A study published in the April issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics concluded that acupuncture provides long-lasting relief for hot flashes, heart palpitation, and anxiety that are common side effects of hormonal therapy commonly used for prostate cancer. Hormonal therapy to reduce the level of testosterone in the body or surgery are the two most used treatments for prostate cancer. Because it is known that testosterone induces prostate cancer, reducing this hormone in treatment has been shown to keep the cancer in check by starving the cancer cells of the hormone it needs to grow and spread. However, the therapy produces hot flashes as one side effect.
In a prospective study 14 men experiencing hot flashes due to hormone therapy were evaluated. Upon enrollment they were given a hot flash score (HFS) evaluating their daily hot flashes and the mean score was 28.3. Subjects then received acupuncture twice weekly for 30 minutes for 4 weeks. After two weeks the HFS was remeasured and had dropped over a half to 10.3. Six weeks following treatment their HFS had dropped to 7.5. Further research is planned. More information is available at: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-04/asfr-arh042111.php
Posts Tagged ‘acupuncture’
Hot Flashes from Prostate Cancer Treatment Relieved by Acupuncture
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011Doctors of Medicine, Oriental Medicine, and Naturopathy Discussed Natural Ways to Deal with Seasonal Allergies
Sunday, September 5th, 2010

Yesterday on the Holistic Health Show Dr Carl O Helvie interviewed Dr Murray Grossan, M.D., Dr Steven Morrissey, O.M.D., and Dr Bianca Garilli, N.D. about natural ways to deal with seasonal allergies. Dr Grossan is board certified by the American Board of Otolarngology and Head and Neck Surgery and is currently at Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers in Los Angeles. More information is available on an earlier blog on this website or at www.ent-consult.com
Dr Steven Morrissey has more than 25 years experience in oriental and herbal medicine and has two joint companies with others in China to undertake research on safety, efficacy and quality of botanical medicine. More information is available on an earlier blog and on www.plantiva.com
Dr Bianca Garilli, a naturopathic physician, practices in Orange County, California. More information was presented earlier on this site and can also be found at www.ocnmp.com and www.allergyeliminationdiet.com
Enjoy the interview below.
Dr Allan Stillerman, Dr Terrawong Kasiolarn, and Mr Daniel Chapman Discuss Natural Solutions for Seasonal Allergies
Sunday, August 8th, 2010

Dr Carl O Helvie, Host, Holistic Health Show interviewed three guests who talked about natural solutions to seasonal allergies on his show yesterday.
Dr Allan Stillerman joined the Allergy and Asthma specialists, P.A. in 1998 and lectures regionally and nationally in the fields of asthma, food allergy, anaphylaxis and allergic Rhino-conjunctivitis. More information was presented earlier on this blog and can be found at Http://www.allergy-asthma-docs.com
/allanstillermanmd.cfmle.at
Dr Terrawong Kasiolarnis a certified naturopathic physician with certification in acupuncture and is on the staff of the NOVA Medical and Urgent Care Center. More information was presented earlier on this blog and can be found at www.novamedgroup.com
Mr Daniel Chapman is founder and CEO of Redd Remedies with origins dating back to 1961. They recently received the Best of Expo 2010 Gold Award in the vitamin/supplements category at the National Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, California. More information was presented earlier and can be found at www.reddremedies.com
The interview follows.
Do Expectations and Preferences Predict Outcome of Acupuncture as Back Pain Therapy
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010In a recent study published in Spine researchers concluded that contrary to previous published studies their results on treatment expectations and preferences of patients were not predictive of treatment outcomes for patients with chronic back pain. This was one of the first studies using acupuncture as the treatment and there were 477 acupuncture naive individuals with chronic back pain as subjects. Subjects were randomized to 1 of 3 acupuncture or simulated acupuncture treatment groups for 10 treatments over a 7 week period and were masked regarding treatment assignments. Before treatment subjects were asked about their expectations of treatment success, impressions, knowledge about acupuncture and treatment preferences. Outcome measures included functional status measured on the Roland score and symptoms bothersome and were measured at 8 and 52 weeks by telephone interviewers who were unaware of which group the person being interviewed was in. Those with high pretreatment expectations for the success of acupuncture were more likely to report higher general expectations of improvement,a preference for acupuncture, had heard that acupuncture was an effective treatment, and had a positive impression of acupuncture. Yet, none of these variables was a significant predictor of improvement of back pain symptoms at 8 or 52 weeks. The researchers concluded that the relationship between expectations and outcomes may be more complex that previously thought.
Those Who Are Older and Have More Money Use More Alternative Treatments for Pain
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010A study appearing in Pain Medicine concluded that socioeconomic factors, mainly in the form of race and age, play a large role in the use of alternative treatments for chronic pain. In the study those who were white used alternative interventions more frequently than those who were black, and elderly individuals were more likely to use alternative interventions than younger people. The researchers say the differences may be due to alternative therapies attracting individuals with high education levels and income or may be a result of different insurance coverage.
Results were based upon the ethnic and racial disparities in treating chronic pain among 5,750 adults over a six year period. Using the Pain Assessment Inventory Narrative the researchers assessed the treatment methods used, pain-related symptoms, data on socioeconomic characteristics, medical history, and physical and social characteristics in the black and white adults. Alternative treatments considered in the study included manipulation therapy such as chiropractors or physical therapists, biofeedback, and acupuncture.
