Autonomic activation in insomnia: the case for acupuncture.

I hope I'll be able to get a copy of this article. If I do, I'll post again on the details. Here are the money quotes: "Acupuncture may represent a unique avenue of treatment for poor sleep by virtue of its direct effects on peripheral nerves and muscles, which, in turn, modulate autonomic tone and central activation. In this review, we summarize both basic and clinical research indicating that acupuncture exerts profound influences via a wide variety of potential neural and/or hormonal mechanisms that have great relevance for the modulation of sleep and wakefulness."
I would add that acupuncture is often helpful for a wide variety of psychological conditions because it provides that link between the physical and the mental through augmentation of the autonomic nervous system, hence decreasing stress and its related maladies.

(To read further about acupuncture, HRV, and my practice please click here.)

Autonomic activation in insomnia: the case for acupuncture.

Huang W, Kutner N, Bliwise DL. J Clin Sleep Med 2011;7(1):95-102.
Current conceptualizations of the biological basis for insomnia typically invoke central nervous system and/or autonomic nervous system arousal. Acupuncture may represent a unique avenue of treatment for poor sleep by virtue of its direct effects on peripheral nerves and muscles, which, in turn, modulate autonomic tone and central activation. In this review, we summarize both basic and clinical research indicating that acupuncture exerts profound influences via a wide variety of potential neural and/or hormonal mechanisms that have great relevance for the modulation of sleep and wakefulness. We illustrate principles of acupuncture intervention applied to cases of otherwise intractable insomnia that document successful application of this component of Traditional Chinese Medicine to the treatment of poor sleep. Our review indicates the necessity for further research in the relationship between the effects of acupuncture on insomnia and autonomic regulation, which might guide better selective use of this treatment modality for insomnia. CITATION: Huang W; Kutner N; Bliwise DL. Autonomic activation in insomnia: the case for acupuncture. J Clin Sleep Med 2011;7(1):95-102.

Tendon Pain, what works?

This article from the New York Times looks at the interesting phenomenon that sometimes occurs with tendonitis: using the injured area, even intensely, can sometimes help. I've had at least two interesting experiences with this pattern. One was in a patient who had tennis elbow. I had been treating him and after 3 visits he was much better with less swelling, but he was still aware of it. He was a pro, so needed to play and he had a particularly grueling match and his elbow was all better the next day! I also had the embarrassing situation of turning on an electrotherapeutic device without turning down the intensity first and it gave a massive shock to a patient with tennis elbow. His whole arm leapt from the table and he started yelling. I quickly turned it off. By the next day, all the bruising swelling and pain was gone. I've never had the nerve to repeat that mistake, and thank goodness that patient was my husband, but after reading this article, I wonder if more stimulation might be better than less... The theory is that you increase the blood flow and that is what is curative. I addressed the cortisone issue in this post.

To learn more about acupuncture and HRV and my practice please click here.

For Tendon Pain, Think Beyond the Needle
By JANE E. BRODY

Two time-honored remedies for injured tendons seem to be falling on their faces in well-designed clinical trials.

The first, corticosteroid injections into the injured tendon, has been shown to provide only short-term relief, sometimes with poorer long-term results than doing nothing at all.

The second, resting the injured joint, is supposed to prevent matters from getting worse. But it may also fail to make them any better.

Rather, working the joint in a way that doesn’t aggravate the injury but strengthens supporting tissues and stimulates blood flow to the painful area may promote healing faster than “a tincture of time.”