Breakthroughs with Martin Sheen Explores the Rise in Homeopathic Remedies

Breakthroughs with Martin Sheen Explores the Rise in Homeopathic Remedies

This spring, Insights PTV's Breakthroughs with Martin Sheen will take a look at the reasons behind the growth in the homeopathic remedy industry.

The producers of Breakthroughs with Martin Sheenare announcing a May debut for a new report investigating the growth in the homeopathic remedy industry.

Breakthroughs Martin Sheen PBS is an independently produced television series airing in markets around the country on public television. The program is hosted by the legendary Martin Sheen, who is about to embark on his second half-century in American entertainment in 2013. Mr. Sheen has developed a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors during a career that includes more than 60 film appearances.

More Americans are exploring remedies for illness that are outside of the traditional medical establishment.

Breakthroughs Martin Sheen reviews how new industries are emerging in our economy, and the homeopathic remedy industry is showing brisk growth. After a sluggish period for the industry just a few years ago, many Americans are now looking at homeopathy as an addition or as a complete alternative to traditional Western medicine. In this new report, Breakthroughs will explore the reasons behind the growth and find out what is attracting people to these alternative remedies. The producers will also talk to critics who warn against relying too heavily on these substances that do not undergo the rigorous testing and trials of modern medications.

The producers of Breakthroughs Martin Sheen are targeting a May distribution date for the new report. Check local listings for air times on public television and PBS affiliates in individual markets. For more information the producers can be contacted via the official website for the show at breakthroughsptv.com.

New Study: Acupuncture has proven results for reducing pain, inflammation after knee surgery.

New research concludes that acupuncture reduces pain and inflammation after knee replacement surgery. The research also finds that acupuncture improves range of motion following knee replacement surgery. Further, physical measurements of the swelling around the knee were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the control group.

Acupuncture was applied to patients with total knee arthroplasty starting at day 7 following knee replacement surgery. Acupuncture was administered three times per week until day 21 when the treatment regime was discontinued. Range of motion improved, swelling measurably decreased and pain levels were significantly lower in the acupuncture study group than in the group that did not receive acupuncture therapy. As a result of these findings, the researchers conclude that acupuncture is effective in the post-acute phase of knee rehabilitation following total knee replacement surgery.

This study builds on earlier findings that acupuncture benefits the knee. In other recent research, investigators discovered that acupuncture reduces knee pain and increases range of motion for patients with osteoarthritis. An interesting study, it compared sham acupuncture with modern acupuncture and classical acupuncture techniques. The sham acupuncture, a form of simulated placebo acupuncture, did not significantly improve the knee condition. However, both modern and classical approaches to acupuncture were highly effective in reducing pain and improving range of motion. The modern acupuncture style involved the application of points known to benefit the knees and the classical acupuncture style derived custom acupuncture prescriptions based on a differential diagnosis. The modern acupuncture style was over 60% effective and the classical acupuncture was over 70% effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. The researchers concluded that the efficaciousness of acupuncture is “method-specific.”

Reference:
Mikashima, Y., et al. "Efficacy of acupuncture during post-acute phase of rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty." Journal of traditional Chinese medicine= Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan/sponsored by All-China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine 32.4 (2012): 545.

Max Karner, Frank Brazkiewicz, Andrew Remppis, et al., “Objectifying Specific and Nonspecific Effects of Acupuncture: A Double-Blinded Randomised Trial in Osteoarthritis of the Knee,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, Article ID 427265, 7 pages, 2013.

http://www.healthcmi.com/acupuncturist-news-online/714-acupuncturekneereplacementsurgery

New Study: Acupuncture beneficial for Bell's Palsy treatments.

New York (Reuters Health) - Patients with facial paralysis saw greater improvements in function after a more intensive form of acupuncture in a new study from China that compared the treatment to standard acupuncture.

Researchers found that wiggling the acupuncture needles to produce a sensation called "de qi" led to a patient's having a better chance of recovering full facial function in six months than if the needles were just inserted and left alone.

De qi "should be considered to be included in clinical guidelines for acupuncture treatment," said Dr. Wei Wang at Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education in Wuhan, Hubei.

The study did not measure how well people would have recovered without receiving acupuncture, so it's impossible to say whether the therapy worked any better than conventional, Western approaches or no therapy at all.

De qi is combination of feelings - including achiness, coolness, warmth, and tingling - which is considered by traditional Chinese medicine to ensure the best therapeutic benefit, said Wang, one of the authors of the study.

But "this long held belief has never been confirmed," he told Reuters Health.

To see whether de qi makes a difference to the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy, he and his colleagues asked 317 adults with Bell's palsy to undergo five half-hour acupuncture treatments for four weeks.

Bell's is usually a temporary facial paralysis that typically affects one side and lasts a few months.

It often results from a viral infection that inflames facial nerves, and the steroid prednisone is a common treatment. Over the counter analgesics, vitamins and physical therapy are also sometimes used to treat the condition.

