Acupuncture 'works for headaches

Acupuncture is a widely used alternative therapy
Traditional acupuncture is effective at preventing headaches, a scientific review finds - but so is a sham form.
The Cochrane Review reviewed 33 separate trials into acupuncture and its so-called "sham" counterpart.
The latter also involves the insertion of needles - but not into traditional "energy points".
The scientist leading the review said the results showed that putting needles into particular locations might not be that important.

British Medical Accupuncture Society
Acupuncture is still regarded as a "complementary" therapy, but is increasingly being viewed as a potential mainstream treatment for certain conditions, such as chronic pain.
The endorsement by the Cochrane Collaboration is likely to lead to further calls for it to be made more widely available on the NHS.

The traditional explanation of its effects involves tapping into a network of "meridians" around the body to regulate the flow of an energy called "chi". Acupuncture points are located at various positions along these meridians.
However, many modern acupuncture specialists believe that the insertion of needles actually cause subtle changes in the nervous system and brain activity which can be beneficial - and place needles in other parts of the body rather than concentrating solely on traditional acupuncture points.

The Cochrane reviews involved a total of 6,736 patients, who were given acupuncture to prevent either mild to moderate "tension" headaches, or migraine attacks.
Following a course of at least eight weeks, acupuncture patients suffered fewer headaches than those given only painkillers.

'Not a sham'
Acupuncture was also superior to preventative drug treatments in migraine, the reviewers concluded.
However, acupuncture relying on non-traditional needle positions was just as good as the traditional variety in preventing tension headaches, and almost as good in the migraine patients.

Dr Klaus Linde, from the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the Technical University of Munich in Germany, said that much of the benefit for both might be due to a "placebo effect", in which the experience itself of being treated can produce results independently of the effects of the treatment.
He said: "Much of the clinical benefit of acupuncture might be due to non-specific needling effects and powerful placebo effects, meaning that the selection of specific needle points may be less important than many practicioners have traditionally argued."

Dr Mike Cummings, medical director of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, welcomed the research.
He said that the differences between so-called "true" and "fake" acupuncture remained controversial within the profession.
"I think that, quite literally, many practioners have missed the point in the past.

"We certainly don't call what we do 'sham' acupuncture, as we believe there is growing evidence for a mechanism behind what we do.

"However, we still don't fully understand what is happening when needles are inserted, although these reviews suggest that for certain conditions, it is effective."

All that "core" muscle strengthening... a waste of time?

This is the second study from a reputaible journal that I've seen that casts doubt on the notion that weak trunk muscle strength is related to lower back pain. Maybe all that core strenghtening is unnecessary. Here's the study.
 
Paalanne N, Korpelainen R, Taimela S, Remes J, Mutanen P, Karppinen J. "Isometric trunk muscle strength and body sway in relation to low back pain in young adults." Spine. 2008 Jun 1;33(13):E435-41.
Department of Sports Medicine, Deaconess Institute of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
nikopaal@mail.student.oulu.fi

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study on young adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationships between low back pain (LBP), maximal isometric trunk muscle strength, and body sway among young adults.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The
results of previous studies evaluating the association between trunk muscle strength and LBP are conflicting and heterogeneous. Furthermore, there are only few studies on the association between body sway and LBP.

METHODS: The subjects
(n = 874) belonged to a subcohort of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (mean age 19 years). Trunk muscle strength and body sway were measured from all subjects. LBP symptoms were inquired with a questionnaire, which was completed
concurrently with the examinations. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to cluster the subjects according to their LBP symptoms. RESULTS: LCA analysis produced 6 clusters differing with respect to LBP symptoms. There were no
statistically significant differences between the clusters in trunk muscle strength or body sway.

CONCLUSION: LBP does not seem to be associated with maximal isometric trunk muscle strength or body sway in young adults.

Fat Facts

In 2006, the surgeon general called obesity "the terror within" and said it could "dwarf 9/11 or any other terrorist attempt."

