Science confirms acupuncture prevents migraines

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A highly respected and official review of scientific literature to prevent migraines showed acupuncture works slightly better than drugs and is not just a placebo. The Cochrane review process is the most rigorous scientific examination of clinical research.  In a 2016 Cochrane Review the authors summarized twenty-two clinical acupuncture trials regarding the treatment of migraines, including 4985 participants in total. Some trials tested acupuncture alone compared to routine care, others tested…

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The Benefits and Risks of Intermittent Fasting

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It has been shown again and again that diets don’t work.  Mostly because after losing weight people go back to their old eating patterns. Fasting is all the craze now a days, not only for losing weight, but also research shows it is great for regulating type II diabetes, and now new evidence with mouse studies shows it prolongs actual lifespan! What is more important though, is that it looks…

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Scientist, Helene Langevin, talks about her research on connective tissue, chronic pain, and acupuncture

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I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Langevin when I was in acupuncture school 15 years ago, when I attended an international research conference in the USA.  I was so impressed with the rigor with which she brought her investigation into the micro-anatomy of what was actually happening at the level of the tissues with acupuncture.  Since then she has advanced our understanding of how important connective tissue is in pain…

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The Point of Acupuncture

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Acupuncture Needle on Shoulder Muscle

The Point of Acupuncture  – one point at a time. This blog series will address our understanding of handful of the most special acupuncture points, one by one, both in a historical context of oriental philosophy, and also the evidence shown by science to date on why and how each point may be working therapeutically. We have discussed acupuncture mechanism before in general ways (see the facia connection), but this…

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Acupuncture works for more than pain

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Acupuncture works for more than pain Acupuncture is best known for its association with a release of endorphins (your natural pain-killers) and also its ability to relax tight or contracted muscles.  Acupuncture is evolving with the help of evidence-based studies which validate and demonstrate not only how it can relieve back pain (read how we treat back pain here), but also how it therapeutically modulates the nervous, and endocrine (hormone),…

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The Headache of Understanding and Treating Migraines!

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Part 1: Insights from case studies The late Oliver Sacks, a medical doctor, naturalist, and science historian, authored many best-selling books regarding the brain’s strangest behaviours.  He investigated unusual neurological disorders and communicated them as case studies and personal reflections, offering insights and a deep appreciation for the complexity of mind and perception; what most take for granted until something goes wrong.  His first book, Migraine, was inspired by his time…

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Finding the forest through the trees – connective tissue rediscovered

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Hidden from view until now – fluid filled spaces everywhere!   By Gord Grant PhD, RAc and Alina Tousseeva, RAc A medical group from New York City recently discovered something very new and interesting about connective tissue. Connective tissue (or fascia as it is also known) is the tough, gooey, elastic filler stuff between cells in and around tissues, sinews, organs and muscles of the body.  It is simply everywhere!  On…

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Acupuncture helps with morning sickness

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Acupuncture helps with morning sickness  This blog is intended to provide information to pregnant women who are suffering from morning sickness.  Many prefer to try something else besides medications as a first line approach, or are not tolerating anti-nausea drugs well. In a 2015 Cochrane review, a respected medical journal that summarizes research over time and evaluates its quality, put together two “meta analysis” to see if acupuncture can help…

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Acupuncture and the Back Mechanic: flexion/stretching can make back pain worse

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As you would expect, we serve many people from Edmonton at our clinic and give them acupuncture for back pain.  Many come with a history of sitting too much and not getting enough exercise.   But ironically, just as many, maybe even more, despite or because of extensive and consistent strength training and/or stretching, complain of low back pain and intolerance to sitting. Why is this? There can be many reasons….

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Acupuncture at the end of the rope

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Acupuncture is not main-stream, and indeed, is very different – different enough for you NOT to try it until you are at the end of your rope! So this means people often come to see us when everything else has failed.  Unfortunate but true.  But it is often just the nature of change; a necessary and unavoidable stage before, when facing a difficult issue, we will try new things.  Here…

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