Guest guest Posted March 15, 2004 Report Share Posted March 15, 2004 Hi All, See this, from Robert McLinton [PA-L List] Best regards, Phil >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Acupuncture 'beats headache pain' Acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic headaches and should be more widely available on the NHS, experts say. Writing in the British Medical Journal, UK researchers said patients who were given acupuncture had fewer days of headaches than those who were not. They also saw their GP less and were not as reliant on painkillers. The government said doctors could decide to fund the therapy locally, if they felt patients would benefit. Researchers analysed 401 patients from across the UK who reported several days of severe headaches each week. They were randomly allocated to receive up to 12 acupuncture treatments over three months or to a control group offering other types of care, typically medication. This should help to lift acupuncture out of what is seen to be alternative to mainstream medicine Dr Mike Cummings, British Medical Acupuncture Society All patients completed a diary of headache and medication use for four weeks at the start of the study and again at three months and 12 months. They recorded the severity of their headaches on a six-point scale to produce an overall score. Patients receiving acupuncture experienced 22 fewer days of headache per year, used 15% less medication, made 25% fewer visits to their GP and were absent from work through sickness 15% less than the control group. The researchers, from centres around the UK, wrote that introducing acupuncture services could lead to significant long-term benefits for patients with chronic headaches. They added: " Expansion of NHS acupuncture services for headache should be considered. " The medical director of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, Dr Mike Cummings described the study as " innovative " . NHS approval He said: " It is very positive for us. This should help to lift acupuncture out of what is seen to be alternative to mainstream medicine. " I think acupuncture should be more widely available on the NHS - but with a huge rider, only in areas where it has been shown to have definite benefits. " It is not a panacea for everything. It should be made available in primary care to treat pain and to prevent costly referrals to hospitals. " Ailments which respond well to acupuncture include headaches, neck, shoulder and back pain and osteoarthritis in the knee, he says. Each week, 10% of GPs in the UK either refer patients to acupuncture or practise it themselves, and chronic headache is one of the most commonly treated conditions. It shows a growing recognition by the health service of the benefit of complementary medicine. A Department of Health spokeswoman said: " The government appreciates that many people find different complementary medicines, such as acupuncture, helpful in alleviating the symptoms of certain illness, especially those for which orthodox medicine does not seems to have a complete answer. " As a result, some complementary and alternative medicine can be made available on the NHS if local NHS clinicians and commissioning organisations such as primary care trusts are convinced that it will be a clinical and cost effective use of resources. " Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3506400.stm Published: 2004/03/15 03:41:10 GMT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ================================================= = TIPS on how to use PA-L facilities]: http://users.med.auth.gr/~karanik/english/pa-l/paltips.html MODIFY your PA-L Mail Options [How to select Individual Emails / Daily Digest / No mail-Web Only / Un]: /mygroups ARCHIVES of PA-L: pa-l/messages ================================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2004 Report Share Posted March 17, 2004 Hi Phil. This is indeed good news for acupuncture. I've actually found the direct link to the article at the BMJ. Unfortunately, something is blocking its download whilst i'm in China. If anyone could download the pdf and email it to me I'll be grateful, then I'll post it onto the group. The direct link is http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/bmj.38029.421863.EBv2? maxtoshow= & HITS=10 & hits=10 & RESULTFORMAT=1 & andorexacttitle=and & andorex acttitleabs=and & fulltext=acupuncture & andorexactfulltext=and & searchid= 1079516893609_1259 & stored_search= & FIRSTINDEX=0 & sortspec=relevance & res ourcetype=1,2,3,4 Big one eh? Shorter version is http://tinyurl.com/yt9f4 I don't know how many hospital trusts will let acupuncture in the door, but I'm sure a large part of the business will be conducted by the weekend wonderer doc's rather than real acupuncturists. This topic has come up before and it's going to be left in the hands of the associations that speak for the majority of acupuncturists in the UK. Let's hope their speaking for acupuncturists and not just acupuncture itself. I've also just uploaded an article by the BMJ on UK regulation. Attilio " " <@e...