different theories about meridians and acupoint locations.

2. What is the history of the discovery and use of acupuncture as a complementary and alternative treatment for cancer?

   The oldest medical book known, written in China 4000 years ago, describes the use of acupuncture to treat medical problems. The use of the treatment spread to other Asian countries and to other regions of the world, including to Europe by the 1700s. In the United States, acupuncture has been used for about 200 years.

   Research on acupuncture began in the United States in 1976. Twenty years later, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the acupuncture needle as a medical device. Many illnesses are treated with acupuncture, but it is used mainly to control pain, including pain incancer patients and to help control nausea and vomiting. Its primary use in cancer patients has been as an addition to conventional (standard) therapy.

3. What is the theory behind the claim that acupuncture is useful in treating cancer?

   According to TCM, qi can be unblocked by using acupuncture at certain places on the skin, calledacupoints. Acupoints are places where the meridians come to the surface of the body. There are more than 2,000 acupoints on the human body, with specific acupoints for each condition being treated.

4. What physical effects may acupuncture have when used in cancer patients?

   Acupuncture may cause physical responses in nerve cells, the pituitary gland, and parts of the brain. These responses can cause the body to release proteins, hormones, and brain chemicals that control a number of body functions. It is proposed that, in this way, acupuncture affects blood pressure and body temperature, boosts immune system activity, and causes the body's natural painkillers, such as endorphins, to be released.

5. How is acupuncture administered?

   The acupuncture method most well-known uses needles. Disposable, stainless steel needles that are slightly thicker than a human hair are inserted into the skin at acupoints. The acupuncturepractitioner determines the correct acupoints to use for the problem being treated. The inserted needles may be twirled, moved up and down at different speeds and depths, heated, or charged with a weak electric current. There are other acupuncture methods that do not use needles.

   Some acupuncture techniques include the following:

   • Electroacupuncture: A procedure in which pulses of weak electrical current are sent through acupuncture needles into acupoints in the skin.
   • Trigger point acupuncture: The placing of acupuncture needles in a place on the skin that is away from the painful part of the body. Trigger points have to do with referred pain, pain that is not felt at the site of injury, but is sent along nerves and felt elsewhere in the body.
   • Laser acupuncture: The use of a weak laser beam instead of an acupuncture needle to stimulate an acupoint.
   • Acupuncture point injection: The use of a syringe and needle to inject drugs, vitamins, herbalextracts, or other fluids into the body at an acupoint.
   • Microwave acupuncture: The use of a microwave device attached to an acupuncture needle to deliver microwave radiation to an acupoint.
   • Acupressure: A type of massage therapy in which the fingers are used to press on an acupoint. In cancer patients, acupressure has been used to control symptoms such as pain ornausea and vomiting.
   • Moxibustion: A type of heat therapy in which an herb is burned above the body to warm a meridian at an acupoint and increase the flow of blood and qi. The herb may be placed directly on the skin, held close to the skin for several minutes, or placed on the tip of an acupuncture needle.
   • Cupping: A procedure in which a rounded glass cup is warmed and placed upside down over an area of the body, making a vacuum that holds the cup to the skin. Cupping is used to increase the flow of blood and qi. It is believed to open up the skin’s pores and allow toxins to leave the body.

6. Have any preclinical (laboratory or animal) studies been conducted using acupuncture?

   Scientific studies on the use of acupuncture to treat cancer and side effects of cancer began only recently. Laboratory and animal studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce vomiting caused bychemotherapy and may help the immune system be stronger during chemotherapy. Animal studies support the use of electroacupuncture to relieve cancer pain. Laboratory and animal studies have also looked at how acupuncture works for cancer treatment, such as the role of acupuncture in stimulating immune functions, including increasing blood cell count and enhancing lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity.

7. Have any clinical trials (research studies with people) of acupuncture been conducted?

   Most studies of the use of acupuncture in cancer patients have been done in China. In 1997, theNational Institutes of Health (NIH) began evaluating the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture as a complementary and alternative therapy.

   • Studies of the effect of acupuncture on the immune system

     Human studies on the effect of acupuncture have shown that it changes immune system response.

   • Studies of the effect of acupuncture on pain

     In clinical studies, acupuncture reduced the amount of pain in some cancer patients. In one study, most of the patients treated with acupuncture were able to stop taking drugs for pain relief or to take smaller doses. The findings from these studies are not considered strong, however, because of weaknesses in study design and size. Studies using strict scientificmethods are needed to prove how acupuncture affects pain.

