Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Russell Jaffe
Health Studies Collegium, USA
Keynote: Acupuncture: Evidence for how and why it works
Time : 10:15-11:00
Biography:
Dr. Jaffe has more than 40 years of experience contributing to molecular biology and clinical diagnostics. His focus is on functional, predictive tests and procedures designed to improve the precision of both diagnosis and of treatment outcomes and he has authored nearly 100 articles on the subject. He received his B.S., MD and Ph.D. from the Boston University School of Medicine, completed residency training in clinical chemistry at the National Institutes of Health and remained on the permanent senior staff before pursuing other interests, including starting the Health Studies Collegium think tank.
Abstract:
A synthesis of the available world literature provides the following rigorous hypothesis for how and why acupuncture works when it does and why it does not work when it does not achieve successful outcomes.
Google scholar reports 516,000 scientific articles on acupuncture (3/1/17). PubMed reports 14,042 peer review articles (3/1/17). This suggests how intensive and extensive is observational research demonstrating remarkable and significant outcome results, often at lower costs and risks than allopathic comparable treatments. How acupuncture works remains a ‘mystery wrapped in an enigma’.
Support for this integrative systems biology understanding of acupuncture is presented here for the first time and reflects half a century of experience seeking a bridge between TCM/acupuncture and Western biomedical sciences. Relevant observations are:
- Acupuncture needles must be made from two different types of metal. The Kelvin-Thompson effect confirms that a tiny electrical current flows from the needle tip. Usually the exterior is cooler. Use of moxa makes the exterior warmer and reverses the polarity of the electrical flow.
- The electrical flow direction is determined by the thermal gradient across the acupuncture needle.
- Collagen is uniquely able to receive and transmit such tiny current flows; nanoamps.
- Injection of collagenase into acupuncture points results in permanent harm; no other protease has such an effect.
- True acupuncture induces endorphin / cytokine release in the brain within seconds; shame acupuncture does not induce endorphin / cytokine release.
- Collagen is piezoelectric. A microcurrent and orthogonal magnetic field is generated whenever collagen is compressed. Collagen is the only piezoelectric molecule in the body.
- There are subtypes of collagen in the basement membrane and infrastructure of each animal. There are 28 subtypes of collagen confirmed thus far. While 90% of an animal’s collagen is type I (‘bone and scar’), each collagen subtype has a functional nuance important for cells to receive and exchange nutrients, wastes, gases and actively transported items needed by certain cells.
- More than physiologic amounts of steroids, either exogenous or endogenous, blunt or block acupuncture effects. Cell membranes become less fluid and also less responsive to repair needs.
- More than physiologic amounts of steroids blunt or block neurohormone responses by stabilizing cell membranes thus reducing the cells responsiveness to stimulation.
- Acupuncture channels or meridians are proposed to be collagen fibrils derived from the sentinel cells that migrate from the notochord to every differentiated part of the body. As these pleuripotential cells migrate they leave behind a collagen connective tissue fibril insulated by glycosaminoglycans. Acupuncture meridians appear to reproduce the embryology of sentinel cells. The notochord is the anlage of the spinal column.
- The horary clock or microcosmic circuit is confirmed through circadian biorhythm research.
- Therapeutic synergy is reported between learned optimism, relaxation response and mindfulness practices. Repair of collagen by innate immune defense and repair cells is more efficient and effective when such self-care practices are included.
- People with inflammatory, autoimmune and chronic illnesses routinely benefit from acupuncture in proportion to the healthfulness of their other habits of daily living. Acupuncture is more effective when the person addresses what they eat, drink, think, and do using nature, nurture and wholeness as guidelines. Staying well hydrated. Eating foods that can be digested, assimilated, and eliminated without immune burden. Keep a healthy transit time. Keep a healthy urine pH after six or more hours of rest.
- Pulses may well carry information due to how the heart twists during each contraction. Collagen largely determines the compliance or resistance of blood vessels to flow. All blood vessels contain a collagen infrastructure.
Keynote Forum
Jingduan Yang
Thomas Jefferson University, USA
Keynote: Integration of acupuncture with modern medicine
Time : 11:15-12:00
Biography:
Jingduan Yang is a board-certified Psychiatrist, Expert, Author and Educator on classic forms of Chinese Medicine. He is the author of Facing East: Ancient Health and Beauty Secrets for Modern Age, for which he joined with style icon and wellness advocate Norma Kamali to reveal the ancient healing secrets that will help maintain and restore vitality, health, and beauty. He received his Neurology training in China; completed a research fellowship at Oxford University in UK; Psychiatry Residency at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia; and a fellowship of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. He is the Founder and President of Tao Institute for Modern Wellness, the Director of the Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Thomas Jefferson University and faculty of Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona.
