Latest Issue

This case involves a 57-year-old female with a five-year history of severe, chronic cardiovascular, liver and fluid regulation dysfunction that included cardiomegaly, atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, high blood pressure, chronic pitting oedema, ascites, cirrhosis and portal-vein regurgitation. Previous conventional medical treatments failed to control her symptoms, prompting her to seek traditional Chinese medicine. After multiple ineffective attempts at diagnosis and treatment, introducing Fu Zheng Hua Yu Wan (扶正化瘀丸, Support the Upright and Dissolve Stasis Pill) proved pivotal. After four months of treatment the patient experienced significant improvements in heart function, liver health, oedema and vitality. These results underscore the effectiveness of a targeted approach rooted in classical Chinese medicine.

Uncertainty in clinical practice is often viewed as a weakness to be resolved. This article reframes uncertainty - particularly the emotional and cognitive discomfort it creates - as a vital source of clinical insight and diagnostic agility. Drawing on a challenging case of erythromelalgia, the author illustrates how embracing not-knowing can foster diagnostic creativity and responsiveness. Integrating reflections from philosophy, cognitive science and East Asian medical theory, the article argues for a deliberate engagement with clinical ambiguity. Uncertainty, rather than an obstacle, is presented as a necessary condition for deepened perception and therapeutic discovery.

This is the third article of the Shang Han Lun (Discussion on Cold Damage) series started in Issue 134 of the Journal of Chinese Medicine. The series focuses on an empirical approach to understanding and practising Chinese medicine from the perspective of the Shang Han Lun. This article explains yang ming disease. Readers are recommended to read the previous articles first to better comprehend this and subsequent articles.

This case series explores the use of acupuncture and adjunctive therapies to relieve localised pressure due to Liver qi stagnation. Drawing from six clinical cases, this paper examines how emotional stressors can precipitate stagnation along the Liver channel, resulting in subjective and objective symptoms such as abdominal distension, chest oppression and neurological changes. Acupuncture, supported by adjunctive therapies such as herbal medicine and therapeutic massage, was employed to promote the smooth flow of qi, restore physiological function and resolve pathological states. The outcomes suggest that the therapeutic restoration of qi circulation plays a key role in dissipating stagnation-induced pressure. The paper further proposes integrating biophysical methodologies to measure localised pressure changes and examine the emission of gasotransmitters in such cases to better understand qi as a dynamic physiological entity.

This study aimed to identify the value in providing acupuncture as an adjunct to standard treatments offered in paediatric rheumatology chronic pain clinics. The study explored patient-reported benefits of acupuncture, and the domains of health affected, as well as themes related to prior experience. Subjects were recruited from outpatient chronic pain clinics with the inclusion criteria of <18 years of age, a diagnosis of primary chronic pain, prior engagement with non-pharmacological interventions (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology) and completion of six acupuncture sessions delivered by a qualified physiotherapist. Patients were excluded if they did not complete all six sessions. An online anonymised questionnaire captured patientreported outcomes. Participants reported benefits including reduced pain and improved sleep. Responses suggested that acupuncture promoted feelings of relaxation, calmness and general well-being. Prior acupuncture experience did not significantly influence reported outcomes. All respondents reported some benefit and felt comfortable during treatment. These patient-reported outcomes support the value of acupuncture as an adjunct in paediatric chronic pain management. The improvements in sleep and relaxation may contribute to broader symptom modulation. Although limited by sample size, these findings suggest further investigation is warranted, particularly with larger, multi-site cohorts.