> wrote: > Hi All, > > See this, from Robert McLinton [PA-L List] > > Best regards, > Phil > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > Acupuncture 'beats headache pain' > > Acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic headaches and > should be more widely available on the NHS, experts say. Writing > in the British Medical Journal, UK researchers said patients who > were given acupuncture had fewer days of headaches than those > who were not. They also saw their GP less and were not as reliant > on painkillers. > > The government said doctors could decide to fund the therapy > locally, if they felt patients would benefit. > > Researchers analysed 401 patients from across the UK who > reported several days of severe headaches each week. > > They were randomly allocated to receive up to 12 acupuncture > treatments over three months or to a control group offering other > types of care, typically medication. > > This should help to lift acupuncture out of what is seen to be > alternative to mainstream medicine Dr Mike Cummings, British > Medical Acupuncture Society All patients completed a diary of > headache and medication use for four weeks at the start of the > study and again at three months and 12 months. > > They recorded the severity of their headaches on a six-point scale > to produce an overall score. > > Patients receiving acupuncture experienced 22 fewer days of > headache per year, used 15% less medication, made 25% fewer > visits to their GP and were absent from work through sickness 15% > less than the control group. > > The researchers, from centres around the UK, wrote that > introducing acupuncture services could lead to significant long- term > benefits for patients with chronic headaches. > > They added: " Expansion of NHS acupuncture services for > headache should be considered. " > > The medical director of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, > Dr Mike Cummings described the study as " innovative " . > > NHS approval > > He said: " It is very positive for us. This should help to lift > acupuncture out of what is seen to be alternative to mainstream > medicine. > > " I think acupuncture should be more widely available on the NHS - > but with a huge rider, only in areas where it has been shown to > have definite benefits. > > " It is not a panacea for everything. It should be made available in > primary care to treat pain and to prevent costly referrals to > hospitals. " > > Ailments which respond well to acupuncture include headaches, > neck, shoulder and back pain and osteoarthritis in the knee, he > says. > > Each week, 10% of GPs in the UK either refer patients to > acupuncture or practise it themselves, and chronic headache is > one of the most commonly treated conditions. > > It shows a growing recognition by the health service of the benefit of > complementary medicine. > > A Department of Health spokeswoman said: " The government > appreciates that many people find different complementary > medicines, such as acupuncture, helpful in alleviating the > symptoms of certain illness, especially those for which orthodox > medicine does not seems to have a complete answer. > > " As a result, some complementary and alternative medicine can be > made available on the NHS if local NHS clinicians and > commissioning organisations such as primary care trusts are > convinced that it will be a clinical and cost effective use of > resources. " > > Story from BBC NEWS: > http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3506400.stm > > Published: 2004/03/15 03:41:10 GMT > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > ================================================= > = > TIPS on how to use PA-L facilities]: > http://users.med.auth.gr/~karanik/english/pa-l/paltips.html > > MODIFY your PA-L Mail Options [How to select Individual Emails / > Daily > Digest / No mail-Web Only / Un]: > /mygroups > > ARCHIVES of PA-L: > pa-l/messages > > > ================================================== > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2004 Report Share Posted March 17, 2004 Hi, Attilio. Here is the file Attached --- <attiliodalberto wrote: Hi Phil. This is indeed good news for acupuncture. I've actually found the direct link to the article at the BMJ. Unfortunately, something is blocking its download whilst i'm in China. If anyone could download the pdf and email it to me I'll be grateful, then I'll post it onto the group. The direct link is http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/bmj.38029.421863.EBv2? maxtoshow= & HITS=10 & hits=10 & RESULTFORMAT=1 & andorexacttitle=and & andorex acttitleabs=and & fulltext=acupuncture & andorexactfulltext=and & searchid= 1079516893609_1259 & stored_search= & FIRSTINDEX=0 & sortspec=relevance & res ourcetype=1,2,3,4 Big one eh? Shorter version is http://tinyurl.com/yt9f4 I don't know how many hospital trusts will let acupuncture in the door, but I'm sure a large part of the business will be conducted by the weekend wonderer doc's rather than real acupuncturists. This topic has come up before and it's going to be left in the hands of the associations that speak for the majority of acupuncturists in the UK. Let's hope their speaking for acupuncturists and not just acupuncture itself. I've also just uploaded an article by the BMJ on UK regulation. Attilio " " <@e...