Overactive Bladder (4)

Overactive Bladder (4)

Acupuncture can be a reasonable overactive bladder treatment option to consider before proceeding to more aggressive conventional treatments.

An overactive bladder can considerably impair a patient’s quality of life. The International Consultation on Incontinence guidelines state that when the first-line approach, including medications, behavioral therapy, and lifestyle modifications, is not fully satisfactory or fails after 8 to 12 weeks, alternative therapies should be sought out.[18]

Acupuncture can be a reasonable treatment option to consider before proceeding to more aggressive conventional treatments. It may be also suitable for patients who did not respond to previous drug treatments.

Consumers who wish to try acupuncture should look for a qualified practitioner in their region. It is best to look for a practitioner who has been formally trained in traditional acupuncture and also has sufficient knowledge of overactive bladder and urinary-bladder physiology.

Tim H. Tanaka, PhD. is a Japanese licensed acupuncturist, certified herbalist, and board-certified biofeedback therapist.

References:

1. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, Griffiths D, Rosier P, Ulmsten U, van Kerrebroeck P, Victor A, Wein A: The standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function: Report from the Standardisation Sub-committee of the International Continence Society. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002, 187(1):116-126.

2. Boyce WH, Lathem JE, Hunt LD: Research related to the development of an artificial electrical stimulator for the paralyzed human bladder: A review. The Journal of Urology 1964, 91:41-51.

3. Cooperberg MR, Stoller ML: Percutaneous neuromodulation. The Urologic Clinics of North America 2005, 32(1):71-78, vii.

4. van Balken MR, Vandoninck V, Gisolf KW, Vergunst H, Kiemeney LA, Debruyne FM, Bemelmans BL: Posterior tibial nerve stimulation as neuromodulative treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction. The Journal of Urology 2001, 166(3):914-918.

5. Geirsson G, Fall M: Maximal functional electrical stimulation in routine practice. Neurourology and Urodynamics 1997, 16(6):559-565.

6. McGuire EJ, Zhang SC, Horwinski ER, Lytton B: Treatment of motor and sensory detrusor instability by electrical stimulation. The Journal of Urology 1983, 129(1):78-79.

7. Stoller ML: The efficacy of acupuncture in reversing the unstable bladder in pig-tailed monkeys. The Journal of Urology 1987, Suppl. 137:104A.

8. Chang PL: Urodynamic studies in acupuncture for women with frequency, urgency and dysuria. The Journal of Urology 1988, 140(3):563-566.

9. Stoller ML: Afferent nerve stimulation for pelvic floor dysfunction. European Urology 1999, 35 (Suppl 2):1-196.

10. McGuire E, Morrissey S, Zhang S, Horwinski E: Control of reflex detrusor activity in normal and spinal injured non-human primates. The Journal of Urology 1983, 129(1):197-199.

11. van der Pal F, van Balken MR, Heesakkers JP, Debruyne FM, Kiemeney LA, Bemelmans BL: Correlation between quality of life and voiding variables in patients treated with percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. BJU International 2006, 97(1):113-116.

12. Kitakoji H, Terasaki T, Honjo H, Odahara Y, Ukimura O, Kojima M, Watanabe H: [Effect of acupuncture on the overactive bladder]. Nihon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi 1995, 86(10):1514-1519.

13. Bergstrom K, Carlsson CP, Lindholm C, Widengren R: Improvement of urge- and mixed-type incontinence after acupuncture treatment among elderly women – A pilot study. Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System 2000, 79(2-3):173-180.

14. Emmons SL, Otto L: Acupuncture for overactive bladder: A randomized controlled trial. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2005, 106(1):138-143.

15. Kelleher C: Acupuncture and the treatment of irritable bladder symptoms. Acupunct Med 1994, 12(1):9-12.

16. Philp T, Shah PJ, Worth PH: Acupuncture in the treatment of bladder instability. British Journal of Urology 1988, 61(6):490-493.

17. van Balken MR, Vergunst H, Bemelmans BL: Prognostic factors for successful percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. European Urology 2006, 49(2):360-365.

18. Abrams P, Andersson KE, Birder L, Brubaker L, Cardozo L, Chapple C, Cottenden A, Davila W, de Ridder D, Dmochowski R et al.: Fourth International Consultation on Incontinence Recommendations of the International Scientific Committee: Evaluation and treatment of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal incontinence. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2010, 29(1):213-240.

Related Pages:

Selected Clinical Trials of Acupuncture for Urinary Incontinence, Overactive Bladder, Neurogenic Bladder, and Urinary Tract Infection

Original article and pictures take www.acupuncturemoxibustion.com site

Overactive Bladder (3)

Overactive Bladder (3)

Urology specialists have recommended that PTNS (or electroacupuncture) is useful for treating refractory urinary urge incontinence and should at least be considered as a therapeutic alternative before resorting to an aggressive surgery.

The posterior tibial nerve is a mixed nerve, containing both motor and sensory nerve fibers. PTNS involves inserting a fine-gauge needle just above the ankle (at the site of the posterior tibial nerve). The inserted needle is attached to an electric stimulator; the tibial nerve then carries electrical signals in an afferent direction to the sacral spine. The procedure typically lasts 30 minutes and is administered weekly over a period of 12 weeks.

