Qi Spot

Sometimes I wonder just how long is a study’s “shelf life.”

Acupuncture ‘does not aid fertility treatment’ (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7405852/Acupuncture-does-not-aid-fertility-treatment.html) – March 2010.  ”New” research says so.

Seems to contradict:

Acupuncture helps women have babies (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3042006/Acupuncture-helps-women-have-babies.html) – September 2008. “New” research (at the time) says so.

Okay the first article refers to a meta-analysis of previous studies, the bottom one included.  This means they didn’t actually do new research but reviewed old ones.

Here’s where I believe that acupuncture is truly practitioner dependent.  I’m usually good with neurologic problems but others are admittedly better than I when it comes to infertility.  Dr. Regina Liu, a friend of mine who is licensed in China and the US in acupuncture has carved a niche for herself when it comes to infertility.  Her office is lined with pictures of the “proofs” of her successes.

All I can say is that given what I know about statistical manipulation – you can twist the numbers to say almost anything you want – I value clinical experience more than anything else when it comes to treatment evaluation.  Good practitioners learn from experience what works and what doesn’t.  I can safely say, in good conscience, NOT that acupuncture is beneficial in treating infertility, but that there are doctors like Dr. Liu (and myself too – I’ve gotten quite a few patients pregnant… wait that didn’t sound right…!) who are quite skilled in USING acupuncture and herbs in treating infertility.  Acupuncture is a procedure, not a pill, and is practitioner dependent.

Schistosomiasis is caused by a species of liver fluke that basically plants a flag in the blood vessels in your liver and claims it as it’s own territory.  It can damage internal organs, increase the chances for bladder cancer, and cause retardation of growth and development in children. A brief look at wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistosomiasis) can give a better overview.

Imagine this little bugger in your liver or bladder. Call Ellen Ripley!

A particular problem related to this is the effect that the screwed up circulation in the Portal venous system in the liver leads to hypertension in that portal system and thus, lung problems.

A look at Portal Hypertension: (from www.medicinenet.com) Symptoms include gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites or fluid in the abdomen, mental problems due to liver failure and lung problems, since the blood from the liver goes to the lungs.  This entry deals more with the lung problems.

The actual journal article abstract can be quoted thus :

Portal hypertension is a vascular lesion that initially arises in liver, but structural and functional changes of blood vessels in extrahepatic portal system, systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation also accompany, which now collectively called portal hypertensive vascular lesions. In clinical practice, much attention has been paid to the prevention and treatment of complications such as ascites, esophagogastric variceal bleeding; however the management of pulmonary complications is ignored which affects the prognosis of patients. Hence, drugs used for prevention and treatment of pulmonary complications seem to be very important.

We now find an article (http://www.physorg.com/news186923469.html) entitled “Treatment of portal hypertensive pulmonary lesions induced by schistosomiasis”  Okay, looks interesting, let’s have a go at it!

Calculus Bovis compound preparation can effectively prevent pulmonary complications of portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis. The successful development of Calculus Bovis and the preliminary study on portal hypertensive pulmonary lesions caused by schistosomiasis suggest that it is of great significance and prospects for further basic and clinical research, development and clinical application of new drugs and preparations to treat portal hypertensive pulmonary lesions induced by schistosomiasis.

I just find it interesting that the chinese name of calculus bovis is not used.  It is Niu Huang, a common ingredient for controlling inflammation.  Famously known as part of the formulas Niu Huang Jie Du Pian (Cow Gallstone Clear Toxicity Pill), An Gong Niu Huang Wan (Calm the Palace Cattle Gallstone Pill) and Niu Huang Qingxin Wan (Cattle Gallstone Clear the Heart Pill), it is famous for rapidly draining fire and clearing inflammation.

To evaluate efficacy of Calculus Bovis compound preparation (ICCBco) in the treatment of lung lesions in portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis as the experimental animal model, a research group in China performed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to observe pathological changes and pathological effect mechanism of expression of fibronectin and laminin in the lung tissue of portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis.

In vitro cultivated ICCBco is composed of Calculus Bovis, Chinese Paris Rhizome, polygonum cuspidatum, appendiculate cremastra pseudobulb, frankincense, and myrrh, and has the functions of clearing away heat and toxic materials, removing blood stasis, reducing swelling, eliminating blood stasis and promoting tissue regeneration, according to the principle of traditional Chinese medicine. However, the topic has not been unequivocally addressed.