Thirty five percent reported using at least one form of complementary and alternative therapy with 25% using manipulation, 13% using biofeedback, and 8% using acupuncture.
Integrative Therapies May Reduce The Need for Medications in Invidivuals with Chronic Back Pain
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010A new study published in a letter to the editor in the most recent issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (52 (3), 256-157, concluded that high-touch Integrative Medicine (IM) therapies can help employees manage their back pain by using fewer medications. The study utilized assembly workers at Ford Motor Company diagnosed with low back pain. The subjects were divided into 2 groups and both groups received care at the onsite clinic. One group received conventional therapies including pain medication. The other group received integrative therapies including acupuncture, and relaxation/meditation CD’s to manage stress and pain. Both groups received treatment over 6 weeks with a 12 week follow up.
The sample size was too small for definitive conclusions but the researchers were encouraged because the group who used integrative therapies in conjunction with conventional medicine had the same outcomes as the conventional medicine group but they also had a 58% reduction in pain medication use.
Natural Treatments for Arthritis and Fibromyalgia
Sunday, January 31st, 2010
ON SATURDAY MY GUESTS ARE DR. JACOB TEITELBAUM (LEFT) AND DR. DAVID RUSSELL. DR TEITELBAUM, A BOARD CERTIFIED INTERNIST AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF A NATIONAL CHAIN OF FIBROMYALGIA AND FATIGUE CENTERS (WWW.FIBROANDFATIGUE.COM) SUFFERED WITH AND OVERCOME THESE ILLNESSES IN 1975. HE SPENT THE NEXT 30 YEARS CREATING, RESEARCHING, AND TEACHING ABOUT EFFECTIVE THERAPIES FOR FATIGUE AND PAIN. HE IS THE SENIOR AUTHOR OF THE LANDMARK STUDIES EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME AND FIBROMYALGIA-A PLACEBO CONTROLLED STUDY AND OF EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME AND FIBROMYALGIA WITH D-RIBOSE.
DR TEITELBAUM LECTURES INTERNATIONALLY AND IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BEST-SELLING BOOK FROM FATIGUE TO FANTASTIC. HE IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THREE STEPS TO HAPPINESS:HEALING THROUGH JOY AND THE RECENTLY RELEASED PAIN FREE 1-2-3-A PROVEN PROGRAM TO GET YOU PAIN FREE BY MCGRAW HILL PUBLISHERS IN 2006. AS A PATIENT ADVOCATE DR TIETELBAUM HAS A POLICY OF NOT TAKING MONEY FROM ANY PHARMACEUTICAL OR NATURAL PRODUCT COMPANIES, AND 100% OF THE ROYALTIES FROM HIS PRODUCTS GO TO CHARITY. HIS WEBSITE IS: www.vitality101.com
MY SECOND GUEST IS DR DAVID RUSSELL WHO HOLDS A DOCTORATE IN NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE AND IS COMPLETING ANOTHER DOCTORATE OF DIVINITY AND IS THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CARITAS TRADITIONALIS, AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT WHOSE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SELF-SUSTAINABLE MEDICAL PRESENCE IN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED COMMUNITIES. HE ALSO MAINTAINS CONSULTATION ON INTEGRATED HEALTH IN TUCSON, ARIZONA AND DENMARK. . FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS HE HAS TAUGHT CLASSICAL MEDICAL DISCIPLINES IN EUROPE, NEPAL AND THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS DIAGNOSTICS AND HOMEOPATHY IN NATUROPATHIC SCHOOLS IN DENMARK AND NORWAY.
IN ADDITION TO HIS DOCTORAL DEGREE HIS EDUCATION INCLUDED STUDYING AND PRACTICING WITH CLASSICAL MASTERS IN EUROPE, NEPAL, AND THE MIDDLE EAST. HE HOLDS CERTIFICATION IN REFLEXOLOGY, HOMEOPATHY, ACUPUNCTURE, BIOCHEMISTRY, IRIDOLOGY, AND KNEIPP THERAPY. HE IS ALSO QUALIFIED IN CHINESE, TIBETIAN, AYURVEDIC AND ISLAMIC MEDICINE.
HE LIVED IN DENMARK FROM 1969 TO 1991 AND HAS WORKED IN THE HEALTH FIELD SINCE 1974, DURING THAT TIME HE BECAME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE DANISH SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATED MEDICINE AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE THREE MAJOR CLINICS FOR INTEGRATED MEDICINE IN DENMARK. HE IS ALSO A MEDICAL CONSULTANT FOR A DANISH CLINIC FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE.
DAVID IS THE AUTHOR OF HEALTHY SOLUTIONS: A GUIDE TO SIMPLE HEALING AND HEALTHY WISDOM, FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED THE ARIZONA BOOK AWARD FOR BEST HEALTH/NUTRITION/WELLNESS BOOK. HE LECTURES WIDELY AND HAS BEEN FEATURED AT EVENTS AND CONFERENCES INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF PROBIOTIC MEDICINE, INSTITUTE OF NOETIC SCIENCES, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF BIOLOGICAL DENTISTRY, CANCER COTROL SOCIETY, JUNGIAN SOCIETY, AND THE U OF ARIZONA.







