Stimulated by Pan et al 2021,[1] and Li et al 2021.[2] Photo by Flickr on Pexels.com SCD – systemic contact dermatitisEA – electroacupunctureIgE – immunoglobulin EGRPR – gastrin-releasing peptide receptorDYN-A – dynorphin Akey to acronyms We have all heard of allergy to metals in the form of a localised dermatitis at the site of contact, … Continue reading SCD and 100Hz EA for itch
Category: Opioids
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
Acupuncture in the ED 2020
Stimulated by an email from a colleague in Australia re Jan et al 2020;[1] plus Cohen et al 2017.[2] Photo by NCI on Unsplash. ED –Emergency DepartmentBFA – BattleField AcupunctureIF – Impact Factorkey to acronyms This week I am focussing on the possible role for acupuncture as a non-pharmacological adjunct or alternative analgesic intervention for … Continue reading Acupuncture in the ED 2020
Abdominal TrPs
Inspired by Mitidieri et al 2020,[1] Niraj et al 2020,[2], Niraj et al 2020,[3] Sangondimath et al 2020,[4] Hasuo et al 2020,[5] Jin et al 2020.[6] Photo by Dani Alejandro on Pexels.com TrP – myofascial trigger pointRCT – randomised controlled trialTPI – trigger point injectionAPB – abdominal plane blockMPS – myofascial pain syndromeSR – systematic … Continue reading Abdominal TrPs
Acupuncture for antenatal depression
Stimulated by Ormsby et al 2020.[1] Photo by NEOSiAM 2020 on Pexels.com This is a pragmatic 3-arm comparative trial. It has feasibility in the title, so it may be that the authors are planning a much bigger version. I’ll ask! (No reply as yet...) Pregnant women of 24 weeks gestation who scored 13 or more … Continue reading Acupuncture for antenatal depression
de nada
Stimulated by Vase 2020,[1] and Krause et al 2020.[2] Image from Deniah’s initial visit to the BA first class lounge at Heathrow T5… de nada sweetie! This week I had a couple of quite different papers that caught my interest, and I have been able to link them by chance with the help of my … Continue reading de nada
High on festivities 2019
Stimulated by my first full year of weekly blogs ending on Christmas day, as well as He et al 2019.[1] Photo by Oziel Gómes on Unsplash. I set myself a target at the beginning of the year to write a weekly blog, each centred around a recent acupuncture-related research paper. With this one it looks as though I … Continue reading High on festivities 2019
Opioids and IM
Stimulated by Hassan et al 2019.[1] Photo by Alexandru G Stavrică on Unsplash.Woman in a field of poppies... another plant-based former-alternative medicine 😉 This is a systematic review that asks the question: Does integrative medicine (IM) reduce prescribed opioid use for chronic pain? Obviously, I needed to look, having recently highlighted a similar topic on … Continue reading Opioids and IM
Initial healthcare provider and opioid use in LBP?
Stimulated by Kazis et al 2019.[1] Photo by Aiony Haust on Unsplash.This photo was chosen to represent opioids being used on back pain because the first naturally occurring opioids were discovered in a flower. Yes, it is a shame (for my purposes here) that this artistic photographer did not use poppies :-). I am sure … Continue reading Initial healthcare provider and opioid use in LBP?
Breathless…
…a career-defining symptom? This blog was first published on 18th May 2016 on BMJ Blogs. The Filshie files - breathlessness Dr Jacqueline Filshie Jacky Filshie (JF) has devoted a medical career to symptom management in the cancer suffering population. Her early personal experience of acupuncture needling had a significant impression on her, probably because she … Continue reading Breathless…