In the run-up to the recent general election, I read an interesting interview with Dr Jillian Creasy, the Health & Social Care Spokesperson for the Green Party.

The Green Party’s 2015 election manifesto called for “complementary medicines that are cost effective and have been shown to work to be made available on the NHS”. As… Continue reading →

Following the devastation and suffering caused by the earthquakes in Nepal, two US-based non-profit organisations are leading the response of the worldwide acupuncture community.

Acupuncture Relief Projects and Acupuncturists Without Borders both now have members working in Nepal to help the survivors with their physical and emotional needs.

“Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun.”

Pablo Picasso

The American Academy of Otolayngology’s new clinical practice guideline for treating allergic rhinitis recommends acupuncture for those patients interested in nonpharmacological therapy.

A panel of 20 members, including experts in otolarygology, allergy, immunology, nursing, complementary medicine, and consumer advocacy developed 14 guideline recommendations. They recognised increased awareness of acupuncture as a treatment option for allergic… Continue reading →

Candida is a yeast that is present on all the mucous membranes of the body. It is only when it over-proliferates that candida causes problems. The most common causes of over-proliferation are:

• The immune system being weakened by stress, severe illness, or anti-biotic use

• Candida growth is encouraged by cortisone-type drugs, oral contraceptives, and chemotherapy… Continue reading →

Oscar-winning actress, Julianne Moore, so devastatingly good in her recent performance of a sufferer of early-onset Alzheimer’s, has spoken of the benefits she receives from acupuncture:

“I had a period after my mother died where I couldn’t sleep… I was just a wreck. I had some really intense acupuncture treatments, and it reset my nervous system.”

The name of this therapy is somewhat misleading, as it is a treatment system that encompasses the whole body, not just the head. It is based upon manipulation of the Involuntary Mechanism or Cranial Rhythmic Impulse (CRI), a wave-like fluctuation felt in a cycle of 6 – 14 times a minute anywhere in the body.… Continue reading →

“When the great Tao is forgotten,

Kindness and morality arise.

When wisdom and intelligence are born,

The great pretense begins.

When there is no peace within the family,

Filial piety and devotion arise.

When the country is confused and in chaos,

Loyal ministers appear.”

To those unfamiliar with Daoism (sometimes translated as Taoism),… Continue reading →

A nice simple thought before the general election tomorrow:

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

Anne Frank

A meta-anaylsis of research recently published in the British Medical Journal has shown paracetamol has no effect on the experience of lower back pain. The research included a meta-analysis of 13 randomised controlled studies involving nearly 5,400 patients. These studies looked at the effects of paracetamol use compared with placebo. The study showed that for… Continue reading →