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Are Your Patients Using Alternative Treatment? NIH Starts Integrative Medic
2007-05-15 10:32:00
BETHESDA, MD -- May 14, 2007 -- The National Center for Complementary and Alter native Medicine (NCCAM) has established an Integrative Medicine Consult Service at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, the world's largest hospital devoted to research.This service will provide physicians, nurses, and other members of the Clinical Center health care team the ability to discuss complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies with knowledgeable medical staff from the consult service and learn how various CAM practices might complement or interact with a patient's care as a research participant at the Clinical Center.CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine, such as herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic manipulation, and acupuncture. Integrative medicine combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM for which there is high-quality evide...
More About: Treatment , Patients , Patient

Some alternative and complementary medicine approaches to migraine relief
2007-05-10 15:35:00
Original article: http://www.southernillinoisan.com/article s/2007/05/09/health/doc464226cd2388a42152 8408.txtSome alternative and complementary medicine approaches to migraine reliefAcupuncture: Dr. Ying Li, a licensed acupuncturist and certified Oriental medicine practitioner, at Southern Illinois Acupuncture in Carbondale and Metropolis, treats each patient individually using acupuncture and Chinese herbal remedies.Acupuncture is the gentle insertion of extremely thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of Qi or natural healing energy. "They come to me when they're having the headaches," Li said. "If they respond well to acupuncture, we will usually have success after two or three treatments. The treatments help improve the quality of their lives."Alexander Technique: Liz Patula, a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique in Carbondale, said that her students who experience migraines have reported fewer headaches because of the new ways they are lear...
More About: Medicine , Migraine , Alternative , Relief , Medici

Antinociception of heterotopic electro-acupuncture mediated by the dorsolat
2007-04-24 09:35:00
17/04/2007 - Antinociception of heterotopic electro-acupuncture mediated by the dorsolateral funiculus.Country: U.S.AInstitute: The Institute of New Life Health Center, Boston, USA.Author(s): Lee SJ, Lyu YS, Kang HW, Sohn IC, Koo S, Kim MS, Park BR, Song JH, Kim JH.Journal: Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(2):251-64.Abstract:We investigated the inhibitory pathways that mediate the antinociceptive effects of heterotopic electro-acupuncture (EA) on formalin injection-induced pain in rats.EA (2 ms, 10 Hz, 3 mA) was delivered to heterotopic acupoints HT(7) and PC(7) for 30 min; this was followed immediately by subcutaneous injection of formalin into the left hind paw of rats. Naltrexone (10 mg/kg, i.p.), an opioid receptor antagonist, was administered to evaluate the involvement of endogenous opioids. The dorsolateral funiculus (DLF), which is a descending pathway that inhibits pain, was transected at the ipsilateral T10-11 level of the thoracic spinal cord.EA inhibited behavioral responses to fo...
More About: Electro , The D , Acupuncture

The treatment of obesity by acupuncture.
2007-04-24 01:17:00
An interesting abstract posted on a mailing list. Have yet to find the original article, though.Int J Neurosci. 2006 Feb;116(2):165-75. RelatedArticles, LinksThe treatment of obesity by acupuncture.Cabyoglu MT, Ergene N, Tan U.Department of Physiology, Selcuk University, Facultyof Meram Medical, Konya, Turkey. tugcab@yahoo.comThe present study is an investigation of the results of the studies on the effects of acupuncture application therapy on obesity. It has been reported that acupuncture application in obesity treatment is effective in procuring weight loss. It can affect appetite, intestinal motility, and metabolism, as well as emotional factors such as stress. Increases in neural activity in the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus, in tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach and in levels of enkephalin, beta endorphin, and serotonin in plasma and brain tissue have also been observed with the application of acupuncture. It has been observed that acupuncture application to o...
More About: Obesity , Treatment , Acupuncture

