Research in to Chinese Herbal Medicine and Cancer Reported on in Wall Street Journal

The famously conservative Wall Street Journal published an interesting and very positive article on Chinese medicine and cancer, focusing on modern research at Yale University, into the ancient technques which we use to treat cancer in our clinics.

The article, which can be read here, focuses on one of the many formula which we use called Huang Qin Tang. The researchers, parroting what we have known for thousands of years, found that in addition to treating the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of chemotherapy, the herbs

. . . also seem to bolster colon-cancer treatment: Tests on animals with tumors have shown that administering the herbs along with chemotherapy drugs restored intestinal cells faster than when chemo was used alone.

While of course acupuncturists are delighted for the recognition and interest by top scientists into our methods, we remain concerned that an overly reductionist approach may lead people to believe that there is a one-size-fits-all approach to cancer – something which is an anathema to the approach taken in Chinese medicine. Even, and perhaps especially, in cancer the approach taken by an acupuncturist is highly individualized to the patient and their type of cancer. Still, this remains a fascinating initial inroad into East-West cooperation which can only benefit our mutual patients.

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.

Wall Street Journal Warms to Acupuncture

The famously conservative Wall Street Journal published a very nice article on acupuncture, which fronted their Personal Journal section. It's called, "Finding Science in an Ancient Therapy" by Melinda Beck, and you can find it at their website. Although it it strives to balance skepticism with enthusiasm - with one balancing the other out, the net effect of the informatiojn is quite positive. It includes several nice MRI images of the brain before and after acupuncture therapy.  It is quite satisfying to learn that the US military actually uses acupuncturists in their hospitals. We regularly see veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at our clinic and am pleased that this can be available to those still in active service.

Here is a very colorful graphic from the front page: