(U-WIRE) DURHAM, NC - Acupuncture has the power to reduce nausea and vomiting after major surgery and may work better than the most commonly used medications, according to a new study conducted by Duke University researchers.

Breast surgery typically causes post-operative vomiting in 60 to 70 percent of women who undergo it, said Dr. Rong Joo Gan, an associate professor in the department of anesthesiology and head of the research team.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When performed by a skilled practitioner, acupuncture appears to be safe, according to two new studies published in the September 1 issue of the British Medical Journal.

Both studies examined the incidence of adverse effects in patients during and immediately after acupuncture treatment. In a study led by Dr. Hugh MacPherson of the Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine, 574 professional acupuncturists performed over 34,000 procedures during a 4-week period. In the second study, led by Dr. Adrian R. White and colleagues at the University of Exeter, 78 medical doctors and physiotherapists performed over 31,000 procedures between June 1998 and February 2000. In both studies, no serious adverse events were noted; only 43 significant adverse effects such as nausea, bruising and fainting were reported in each study.

In response to the urgent needs created by the World Trade Center tragedy, students, faculty and alumni of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine are providing volunteer acupuncture and bodywork care for those affected by the disaster. Roughly 150 Pacific College volunteers are donating their time around the clock at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan. The volunteers are treating Task Force search and rescue workers, Military Police, and search and rescue dogs for aches, pains, insomnia, fatigue, and other ailments. After 18 days of around the clock care, some 290 volunteers have administered over 1,300 acupuncture and massage treatments to search and rescue workers. The college is also in the process of setting up assistance to relief workers at the medical examiner's office at Pier 94 and considering expanding these services to include the New York Fire Department as well.

Pacific College has been joined by the Acupuncture Society of New York and two other NY area acupuncture colleges in their effort to organize volunteers and medical supplies. Donations of supplies such as acupuncture needles and massage tables and oil have been pouring in from private donors and companies nationwide to help with the college's effort.

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine is proud to announce the opening of it's low cost public clinic in Chicago. The clinic will serve area residents by providing affordable acupuncture, Chinese massage and herbal consultations. Rates at the clinic are $25 per treatment for the general public and $15 per treatment for students and senior citizens. A physician's referral is required.

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine was founded in 1986 and has additional campuses in San Diego and New York. It is the largest college of Oriental Medicine in the nation, and has received numerous prestigious honors including being the recipient of a National Institutes of Health research grant, and being named one of the best colleges of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the country by TCM World Newspaper.

According to a team of German and Swiss Researchers, acupuncture may be better at treating chronic neck pain than traditional massage by providing greater short-term pain relief and increased range of motion.

"Our study shows that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for chronic neck pain, if the objective is to relieve pain and to improve mobility of the cervical spine,'' said Dr. Dominik Irnich of Ludwig-Maximilians University in Germany.

According to a new study published in the British Dental Journal, stimulation of an acupuncture point on the ear prior to undergoing dental treatment effectively controls the gag reflex, allowing dentists to perform a variety of procedures without compromising the patient's safety and comfort.

The British study considered ear acupuncture a quick and cost-effective adjunctive to dental care. The researchers estimated an added cost of only 29 cents per person per treatment episode, and an additional treatment time of only 2-3 minutes per episode.

WHO/WHAT:
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine will be exhibiting and providing free massage and acupuncture diagnosis at this year's Gay Pride Fest. In its 27th year, Gay Pride expects to draw as many as 50,000 people this year. With over 200 exhibitors, live music, food, and a rally, this event proves to be one of the largest and most colorful in San Diego each year..

WHEN:
July 28 - 29, 2001

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine is proud to announce the accreditation of its Chicago campus by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Students of this campus are now eligible for federal financial aid, and graduates of the program are eligible for state licensure and national certification. The college is located at 3646 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine was founded in 1986 and has additional campuses in San Diego and New York. It is the largest college of Oriental Medicine in the nation, and has received numerous prestigious honors including being the recipient of a National Institutes of Health research grant, and being named one of the best colleges of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the country by TCM World Newspaper.

In one of the largest studies of its kind to date, a team of investigators in Italy examined the effectiveness of acupuncture versus a variety of pharmacological therapies in treating migraines. Their results, published in a recent issue of the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, revealed that patients given acupuncture experienced fewer migraine episodes, missed fewer days from work, and suffered no side effects compared to patients on conventional drug therapy. They also found acupuncture to be more cost-efficient, estimating a savings of hundreds of millions of dollars in private and social health expenditures if it were used to treat headaches alone instead of drugs.

According to the National Headache Foundation, as many as 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches each year. Migraines can be caused by a variety of physical and environmental factors including diet, stress, allergens, menstruation, and changes in the weather. They can last from a few minutes to several days, which in some cases may completely incapacitate the person suffering an attack.

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine has been selected as one of the "Best of the West" colleges of traditional Chinese medicine in the U.S. by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) World newspaper. The college is one of four winners to take honors in the clinical training category, as well as one of three winners in the curriculum category. The newspaper's survey was designed to identify institutions that preserve and protect the essence, philosophy and culture of traditional Chinese medicine in the West. The study, which looked at a school's faculty, curriculum, and clinical training, was open to all 68 colleges of Oriental and traditional Chinese medicine in the United States. Clinical training winners were selected for their outstanding, knowledgeable clinical directors and their ability to offer excellent learning opportunities in supervised clinical settings. Curriculum winners were selected for their outstanding course design, which incorporates intensive learning in the philosophy, principles, and theories of TCM and helps preserve authentic Chinese medicine and training in the West.