Influence of needling the foot-yangming points on intracellular Ca2+ concen
2007-04-13 14:23:00
10/04/2007 - Influence of needling the foot-yangming points on intracellular Ca2+ concentration in smooth muscles of the gastric antrum in rabbits.Country: ChinaInstitute: Teaching and Research Section for Experimental Acupuncture, Department of Acupuncture and Massage, Hunan TCM College, Changsha 410007, China.Author(s): Deng Y, Yi S, Lin Y, Yan J, Guo H, Xiang Z, Wu F, Liu W.Journal: J Tradit Chin Med. 2007 Mar;27(1):65-9.Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of acupuncture at the points of Foot -Yangming Meridian on intracellular concentration of Ca2, called the 2nd messenger of gastric smooth muscles.METHODS: 45 rabbits were randomly divided into the following 5 groups: a normal saline group, a model group treated with atropine, an acupuncture group treated by needling the points of Foot-Yangming Meridian, an acupuncture group treated by needling the points of Foot-Shaoyang Meridian, an acupuncture group treated by needling the points of Foot-Taiyang Meridian, i.e. 9 r...
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Tai Chi Boosts Immunity to Shingles Virus in Older Adults, NIH-Sponsored St
2007-04-07 07:00:00
Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese form of exercise, may help older adults avoid getting shingles by increasing immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and boosting the immune response to varicella vaccine in older adults, according to a new study published in print this week in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. This National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study is the first rigorous clinical trial to suggest that a behavioral intervention, alone or in combination with a vaccine, can help protect older adults from VZV, which causes both chickenpox and shingles.Read the entire article here:http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2007/n ia-06.htm
More About: Virus , Sponsored , Immunity , Tai Chi , Shingles

The Alteration of Pain Sensitivity at Disease-Specific Acupuncture Points i
2007-04-06 17:13:00
The Alteration of Pain Sensitivity at Disease -Specific Acupuncture Points in Premenstrual Syndrome.Country: KoreaInstitute: Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center (AMSRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Republic of Korea. handongmu@empal.com.Author(s): Chae Y, Kim HY, Lee HJ, Park HJ, Hahm DH, Ahn KE, Lee H.Journal: 1: J Physiol Sci. 2007 Mar 24;Abstract:Acupuncture points (APs) are well-known to be small regions of local or referred pain that are more sensitive than surrounding tissue. Based on the bibliographical and clinical data, specific conditions are commonly believed to change the pain sensitivity at corresponding APs.The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of specific APs is associated with the severity of premenstrual syndrome.The 46 participants were female students attending a middle school. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was measured using a structured questionnaire, the menstruation distress questionnaire ...
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Most who try them claim therapies help with sleep
2007-03-20 14:30:00
Most who try them claim therapies help with sleepSunday, March 18, 2007By Hilary E. MacGregorLos Angeles TimesWhether meditating before bed or sipping a kava kava nightcap, more than 1.6 million Americans use some form of alternative medicine when they have trouble sleeping.In analyzing data from 31,000 Americans interviewed for the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, researchers found that nearly one-fifth of adults reported difficulty sleeping in the last 12 months, and of those, about 5 percent used complementary and alternative medicine to treat their sleeplessness.The majority of those who tried the therapies said they helped, with nearly half saying they helped "a great deal."Nearly 65 percent of people using alternative methods to help them sleep used "biological therapies," such as herbs or supplements, and 39 percent used "mind-body therapies," such as self-hypnosis, guided imagery or other relaxation techniques.The findings also shed some light on why people turn to com...
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Hypothalamus and Amygdala Response to Acupuncture Stimuli in Carpal Tunnel
2007-02-25 07:55:00
Hypothalamus and Amygdala Response to Acupuncture Stimuli in Carpal Tunnel SyndromeNapadow V, et al. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States; Department of Radiology, Logan College of Chiropractic, Chesterfield, MO, United States.Brain processing of acupuncture stimuli in chronic neuropathic painpatients may underlie its beneficial effects. We used fMRI to evaluateverum and sham acupuncture stimulation at acupoint LI-4 in CarpalTunnel Syndrome (CTS) patients and healthy controls (HC). CTS patientswere retested after 5 weeks of acupuncture therapy. Thus, weinvestigated both the short-term brain response to acupuncturestimulation, as well as the influence of longer-term acupuncturetherapy effects on this short-term response. CTS patients responded toverum acupuncture with greater activation in the hypothalamus anddeactivation in the amygdala as compared to HC, controlling for thenon-specific effect...
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Acupuncture Enhances Generation of Nitric Oxide and Increases Local Circula
2007-02-25 07:54:00
Acupuncture Enhances Gene ra tion of Nitric Oxide and Increases Local CirculationTsuchiya M, et al. Departments of Biochemistry, Osaka City University Medical School, Abeno-Ku, Japan.Although it is widely used, the mechanisms and effects of acupunctureon pain are not completely understood. Recently, increased nitricoxide (NO) synthase activity has been found in meridians andacupoints. Because NO is a key regulator of local circulation, andbecause change in circulation can affect the development andpersistence of pain, we propose that acupuncture might regulate NOlevels. We studied the effects of acupuncture on local NO levels andcirculation in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study with 20volunteers, each of whom underwent one session each of real andnoninvasive sham acupuncture in a single hand and forearm with a 1-wkinterval between treatments. NO concentration in the plasma from theacupunctured arm was significantly increased by 2.8 +/- 1.5 micromol/Lat 5 min and 2.5 +/- 1.4 m...
More About: Itri , Ease