The “needle” used in PTNS is actually a 36-gauge acupuncture needle inserted by using a specially designed guiding tube. The guiding tube was invented by a blind Japanese acupuncturist, Waichi Sugiyama, in the 17th century; it is currently used by the majority of acupuncturists worldwide.

It is reasonable to consider the PTNS technique is a variation of the electroacupuncture technique commonly used by acupuncturists, not only because of the needling materials used in PTNS but also because its concept was derived from the practice of acupuncture. The stimulation site used in PTNS is the SP6 acupuncture point. This well-known acupuncture point has been traditionally used to treat a wide variety of urological conditions.

In 1982, McGuire et al. [6] stimulated acupuncture points near the posterior tibial nerve (SP6 acupuncture point) with TENS and obtained good symptomatic results among patients diagnosed with detrusor (urinary bladder muscle) instability, intestinal cystitis, and neurological conditions. In 1987, Stoller [7] reported “prompt relief of unstable bladder” with acupuncture stimulation on the SP6 point on monkeys. With repeated treatments on the SP6 acupuncture point, progressively longer periods of bladder stability were noted. In 1988, Chang [8] reported results using acupuncture, showing statistically significant changes in the urinary parameters (maximum cystometric capacity and maximum flow rate) in a group of 26 women immediately after a 30-minute treatment. Acupuncture was administered on the SP6 point, which is located near the ankle over the posterior tibial nerve. In 1999, Stoller [9] reported the outcomes of their study using posterior tibial nerve stimulation (electroacupuncture on the SP6 point). Patients were having pelvic-floor dysfunction with symptoms such as urinary urge, incontinence, and/or pelvic pain. Stoller described an 81% clinical success rate in 90 patients after a mean follow-up of 5.1 years. Despite these promising results from administering acupuncture on the SP6 point, the therapy was not commonly used in urological practice. However, an FDA-approved electric stimulator (PercSANS™) became available commercially in February 2000 and has been used by a growing number of urology clinics.

An increasing number of research papers have been published on PTNS treatment. Most of these papers show good results for various urinary symptoms; however, the success rates were not as high as Stoller had initially reported.[9] It should be noted that although pioneers of PTNS obtained the idea from traditional acupuncture practice [6, 7, 10], research papers on PTNS and its promotional materials rarely mentioned the word “acupuncture” once the commercial version of the PTNS unit was introduced.

Nevertheless, urology specialists have recommended that PTNS is useful for treating refractory urinary urge incontinence and should at least be considered as a therapeutic alternative before resorting to an aggressive surgery.[11] PTNS is contraindicated for patients wearing pacemakers or defibrillators. It is also not recommended for patients with coagulopathy (a tendency toward bleeding) or neuropathy, or for pregnant women.

Original article and pictures take www.acupuncturemoxibustion.com site

Oh owl! Acupuncturist treats bird of prey learning to fly again with needles in its talons

Oh owl! Acupuncturist treats bird of prey learning to fly again with needles in its talons

The patient opens his yellow eyes wide but makes no sound as acupuncturist Edurne Cornejo pricks four fine needles into his legs.

It is hard to tell whether he is surprised, as his eyes are wide at the best of times. He is an owl - and no newcomer to acupuncture therapy.

Two months ago this 10in 'little owl', or Athene Noctua, hurt his back when he flew by mistake into a stovepipe at a factory in eastern Madrid. The city lies on a mountainous plateau teeming with such birds.

What a hoot: A 'little owl', or Athene Noctua receives acupuncture treatment at Brinzal, an owl-rescue charity based in a park in the west of Madrid.

Aerial accident: The owl hurt his back when he flew by mistake into a stovepipe at a factory in eastern Madrid

He was sent to Brinzal, an owl-rescue charity based in a park in the west of the city.

Now he lies, his speckled brown and white breast puffing in and out, as the acupuncture needles stimulate key points in his nervous system.

'When he first came, he couldn't stand up. Then he started taking little steps. Now he is flying again,' says Cornejo.

She has given the unnamed owl 10 weekly acupuncture sessions so far.

'It stimulates self-curing mechanisms in the organism. It does not cause side-effects' as some medicines do, she says.

Acupuncturist vets recommend it in animals for muscle and joint problems - such as the owl's bad back - as well as for nerve, skin, breathing and gut complaints

The unnamed owl has had 10 weekly acupuncture sessions so far and is recovering well

'It stimulates self-curing mechanisms in the organism. It does not cause side-effects' as some medicines do,' the vet said

The use of the ancient Chinese technique in animals is growing worldwide, according to the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, a U.S.-based body formed in 1974.

Acupuncturist vets recommend it in animals for muscle and joint problems - such as the owl's bad back - as well as for nerve, skin, breathing and gut complaints.

A family vet specialising in acupuncture for dogs and cats, Cornejo visits Brinzal as a volunteer to treat some of the hundreds of ailing night birds brought there each year by the public.

Elsewhere in the Brinzal centre, about 80 eagle owls, tawny owls, little owls and other species at various stages of recovery relax or practise flying again in covered enclosures.

Trays of dead chicks with fluffy yellow feathers are laid out for the predators to feed on. Inside one shed, live mice wriggle in the hands of staff preparing them for the owls' lunch.

Original article and pictures take www.dailymail.co.uk site