Chinese researchers have found that a herbal formula called Huai Qi Huang (HQH) can ameliorate proteinuria and haematuria in patients suffering from IgA nephropathy (IgAN, aka Berger’s disease). In this condition, immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits form in the glomeruli, causing inflammation, which results in chronic kidney damage. HQH is a compound Chinese herbal medicine that contains Trametes robiniophila murr (Huaier), wolfberry fruit (Gou Qi Zi),...Weiterlesen

Chewing slices of ginseng root while having haemodialysis can prevent patients’ blood pressure from dropping dangerously, according to Taiwanese investigators. Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a common complication of haemodialysis which increases mortality risks. Thirty-eight patients with IDH were instructed to chew slices of Korean red ginseng (KRG) at each haemodialysis session during a four-week treatment period. The results showed that KRG significantly reduced the degree...Weiterlesen

Die elektrische Stimulation zweier Akupunkturpunkte erwies sich in einer Studie bei Patienten mit unkontrolliertem Verlust von Urin der Scheinakupunktur als überlegen. Der unkontrollierte Verlust von Urin, auch als Belastungs- oder Stressinkontinenz bezeichnet, stellt für die betroffenen Patienten ein gesellschaftliches Stigma dar und bedeutet meist eine eindeutige Minderung der Lebensqualität. Schätzungsweise vier Millionen Menschen in Deutschland, insbesondere Frauen und Personen über 65 Jahren, sind von diesem...Weiterlesen

Electro-acupuncture (EA) can help ease stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women, suggests a study from China. In a multi-centre randomised clinical trial, 504 women with SUI were randomly assigned to receive 18 sessions of EA (at lumbosacral acupoints) or sham EA (non-penetrating needling of non-acupoints). At the end of six weeks of treatment, EA showed a clear benefit over sham, with significantly less urine leakage...Weiterlesen

Despite some allegations to the contrary (e.g. ‚man flu‘), it is generally accepted that men tend to suffer in silence, being reluctant to discuss health problems with friends, family or the medical profession. It is not surprising therefore that the facts about chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) in men are not better known. It is thought that up to 10% of men aged between 20...Weiterlesen

Investigators based in Norway have explored the correlation between choice of acupoints and the recurrence rate of cystitis among cystitis-prone women receiving acupuncture as a prophylactic treatment. Fifty-eight cystitis-prone women were included in the analysis. Acupuncture treatments, given twice a week for four weeks, were customised based on patients’ TCM pattern diagnoses, and patients were followed up over a six-month period. The main acupoints used...Weiterlesen

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the analgesic effect and tolerance profile of acupuncture versus intravenous (IV) titrated morphine in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with renal colic. Materials and methods: A total of 115 patients were randomized into two groups. Patients in the IV titrated-morphine group (n=61) received 0.1 mg/kg morphine every 5 minutes until pain score dropped by...Weiterlesen

Researchers find acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine effective for the alleviation of urinary retention caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition often referred to as enlargement of the prostate gland. Benign prostatic hyperplasia often leads to bladder, kidney, and urinary tract disorders. The prostate enlargement may block the flow of urine and cause discomfort or urinary retention. Common symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia include...Weiterlesen

A Norwegian pilot study suggests that acupuncture may be more effective for preventing urinary incontinence than pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). Thirty-four women with incontinence were randomly assigned to receive either 12 sessions of acupuncture, 12 sessions of PFMT, or to a waiting list control group for 12 weeks. The acupuncture points used were semi-standardised, with alternation between front and back points. Zhongji REN-3, Guanyuan...Weiterlesen

In a prospective study, we investigated the potentially curative effect of acupuncture in patients with psychogenic erectile dysfunction (pED). A total of 22 patients with pED were randomized into two groups. They were either treated with acupunture specific against ED (treatment group) or acupuncture specific against headache (placebo group). Nonresponders of the placebo group were crossed over to the treatment group. Prior to acupuncture, serum...Weiterlesen