Acupuncture helped the mother overcome the migraine and hypertension during pregnancy. By Dr.Arthur Fan

Acupuncture helped the mother overcome the migraine and hypertension during pregnancy

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Acupuncture is good for resolving restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). A patient testimony.

September 6, 2012

Doctor Fan,

I want to thank you for using your expert acupuncture techniques to solve my long lasting Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS).

Traditional medicine did not work and your remedies have allowed me to sleep well at night.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

P. A.

Dr.Arthur fan notes: after acupuncture, patient feels no longer have restless leg syndrome, and migraine gone, sleep very soundly.

And, very important the mood much calm.

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Dr.Arthur Fan’s Lecture in Chinese Medicine Treating Tourette Syndrome,Tics on 04/11/2010 in Washington DC, Northern Virginia

Dr. Fan has treated Tics or Tourette’s syndrome since 1990 both in China and in America using Chinese medicine, acupuncture.

The following links show his Power Point Slides and a video.

Tourette’s syndrome 04082010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyiwTbi2jcw

Two colleagues, Dr. Liu H from Elicott City, Maryland discussed the treatments for different headache (migraine, Tension headache, Sinus headache etc), and Dr. Peng Y from Silver Spring discussed the treatments for neck pain.

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Acupuncture for Treatment of Migraines,Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1

Acupuncture for Treatment of Migraines
Source: Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1

The reviews appear in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates research in all aspects of health care. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing trials on a topic.Acupuncture involves penetrating the skin with thin, metallic needles at specific points. It is one of the main medical treatments in traditional Chinese medicine, where it came into being more than 2,000 years ago. Lead reviewer Klaus Linde of the Center for Complementary Medicine Research at the Technical University of Munich said the therapy is popular in his country. “In Germany, acupuncture is frequently used for headache,” he said. “Most private health insurances, in fact, reimburse for acupuncture, although they cover only about 10 percent of the population.”

The practice has also gained popularity in the United States. A 2002 National Health Interview Survey of complementary and alternative medicine use found that about 8.2 million U.S. adults had ever used acupuncture in their lives, and an estimated 2.1 million had used acupuncture the previous year. Brian Berman, M.D., director of the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine in Baltimore, confirmed that acupuncture is definitely becoming a more popular treatment option for Americans. “There is more evidence coming out showing acupuncture is safe and often effective and should be considered as part of a multidisciplinary approach for chronic pain,” he said.

The first Cochrane review by Linde and his colleagues focused on acupuncture for tension headaches. The researchers evaluated 11 studies that investigated 2,317 participants. The studies compared participants who had undergone acupuncture therapy with those who had no treatment except painkillers for acute headaches, or had a sham therapy, which mimicked “true” acupuncture. Researchers followed the patients for at least eight weeks. Two large studies that investigated whether adding acupuncture to treatment with painkillers found that those patients who received acupuncture had fewer headaches. Forty-seven percent of patients who received acupuncture reported a decrease in the number of headache days by at least half, compared with 16 percent of patients in the control groups.

Six studies compared true acupuncture to “fake’ acupuncture in which needles were either inserted at incorrect points or did not penetrate the skin. Overall, these studies found slightly better effects in the patients receiving the true acupuncture intervention. “The response to acupuncture in general seems to be large and clinically relevant,” Linde said. Berman agreed with the review findings and said patients at his clinic seek acupuncture for the relief from tension headaches and some experience good outcomes. “I have seen some patients do very well, but not everyone,” he said. “Often, the intensity of the headaches and number of headaches are reduced.”

In a second review, Linde and colleagues examined acupuncture for migraine treatment and reviewed 22 trials with 4,419 total participants who had received a migraine pain diagnosis with or without aura. Six studies compared acupuncture to no treatment or routine care (with painkillers) only. After three to four months, patients who received acupuncture had fewer headaches. “The effect over no prophylactic [preventive] treatment and also compared to prophylactic drug treatment proven to be superior to placebo is clearly clinically important,” said Linde.

The Cochrane reviewers concluded that there is consistent evidence that acupuncture provides additional benefit to treatment of acute migraine attacks only or to routine care. They also concluded that for migraine patients, placing the needles in the correct points did not seem as relevant, which is contrary to what most acupuncturists believe. “On average, the studies do not show an effect of acupuncture at correct points over acupuncture at incorrect points,” Linde said. There appeared to be some benefit of pain relief regardless of the insertion points.