   • Studies of the effect of acupuncture on muscle and joint pain from aromatase inhibitors

     Aromatase inhibitors, a type of hormone therapy for postmenopausal women who have hormone-dependent breast cancer, may cause muscle and joint pain. A randomized studyfound that true acupuncture was much more effective in relieving joint pain and stiffness thansham (inactive) acupuncture in patients taking aromatase inhibitors.

   • Studies of the effect of acupuncture on nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy

     The strongest evidence of the effect of acupuncture has come from clinical trials on the use of acupuncture to relieve nausea and vomiting. Several types of clinical trials using different acupuncture methods showed acupuncture reduced nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, surgery, and morning sickness. It appears to be more effective in preventing vomiting than in reducing nausea.

     A study of acupuncture, vitamin B6 injections, or both for nausea and vomiting in patients treated with chemotherapy for ovarian cancer found that acupuncture and vitamin B6 together gave more relief from vomiting than acupuncture or vitamin B6 alone.

   • Studies of the effect of acupuncture on hot flashes in patients treated for cancer

     Hormone therapy may cause hot flashes in women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer. Some studies have shown that acupuncture may be effective in relieving hot flashes in these patients.

   • Study of the effect of acupuncture on fatigue in patients treated for cancer

     A randomized study of patients with cancer-related fatigue found that those who had a series of acupuncture treatments had less fatigue compared to those who had acupressure or sham acupressure treatments.

   • Studies of the effect of acupuncture on cancer symptoms (other than nausea) and side effects of cancer treatment

     The aim of most acupuncture clinical observation and clinical trials in cancer patients has been to study the effects of acupuncture on cancer symptoms and side effects caused by cancer treatment, including weight loss, cough, coughing up blood, anxiety, depression, dry mouth, proctitis, speech problems, blocked esophagus, hiccups, and fluid in the arms or legs. Studies have shown that, for many patients, treatment with acupuncture either relieves symptoms or keeps them from getting worse.

8. Have any side effects or risks been reported from acupuncture?

   There have been few complications reported. Problems are caused by using needles that are notsterile (free of germs) and from placing the needle in the wrong place, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle. Problems include soreness and pain during treatment; feeling tired, lightheaded, or sleepy; and infections. Because chemotherapy and radiation therapy weaken the body's immune system, a strict clean needle method must be used when acupuncture treatment is given to cancer patients. It is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner who uses a new set of disposable (single-use) needles for each patient.

9. Is acupuncture approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a cancer treatment in the United States?

   The FDA approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only.

   More than 40 states and the District of Columbia have laws regulating acupuncture practice (seewww.acufinder.com for an online database of licensed acupuncture providers). The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (www.nccaom.org) certifies practitioners of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Most states require this certification.

   http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture/Patient/page2
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Are Low Fat Diets Helping to Cause Type 2 Diabetes?

Are Low Fat Diets Helping to Cause Type 2 Diabetes?

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health1, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, have come to the conclusion that dietary intake of high-fat dairy offers significant protection against developing a variety of metabolic

PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 27, 2010 – Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health1, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, have come to the conclusion that dietary intake of high-fat dairy offers significant protection against developing a variety of metabolic problems, including the onset of type 2 diabetes. The researchers were stunned to report that Americans with a fatty acid in their blood (trans-palmitoleate), which elevates in direct proportion to the amount of high-fat dairy products that are consumed, had a rather amazing three-fold less likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. The study turns public health dogma about eating a low-fat diet on its head.

The idea that eating a low-fat diet somehow produces health has actually never been proven. It has been proven that overeating is not a good thing, and high fat intake is often a dietary staple of those prone to overeating. It has also been proven that eating a high-fat diet with a deficiency of fiber, plant polyphenols, and DHA is not a good thing. Furthermore, it has been proven that over-eating a diet that is high-sugar and high-fat is one of the fastest ways on earth to become type 2 diabetic. But it has never been proven that fat in and of itself, as a higher percentage of calories of a normal amount of food, has any adverse health consequences.

This study followed 3,736 participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded Cardiovascular Health Study, who have been followed for 20 years in an observational study to evaluate risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in older adults. Blood samples were collected back in 1992, including an analysis of the fatty acids present in their blood. At baseline, higher circulating levels of trans-palmitoleic acid were associated with healthier levels of blood cholesterol, inflammatory markers, insulin levels, and insulin sensitivity. During follow-up, individuals with higher circulating levels of trans-palmitoleic acid had a much lower risk of developing diabetes, with about a 60% lower risk among participants in the highest quintile (fifth) of trans-palmitoleic acid levels, compared to individuals in the lowest quintile. “This represents an almost three-fold difference in risk of developing diabetes among individuals with the highest blood levels of this fatty acid,” said Mozaffarian, lead author of the study. “This is an extremely strong protective effect, stronger than other things we know can be beneficial against diabetes.”

