Acupuncture helps treat autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are developmental disorders, which have four core characteristics: communication and social impairment, irritability, repetitive behaviour and limited range of interests. There is a wide variance in the type and severity of autism.

Medication is used to help support children with autism. However, the adverse reactions to drugs have led to the increasing popularity of complementary treatments for autism.  

The research set out in this paper used body acupuncture and weekly treatments based on an individual diagnosis using an integrated TCM-Five Element style for each child, depending on their own specific symptoms. The study was conducted in one institute to minimise the variations in treatments.

This pilot control trial took place at a specialist residential school for children with ASD  between September 2012 and July 2013.  While 16 children (aged 9-16 years) accepted the invitation to participate, two withdrew. The remaining 14 students were allocated into two groups. Both groups received weekly treatments. The first group received treatment between September 28, 2012 and February 28, 2013, that made to a maximum of 14 possible sessions. The second group, a delayed control group, commenced treatment from March 1, 2013 and it continued till July 12, 2013, with a maximum of 15 possible session.

All diagnoses and treatments were undertaken by a single acupuncturist, who is the author of this study.  The practitioner has 16-year experience, is fully qualified and specialist in Acupuncture. The appointment duration was 30 minutes and parents were asked to attend the first session. The first four sessions consisted of massage and acupressure (pressing points with fingers, pressing with a metal probe, and progressing on to stimulating the point with the back of the needle in order to accustom children to the process). Needles were used from the fifth session depending on each participant’s acceptance of needles. Seirin 0.16x15mm needles were inserted to a depth of 0.3- 0.5 cun, and were retained for up to 20 minutes for the older and more compliant children. For the remaining participants, needles were not retained.

Children and their parents reported a variety of benefits, including feeling more relaxed, less anxious, less angry and improvement in social behaviour, all of which are common challenges that autistic children face. The majority of children were happy to receive acupuncture, provided they received support and a plenty of preparation and reassurance.  

Eight of the 14 children were unable to communicate verbally. Of the six who could communicate, only three children could articulate how they felt. In addition, parents only gave their feedback at the end of the five-month treatment. Parents suggested that treatment had made a positive impact on kids’ social behaviour but it was also suggested that regular treatment was needed to maintain its efficacy.

This treatment is now being made available in India.

 

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5 kilograms of broccoli in a pill slashes diabetics’ blood sugar

Doctors frequently tell us to eat our greens, but soon they could be prescribing broccoli. A powder that contains concentrated extract from the vegetable could prove indispensable to people with type 2 diabetes. The extract reduced blood sugar levels by up to 10 per cent in people with the disease.

Type 2 diabetes usually develops around middle age, often in people who are overweight. Their body stops responding to insulin, which controls the level of glucose in the blood. Abnormal insulin regulation causes a rise in blood sugar levels, which can raise people’s chances of heart attacks, blindness and kidney problems.
People with the condition are often prescribed metformin, which helps to lower blood glucose. However, as many as 15 per cent cannot take this therapy because of kidney damage risks.

“More research is needed to see if this repurposed drug can be used to treat Type 2 diabetes, as it was only tested in a small number of people and only helped a subset of those who are taking it,” says a scholar. “For now, we recommend that people continue with the treatment prescribed by their healthcare team.”

Clever greens

A chemical called sulforaphane, found in broccoli sprouts, has previously demonstrated an ability to reduce glucose levels in diabetic rats. A researcher and his colleagues wondered whether the same might be true for humans. To test the theory, his team gave 97 people with type 2 diabetes a concentrated dose of sulforaphane every day for three months, or a placebo. All but three people in the trial continued taking metformin. Those who didn’t take metformin were able to control their condition relatively well without it.

The concentration of sulforaphane given was around 100 times that found naturally in broccoli. “It was the same as eating around five kilograms of broccoli daily,” says Rosengren.

On average, those who received the broccoli extract saw their blood glucose reduce by 10 per cent more than those on the placebo. The extract was most effective in obese participants with “dysregulated” diabetes, whose baseline glucose levels were higher to start with.

“We’re very excited about the effects we’ve seen and are eager to bring the extract to patients,” he says . “We saw a reduction of glucose of about 10 per cent, which is sufficient to reduce complications in the eyes, kidneys and blood,” he says.

Complimentary medicine

Further investigations showed that while both metformin and sulphoraphane cut blood glucose, they do it in different ways. Metformin makes cells more sensitive to insulin, so they sponge more surplus glucose out of the bloodstream. Sulphoraphane reduces glucose by suppressing liver enzymes that otherwise stimulate the production of glucose.

