Acupuncture: A Mechanism For Pain Control?
Recently, a randomized study compared Traditional Chinese Medicine (TA) and Sham Acupuncture on the mechanism of how Acupuncture modulates pain control. The study tested the theory that acupuncture worked on endogenous opioid anti-pain receptors, u-opioid receptors (MORs). The results favored TA and concluded the following result:
Long-term increases in MOR BP following TA were also associated with greater reductions in clinical pain. These findings suggest that divergent MOR processes may mediate clinically relevant analgesic effects for acupuncture and sham acupuncture.
Source: Harris, et al. Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and Sham Acupuncture. NeuroImage. 47 (3). September 3 2009. (Science direct online)
Note: Make sure you say hi to our Acupuncturist, David Ostrowski, LAc when you stop by LW!
Vitamin D & Heart Disease
A prospective cohort study on the effect of low vitamin D levels and heart disease followed 3,488 adults aged 65 and older from 1988-1994. A follow up on mortality in 2000 indicated that low serum vitamin D levels had an independent association with death from heart disease and mortality in general.
Source: Ginde, A. et al. Prospective Study of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels, Cardiovascular Disease Mortality, and All-Cause Mortality in Older US Adults. Journal of American Geriatrics Society. 57(9). 22 June 2009. (Wiley Interscience online)
Tips to Prevent Breast Cancer
A recent article on Mercola.com highlighted new research findings on lifestyle factors and breast cancer risk. The four findings that correlated most to reduced incident of breast cancer included:
- Maintaning and ideal body weight (BMI between 18.5-24)
- Limiting Alcohol consumption
- Breastfeeding for 6 months
- Exercise
Other lifestyle choices that have been linked to decreased cancer risk are:
healthy diet, decreased environmental toxins, optimal vitamin D levels, and healthy emotional expression.