|
HOME · ACUPUNCTURE · CHINESE MEDICINE ·
BIO · SERVICES · MAP · LINKS · CONTACT
The Treatment of Diabetes With Chinese Medicine
In China Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is commonly applied in diabetes care. Many studies show that this medicine is effective for treating diabetes as well as managing many of the complications associated with this disease. For example, studies in China demonstrate the effectiveness of acupuncture in controlling peripheral neuropathy and skin ulceration, while special herbal formulas are used to control blood sugar levels. Studies from around the world have clearly demonstrated the ability of acupuncture to stimulate peripheral blood circulation, which is common in diabetics and leads to a variety of complications.
The Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine published a report on the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for diabetes. Of the 38 participants in the acupuncture group, there were 25 cases(2/3) rated “markedly effective“. This was based on the observation that their initial symptoms essentially disappeared by the end of the study period, their fasting blood-sugar levels had dropped below 130 (or the blood sugar two hours after a meal would be below 150). In addition, the 24-hour urine-sugar content was reduced by 30% or more at the end of the study. These patients showed very evident improvements.
An additional 10 participants were rated “effectively” treated. Symptoms were improved but not gone, and fasting blood-sugar levels dropped to below 150 (or two hours after meals below 180), and the 24-hour urinary-sugar excretion declined by at least 10% from initial values (but not up to 30%). Only three patients in the study failed to respond at all.
In addition, it was reported that the patients in the acupuncture group experienced a statistically significant decline in cholesterol, triglycerides, and beta-lipoproteins.
The drop in triglycerides was most substantial, with a decline from a beginning average value of 151, to 117 after one month, a decline of more than 20%. There were significant improvements in "nail-fold microcirculation," which is a measurement of blood circulation through capillary beds. Skin ulceration due to poor capillary circulation is a common complication for people with diabetes.
Among the 8 patients in this study who were using insulin, the amount needed after the acupuncture study period declined in six of the eight individuals. In two of those cases, the insulin could be stopped altogether.
In this study, the control group was administered an herbal medicine formula, which had been the subject of earlier study and the level of effectiveness was already established. Among the 22 participants who took the herbal formula, there were 8 cases rated as markedly effective and 12 cases as effective, and 2 ineffective.
As most patients responded well in both the Acupuncture and herbal formula groups, these studies show positive therapeutic effects of acupuncture and herbal medicine on diabetes as well as the prevention of complications such as cardiovascular diseases.
Acupuncture Today November, 2003, Volume 04, Issue 11
Diabetes and Acupuncture
Yin Lo, PhD
Editor's note: Material from this article is included in Dr. Lo's forthcoming book, Acupuncture: Quantum and Supreme Health.
U.S. newspapers continuously report the increase in the number of individuals among all age groups who suffer from diabetes. One research group suggests that in the not-too-distant future, half of the Hispanic population may have diabetes. It seems that diabetes becomes more prevalent as society becomes more affluent, as there is more food available.
Diabetes is caused primarily by dysfunction of the pancreas. How can acupuncture help diabetic patients? Scientific studies and clinical tests in international research centers in the past 10 years* have shown that acupuncture can help diabetic patients in the following ways:
• lower blood glucose content;
• lower the release of pancreatic glucagons;
• attenuate symptoms of polyphagia (the urge to eat too much), polydipsia (excessive thirst) and polyuria (excessive passage of urine);
• prevent slowing of motor nerve conduction;
• improve microcirculation and myocardial contractility;
• enhance blood outflow and regulate vascular peripheral resistance;
• exert antiatherogenic, antioxidant and immunomodulating effects;
• obliterate antheroscelerosis of the legs;
• induce secretion of endogenous beta-endorphin;
• elevate a lowered pain threshold; and
• increase cell proliferation and neuropeptide Y levels.
As discussed in my first article in the June issue, the effects of acupuncture are immediate after each session. Pictured below are infrared images (before and after acupuncture treatment) of a diabetic patient who had laser surgery on the eyes (without much success). The effect of acupuncture is dramatically illustrated by the change in the patient's color pattern. The color code is as follows: White is the highest temperature, followed by red; orange; yellow; green; blue; and black.
The patient was treated twice. The second treatment occurred about one week after the first.