Abstract:
Acupuncture is among one of the most commonly used modalities as a complementary therapy to the conventional medical practice. Accumulated studies have concluded that acupuncture is a recommendable therapeutic tool for a variety of medical conditions including side effects of chemotherapy, chronic pain, chemical dependence, infertility and headaches. Basic scientific laboratory research has suggested that acupuncture helps induce endorphin production, improve blood circulation, hormone balance, immune modulation and neurotransmitter balance. However, the understanding how acupuncture works, its indications for referral, its efficacy, and potential side effects have prevented practitioners and patients from the benefits of using this safe and effective modality in their health care. This presentation is designed to discuss the basic concepts and applications of acupuncture and to help the participants better integrate acupuncture in their daily practice. Objective of this presentation is to let audience know about: Basic theoretic foundations of acupuncture; application, efficacy, and safety of acupuncture and; integration of acupuncture with modern medical practice.
- Acupuncture Related Practices
Location: Chicago, USA
Session Introduction
Shifen Xu
Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
Title: Efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment on primary insomnia: A randomized controlled trial
Biography:
Shifen Xu, PhD, has her expertise in long-term clinical and basic research of acupuncture on depression, insomnia, and anxiety, unique skills in acupuncture treatment of stroke, facial paralysis, epilepsy, pains and sub health status. She is a Professor and Director of Acupuncture Department in Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China.
Abstract:
Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for primary insomnia.
Methods: We conducted a single-center, single-blinded, and randomized controlled clinical trial. 72 patients with primary insomnia were randomly assigned into two groups – the acupuncture group, which received acupuncture treatment, and the control group, which received sham acupuncture treatment. The treatment was given 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Patients were asked to wear sleep monitors and complete questionnaires every 2 weeks for a total of 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the insomnia severity index (ISI). The secondary outcomes were sleep parameters including sleep efficiency (SE), sleep awakenings (SA) and total sleep time (TST) recorded in the actigraphy, as week as scores of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS).
Results: Compared with pretreatment baseline, patients in both groups had varying degrees of improvements in their sleep conditions. Paired t-test showed that there was a significant difference in all indicators in the acupuncture group before and after acupuncture treatment. One-way analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline scores indicated that the ISI improved dramatically in the acupuncture group at 2 weeks post-treatment (F=11.3, P=0.001), 4 weeks post-treatment (F=33.6, P<0.001), 2 weeks follow-up (F=39.4, P<0.001) and 4 weeks follow-up (F=34.1, P<0.001). Similar significant improvements can also be observed in the SE, TST and SDS scores. Although no differences in SA and SAS were shown between the two groups until the end of the treatment, remarkable decrements in SA and SAS were found in the acupuncture treatment group after the 2 week and 4 week follow-ups.
Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment is more effective than sham acupuncture treatment on increasing insomnia patients’ sleep quality and improving their psychological health.
Richard Tan Tiong Heng
Grad Dip Acupuncture, Singapore
Title: Acupuncture complementing western medicine in in-patient setting- A case series from Singapore
Biography:
Dr Richard Tiong Heng Tan, MBBS, Grad Dip Acupuncture, Grad Dip Occupational Medicine, is a registered Family Physician and a Designated Workplace Doctor, currently works as a Principal Resident Physician in Sengkang Health at Alexandra Hospital in Singapore. He holds special interest in Acupuncture, Geriatric Medicine and Occupational Health. He has been offering acupuncture as a complementary treatment to patients mainly for chronic pain such as chronic pelvic pain, muscular skeletal pain as well as for stroke. He has published articles in local media, and presented in overseas conferences on acupuncture for chronic pelvic pain. He had spoken in various meetings in both public and medical forums on acupuncture.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Patients who require longer stay following an acute stroke or fractures that are treated conservatively are generally transferred to a step-down care institution for further rehabilitation. Studies done with regards to cognitive or affective impairments predict rehabilitation participation among patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation; especially those with stroke or chronic pain, to have reactive depression, which affects rehabilitation participation. In our institution, patients were offered acupuncture for stroke or chronic pain. The purpose of this study is to describe the potential positive effect of providing acupuncture as complementing conventional treatment for patients with either stroke or chronic pain while in they are receiving treatment inpatient or outpatient.