A recent anti-obesity ad campaign featured a "suicide bomber" with bars of butter strapped to his chest.

A 2002 study found that 13% of men and 17% of women of recruitment age are too fat to serve in the military.

In 1997, the World Health Organization teamed up with the International Obesity Task Force to redefine obesity standards. "Overweight" was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more, down from 27.8.

70% of the Obesity Task Force's funding comes from the two drug companies that make the popular weight-loss pills Xenical, Meridia, and Reductil.

In 1998, the US government adopted the new BMI standards, spurring fears of an "obesity epidemic."

That move was hailed by the American Obesity Association, a lobbying group that's received funding from Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.

Sarah Hartshorne, a "plus size" contestant on America's Next Top Model, has a BMI of 21.5—well within the "normal" range.

Recent studies have attributed obesity to low-fat foods, lack of sleep, ear infections, intestinal bacteria, pollution, plastics, poverty, air conditioners, socializing with obese people, your mom's age when you were born, and your maternal grandmother's diet.

Researchers say obese Americans contribute disproportionately to global warming by consuming 18% more food and 938 million extra gallons of gas every year.

Southwest Airlines requires customers "who compromise any portion of adjacent seating" to buy 2 seats.

People who weigh more than 220 lbs are 150% less likely to survive a car crash than those under 130 lbs.

All 157 West Virginia public middle schools use the video game Dance Dance Revolution in gym classes.

Schools in Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina, and Tennessee send "obesity report cards" to parents.

One Pennsylvania school district that does so serves pizza and churros for breakfast.

The federal government's list of banned foods in school cafeterias doesn't include fries, candy bars, or chocolate chip cookies.

In 2005, Sesame Street changed Cookie Monster's theme song from "C Is for Cookie" to "A Cookie Is a Sometime Food."

In 2005, British doctors said a 15-year-old who'd eaten only jam sandwiches and Pop-Tarts since he was 4 was totally healthy, except for an iron deficiency.

A 2008 study on "brideorexia" found that 70% of brides-to-be try to lose weight. Almost 1/4 try fasting, pills, or laxatives.

First-time users of Alli, a new over-the-counter fat-blocking pill, are advised to "wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work."

People consume an average of 28% more calories when eating snacks labeled "low fat," in part because they mistakenly think they're eating fewer calories.

In 2007, T.G.I. Fridays rolled out a "Right Portion" Cajun pasta dish with 4 times more fat than the USDA's daily recommendation.

People served soup in bowls that secretly refilled ate 73% more than those eating from normal bowls. But they felt just as full afterward.

The "Diet Fork" has dull teeth and an uncomfortable grip that force eaters to "scoop less."

"Diet glasses," whose blue tint makes food look less appealing, were big in Japan last year.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera wear $250 sneakers by Masai Barefoot Technology, which claims they burn cellulite.

The net worths of white women whose BMIs fall 10 points increase by an average of $11,800.

Christian weight-loss books include What Would Jesus Eat? and More of Jesus, Less of Me.

25 minutes of daily Islamic prayers burns 80 calories.

ChastitySF.com, a Catholic site, tells dieters to imagine a "Purgatory where every unnecessary mouthful of food you have ever taken will be purged from you as flaming vomit."

Liquids account for 22% of the average American's daily calories.

After New York City made eateries post nutritional data, a survey found that 80% of diners were surprised that a Big Mac meal had 1,200 calories.

A recent Burger King commercial included the line, "I will eat this meat until my innie turns into an outie."

Last year, a Republican Mississippi state legislator proposed prohibiting restaurants from serving obese people.

Researchers asked 3,000 overweight people how they responded to discrimination; 79% said they ate more.

Active obese people are almost 50% less likely to die of heart disease than sedentary thin people.

Playboy Playmates of the Year selected during tough social and economic times are heavier and have larger waists.

When the Dow lost nearly 778 points in one day last September, every S&P 500 company went down—except Campbell's Soup.