Effects of basic traditional Chinese diet on body mass index, lean body mass, and eating and hunger behaviours in overweight or obese individuals

Abstract Objective To compare the effects of a basic traditional Chinese diet with a Western standard diet on body mass index (BMI), lean body mass (LBD), and eating and hunger behaviours. Methods A sample of 284 patients were randomized into 2 groups: group A (n = 142) followed a basic traditional Chinese diet (BCTD) and group B (n = 142) followed a Western standard diet (WSD). Both diets were set at approximately 1200 calories. The patients enrolled were compared before treatment and 6 weeks after treatment, and then follow-ups were made at 1 year and 5 years. Results In the BCTD group, BMI decreased by 0.46 kg/m2 and LBM by 0.25 kg, versus respectively 0.28 kg/m2 and 0.41 kg in the WSD group. Findings of eating self-assessment, hunger measurement and psychophysical indices of health were also in favour of the BCTD. Conclusion Outcomes show that the BCTD has a better effect on BMI and LBM, as well as over the medium/long term, and provides stronger psychophysical support to obese patients

Effects of Ion Cyclotron Frequencies on Human Resistance and Reactance in 31 Healthy Subjects

In order to test the theory of Brizhik et al. about the dynamic allocation of acupuncture meridians on human body and their role as hydric paths for solitons, we tested the effect of both acupuncture and exposure to extremely low frequencies (ELF) tuned with suitable ion cyclotron frequencies. The similarity of the effects, inducing variations of body impedance measured in well-known acupuncture points, up to the interchangeability and the synergy of the two treatments, the mechanic and the electromagnetic ones, turns to be evidence of the validity of the theory. Resistance and reactance variations have been detected in a group of 31 healthy volunteers before and after stimulation with a standard sequence of cyclotron frequencies, emitted from an innovative electromagnetic therapy (EMT) device. These variations were then compared with the variations produced by the well-known percutaneous stimuli of mechanical and piezoelectric nature, and, in particular in this work, acupuncture. Our results show that the observed variations can be considered as significant in both groups: cyclotron and acupuncture. The greater variations brought about by the cyclotron treatment stand out clearly

Effects of Ion Cyclotron Frequencies on Human Resistance and Reactance in 31 Healthy Subjects

In order to test the theory of Brizhik et al. about the dynamic allocation of acupuncture meridians on human body and their role as hydric paths for solitons, we tested the effect of both acupuncture and exposure to extremely low frequencies (ELF) tuned with suitable ion cyclotron frequencies. The similarity of the effects, inducing variations of body impedance measured in well-known acupuncture points, up to the interchangeability and the synergy of the two treatments, the mechanic and the electromagnetic ones, turns to be evidence of the validity of the theory. Resistance and reactance variations have been detected in a group of 31 healthy volunteers before and after stimulation with a standard sequence of cyclotron frequencies, emitted from an innovative electromagnetic therapy (EMT) device. These variations were then compared with the variations produced by the well-known percutaneous stimuli of mechanical and piezoelectric nature, and, in particular in this work, acupuncture. Our results show that the observed variations can be considered as significant in both groups: cyclotron and acupuncture. The greater variations brought about by the cyclotron treatment stand out clearly

Homotopic reduction in laser-evoked potential amplitude and laser-pain rating by abdominal acupuncture

Background The neural mechanism underlying the analgesic effect of acupuncture is largely unknown. We aimed at investigating the effect of abdominal acupuncture (AA) on the laser-evoked potential (LEP) amplitude and laser-pain rating to stimulation of body parts either homotopic or heterotopic to the treated acupoint.Methods Laser-evoked potentials were recorded from 13 healthy subjects to stimulation of the right wrist (RW), left wrist (LW) and right foot (RF). LEPs were obtained before, during and after the AA stimulation of an abdominal area corresponding to the representation of the RW. Subjective laser-pain rating was collected after each LEP recording.Results The amplitude of the N2/P2 LEP component was significantly reduced during AA and 15 min after needle removal to both RW (F = 4.14, p = .02) and LW (F = 5.48, p = .008) stimulation, while the N2/P2 amplitude to RF stimulation (F = 0.94, p = .4) remained unchanged. Laser-pain rating was reduced during AA and 15 min after needle removal only to RW stimulation (F = 5.67, p = .007).Conclusion Our findings showing an AA effect on LEP components to both the ipsilateral and contralateral region homotopic to the treated area, without any LEP change to stimulation of a heterotopic region, suggest that the AA analgesia is mediated by a segmental spinal mechanism.Significance Although abdominal acupuncture has demonstrated to be effective in the reduction in laser-evoked potential (LEP) amplitude and laser-pain rating, the exact mechanism of this analgesic effect is not known. In the current study, we found that treatment of an area in the "turtle representation" of the body led to a topographical pattern of LEP amplitude inhibition that can be mediated by a segmental spinal mechanism

Psychophysical responses in patients receiving a mock laser within context of an acupuncture clinical trial: an interoceptive perspective

Abstract Background The psychophysical responses induced by verum acupuncture are characterized by a constellation of unique subjective sensory responses commonly termed De Qi. Furthermore, a variety of sham interventions have been used as a control for acupuncture clinical trials. Indeed, one such control has been mock laser which has been used as control intervention in several acupuncture clinical controlled trials. The current study aim was to examine the De Qi sensory responses and its related characteristics elicited from acupuncture and compare them to those reported following sham laser in participants enrolled in a clinical trial. Methods The study was embedded in a multi-center, two-arm randomised clinical trial, which evaluated the effect of acupuncture on lateral elbow pain. De Qi was assessed using the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (MASS). Ninety-six participants were randomly allocated to receive either acupuncture (n = 47) or mock laser (n = 49) at the acupoints LI 10 and LI 11. Results Participants in both intervention groups reported similar De Qi psychophysical characteristics; however, both intensity and frequency of the individually perceived De Qi characteristics were significantly higher in the acupuncture group. ‘Soreness’, ‘deep pressure’, and ‘fullness-distension’ in the acupuncture group and ‘tingling’, and ‘sharp pain’ in mock laser group, were identified as the leading characteristics. Similar level of MASS De Qi Index (MDI) scores were reported for ‘Hong Kong-China’ and ‘Australia-Italy’ with a significantly higher level of De Qi reported by ‘Hong Kong-China’. Furthermore, two distinct De Qi categories were identified, namely De Qi (in line with classical sensory responses of Suan, Ma, Zhang, and Zhong) and pain. Conclusions Subjective ‘somatic or interoceptive awareness’ should be taken into account when De Qi psychophysical responses are examined. The study accentuates the necessity and the significance of further research into interoception phenomenon which may contribute to a better understanding of the placebo effect and De Qi psychophysical responses. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry reference: ACTRN12613001138774 on 11th of October 2013