Quackery!
2007-02-24 16:13:00
Medical Quackery (comic)Commentary by Mike Adams, the creator of this cartoon:The closer you look at conventional medicine, the more you realize just how much it's based on quackery. From the exaggerated claims of drug advertisements (which imply that swallowing patented chemicals will solve your life problems) to the absurd pro-drug, anti-nutrition regulatory proclamations by the FDA, the modern U.S. "sick care system" has become the laughing stock of the world.Americans pay, by far, the highest fees in the world for health care services, and yet we simultaneously suffer the highest rates of degenerative disease in the world. Conventional cancer treatments, which essentially involve varying degrees of poisoning patients with either toxic chemicals or deadly radiation, have barely altered the survival rates for cancer in three decades. Heart disease rates continue to rise, diabetes is now an epidemic, and yet the drug companies, mass media and FDA increasingly promote new fictitiou...

Alternative Medicine: Tuina: Ancient pain relief meets modern life
2007-02-21 01:51:00
Tuina (pronounced "twee-naa") has been used widely in traditional medicine clinics and hospitals in China as well as in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan for thousands of years. The knowledge and skill has been accumulated and improved throughout its very long history. Tuina is a form of Chinese manual medicine. It is commonly used to prevent and treat disease by removing obstructions and increasing vital energy, called Qi ("chee"), through manual methods, herbal remedies, heat pads, cupping and moxibustion.Tuina practitioners are trained in five-year educational programs in traditional medicine colleges in China. After graduation, they serve additional apprenticeships under close supervision of experienced Tuina practitioners. Retired Tuina doctors often come to teach and pass their experience to other doctors and discuss difficult cases.Tuina medicine is increasingly used to promote circulation, reset the relationship between bones and their surrounding tissues, increase j...
More About: Life , Medicine , Alternative , Cine , Pain

Parachutes Not Proven to Work!
2007-02-11 05:58:00
This is so good I had to post it.Para chute use to prevent death and major trauma related to gravitational challenge: systematic review of randomised controlled trialsGordon C S Smith, professor1, Jill P Pell, consultant21 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, 2 Department of Public Health, Greater Glasgow NHS Board, Glasgow G3 8YUCorrespondence to: G C S Smith gcss2@cam.ac.ukAbstractObjectives To determine whether parachutes are effective in preventing major trauma related to gravitational challenge.Design Systematic review of randomised controlled trials.Data sources: Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases; appropriate internet sites and citation lists.Study selection: Studies showing the effects of using a parachute during free fall.Main outcome measure Death or major trauma, defined as an injury severity score > 15.Results We were unable to identify any randomised controlled trials of parachute intervention...
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Article on Acupuncture for Breech Pregnancies
2007-02-10 02:30:00
Medicine works to turn baby (A 2,000-YEAR-OLD Chinese technique involving acupuncture has been used to help turn a Bromsgrove mother-to-be's baby from a breech position.Acupuncturist Tony Concannon, from the Creative Health Centre, Hagley Road, Stourbridge, helped Siobhan Atkins, whose baby had been medically determined to be in breech position.The breech position means that a caesarean section would be needed - to prevent this Mr Concannon performed a Chinese technique called moxabustion(sic).Moxabustion involves the use of moxa, a herb which is used to heat specific acupuncture points and helps to turn babies who are in the breech position into a safer position for child birth.Mrs Atkins said: "My baby definitely was more active after the treatments and when the midwife examined me again the baby had turned. I am now looking forward to the birth with one less thing to think about."Mr Concannon said: "Although I have treated morning sickness and backache in pregnancy, and used acu...
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http://www.battling-heartandstroke.com/2007/02/acupuncture-for-stroke-patie
2007-02-10 02:14:00
By Karina JacobsenIn recent years many stroke patients have begun to turn to ancient Chinese medicines and cures to help them recover from their stroke. They use these along with modern medications and treatments as well. Alternative medicine does seem to have some great effects on stroke patients and has helped them to fight fatigue and also has helped to ease the tension in their muscles as well.Many people who have suffered from a stroke have been left with permanent problems that keep them from taking part in activities that used to be normal for them. This can include activities such as speaking, being able to walk, seeing, reasoning, remembering, and understanding concepts. There are many treatments that can help stroke patients and some of these treatments actually use a mirror to get visual clues so that patient can receive help.Once Chinese form of alternative medicine that is being used to treat stoke patients is acupuncture. Acupuncture uses a special machine to stimulate...
More About: Hear , Heart , Http , Stroke