Unlike dangerous synthetic trans-fats that ruined the health of a generation, this type of trans fat is naturally produced by the digestive tract of a cow. Trans-palmitoleic acid is almost exclusively found in naturally-occurring dairy and meat.

In the new world of nutrition and gene science it is quite clear that fatty acids of different types have different metabolic signaling effects. Trans-palmitoleic acid is associated with higher levels of protective HDL cholesterol, less inflammation, less insulin resistance, better insulin sensitivity, and a significantly reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This means that the concept of “fat grams” as bad is a surface-level notion about health. Those who wish to be proactive about health need to rise above public health nutrition dogma, which is tied closely to the sales of billions and billions of dollars worth of cardiovascular and diabetic medication.

http://www.prlog.org/11178809-are-low-fat-diets-helping-to-cause-type-2-diabetes.html

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FirstLine Therapy can help you regain health! Illness is not a normal part of aging!

FirstLine Therapy can help you regain health!

Illness is not a normal part of aging!

Did you know:

• Chronic diseases account for 78% of annual healthcare costs.1

• Chronic diseases also account for one-third of the years of potential life lost before age 65.1

• Most chronic diseases are caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits. For example, 91% of type 2 diabetes is caused by unhealthy habits and forms of behavior.2

• Chronic, disabling conditions cause major limitations in activity for more than one of every 10 Americans.1

• The prolonged course of illness and disability from chronic diseases results in extended pain and suffering and decreased quality of life.1

“Everyhumanbeingistheauthorofhisownhealthordisease.” —GautamaSiddhartha

You can changeyour health Doesn’t everybody want good health? High energy, mental clarity, full function,

and absence of disease well into old age. It’s yours for the taking!

What do you want?

More strength? More sex drive? More energy? Clearer thinking? More “good” days? Less stress? Better mood? Less pain? Better sleep quality? Better mobility? Greater control over health? More independence? More living!?

FirstLine Therapy (FLT) is a specialized therapeutic lifestyle change program unlike any other in that the FLT system targets the underlying causes of chronic illnesses by incorporating a sensible eating plan, exercise, nutritional supplementation, and stress management. In fact, the following key characteristics are unique to the FLT program:

FLT is not just a weight loss program

• Most programs are focused on weight while FLT is best used as a first line treatment for common, chronic health problems (e.g., high cholesterol, insulin resistance, unhealthy body composition).

The FLT eating plan is different • MostprogramsarefocusedonlowfatdietswhileFLTemphasizestheimportance

of a low-glycemic eating plan that is consistent with current research.

FLT incorporates medical foods and nutritional supplements

• The appropriate use of medical foods and supplements enhances program effectiveness and shortens the time it takes for you to achieve risk reduction goals.

FLT has been demonstrated to be effective in human clinical studies • Most programs lack clinical evidence of effectiveness.

Getting Started—A Matter of Fat

In order to measure your progress, you first need to know your current health status. A variety of health assessments may be performed, including a quick, non-invasive measurement of your body fat and lean muscle mass.

Excess body fat can greatly increase your health risks. But a higher ratio of muscle increases your metabolism and is associated with a lower incidence of illness. Improving your muscle-to-fat ratio is perhaps the most powerful tool in controlling the aging process and restoring vitality. And that’s what FirstLine Therapy is all about.

Extensive scientific research demonstrates that many of the chronic diseases associated with aging can be prevented or even treated by adopting a healthy lifestyle:

• Heart disease • High blood pressure • Stroke • Osteoarthritis

• Diabetes • High cholesterol • Metabolic syndrome • Osteoporosis

A therapeutic lifestyle change program is recommended by leading health organizations as a first-line treatment option for many of the conditions above, as well as:

• Stress-related disorders • Fatigue disorders • Polycystic ovary syndrome • Premenstrual syndrome

A “therapeutic lifestyle” means...

• Making choices every day that will enhance health and help prevent disease

• Adopting habits of living that may delay the onset of illness in old age

• Increasing your years of good health and full function • Enabling yourself to achieve a full, healthy life!

Your personal

FirstLine Therapy

program offers:

• Initial and follow-up testing

• Practitioner consultations

• Program guidebook • Solutions for staying

active

• Simple eating guidelines

• Progress tracking

• Lifestyle counseling

• Nutritional product recommendations

“A therapeutic lifestyle is the most powerful tool there is to

positively impact your health for life.”

1.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Disease-Overview. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm. Accessed February 19, 2007.

2. Hu FB, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, et al. Diet, lifestyle, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in women. N Engl J MedMed 2001;345(11):790-97

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