ST36 EA for visceral hypersensitivity and indirect VNS

Stimulated by Chen et al 2020,[1] and Courties et al 2021.[2] Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com EA – electroacupunctureIF – impact factorIBD – inflammatory bowel diseaseNGF – nerve growth factorTrkA – tropomyosin receptor kinase A (high affinity NGF receptor)TRPV1 – transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (aka capsaicin receptor)DRGs – dorsal root gangliaCAP – cholinergic … Continue reading ST36 EA for visceral hypersensitivity and indirect VNS →

Acupuncture for athletes

Stimulated by Lee et al 2020,[1] and Yamamoto et al 2021.[2] Photo by mauro paillex on Unsplash. SR – systematic reviewMSK – musculoskeletalDOMS – delayed onset muscle sorenessYIPS – York Incontinence Perceptions ScaleYIPS – Yale Interpersonal Stressorkey to acronyms Lee et al is a systematic review (SR) that I have been wanting to highlight for … Continue reading Acupuncture for athletes →

Acupuncture and arthroplasty

Stimulated by Chen et al 2021,[1] and Narayana Murthy et al 2021.[2] X ray film of a knee after TKR. Figure 1 from Narayana Murthy et al 2021.[2] TKA – total knee arthroplastyIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialkey to acronyms This week I have chosen a couple of papers that are linked by … Continue reading Acupuncture and arthroplasty →

Acupuncture vs drugs in migraine

Stimulated by Giannini et al 2021,[1] and Szikszay et al 2020.[2] Photo by MC Botox – botulinum toxin type ACG150 – NICE Clinical Guideline 150 (Headaches in over 12s)GERAC – GERman ACupuncture trialRR50 – responder rate defined by a 50% reduction in days with headacheOA – Offset Analgesia (surely they could have used a different … Continue reading Acupuncture vs drugs in migraine →

Peripheral receptors and neuromediators

Stimulated by Trento et al 2021.[1] IF – impact factorAPs – acupuncture pointsNE – norepinephrine (aka noradrenaline)NO – nitric oxidekey to acronyms This paper was sent to me by Ari (second author) the day before it appeared on my PubMed searches. Ari has lectured to the BMAS in the past, and I met him first … Continue reading Peripheral receptors and neuromediators →

EA vs Prucalopride in SCC

Stimulated by Liu et al 2020.[1] Protocol in Liu et al.[1]Diagram by MC. EA – electroacupunctureSCC – severe chronic constipationIF – impact factorCSBM – complete spontaneous bowel movement5–HT4 – 5–hydroxytryptamine 4 receptorkey to acronyms This paper came out in December 2020, and I have been sitting on it ever since waiting for the urge to … Continue reading EA vs Prucalopride in SCC →

Median nerves and arteries

Stimulated by Liu et al 2020,[1] and Li et al 2021.[2] Figure 1 from Liu et al 2020.[1]A – superficial brachial arteryB – median nerve EBM – evidence based medicineMR angiography – magnetic resonance angiographyPMA – persistent median arterykey to acronyms These are a couple of recent papers, a case report and a letter with … Continue reading Median nerves and arteries →

EA for LBP after back surgery

Stimulated by Heo et al 2020,[1] and Choo et al 2021.[2] Image created by MC EA – electroacupunctureLBP – low back painSR – systematic reviewUC – usual careQoL – quality of lifeCAM – complementary and alternative medicinekey to acronyms I was attracted to Heo et al because it involved EA and was published in the … Continue reading EA for LBP after back surgery →

Acupuncture, drugs or Botox for chronic migraine?

Stimulated by Zheng et al 2021,[1] Giovanardi et al 2020,[2] and Yin et al 2020.[3] Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com Botox – botulinum toxin type ACI – confidence intervalEBM – evidence based medicinefMRI – functional magnetic resonance imagingGRADE – grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluationIF – impact factorMWoA – migraine without auraNMA – … Continue reading Acupuncture, drugs or Botox for chronic migraine? →

EA for sleep

Stimulated by Li et al 2020,[1] and Yu et al 2020.[2] Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com EA – electroacupuncturePSQI – Pittsburgh Sleep Quality IndexPMI – perimenopausal insomniaMA – manual acupunctureCBT-I – cognitive behaviour therapy for insomniaMSKCC – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CentreISI – Insomnia Severity Indexkey to acronyms I am starting the year with a … Continue reading EA for sleep →