Spinal epidural haematomas 2020

Stimulated by Chen et al.[1] Photo by Joyce McCown on Unsplash. This paper was published last month and has been waiting in the wings, so to speak. I was intrigued by the reference to mimicking stroke in the title. I was also under the impression that I had highlighted this adverse event before, but on checking, the previous … Continue reading Spinal epidural haematomas 2020 →

CMCj OA and PHN 2020

Stimulated by Barnard et al,[1] and Wang et al.[2] Photo by Engin Akyurt on Unsplash. Barnard et al is the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) of acupuncture versus sham in osteoarthritis (OA) of the carpometacarpal joint (CMCj) of the thumb. Indeed, it may be the first controlled trial of acupuncture in this condition. Technically, of course, there may … Continue reading CMCj OA and PHN 2020 →

Manual acupuncture for migraine

Stimulated by Xu et al.[1] Photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash. I casually picked up my copy of the BMJ on Friday 27th March 2020. The date on the cover was 28th March, in case any of you go searching. The cover image is a road sign mandating “Keep your distance”. Obviously COVID-19 is the big story, so … Continue reading Manual acupuncture for migraine →

COVID-19

Stimulated by a pandemic! This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome … Continue reading COVID-19 →

CIPN 2020 plus FFP & FWB

Stimulated by Bao et al 2020,[1] and a few others. Image from the pre-digital era.This is yours truly after a dip in the Gulf of Mexico, somewhere close to Fort Walton Beach (FWB) in January 1990. I imagine my peripheries were a bit tingly for a few minutes. Thus, with one old image I am … Continue reading CIPN 2020 plus FFP & FWB →

Should I read a protocol?

Stimulated by Huang et al 2020.[1] Image by Kai Dahms on Unsplash. This is the first BMAS blog that highlights a protocol, rather than the results of research. I rarely read protocols! If it looks like a big study or I know the team, I might have a quick look at the abstract. Protocols really … Continue reading Should I read a protocol? →

High volume acupuncture

Stimulated by McKee et al 2020.[1] Image by Ryan Loughlin on Unsplash. We called it HVAC (“H-vac”), the high-volume acupuncture clinic that was set up at RLHH after its refurbishment in the early noughties. RLHH stood for the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, but now it is called the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (RLHIM). … Continue reading High volume acupuncture →

Plantar fasciitis 2020

Stimulated by Zhou et al 2020.[1] Image by Cristian Newman on Unsplash. I was drawn to look at this paper because the title suggested a possible link between calf muscles and plantar fasciitis (PF). I have resisted this idea for many years, and perhaps this paper would shed some light on my gut feeling about … Continue reading Plantar fasciitis 2020 →

TEAS anyone?

Stimulated by Chen et al 2020.[1] Image by MC on Unsplash. This paper was a last-minute decision as I looked through today’s searches on PubMed. I was ready to address the influence of a WFPB meal on PPG and try to draw in the data on acupuncture for ED, but I thought TEAS would be … Continue reading TEAS anyone? →

V-V hyperalgesia again

Stimulated by Constantini et al 2020.[1] Image by Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash. This is another paper from the Italian stable of Maria Adele Giamberardino. So perhaps you have guessed that the V-V stands for viscerovisceral. This is another novel relatively long-term experimental study embedded within actual clinical practice. The rather older but similar clinical experimental … Continue reading V-V hyperalgesia again →