Latest issue
The latest issue is number 90 (OUR 30TH BIRTHDAY ISSUE) published in June 2009
CHINESE MEDICINE IN THE WEST: A DISCUSSION BETWEEN PETER DEADMAN, HUGH MACPHERSON, DANIEL MAXWELL, FELICITY MOIR & VOLKER SCHEID
In January 1985 The Journal of Chinese Medicine published an edited transcript of a discussion called ‘Acupuncture in the West’ between Peter Deadman, Ted Kaptchuk, Giovanni Maciocia and Felicity Moir. It was a particularly popular article and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the JCM we decided to convene another discussion, in London in March 2009. Present this time were Peter Deadman (PD), Hugh MacPherson (HM), Daniel Maxwell (DM), Felicity Moir (FM) and Volker Scheid (VS). All are past or present practitioners of acupuncture and/or herbal medicine. For brief biographies of the participants, please see the end of the article.
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INDUCING LABOUR WITH ACUPUNCTURE – CRUCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Author: Debra Betts
Twenty years ago the treatment principle I would use to induce labour was straightforward – establish contractions. I used strong reducing treatment at acupuncture points indicated for delayed labour, with little underlying diagnostic effort required. The results of this approach were often disappointing; whilst women gave positive feedback, often convinced that the treatment had been successful due to the contractions following treatment, clinical follow up was less encouraging. Their resulting labours were not always efficient and frequently involved medical procedures due to failure to progress, foetal distress or “stuck” babies. There was thus little advantage for these women in using acupuncture. They may have avoided a medical induction but the resulting labours were not the “natural” births they were planning. My subsequent experience of working with midwives led to a more satisfying approach, one that used acupuncture to correct possible problems, with a focus on promoting an efficient labour rather than merely hastening the onset of contractions. This article discusses this approach, and includes four aspects that I now consider crucial for achieving an optimal outcome – that of natural physiological labour. The latest research on using acupuncture for induction is also discussed, including the implications this has for clinical practice.
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ALL DISEASE COMES FROM THE HEART: THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF THE EMOTIONS IN CLASSICAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Author: Heiner Fruehauf
This article attempts to fill an obvious gap in the study of Chinese medicine education by presenting a systematic analysis of the role of the five, six and seven emotions in the history and foundational knowledge of clinical medicine. The author analyses the symbolism of relevant pictograms to reveal layers of complex information associated with the topic of the emotions. As an example for the clinical application of emotional therapy in contemporary China, the extensive five element healing system utilised by the Confucian healer Wang Fengyi (1864‑1937) and his still practising students is presented for the first time in a Western language.
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ATOPIC ECZEMA AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RESOLVING FIRE TOXIN
Author: Mazin Al-Khafaji
Skill in treating fire toxin in both the acute and chronic stages of the disease is an essential requirement if atopic eczema is to be successfully resolved. The acute stage because it can offer rapid relief of the distress caused by the extreme itching, discomfort, disturbed sleep, fatigue and embarrassment that are a feature of this disease. The chronic stage because continuing attention to resolving fire toxin after the acute stage has passed is often a fundamental component of achieving a long-term resolution of this recalcitrant condition. Strategies, prescriptions and herbs for the treatment of fire toxin vary according to the presenting patterns and symptoms. This article introduces some of the important features of the diagnosis and treatment of fire toxin in atopic eczema, laying out general principles and illustrating them with the detailed analysis of two case histories.
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REFLECTIONS ON THE JCM’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY
Author: Giovanni Maciocia
It gives me great pleasure to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Journal of Chinese Medicine which has played such an important role in the development of Chinese medicine in the West. The following article is a random collection of thoughts generated over the course of 35 years of practice. They are presented in no particular sequence and therefore the order in which they are discussed does not necessarily reflect their relative importance in my mind. First I consider a subject which has occupied me over many years, namely the differences between the traditional Chinese (mainly Confucian and neo‑Confucian) view of the emotions and that of our modern post‑Freudian societies. Secondly, I consider the phenomenon of needle sensation (deqi) and suggest that it can, in part, be replaced by careful point selection. Finally I consider pulse diagnosis, and especially the question of whether the pulse can ever be discounted, even when it appears to contradict other clinical findings.