> wrote: > Hi All, > > See this, from Robert McLinton [PA-L List] > > Best regards, > Phil > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > Acupuncture 'beats headache pain' > > Acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic headaches and > should be more widely available on the NHS, experts say. Writing > in the British Medical Journal, UK researchers said patients who > were given acupuncture had fewer days of headaches than those > who were not. They also saw their GP less and were not as reliant > on painkillers. > > The government said doctors could decide to fund the therapy > locally, if they felt patients would benefit. > > Researchers analysed 401 patients from across the UK who > reported several days of severe headaches each week. > > They were randomly allocated to receive up to 12 acupuncture > treatments over three months or to a control group offering other > types of care, typically medication. > > This should help to lift acupuncture out of what is seen to be > alternative to mainstream medicine Dr Mike Cummings, British > Medical Acupuncture Society All patients completed a diary of > headache and medication use for four weeks at the start of the > study and again at three months and 12 months. > > They recorded the severity of their headaches on a six-point scale > to produce an overall score. > > Patients receiving acupuncture experienced 22 fewer days of > headache per year, used 15% less medication, made 25% fewer > visits to their GP and were absent from work through sickness 15% > less than the control group. > > The researchers, from centres around the UK, wrote that > introducing acupuncture services could lead to significant long- term > benefits for patients with chronic headaches. > > They added: " Expansion of NHS acupuncture services for > headache should be considered. " > > The medical director of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, > Dr Mike Cummings described the study as " innovative " . > > NHS approval > > He said: " It is very positive for us. This should help to lift > acupuncture out of what is seen to be alternative to mainstream > medicine. > > " I think acupuncture should be more widely available on the NHS - > but with a huge rider, only in areas where it has been shown to > have definite benefits. > > " It is not a panacea for everything. It should be made available in > primary care to treat pain and to prevent costly referrals to > hospitals. " > > Ailments which respond well to acupuncture include headaches, > neck, shoulder and back pain and osteoarthritis in the knee, he > says. > > Each week, 10% of GPs in the UK either refer patients to > acupuncture or practise it themselves, and chronic headache is > one of the most commonly treated conditions. > > It shows a growing recognition by the health service of the benefit of > complementary medicine. > > A Department of Health spokeswoman said: " The government > appreciates that many people find different complementary > medicines, such as acupuncture, helpful in alleviating the > symptoms of certain illness, especially those for which orthodox > medicine does not seems to have a complete answer. > > " As a result, some complementary and alternative medicine can be > made available on the NHS if local NHS clinicians and > commissioning organisations such as primary care trusts are > convinced that it will be a clinical and cost effective use of > resources. " > > Story from BBC NEWS: > http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3506400.stm > > Published: 2004/03/15 03:41:10 GMT > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > ================================================= > = > TIPS on how to use PA-L facilities]: > http://users.med.auth.gr/~karanik/english/pa-l/paltips.html > > MODIFY your PA-L Mail Options [How to select Individual Emails / > Daily > Digest / No mail-Web Only / Un]: > /mygroups > > ARCHIVES of PA-L: > pa-l/messages > > > ================================================== > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2004 Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 Thank you all for emailing or sending me the BMJ document of acupuncture. The article is now in the files section. Please also note that email attachments are not permitted to save- guard members from virus attachments. Sorry Peter. Attilio Peter Pavolotsky <peter911cm> wrote: > Hi, Attilio. > Here is the file Attached > > --- <attiliodalberto> > wrote: > > Hi Phil. > > This is indeed good news for acupuncture. I've > actually found the > direct link to the article at the BMJ. Unfortunately, > something is > blocking its download whilst i'm in China. > > If anyone could download the pdf and email it to me > I'll be > grateful, then I'll post it onto the group. The direct > link is > http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/bmj.38029.421863.EBv2? > maxtoshow= & HITS=10 & hits=10 & RESULTFORMAT=1 & andorexacttitle=and & andorex > acttitleabs=and & fulltext=acupuncture & andorexactfulltext=and & searchid= > 1079516893609_1259 & stored_search= & FIRSTINDEX=0 & sortspec=relevance & res > ourcetype=1,2,3,4 > > Big one eh? Shorter version is > http://tinyurl.com/yt9f4 > > I don't know how many hospital trusts will let > acupuncture in the > door, but I'm sure a large part of the business will > be conducted by > the weekend wonderer doc's rather than real > acupuncturists. This > topic has come up before and it's going to be left in > the hands of > the associations that speak for the majority of > acupuncturists in > the UK. Let's hope their speaking for acupuncturists > and not just > acupuncture itself. > > I've also just uploaded an article by the BMJ on UK > regulation. > > Attilio > > " " <@e...