The Greatest Complementary/Alternative Therapy Breakthroughs of 2011

According to the Huffington Post, 2011 was a big year for complementary and alternative therapies. In an article dominated by slides, acupuncture won a prominent place because of study demonstrating the molecular effects of the therapy on chronic stress: 

In December, researchers with the Georgetown University Medical Center released a study showing how -- at a molecular level -- acupuncture can help reduce stress. The research, published in the journal, Experimental Biology and Medicine showed that in rats, acupuncture reduced levels of a peptide secreted by the system in our body during the whole flight-or-fight response. 

"It has long been thought that acupuncture can reduce stress, but this is the first study to show molecular proof of this benefit," the study's lead author, Ladan Eshkevari, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Georgetown's School of Nursing & Health Studies said in a statement.

In December, researchers with the Georgetown University Medical Center released a study showing how -- at a molecular level -- acupuncture can help reduce stress. The research, published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine showed that in rats, acupuncture reduced levels of a peptide secreted by the system in our body during the whole flight-or-fight response. 
"It has long been thought that acupuncture can reduce stress, but this is the first study to show molecular proof of this benefit," the study's lead author, Ladan Eshkevari, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Georgetown's School of Nursing & Health Studies said in a statement.

Acupuncture and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

From the Temple Daily Telegram comes and article on the Army's use of acupuncture to help treat PTSD in soldiers returning from service in the Gulf and Afghanistan:

"Soldiers returning from combat in the Middle East with post-traumatic stress disorder can opt for some alternative forms of treatment that include acupuncture."

This is something that we have been seeing a lot of in the last few years in my clinic. Happily, acupuncture has been very useful to help with this issue.