For this reason, he thinks the broccoli extract is complementary to metformin, not competitive. But he points out that many people with diabetes can’t take metformin because of kidney complications, so the broccoli extract could be an ideal substitute in these cases.

In collaboration with many, the scholar and his colleagues are applying to regulatory authorities to seek approval for the powder, which could take as little as two years.

He also plans to explore potential benefits of the extract in people who are pre-diabetic, and so not yet taking metformin.

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Acupuncture- everything you want to know about

How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture seeks to release the flow of the body's vital energy or "chi" by stimulating points along 14 energy pathways. Scientists say the needles cause the body to release endorphins -- natural painkillers -- and may boost blood flow and change brain activity. Skeptics say acupuncture works only because people believe it will, an effect called the placebo effect.

 Does it hurt?
 Acupuncture needles are very thin, and most people feel no pain or very little pain when they are inserted. They often say they feel energized or relaxed after the treatment. However, the needles can cause temporary soreness.

 Low-Back Pain
If standard treatments don't relieve your chronic low-back pain, acupuncture may do the job, and two respected medical groups suggest that people in this situation give it a try. One large study found that both actual and "fake" acupuncture worked better than conventional treatments for back pain that had lasted more than three months. The jury's still out on acupuncture for short-term (acute) pain in the low back.

 

Acupoint: Headaches

Acupuncture may help relieve migraines or tension headaches. Two large studies found that people receiving acupuncture had fewer days with tension headaches than those receiving conventional care.

 

Fibromyalgia

Studies that test how well acupuncture works against the pain of fibromyalgia have had mixed results. Some showed that it provided temporary pain relief, but others did not. A small study by the Mayo Clinic suggested that acupuncture may reduce two other problems of fibromyalgia: fatigue and anxiety. But overall, there's not enough evidence yet to prove that acupuncture works for fibromyalgia.

 

For Arthritis Pain

Acupuncture can be a helpful addition to conventional treatment for osteoarthritis, says the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. And some of the most promising, early research has shown acupuncture eased arthritis pain in the knee. However, more research is needed to prove without a doubt that it's effective for osteoarthritis.

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Acupuncture was tested and compared with steroid pills for the hand and arm pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. Researchers in Taiwan gave one group eight acupuncture treatments, over about a month, and those patients reported more relief, for a longer time, than the group taking medicine. While studies like this have been promising, more evidence is still needed to confirm that acupuncture is effective for carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

Acupoint: Dental Pain

Acupuncture provides relief from the pain of tooth extraction or dental surgery, but so does fake acupuncture, some studies show. Still, dental pain is considered by many to be one of the conditions that responds to acupuncture.

 

Acupoint: Other Pain

People have tried acupuncture for neck pain, muscle pain, tennis elbow, and menstrual cramps, hoping to avoid medications and their side effects. The World Health Organization lists 28 different conditions that are sometimes treated with acupuncture. In the U.S., a review by the National Institutes of Health called for robust research to verify the promise that acupuncture holds for many different conditions.

 

Acupuncture and Cancer Care

Because acupuncture can lessen pain, nausea, and vomiting, it is sometimes used to help people cope with symptoms of cancer or chemotherapy. It also can help manage hot flashes associated with breast cancer. Be sure to talk to your doctor first and seek a practitioner who has experience working with cancer patients.

When to Consider Acupuncture

Because acupuncture rarely causes more than mild side effects, it is a potential alternative to pain medications or steroid treatments. It is also considered a "complementary" medicine that can be used along with other treatments. It is best to discuss the use of acupuncture with your health care provider.

Acupuncture Risks

Although acupuncture is generally safe and serious problems are rare, there are some risks. Needles that are not sterile can cause infection. In some acupuncture points, needles inserted too deeply can puncture the lungs or gallbladder or cause problems with your blood vessels. That is why it is important to use a practitioner who is well-trained in acupuncture.

Who Shouldn't Use Acupuncture

People with bleeding disorders or who take blood thinners may have increased risk of bleeding. Electrical stimulation of the needles can cause problems for people with pacemakers or other electrical devices. Pregnant women should talk with their health care provider before having acupuncture. It's important not to skip conventional medical care or rely on acupuncture alone to treat diseases or severe pain.

 Acupressure vs. Acupuncture

If you are afraid of needles, you may be able to get much of the same effect from acupressure. Acupressure involves pressing or massaging the acupuncture points to stimulate energy pathways. Scientific comparisons of acupressure and acupuncture are limited, but acupressure has been shown to be effective in reducing nausea and lessening labor pain.

 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.








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