by Kate Henderson, L.Ac.

Qi is translated as “vital energy” or “vital breath.” Thus far, no Western-medical observation has ever validated the existence of the channels of Qi that run through the body in the patterns that Chinese Medicine describes, though some research has been suggestive. In the Western medical view, there is not currently a satisfactory scientific explanation for what acupuncture points are, let alone for what happens at specific acupuncture points or how acupuncture treats conditions understood through Western diagnosis.

Even so, all cellular activity has a measurable bioelectric current. Even in a Western clinical setting, it has been observed that 80 percent of the acupuncture points described by Chinese medicine seem to show a higher conductivity at their sites than the surrounding tissue. So, even by Western scientific standards, there is some phenomena that may eventually explain something about how acupuncture works. With only 80 percent of recognized Chinese points showing up in Western studies (done with machines meant to measure phenomena already understood and quantifiable in the West), there remains a translation gap between what Chinese Medicine understands, measures, and treats, and what Western Medicine understands, measures, and treats.

One organ neglected by Chinese Medicine theory seems to be the brain. When mentioned in Chinese Medicine texts, the brain seems to have little importance in clinical use, lacks a channel or points, and plays a negligible part in treatment. While Western medicine places much emphasis on the brain in clinical research, CM sees it as secondary to the system of organs (Liver, Heart, Pericardium, etc.) and channels as a whole.

Despite acupuncture’s apparent omission of the brain in its theoretical framework, acupuncture does have clear effects on the brain’s function, as well as the nervous system at large. An MRI study of patients receiving acupuncture shows a constellation of measurable responses in the brain, especially decreases in pain and distress signals in the limbic system.
Continue reading How Acupuncture Works

The above is the headline from a Wall Street Journal article on November 23, 2009 reporting on a study that surveyed surgeons on their perceptions of job burn-out. A similar article titled, “Burned Out, Depressed Surgeons More Likely to Commit More Major Medical Errors” also appeared on November 23 in Science Daily. Both articles were based on research published in the September issue of Annals of Surgery, entitled, “Burnout and Career Satisfaction Among American Surgeons”.

The study was in the form of a survey of surgeons who were asked questions about their jobs and mental health. Surprisingly 40% of surgeons responding to the survey said they were burned out. The study also showed that 30% screened positive for symptoms of depression, and 28% had mental scores below the population norm.

The Wall Street Journal article reported that nine percent of surgeons said they were concerned they had made a “major medical error” in the past three months. The study also noted that only 36% of surgeons felt their work schedule left enough time for personal/family life and only 51% would recommend their children pursue a career as a physician/surgeon.
Continue reading Nine Percent of Surgeons Have Made ‘Major’ Errors Recently