The reviews disclose that Linde has received travel reimbursement and twice received fees from acupuncture societies for speaking about research at conferences. Other review authors reported a variety of honoraria and reimbursements related to acupuncture lectures and speaking engagements.

The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit http://www.cochrane.org for more information.Linde K, et al. Acupuncture for tension-type headaches. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1.

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E-mail Discussions Regarding to Dystonia, with a Patient in India. By Dr.Arthur Fan

Dear Dr. Fan, 

 I have seen some of your work with dystonia and Chinese Medicine on line.  My wife suffers from dystonia (mostly face and neck).  We are in Singapore presently and wonder if you could refer us to someone here in Singapore who might be able to follow your efforts and be of assistance to us.

Reply by Dr. Arthur Fan (e-mail) 

Dear Mr. A.T. 

I am sorry; I could not refer any acupuncturist or CMD I don’t know in Singapore.

If you like, the alternative way is you see a Chinese medicine doctor and give me your information, such as the history, tongue/pulse information, appetite, bowel movement information, etc.

Then I could mail you the herbs, pills, etc..

Arthur Yin Fan, PhD,CMD,LAc

Asking(e-mail)

Dear Dr. Fan, 

Thank you so much for your response.  Is there a clinic or hospital in Singapore that practices the same or similar medicine as you do that you would suggest we consider going to?  I know there are some possibilities in Chinatown in Singapore, but I don’t know if there is anyone that would have the same focus or experience that you might. 

Thanks, 

A.T.

Reply by Dr. Arthur Fan (e-mail) 

Hi, Mr. A. T.

In Chinese medicine, there are general practice and specialty practice. You may see someone who specialized in Chinese medicine neurology.

Sometime, the general practice may works also.

Arthur Yin Fan, PhD, CMD, LAc

Asking 

Dear Dr. Fan, 

Thank you for your past emails.  We appreciate them. 

My wife and I have relocated to the Delhi, India area, so we don’t have the current benefit of TCM in Singapore.  However, in a couple of days I plan to be in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and there want to secure a supply of Peony Root, Papaya, and Tian Ma.  I think I can obtain them. 

Can you tell us how these herbs should be used?  We don’t know anything about how to use them.  My wife is not very heavy–about 120 lbs., perhaps.  Also, she is still using some western medications (such as Amantadine, Valium (as a muscle relaxant), and I think also Pasatane) which we hope create no conflict.  (That was our concern in Singapore.) 

Also, if in Delhi we don’t have any regular access to acupuncture, can the herbs work on dystonia by themselves? 

We appreciate your advice.

Thanks.

Kind regards,

A.T.

Dr. Fan said: please don’t use herbs by yourself. Herbology is a specialty.

***NOTE: This patient came to Virginia to see me in last week.—-Dr. Fan notes.

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What Is the Result of Acupuncture Treatment for Genaralized Dystonia after One Year? by Dr.Arthur Fan

I have written and told dystonia patients: dystonia is only an outside manifestation (symptoms and signs) of inner side brain injury or degeneration / disorder at the basal ganglion area.  In theory, for structural brain damage, there is no way to “cure” this problem.  In conventional medicine, there are several drugs (including Botox) which could diminish the symptoms and surgery would try to injure certain normal areas to reach the balance. 

However, if you using Chinese medicine, after a long-term treatment, say more than half year, we may reach the balance and “clinically Cure” the dystonia (which means controlled very well).

We have had several cases of dystonia in China and in USA, after continuous treatments with acupuncture and Chinese herbal tea, where the patients’ dystonia symptoms are very, very occasionally obscure. You could basically could stop the acupuncture and Chinese herbology. But they do need maintenance, say acupuncture once every week or two, otherwise the symptoms returned (they should be mild treatments).

For the short-term acupuncture or Chinese herbal treatments, patients may get temporary improvements, but this may not create a stable cure.

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Got Dystonia after Using Ciprofloxicin-Acupuncture Is Helping: An E-mail from my Patient

Folks,                                                                                                                 October 21, 2009

As you all know, I have had a very traumatic time with dealing with dystonia (onset July 2008) after having an adverse reaction to Ciprofloxicin, in part because of less-than-sensitive physicians. After a lot of misdiagnoses that left me completely disabled, unable to work, care for the kids, often unable to communicate, blind from spasmed eyelids, and in utter misery, a neurological specialist from China diagnosed me with Generalized Idiopathic Dystonia with Chorea and Ballismus. His diagnosis was confirmed at Johns Hopkins and by my current neurologist. In addition, I have complicated hemiplegic migraines which cause a frightening array of neurological symptoms, including semi-coma like states and stroke symptoms. This was a real problem because the migraines overlaid on the dystonia caused increases and decreases in symptoms that confused the diagnosis. The doctors sedated me initially but now, I am getting effective symptomatic control with prescription anti-cholinergic drugs, anti-seizure medication, naturopathy and acupuncture. Life is slowly getting better. I have returned to work part-time at a lesser responsibility position and I cope. 