Methodology: All patients were assessed weekly at multidisciplinary meetings involving physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals with regards to their rehabilitation potential using functional independence measurement (FIM) score and length of stay (LOS).
Findings: 3 patients enrolled in this study were found to have improved FIM score for both stroke as well as chronic pain patients within a shorter period of time. Though LOS did not see significant improvement for these patients, the reason was mainly awaiting arrival and training of care-giver, as these patients still require assistance upon discharge.
Conclusion & Significance: Patients who hold positive attitude towards acupuncture and were willing to give it a try, tend to be more optimistic and participatory to physiotherapy. This study showed significant improvement of FIM score and potentially shorter in-patient LOS, resulting in reduced medical cost, hospital bed occupancy and care-givers stress. Strongly recommend that healthcare institutions recognize this synergy and modality of care, and introduce similar programs in their institutions to treat patient holistically, utilizing both western medicine complemented by acupuncture all within the same team of doctors and therapists.
- Clinical Practice of Acupuncture
Location: Chicago, USA
Session Introduction
Richard Tan Tiong Heng
Alexandra Hospital, Singapore
Title: Acupuncture complementing western medicine in in-patient setting- A case series from Singapore
Biography:
Richard Tan Tiong Heng has done his MBBS, Grad. Dip. in Acupuncture, Grad. Dip. in Occupational Medicine, is a registered Family Physician and a Designated Workplace Doctor, and currently works as a Principal Resident Physician in Sengkang Health at Alexandra Hospital in Singapore. He holds special interest in Acupuncture, Geriatric Medicine and Occupational Health. He has been offering acupuncture as a complementary treatment to patients mainly for chronic pain such as chronic pelvic pain, muscular skeletal pain as well as for stroke. He has published articles in local media, and presented in overseas conferences on acupuncture for chronic pelvic pain. He had spoken in various meetings in both public and medical forums on acupuncture.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Patients who require longer stay following an acute stroke or fractures that are treated conservatively are generally transferred to a step-down care institution for further rehabilitation. Studies done with regards to cognitive or affective impairments predict rehabilitation participation among patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation; especially those with stroke or chronic pain, to have reactive depression, which affects rehabilitation participation. In our institution, patients were offered acupuncture for stroke or chronic pain. The purpose of this study is to describe the potential positive effect of providing acupuncture as complementing conventional treatment for patients with either stroke or chronic pain while in they are receiving treatment inpatient or outpatient.
Methodology: All patients were assessed weekly at multidisciplinary meetings involving physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals with regards to their rehabilitation potential using functional independence measurement (FIM) score and length of stay (LOS).
Findings: 3 patients enrolled in this study were found to have improved FIM score for both stroke as well as chronic pain patients within a shorter period of time. Though LOS did not see significant improvement for these patients, the reason was mainly awaiting arrival and training of care-giver, as these patients still require assistance upon discharge.
Conclusion & Significance: Patients who hold positive attitude towards acupuncture and were willing to give it a try, tend to be more optimistic and participatory to physiotherapy. This study showed significant improvement of FIM score and potentially shorter in-patient LOS, resulting in reduced medical cost, hospital bed occupancy and care-givers stress. Strongly recommend that healthcare institutions recognize this synergy and modality of care, and introduce similar programs in their institutions to treat patient holistically, utilizing both western medicine complemented by acupuncture all within the same team of doctors and therapists.
Image
Fig.1: Holistic Patient-centric care
Shannon M. Rossi
Weston A. Price Foundation, USA
Title: The Top 5 Secrets of Ancestral Diets which Optimize the 2nd Brain
Biography:
Shannon Rossi is a Holistic Health Consultant and founder of Powerful Health Strategies. She also serves as Chapter Leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) in St Joseph County, Indiana. (Founded in 1999, WAPF is non-profit organization dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to American tables through education, research and activism.) Shannon initially served as a Captain in the US Air Force, then continued service as a commander’s spouse during her husband’s 30-year career. Extensive overseas experience fueled her interest in traditional wellness strategies, leading her to study Acupuncture at the World Medicine Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii. She further explored multiple homeopathy (Floralive), nutritional (Brimhall), and kinesiology seminars (Brain Gym and AK). She was especially intrigued by neurological rehabilitation strategies (Blomberg Rhythmic Movement, Masgutova Method, and Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential). She also completed two Robbins-Madanes Strategic Intervention Programs (Core 100 and Total Breakthrough).
