July International Links
Infertility treatment could be assisted by a new insight into managing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The study found that a combination of exercise and electro-acupuncture treatments serve to lessen sympathetic nerve activity in women suffering from the condition. Sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS is often elevated, leaving them more exposed to hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Dr Elisabet Stener-Victorin of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden commented: "The findings that low-frequency electro-acupuncture and exercise decrease sympathetic nerve activity in women with Pcos indicates a possible alternative non-pharmacologic approach to reduce cardiovascular risk in these patients."
She added that results focusing on menstrual cycles and the drop in testosterone levels during low-frequency electro-acupuncture would also prove medically valuable. Pcos is experienced by five per cent of all women and is an endocrine disorder that is frequently a cause of infertility.
www.privatehealth.co.uk
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www.irishhealth.com
In early May, the Chinese Ministry of Health and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine raised public debate when they unveiled a Chinese-medicine plan, including prevention, to combat H1N1, the world's newest epidemic, popularly known as swine flu.
The recommended concoction called on mulberry leaves, cogongrass rhizome, honeysuckle and nine other ingredients, but netizens raised doubts over how a traditional preparation could help prevent such a new disease. "Has anyone ever heard Chinese medicine say there's a disease they don't have a cure for?" joked a commenter on the popular message board site, Douban.
Yet, Chinese-language media have been quick to weigh in against those who don't understand traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
"From the perspective of Chinese medicine, the swine flu is not so different from other types of flu and can most certainly be prevented and treated by means of Chinese medicine," says Dr Heiner Fruehauf, Founding Professor of the School of Classical Chinese Medicine in Portland, Oregon.
english.cctv.com
www.chinadaily.com.cn
NEW DELHI: The Government said it has earmarked Rs 100 crore to promote cultivation of medicinal plants across the country. On the pattern of Special Economic Zones, the health ministry decided to develop agricultural clusters for cultivatio n of medicinal herbs and expected to increase the export potential in herbal medicine sector up to Rs 1,000 crore annually.
“Of the total Rs 4,000 crore allocated to the department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddhi and Homeopathy (AYUSH) in the 11th five year plan, Rs 100 crore would be spent to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants alone,” said Ms S Jalaja , Secretary, Department of AYUSH.
The farmers will be provided technological guidance and equipment assistance by the state agricultural departments for growing plants with medicinal value, she said, adding that such clusters are already coming up in Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Nort h Eastern states.
The official said with the help of various government schemes and participation of industries, the herbal medicine sector has the potential to overtake allopathic medicine in the country not only in providing medical care but also in generating employmen t. - PTI
www.thehindubusinessline.com
Dubai: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced that it has put together a list of rules and regulations on the distribution and sales of herbal based medicines in the country said Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Executive Director of Medical Practices and Licensing Affairs at the ministry.
In a report published in the Arabic local daily Al Ittihad, Al Amiri said that the rules and regulations will come into effect next month. He said that this is the first time ever that a concrete effort has been taken to streamline the sale and distribution of herbal based medicines and products.
Al Amiri said that once the regulations come into effect in August, the MoH will be the sole authority in approving registration and import of these herbal based medicines.
Currently there are more than a thousand herbal based medicines in the UAE market, of which over half of them are unregistered.
www.gulfnews.com
Typically, treatment of TMD, a disease that negatively affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or the surrounding masticatory musculature, is nonspecific, with a wide range of therapies, including physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and acupuncture — not producing full results.
However, one study, titled “Effectiveness of Combining Manual Therapy and Acupuncture on Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction: A Retrospective Study,” investigated the combined use of manual therapy and acupuncture in treating clients with TMD. The results were favorable.
Forty-nine participants with TMD were analyzed for this retrospective study. They were treated with a combination of manual therapy and acupuncture two or three times a week at Wonkwang Medical Center in South Korea. These participants included 15 men and 34 women, with an average age of 30.47.
The combination of acupuncture and manual therapy showed a significant decrease in pain (36.9 percent after one week and 69.1 percent after four weeks), as well as an increase in MMO (11.7 after one week and 21.7 percent after four weeks).
www.chiroeco.com
Beijing's municipal health department says some influenza A H1N1 patients have been treated using traditional Chinese medicine. The Beijing Health Bureau said as of Thursday, eight of 17 flu patients handpicked to receive the treatment using 5,000-year-old traditional Chinese medicine were fully recovered, China Daily reported.
The non-Tamiflu medication has shown great promise for the remaining nine recovering patients, officials of the Beijing Health Bureau said. The Ministry of Health said nearly 90 percent of the influenza A H1N1 patients in China have been treated with a combination of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.
www.upi.com
ISLAMABAD - The Ministry of Health has finally agreed to legislate an independent Traditional Drugs Act to address pressing need of the National Council of Homeopathy and National Council of Tibb-e-Unani, TheNation learnt. The proposed bill would regulate the manufacturing, import, export, shortage, distribution, and sale of Tibb-e-Unani, Ayuvedic, Homeopathic, Biochemic and other herbal medicines.
The quarters concerned and stakeholders have welcomed the move, as till do date there was no law that regulates sale and manufacturing of traditional medicines. In the absence of any law to govern these non-conventional areas of medicine so far, has resulted in sheer exploitation of innocent public on the name of conventional medicines that were actually substandard medicines and formulas.
www.nation.com.pk
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a frustrating, uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing condition that can cause chronic constipation. Now in a ground-breaking study, Sydney, Australia scientists are seeking volunteers for the trial of a new treatment based on Chinese herbal medicine.
The new formula contains a number of herbal ingredients believed to address different aspects of IBS and is tailored to patients who mainly suffer from constipation.
www.blacktownsun.com.au