I can’t help it.  Frankincense and myrrh?  I’ve blogged about this before (http://qi-spot.com/2009/12/30/the-wise-mans-gift/) talking about myrrh and it’s benefits for the heart.  Let me elaborate now about blood stasis though, since this is not an easily understood concept for laymen.  Wikipedia, quoting Dan Bensky, sort of got it right thus:

Described in TCM theory as a slowing or pooling of the blood due to disruption of Heart Qi, it is often understood in biomedical terms in terms of hematological disorders such as hemorrhage, congestion, thrombosis, and localischemia (microclots) and tissue changes.

So let’s look at the research from the World Journal of Gastroenterology (http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/16/749.asp)

Effects of in vitro cultivated Calculus Bovis compound on pulmonary lesions in rabbits with schistosomiasis

Niu Huang or Calculus Bovis - won't kill the bug, but will make you breathe easier

Tao Li, Zhen Yang, Hong-Jiao Cai, Li-Wei Song, Ke-Yu Lu, Zheng Zhou, Zai-De Wu

ISSN 1007-9327 CN 14-1219/R  World J Gastroenterol  2010 February 14; 16(6): 749-754

AIM: To explore the interventional effects and mech­anism of in vitro cultivated Calculus Bovis compound preparation (ICCBco) on pulmonary lesions in portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis.

METHODS: The experimental group included 20 portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis treated by ICCBco. The control group included 20 portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis treated by praziquantel. The morphological changes of the pulmonary tissues were observed under light and electron microscopy. The expression of fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LN) in the lung tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Under light microscope, the alveolar exudation in the lung tissue was more frequently observed in the control group, while the alveolar space was fairly dry in the lung tissue of ICCBco group. Under electron microscope, more alveolar exudation in the lung tissue, and more macrophages, alveolar angiotelectasis and the blurred three-tier structure of alveolar-capillary barrier could be seen in the control group. In ICCBco group, fibers within the alveolar interspace slightly increased in some lung regions, and the structure of type Ⅰ epithelium, basement membrane and endodermis was complete, and no obvious exudation from the alveolar space, and novascular con­gestion could be observed. There was a positive or strong positive expression of FN and LN in the lung tissue of the control group, while there was a negative or weak positive expression of FN and LN in ICCBco group.

CONCLUSION: ICCBco can effectively prevent pul­monary complications in portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis by means of improving lung micro­circulation and lowering the content of extracellular matrix.

In English… well look at the above caption.

Peer review says that it is “interesting research” but “not well planned” – I wish the reviewer were more specific…  It’s a good initial study though for others to use as a stepping stone.

More information: Li T, Yang Z, Cai HJ, Song LW, Lu KY, Zhou Z, Wu ZD. Effects of in vitro cultivated Calculus Bovis compound on pulmonary lesions in rabbits with schistosomiasis. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(6): 749-754. http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/16/749.asp

One of the statements I make during lectures that always causes a virulent reaction from the audience refers to milk.  Specifically, I unabashedly declare that feeding milk to children beyond two years of age, from a Chinese medicine point of view, is ludicrous, unnecessary, and downright harmful.  I often say that if God had intended for children to drink milk all their formative years, then their mothers should naturally produce milk for more than two years.

“Where will they get their calcium?” I am asked.  I answer: fruits and vegetables.  Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that cow’s milk is too rich for the delicate digestive system of children.  Heck, because of lactose intolerance, it is too rich for asian adults as well!

But now we have an article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer that supports my TCM based belief:

Lactose intolerance proof cow’s milk not for humans (http://business.inquirer.net/money/features/view/20100305-256871/Lactose-intolerance-proof-cows-milk-not-for-humans)

…Physiologically, after infancy, many individuals lose their ability to digest simple sugar, or lactose, that cow’s milk is rich in…The result is that undigested lactose travels to the large intestine where bacteria break this sugar down, producing anything from gas, to cramps, to diarrhea. Lactose intolerance appears to be the main factor in as many as a third of cases of recurrent abdominal pain in children…

The article goes on to say that the undigested proteins can ultimately lead to autoimmune reactions resulting in diabetes, and that only 25% of calcium in milk is absorbed.  Hence, again, the Chinese were right.  Cow’s milk screws up the kids’ digestive systems, and you’re better off getting calcium from vegetables.  A bit of noteworthy correction, though: the article seems written in a way that implies that lactose is the only simple sugar.  It is A simple sugar but not the only simple sugar.  Fructose and glucose are simple sugars also.

So what is the ideal breastmilk substitute for infants, if not cow’s milk?  In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is pressure cooked rice porridge – cooked long enough to crush the rice and making it look like milky water.  This is different from just the water used to boil rice or “am” here in the Philippines.

If the mum is having a hard time lactating, there are TCM herbal and acupuncture solutions for her.

But NOT cow’s milk.

EDIT: added one sentence re: lactose as a simple sugar.  7:50 AM March 7, 2010.