> wrote: > > Hi All, > > > > See this, from Robert McLinton [PA-L List] > > > > Best regards, > > Phil > > > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > > > Acupuncture 'beats headache pain' > > > > Acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic > headaches and > > should be more widely available on the NHS, experts > say. Writing > > in the British Medical Journal, UK researchers said > patients who > > were given acupuncture had fewer days of headaches > than those > > who were not. They also saw their GP less and were > not as reliant > > on painkillers. > > > > The government said doctors could decide to fund the > therapy > > locally, if they felt patients would benefit. > > > > Researchers analysed 401 patients from across the UK > who > > reported several days of severe headaches each week. > > > > > They were randomly allocated to receive up to 12 > acupuncture > > treatments over three months or to a control group > offering other > > types of care, typically medication. > > > > This should help to lift acupuncture out of what is > seen to be > > alternative to mainstream medicine Dr Mike Cummings, > British > > Medical Acupuncture Society All patients completed a > diary of > > headache and medication use for four weeks at the > start of the > > study and again at three months and 12 months. > > > > They recorded the severity of their headaches on a > six-point scale > > to produce an overall score. > > > > Patients receiving acupuncture experienced 22 fewer > days of > > headache per year, used 15% less medication, made > 25% fewer > > visits to their GP and were absent from work through > sickness 15% > > less than the control group. > > > > The researchers, from centres around the UK, wrote > that > > introducing acupuncture services could lead to > significant long- > term > > benefits for patients with chronic headaches. > > > > They added: " Expansion of NHS acupuncture services > for > > headache should be considered. " > > > > The medical director of the British Medical > Acupuncture Society, > > Dr Mike Cummings described the study as > " innovative " . > > > > NHS approval > > > > He said: " It is very positive for us. This should > help to lift > > acupuncture out of what is seen to be alternative to > mainstream > > medicine. > > > > " I think acupuncture should be more widely available > on the NHS - > > but with a huge rider, only in areas where it has > been shown to > > have definite benefits. > > > > " It is not a panacea for everything. It should be > made available > in > > primary care to treat pain and to prevent costly > referrals to > > hospitals. " > > > > Ailments which respond well to acupuncture include > headaches, > > neck, shoulder and back pain and osteoarthritis in > the knee, he > > says. > > > > Each week, 10% of GPs in the UK either refer > patients to > > acupuncture or practise it themselves, and chronic > headache is > > one of the most commonly treated conditions. > > > > It shows a growing recognition by the health service > of the > benefit of > > complementary medicine. > > > > A Department of Health spokeswoman said: " The > government > > appreciates that many people find different > complementary > > medicines, such as acupuncture, helpful in > alleviating the > > symptoms of certain illness, especially those for > which orthodox > > medicine does not seems to have a complete answer. > > > > " As a result, some complementary and alternative > medicine can be > > made available on the NHS if local NHS clinicians > and > > commissioning organisations such as primary care > trusts are > > convinced that it will be a clinical and cost > effective use of > > resources. " > > > > Story from BBC NEWS: > > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3506400.stm > > > > Published: 2004/03/15 03:41:10 GMT > > > > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > > > ================================================= > > = > > TIPS on how to use PA-L facilities]: > > > http://users.med.auth.gr/~karanik/english/pa-l/paltips.html > > > > MODIFY your PA-L Mail Options [How to select > Individual Emails / > > Daily > > Digest / No mail-Web Only / Un]: > > /mygroups > > > > ARCHIVES of PA-L: > > pa-l/messages > > > > > > ================================================== > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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