Photographic Analysis
The maximum temperatures around the eyes, forehead and the mouth were reduced by 1.32 C, 1.26 C and 1.0 C after the first treatment, respectively. Maximum temperatures around the eyes, forehead and the mouth were reduced by 0.65 C, 0.26 C and 0.46 C after the second treatment. The reduction in maximum temperatures was less for the second treatment than for the first treatment.
Before the first treatment, the differences between maximum and minimum temperature around the eyes, mouth and forehead were 2.65 C, -0.07 C and 1.49 C. Before the second treatment, the differences between maximum and minimum temperatures were 1.81 C, 0.06 C and 0.27 C.
We detected improvement on the eyes and the forehead based on the reductions of their difference in maximum and minimum temperature. We attributed the improvement of 0.64 C around the eyes and 1.22 C around the forehead to the first treatment with acupuncture and massage. There was hardly any change to the difference of maximum and minimum temperature around the mouth.
The high temperature around the forehead probably was due to high blood pressure. Since the improvement was rapid, one expects the high blood pressure can be controlled much easier.
The high temperature around the eyes was due to damage from diabetes and the surgical operations on the eyes. Nevertheless, there was an improvement of 0.64 C. This is a very good indication that the patient responded positively to acupuncture treatment.
For another serious diabetic patient who had acupuncture continuously twice a week for a year, there was continuous improvement of eyesight and bodily function.
* Readers who would like more details on the references to these works are encouraged to contact the author directly.
Yin Lo, PhD
Monrovia, California
ideaclinic@yahoo.com
Editor's note: If you would like to comment on Dr. Lo's article, please contact Acupuncture Today by fax (714-899-4273) or e-mail (Editorial@AcupunctureToday.com). You are also encouraged to discuss Dr. Lo's article on his "Talk Back" forum at www.AcupunctureToday.com/columnists/lo.
A traditional Chinese medicine may be beneficial for people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Berberine, found in the roots and barks of some plants, has been documented in Chinese literature as being able to lower glucose levels in diabetics. Now scientists have found that studies on rodents support this claim.
Writing in the journal Diabetes, they added that berberine reduced the animals' body weight, suggesting it could also be used to treat obesity.
Berberine is a compound found in several plants, including goldenseal, the Oregon grape and barberry. It has been used by a number of different cultures for medicinal purposes, most commonly to treat diarrhoea. It is also being employed, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine, to treat diabetes.
To investigate its reported glucose-lowering effects, an international team examined the effect of berberine on mice and rats. The researchers found that a dose of the compound, given orally, caused blood sugar levels to go down, led to fewer fats circulating in the bloodstream, made insulin work better and lowered the animals' body weights.
Potential therapy
Professor David James, head of the diabetes and obesity research programme at the Garvan Institute, Sydney, Australia, said: "We are interested in type 2 diabetes, which is caused by a malfunctioning of insulin action, causing blood sugar regulation to go haywire.
"We have now obtained scientific evidence that shows berberine helps insulin to work much better.
"It helps insulin to control blood sugar. But it also helps to clear fats out of the bloodstream, and we think that this leads to one of its other major end points, which is reduction of body weight."
The team believes the plant product is "turning on" an enzyme found in body tissue, which improves the body's sensitivity to insulin, in turn lowering blood sugar levels and reducing the level of circulating fats.
Professor James said: "This is a very nice example of how there is validity to some of these traditional medicines.
"Type 2 diabetes and obesity are a huge problem and, although there are some nice medicines on the market, they have their limitations and there is a tremendous need for new therapies.
"This represents a potential new therapy for treatment of diabetes and obesity."
However, he cautioned that more clinical studies were needed on humans before berberine should be recommended for diabetics, particularly to investigate how the compound interacts with other drugs.
Cathy Moulton, a care advisor at Diabetes UK, said: "There are already many treatments for type 2 diabetes available but this research is slightly different as it's based on a natural remedy.
"We would not recommend that anyone attempts to use this as a treatment in its current form as this research only focuses on animals.
"We will wait to see the results of further research with interest."
References:
This study is published in the August issue of 'Diabetes'. The title is: Berberine, a natural plant product, activates AMP-activated protein kinase with beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic and insulin resistant states. Yun S. Lee, Woo S. Kim,Kang H. Kim, Myung J. Yoon, Hye J. Cho, Yun Shen, Ji-Ming Ye, Chul H. Lee, Won K. Oh, Chul T. Kim, Cordula Hohnen-Behrens, Alison Gosby, Edward W. Kraegen, David E. James, and Jae B. Kim.
More articles...
TOP
|
|