About 40,000 Americans get Bell's palsy each year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Wang said his group focused on this condition because recovery of the facial nerves affected by Bell's does not seem to be as susceptible to the placebo effect as other nerve conditions, such as pain.

Half of the participants were randomly assigned to receive treatments that would elicit de qi, in which the acupuncturist twisted the needles and moved them up and down several times during the session.

The other participants had the needles inserted and left alone.

All of the patients also received prednisone.

Neurologists, who didn't know which treatment each participant had received, determined the patients' facial function score on a scale of 200, with higher numbers corresponding to better movement.

In both groups, patients had started with facial function scores around 130 to 135. After six months of treatment, participants in the de qi group had somewhat greater facial function, such as in raising the eyebrows, blinking and baring teeth.

The de qi group scored an average of 195, while the other acupuncture group scored 186.

Wang said it's difficult to interpret just what these numbers mean in terms of muscle performance - say, whether a person can smile fully or not - but that a difference of nine points would be noticeable to the patients.

In addition, the team found that 94 percent of participants who received de qi acupuncture completely recovered their facial function by the end of six months, while 77 percent did in the other acupuncture group.

read more: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/26/acupuncture-bells-palsy_n_2767694.html

Chinese, Taiwanese Scientists teaming up to find a natural treatment for Metabolic Syndrome / Obesity.

Obesity might be a very modern problem, but a team of scientists from Taiwan and China is turning to the age-old principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to help fight it. Breaking research published in the Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics indicates a possible new direction for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

TCM compounds have long been recognised as potential lead candidates in creating anti-viral, anti-tumour and anti-inflammation agents. To see whether they might also be used to design agonists targeting PPAR-a, PPAR-g, and PPAR-∂ in the fight against metabolic disease, the researchers consulted the TCM Database@Taiwan, which lists more than 30,000 small-molecule compounds of TCM origin. The team ran a series of models and simulations to virtually screen the database, establishing structure-based pharmacore models for each PPAR protein in order to identify the key actions during docking; molecular dynamics simulation and homology modelling were also performed.

Metabolic syndrome, a collective disorder characterised by obesity and multiple clinical disorders, is on the rise. Obesity itself is an endocrine disease caused by the body's inability to handle excessive energy intake. It can lead to serious chronic diseases like hypertension, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, stroke and type-2 diabetes.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are key regulators of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism; they are involved in regulating many physiological functions initiated by nutrients, nutraceuticals and phytochemicals. There are three subtypes of PPARs -- PPAR-a, PPAR-g and PPAR-∂ -which all play important roles. Because of these roles, the three are also important drug targets for treating metabolic syndrome.

New study reveals exactly how herbal remedies can work.

From Huffpo

Science has confirmed just why an herb used in Chinese medicine possesses its healing properties.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, show that the herbal medicine Chang Shan, which is used to treat fever from malaria in Chinese medicine, works because of a derived compound in it called halofuginone.

The scientists from the Scripps Research Institute were able to find just how halofuginone works to suppress the immune system (since an immune response is generally what causes fevers) by creating a high-res molecular structure of the compound.

The university explained in a statement how exactly halofuginone may work in helping with malarial fever:

The new structure shows that, like a wrench in the works, halofuginone jams the gears of a molecular machine that carries out "aminoacylation," a crucial biological process that allows organisms to synthesize the proteins they need to live. Chang Shan, also known as Dichroa febrifuga Lour, probably helps with malarial fevers because traces of a halofuginone-like chemical in the herb interfere with this same process in malaria parasites, killing them in an infected person's bloodstream.

Halofuginone has been the focus of many other studies in the past, too. In a previous one, scientists from Harvard University School of Dental Medicine found thathalofuginone could block harmful immune cells from developing, which could be promising in treating autoimmune disorders.

Click to read more ...

At 95 years old, a simple fountain of youth: Daily Walks, Consistency in Diet.

from the Dayton Daily News

DAYTON -- Sarah Deets, 95, is a retired physical education and elementary school teacher who knows the value of regular exercise and diet.

What she does: Deets walks 1 to 2 miles a day around the grounds of 10 Wilmington Place to stay in shape for her beloved annual excursions across the world.

"My husband and I lived on three acres, and I walked there -- that was one of the best habits I ever got into. When we moved here four years ago, I continued to walk."

How exercise keeps her healthy: Before her husband's death in 2008, the couple traveled almost every year, visiting all states, plus trips to such places as Canada, Australia, and England.

"Friends often asked how we could afford it, but we worked our tailbones off to put money in our travel fund," Deets said.

Always ready for adventures, she continues her annual trips with her daughter, Jean Moran and son-in-law Kenneth Bar-nett. They've been to South America and to the Mediterranean, and recently returned from this year's six-week trip to Hawaii, Japan and China.

"In Beijing, we walked and walked in the Forbidden City, and when we went to the Great Wall, we had to climb tall stairs, often without a railing," Deets said. "So many Chinese wanted their pictures taken with me, especially when they found out my age. I kept up with the group, even when we walked to the top of old shrines."

In addition to Beijing, the China trip included Xi'an, Shanghai, and a cruise down the Yangtze River.

"During the entire trip, I 'walked the walk,' without assistance or a wheelchair," Deets said.

She also exercises her mind. Deets received her master's degree in education in Wright State University's first graduating class.

"I've always loved to read and learn," she said. "I'm a member of the College Women's Club, and we meet every month at the Dayton Women's Club. I still attend the meetings, and was assistant treasurer for 12 years."

And, she adds: "I still play the stock markets."

Consistency in exercise and diet: The day after Thanksgiving, when it was so cold and windy outside, Deets put on her coat, bundled up, and walked.

"I thought I'd just walk around the promenade once, but went my usual four times," she said. "I don't feel right if I don't walk every day."

She also notes, "I eat whatever I want, but don't overeat. I love salads, fruits and vegetables, but also love meat and desserts. I just stop when I'm full."

Observations from her son-in-law: "Having no or few gray hairs and a full set of healthy teeth is quite amazing at 95," said Barnett, 74. "The only thing I can think of, other than having good genes, is that she eats well and is a consistent walker. I'm trying to emulate some of her habits."

Her advice to others: "It's so simple to travel, and to love life and enjoy it. Retired folks need to get up and move every day, not just sit around and play cards. On our trip, I saw people in wheelchairs, but they were still traveling -- it's so simple to travel.

"As Rosalind Russell said, 'Life is a banquet' - you just have to get out and do it."

And, like Deets, it's best to be in shape, prepared to enjoy the feast.

New Moffitt Research: Supplements may help prevent "Chemo Brain"

Oct. 22--As an environmental consultant, Miriam Zimms was known for her iron-clad memory.

Juggling multiple projects, spreadsheets and scientific data were all in a day's work. "My clients have always said I was Fort Knox," she says.

But that all changed the moment Zimms' doctor said she had breast cancer. For a full year, the 43-year-old's world was taken over by her treatment: chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

Fighting for survival was distracting enough, but Zimms also found herself irritated by a growing inability to hold together information in her mental vault. The frustration has grown as the forgetfulness has persisted, two years later.

"It's like someone opened my brain like a jewelry box, put in a tube and filled it with air," Zimms says. "There was a film of air between my brain and skull."

Chemotherapy is the culprit behind Zimms' cognitive struggles. The mental fogginess impairs a cancer patient's ability to process or verbalize ideas and words, for months, even years after treatment ends, says Nagi Kumar, director of nutrition research at Tampa's Moffitt Cancer Center.

"It's a serious problem. Ask any breast cancer survivor," says Kumar, who is about to launch a scientific nutritional study at Moffitt to tackle the "chemo brain" condition. "Some are almost resigned to it."

Oncologists -- and most patients -- are understandably so focused on treating tumors that addressing side effects can become secondary. But as the number of long-term breast cancer survivors has ballooned to 11.7 million, more are paying attention to a condition that affects between 30 and 80 percent of them, Kumar says.

A simple nutritional solution is at the heart of the small Moffitt study. Kumar's team created a plant-based and omega-3 fatty acid supplement they hope can improve the cognitive health of breast cancer survivors. The idea is that these supplements thought to be beneficial to people with dementia could lessen the negative effects of chemo brain.

Click to read more ...

Olympians turn to familiar acupuncture and traditional medicine as treatment.

While some athletes remain wary of remedies that are not certified due to doping concerns, for the vast majority regular treatment has boosted fitness and the ability to overcome injury quickly.

"I have had lots of physical therapy, which takes a long time to effect a cure, but Oriental therapy works faster. My pain halved after a day," Kim Yeon-koung from the Korean women's volleyball team told Reuters.

"I used to dislike it (acupuncture) due to the pain. Now I receive therapy regularly even if I am not hurt as my body has experienced benefits which I think boost my performance," said Kim, grimacing in pain while receiving acupuncture at at a gym in Jincheon, 150 kilometres south of Seoul.

Park Jung-geu from the men's handball team said oriental medicine helped his muscles relax quickly.

"I can tell that I am getting better after being treated about three times, while physical therapy requires long, consistent treatment," he said.

Shin Joon-shik, chairman of a major traditional Korean hospital in Seoul, has treated high profile athletes such as soccer player Park Ji-sung, figure skating gold medallist Kim Yuna, baseball player Choo Shin-soo and golfer Paul Casey.

He said Korean traditional medicine helps to treat sprains and muscle injuries.

"Traditional Chinese medicines are more effective for chronic diseases while Korean medicines are for acute illness," he said.

Official data showed the number of oriental medicine clinics surged 32 percent to 12,292 in 2011 from 2004.

Read more: 

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/12/oly-korea-medicine-adv-idINL4E8GI5MZ20120712