5 minute read
Acubites
from Acu. Autumn 2020
by Acu.
A smörgåsbord of plant-based newsbits prepared with members in mind
Your editorial team
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Steve Wheeler Houri Alavi
Health campaigns coming up
Use these campaigns as a hook for your practice marketing or promotion and support all of us in the BAcC
SEP Migraine Awareness Week 〉 6 6-12 September 〉 the Migraine Trust have been encouraging friends and family of people with migraine to show their support and raise funds by supporting the #GiveUpForMigraine campaign – a good moment to talk about the evidence for acupuncture: see the new meta-analysis published in January on acupuncture and migraine
SEP National Eye Health Week 〉 23 23-29 September 〉 sight is the sense people fear losing the most: this event aims to teach people how to look after their eyes by promoting good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for all
SEP Blood Cancer Awareness 22 Month 〉 September 〉 Blood Cancer UK are marking Blood Cancer Awareness Month with a touring installation: ten life-sized figures of people with blood cancer will tour four UK cities – London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester – to inform, educate and increase awareness
SEP 1
OCT BackCare Awareness Week 〉 5 5-9 October 〉 with a theme of Back Pain in Nursing: why not use both events to highlight the evidence for acupuncture: chronic pain review and analysis and evidence based summaries
Jonquil Westwood Pinto Sally Crowther Scott Bridges Tim Brown
Can intermittent fasting improve health?
Intermittent fasting has been around for most of human history, and its proposed health benefits have been mentioned in ancient civilisations. However, recently, there has been a renewed public interest in intermittent fasting and its effects on health, ageing and disease.
Don’t look at your tea leaves: your future's in your gut!
The microbiome comprises all of the genetic material within a microbiota (the entire collection of microorganisms in a specific niche, such as the human gut). The microbes in our guts have been linked to everything from arthritis to autism. Now, scientists say they can even tell us about our future health, including how inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may lead to dementia.
The Future of Hope is mushrooms
On the subject of food and wellbeing – and if you feel in need of a little sunshine in these sometimes dark days – just spend a few minutes listening to Chido Govera’s inspiring answer to the question Can mushrooms solve world hunger?
Mental wellness and technology
The World Health Organization estimates that 25 per cent of all people will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives, with roughly 450 million individuals currently struggling with a condition, according to the 2020 Global Wellness Summit trends report.
Unfortunately, care is far from the norm: nearly two-thirds of those living with a mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. Increasingly, technology – in the shape of digital therapeutics – is helping to chip away at the stigma, cost, and time investment barriers traditionally associated with seeking mental health services.
Regular updates to Covid-19 safety guidelines
Don’t forget, if you need to refer to the BAcC Covid-19 guidelines, or any other coronavirus related issue, you’ll find regular updates on Coronavirus information pages on the Member website.
Topics include: phases of treatment/ who you can treat and when, PPE suppliers, holding outdoor classes, questions from the public, Covid-19 consent form, and of course, all the latest revisions to the Guidelines document itself.
How do you want your future Acu?
Print or webbased? The time has come to make some decisions. and we want to hear from as many of you as possible. For more on the whys and wherefores, please go to page 25, then help us by taking part in our super quick online survey.
Vitamin D, copper and disease
Learn more of this fascinating story of what researchers are discovering about vitamin D and Covid-19, as well as the racial politics of recommending vitamin D to BAME populations, plus a discussion about the potential anti-microbial powers of copper. Listen for free or read the transcript via Radiolab.
Loneliness of the long distance worker
For some people the idea of working from home has long seemed like the ideal, no commute, no rigid time structures, no office politics. But now the nation has been forced to make a switch, many are realising just how much they miss and need the daily routine and interactions with colleagues.
Could long hot baths be a substitute for social interaction?
Have you started to spend 20 minutes in the shower? An hour in the bath? Maybe you are missing the soothing of socialising…
Feeding your creative soul
In case you feel inspired by all the creative cultivation you’re about to see popping out of this autumn issue of Acu: there’s all sorts of learning on offer at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, from early year opportunities through to plant conservation science masterclasses.
Silver celebration
Being the year of the metal rat, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by the news that gold hit a record high recently, passing the $2000/oz mark for the first time. According to news aggregator Money GPS, silver may also be on course to increase in value. Not that we’re in the business of handing out financial advice or suggesting you sink all your spare money into gold or silver, you understand… but here’s a little something that may hold a certain appeal for we acupuncturists. To honour the Year of the Rat, the Royal Mint has produced a limited edition one ounce silver bullion coin. Only 138,888 have been produced with emphasis on the number eight as a nod to its prestige in Chinese culture. And as legal tender, they’re exempt from capital gains tax. So maybe a good present for a loved one? That's if anyone really wants to commemorate 2020...
Who's won a Moxi?
Here’s member Barrie Stone in lockdown splendour modelling his original Toon Min cartoon t-shirt. And doesn’t he look grand! If you too want a t-shirt, just find little Moxi hiding somewhere in amongst the articles in this issue, and tell us where by 28 October to editor@acupuncture.org.uk
Need to know
Pressed for time? Want to grab the essential info now and read the rest later? Here’s where to start
Remembering Hugh Celebrating an acupuncture research hero 〉 p6
NICE recommends acupuncture Mark Bovey interprets the new guidelines 〉 p9
Acu. digital or print? You decide... 〉 p25
Ever wonder what the GB get up to? Paul Blacker reflects on his to-do list 〉 p32
Missing communing with colleagues? Read about the riches of meeting online 〉 p38
A quarantine baby...
... says member Sally Crowther: My first ever ripe tomato. Planted with the new moon in March and harvested in July.
The clear joy that Sally got from her gardening in lockdown sewed the seed of an idea to harvest a sumptuous spread of members' gardening tales... you can sample the resulting fruits by feasting your eyes on the Abundant Splendour of cultivation awaiting you on page 22.