Attached is a link to a story about a 26 year-old Washington Redskins Cheerleader that received the seasonal flu shot and was afflicted similarly. She was treated at some of the hospitals that I was. Not only does my heart break for her because her career relied on her physical abilities, but also she has had difficulty getting diagnosed. I feel a bit of a kindredness for her. 

http://www.huliq.com/8059/87650/nfl-cheerleader-suffers-irreversible-dystonia-after-flu-shot

I am not saying to avoid Cipro or the flu vaccine but if your instincts are that you are not getting the diagnosis that resonates with you for any health issue, educate yourself, gather your internal strength and keep looking for help. I went to a top hospital and was misdiagnosed and was told by my doctors to stop looking. But, my life and quality of life matter–everyone’s does. I have deep respect for anyone who commits to a life of medicine and endures the lengthy educational process. However, (and it goes against the cultural grain) but I fully recognize the humanness of doctors and know to follow my instincts. Had I done what I was told, I would still be in a bed with incessant movements, blind, mute, semi-paralyzed while my children grew up in other rooms. That is unacceptable. There are many medical options in this country. At one point Jon and flew to Indiana to see a clinical pharmacologist who had experience with hundreds of patients who had adverse Cipro reactions.

Thanks for the ear, 

J. N.

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Migraine: Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology is Effective. By Dr.Arthur Yin Fan 樊蓥 中医针灸治疗偏头痛

A letter from migraine patient Virginia M R.

October 30, 2008

Dear Dr. Fan,

It has been a pleasure receiving acupuncture treatments (8 sessions) from you!

I sought your help as I have had migraine headaches for years. I have taken so many medications which probably are not good for my body and they are very expensive. I want to thank you for the relief you have given me with your acupuncture treatments, herbal teas and herbal pills.

I appreciate learning from you the Chinese methodology in acupuncture treatment. It all make sense. In my opinion, the treatments were painless, without side-effects and much economical than the Western medicine approach that I employed for years.

A friend of mine who is an acupuncturist in California has been encouraging me to get this type of treatment. Another friend told me she, too, has a friend who has been a practitioner for 20+ years and he has tremendous success primarily for cessation of back pain and infertility issues.

Arthur, you are an excellent educator! I plan to continue treatment for periodic “tune-ups”, as my California friend calls them. I appreciate your professionalism, your pleasant staff and your earnest interest in helping me (your patients) feel better and to function more happily.

Sincerely,

 

Virginia M R.

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Dr.Arthur Yin Fan’s work was reported by International media Reuters in 1999

International media Reuters reported Dr.Arthur Yin Fan’s work in 1999 in its papers and website, here is the original report cited by PersonalMD website http://www.personalmd.com/news/n1129105640.shtml.

 Migraine personality” confirmed in China

 NEW YORK, Nov 26 — Some people with migraine really do have a “migraine personality,” according to doctors from the Peoples Republic of China.

Those people are more likely to be hypochondriacs, depressed, hysterical or schizophrenic, the researchers say in a recent issue of the journal Headache. Dr. Arthur Yin Fan, of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, and colleagues used a standard questionnaire to assess the personalities of 23 Chinese migraine patients before and after treatment. These subjects were compared with 30 healthy volunteers.

Before treatment, migraine patients had higher levels of hypochondria, depression, hysteria and schizophrenia than the healthy people, the Chinese doctors found.

After treatment, signs of hysteria and schizophrenia were remarkably reduced, the researchers note. But after treatment, some migraine patients were less able to “deal with stress and psychological pressure.” They were also more prone “to depression and pessimism, and extraordinary concern about their health.”

Fan’s group suggests that these characteristics could hinder migraine treatment in the long term. To counter this, they recommend that psychological treatment should be added to standard migraine management.

The concept of a “migraine personality” has been controversial among headache experts. Some experts point out that conditions such as hypochondria and depression may simply be the result of severe, chronic pain.

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