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TEENAGE DEPRESSION AND ACUPUNCTURE
Author: Julian Scott
Depression is very common in teenagers and should be taken seriously. At this time of change, depression can easily increase and develop into violent behaviour, drug dependency and even suicide. In this article we discuss how depression in the teenage years can be helped by acupuncture treatment. We are not suggesting that all teenage problems can be resolved this way; humans are far too complex for that. But frequently there is an energetic imbalance contributing to depression, and if that can be improved, then the teenager may be able to sort out their own problems without much further help. Long and costly visits to therapists can often be avoided. Three main patterns of teenage depression are described, with both their physical and emotional manifestations, and treatment principles and suggestions given. A typical case history illustrates approaches to treatment and likely outcomes.
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THE DAILY USE OF MOXIBUSTION TO TREAT CHEMOTHERAPY‑INDUCED BONE MARROW DEPRESSION ‑ A PRACTICAL EVALUATION BASED ON 20 YEARS OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Author: Freidrich Staebler
Acupuncture and moxibustion, although not potent enough to act as first line cancer treatments, are powerful tools to support conventional cancer therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In the experience of the author, they can render these interventions better tolerated by patients and lead to more successful treatment outcomes. In particular, they play a significant role in alleviating, and in some cases preventing, the side effects of chemotherapy. This paper focuses on a treatment protocol developed by the author, in which patients and their helpers are taught how to use daily moxibustion at home during chemotherapy. Moxa is used at the acupuncture points Geshu BL‑17, Ganshu BL‑18 and Pishu BL‑20 in order to prevent leukopenia, the dropping of the white blood cell and neutrophil counts (also known as neutropenia). This treatment also helps to prevent anaemia and thrombocytopenia (a drop in the platelet count). The four terms in italics above are also known as pancytopenia, or bone marrow depression. This paper discusses the rationale for using this regimen, and whether it is contraindicated to apply moxibustion during chemotherapy. It also explores some of the technical issues to consider when teaching patients and their helpers how to use moxibustion at home. The article ends with a few selected case histories.
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BOOK REVIEWS JCM 90
FORMULAS & STRATEGIES, 2ND EDITION (purchase this book)
by Volker Scheid, Dan Bensky, Andrew Ellis, Randall Barolet
AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE & ADDICTION (purchase this book)
by Kim Wager with Sue Cox
NEWS, NEWS, NEWS 90
NEWS from The Journal of Chinese Medicine summarises recent research in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, as well as diet, lifestyle, exercise, relaxation and meditation and other miscellaneous subjects. Much of this information will help practitioners to accurately inform patients of the benefits or risks of lifestyle choices and give informed answers to patients’ questions, aid in the practice of preventive medicine and help practitioners take care of their own health.
NEWS comes free with a subscription to the journal. However if you are not a subscriber you can just subscribe to NEWS by clicking here.
THE JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE ABSTRACTS DECEMBER 2008 (buy this article)
Author: Various
• Acupuncture plus acupoint injection for treatment of cervical spondylosis of vertebroarterial type, by Li Kai et al.
•Forty-six cases of vertebrobasilar insufficiency treated by acupuncture plus intravenous infusion of Ligustrazine, by Ge Qi-xue et al.
•Clinical effects of acupuncture after surgical operation in patients with prolapse of the lumbar intervertebral disc, by Zhao Bin-xiu et al.
•Fifty cases of Parkinson’s disease treated by acupuncture combined with Madopar, by Ren Xiao-ming.
•Relation between treatment course and therapeutic effects of acupuncture for female obesity of different types, by Sun Hong.
•Acupuncture treatment for spontaneous polyhidrosis, by Wang Wei-zhi et al.
•Clinical observation on the effects of Bo’s abdominal acupuncture in 40 cases of chronic fatigue syndrome, by Huang Yong et al.
•Moxibustion penetration and its clinical application, by Gao Xi-yan.
•Clinical study on the visceral differentiation based acupuncture therapy for insomnia, by Ling Li et al.
•Experience in clinical use of Xiao Chai Hu Tang, by Xie Xu-shan.
•Zhang Qi’s experience in treating chronic renal failure, by Lin Qi-zhan et al.
•Analysis on the features of preventive treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion, by Wang Hua et al.
•A study on the relations between channels and zangfu organs, by Zhang Zhi-feng.
•TCM researches on chronic renal tubulointerstitial lesions, by Li Hang et al.
•Acupuncture treatment of chloasma, by Hu Jin-sheng.
•What should be kept in mind in the TCM differential treatment for ulcerative colitis? By Wu Pei-tian.
•TCM treatment for gynaecological diseases – irregular menstruation, by Can Engin.
