Chinese Herb Enters Trials to Treat Prostate Cancer

A commonly used herb in Chinese herbal formulae, Huang Bai has entered trials for prostrate cancer at the University of Texas School of Medicine, San Antonio. An article about this can be read here.

Adanki Pratap Kumar, a professor of urology in the University of Texas School of Medicine at the Health Science Center in San Antonio, discovered in his laboratory that there was something special about the extract -- from the bark of the Amur cork tree in China -- in combination with radiation treatments that seemed to make both work much better.

It is not surprising that this ingredient, which is in many of the formulae that we make patients with specific complaints and constititutional issues, would be found useful for issues such as cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine categorizes diseases as having specific traits and prescribes acupuncture points and herbal formulae which balance these traits. Cancer often has characteristics which this ingredient would be useful in treating.

Wall Street Journal *Again* Publishes a Pro-Acupuncture Article

The famously conservative and mainstream newspaper website, The Wall Street Journal, has published another fairly extensive article on acupuncture. This time it tries to cover the complicated science of how acupuncture may work for various health issues. While the article is careful to cover it's bases and not outright endorse Chinese medicine it does present acupuncture in a very positive light.

From WSJ article

In the past, the Wall Street Journal has written articles on acupuncture and pregnancy related depression, available here; and an article on stress and acupuncture – which I wrote about here.

Pam Grier Credits Chinese Medicine for Beating Cancer

Cult film star Pam Grier cites her use of Chinese medicine in helping her avoid death from her stage IV cancer in interviews and in her autobiography. You can read about it at this site:

"FOXY BROWN star PAM GRIER has Chinese herbal medicine to thank for her cancer all-clear - because western doctors suggested she turn to alternatives after traditional methods to cure her failed."

Acupuncture Deemed Useful for Hot Flashes

ABC News aired a news feature which announced a hospital study using acupuncture to successfuly help menopausal women overcome hot flashes. The news piece also included quotes from practitioners at Beth Israel Hospital in New York and the Mayo Clinic who have been working with hot flashes for many years – to the great satisfaction of their patients.

WebMD Writes on Acupuncture and Pain

WebMD describes a study which looks at how acupuncture changes the way in which the brain perceives pain. Good stuff.