Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult onset neurodegenerative disorder that has no curative treatment and is usually fatal. Modern medicine treatment is mostly supportive. Acupuncture has much more to offer by way of symptomatic relief and improving quality of life (QoL). Useful points for the treatment of bulbar paralysis, paralysis of upper and lower extremities, and correction of underlying Disharmony Patterns are discussed and an illustrative case is presented to demonstrate the acupuncture approach for treating ALS. Case: A 55-year-old woman had weakness in her right arm and both legs for 4 months. She also had muscle cramps and clumsiness in the affected limbs, which rapidly progressed in the 4 months prior to presentation. She was diagnosed with ALS, given 50 mg of oral riluzole per day, and told that the condition was fatal. She sought acupuncture and was treated for two courses of 8 weeks each. Results: After acupuncture, this patient's symptomatic relief was near perfect in that she became free from disabling symptoms and is now leading a normal life. Conclusions: Acupuncture can be an effective modality of treatment for ALS, producing symptomatic relief and improving QoL.
Background: Urinary retention (UR) during pregnancy and postpartum is a common obstetric complication. The accepted method of treatment is catheterization; this is invasive and associated with morbidity and sequelae. There are few uniform protocols for the management of this condition, and most hospitals have implemented their own guidelines. Acupuncture is a widely accepted modality of treatment in Chinese hospitals. It is quite effective and safe. It has not been well accepted globally for treating UR, and this is due to a lack of robust studies involving a large number of patients. Methods: Various studies are reviewed and a case from the author's practice is presented. Conclusions: Acupuncture is an effective and safe alternative to catheterization in for UR associated with pregnancy and postpartum.
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