Abstract:
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Rates of neurological diseases are skyrocketing in this country. Most Americans routinely address these issues through neurological, psychiatric, or psychological therapies, missing the importance of the “2nd Brain.” BACKGROUND: In 470 BC, Hippocrates determined that “All diseases begin in the gut.” Decades ago, America was already in the midst of an “epidemic of epidemics of digestive disorders”. Neurological conditions have also skyrocketed. The US has one of the highest autism rates in the world. Autism spectrum disorders doubled from 2004 to 2014. Astonishing! What can we do? THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY is to address the correlation between gastrointestinal health and neurological health, giving concrete strategies to improve both. FINDINGS: In the 1930’s, Dr Weston A. Price travelled the world to decipher common traits of ancestral diets which yielded outstanding health in their populations. Implementing these strategies, Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride documents her success improving both gastrointestinal and neurological health in her book Gut and Psychology Syndrome. METHODOLOGY & THEORETICAL ORIENTATION: The enteric nervous system is commonly referred to as the 2nd brain. Addressing the delicate nature of the gut lining, due deference will be given to the wisdom of traditionally prepared foods, specifically identifying 5 strategies which optimized brain health. CONCLUSION & SIGNIFICANCE: Acupuncturists can enhance outcomes for many of their neurologically challenged patients by emphasizing nutrient-dense foods that have sustained human life for generations. This anthropological perspective provides a bedrock for understanding the basics of human nutrition. Support is available through the Weston A. Price Foundation’s brochures, podcasts, website, quarterly journals, and memberships. WAPF promotes wise traditions in food, farming, and healing arts.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Session Introduction
Lirane Carneiro-Suliano
Federal University of Parana, Brazil
Title: Neuroimagens regarding the stimulation of the point of Joy in Auriculoterapia
Biography:
Lirane Carneiro-Suliano is a Master’s and PhD student from the Federal University of Paraná. She is a Specialist in Acupuncture and Functional Orthopedics of Jaws. She has learnt complementary training in Auriculotherapy in France and in Acupuncture in Beijing Traditional Medicine Training Center of the WFAS/China. She is the Post-graduate Professor in Acupuncture. She is the Founding Member of the Brazilian Dental Society of Acupuncture (SOBA) Editorial Board Member and Reviewer of the Brazilian Journal of Therapies and Health (RBTS). She is also a Member of the Commission of Integrative Practices of the Regional Council of Dentistry of Paraná (CRO-Pr). She is the author of Atlas of Auriculotherapy from A to Z, Omnipax and chapter Acupuncture in the Treatment of Sports Dentistry in the book Sports Dentistry.
Abstract:
Problem statement: There are few neuroimaging studies performed on microsystems such as auriculotherapy. Researchers have long researched the results of acupuncture, including using modern techniques such as a neuroimaging. There are points in auricular acupuncture with recommendations for possible calming effects and other revitalizing ones, which are consecrated more by practical experience than based on scientific research. There are good results in different sources of stimuli, such as electrotropuntura and laserpuncture, however, studies on these actions are timid. Functional autonomic nervous system (ANS) performance analysis is based on cardiac rhythm variability, vascular compensation response (HR min / HR max), obtaining autonomic amplitude and frequency. The individual variability and physiological changes associated with acupuncture have also been reported in the literature.
Objective: To evaluate an immediate influence on the ANS by stimulating the joy point with different materials in auriculotherapy, through neuroimaging, anxiety control and heart rate. Theoretical methodologies: Equipment with brain and peripheral sensors was used to capture changes in brain images, anxiety control and real-time heart rate with different stimuli used at auricular points. Conclusion: It was observed with the data captured in the images that the Stimulation with laserpuncture, electrotropuntura, needle and seed of vacancy in the use of Alegria point has an effective and differentiated response. Conclusion and meaning: A neuroimaging allows to intensify the investigations with microsystems, to investigate its main points, different sources of stimuli and provoked neurophysiological reactions . Thus, it will direct an actuation and an evolution of auriculotherapy