Immunization: Bane or Boon?
2007-02-08 01:11:00
I admit that I am writing this in reaction to the following blog entry by a very good friend of mine:It is my belief that immunization is the single greatest thing medicine has offered to humankind. Immunization embodies the essence of preventive medicine. Because of immunization, millions are spared from death and disease.Yes, I agree. Immunization is a great tool and that it's use spares millions from death and disease.BUT..."...single greatest thing medicine has offered to mankind"?I'm afraid that I have to disagree with this a bit. Given that I am now into alternative medicine, I feel that this statement must be qualified a bit more. For one thing, immunization is a gift not of medicine as a whole, but of Euro-American Pharmaceutical Medicine. Chinese, Ayurvedic, and other forms of medicine are not involved in immunization at all.Secondly, I consider antibiotics to be the greatest gift of Euro-American Pharmaceutical Medicine to mankind. Sometimes, antibiotic use causes ...
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Can Acupuncture Help Control Menopause Symptoms?
2007-02-03 04:31:00
Can Acupuncture Help Control Men opause Symptoms ?Kathryn WhittakerThe treatment for migraines and other menopause symptoms is not the same in every part of the world. Different cultures have different medicine practices and beliefs. However, it is interesting to note that the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture, is becoming a popular therapeutic method in Western culture to treat a variety of psychological and physical conditions including menopause.TCM views menopause as the time in a woman’s life when her body shuts down her natural monthly reproductive cycle because she can no longer reproduce. However, it is believed that her body stops menses to conserve her qi (body life energy), so as she ages she can retain all of her resources.Unlike women in western culture, for most women in the East, menopause is rather uneventful. It is thought the reasons for this is because Western women lead a more fast-paced, stress-ridden lifestyle, and tend to consume poorer diets. Th...
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Agitated Behavior In Dementia Significantly Reduced By Regular Acupressure
2007-01-26 15:07:00
Acupressure can significantly reduce agitated behaviour in older patients with dementia, according to a study published in the February issue of the UK-based Journal of Clinical Nursing.Researchers at the National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan found that providing 15-minute treatment sessions twice a day for five days a week yielded considerable benefits, including reductions in verbal and physical attacks and wandering.But once the four-week treatment period ended, agitation levels started to rise again, suggesting that acupressure needs to be provided on an ongoing basis.20 patients were studied over six weeks, including one week before the treatment started and one week after it finished. All lived in dementia special care units at a long-term care facility.70 per cent of the patients suffered from severe behavioural disturbances, with a further five per cent suffering from extremely severe impairment. The remaining 25 per cent were classed as medium.An average pre-treatment sco...
More About: Behavior , Press , Men , Dementia , Reduce

Acupuncture may be effective in treating Parkinson's
2007-01-24 18:47:00
Acupuncture may be effective in treating Park inson 'sFrom Dailyindia.com:London, Jan. 23 (ANI): South Korean researchers say that acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine technique of inserting and manipulating needles into various points on the body, may be effective in treating the type of brain inflammation suffered by patients with Parkinson's disease. Lead researcher Sabina Lim at Kyung Hee University in Seoul and her colleagues used a standard mouse model of Parkinson's disease, in which injections of a chemical known as MPTP kill off brain cells that manufacture dopamine.Some of the injected mice were then administered acupuncture every two days in two spots, one behind the knee and one on top of the foot, the points which in humans could potentially be seen as targets for treatment of Parkinson's.Another group of mice received acupuncture in two spots on the hips, not believed to be effective for acupuncture, while a third group had no acupuncture at all.By the end of...
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Ancient medicine all the buzz in modern China
2007-01-23 12:02:00
The articleBEIJING (Reuters) - With doctors urging amputation to stop the gangrene spreading upwards from his toes, Liu Guorong was skeptical when a friend said bee venom might save his foot.ADVERTISEMENT"I was doubting this place," the 58-year-old diabetes sufferer said in a raspy voice during a visit to the Xizhihe Traditional Medicine Hospital on the outskirts of Beijing."When I got here, I had no idea what I was doing and what the bee sting treatment was all about."As Liu found out, it was painful.Bees were placed on his foot and provoked to sting him in a bid to rejuvenate the blackened, rotting flesh by flooding it with a rush of protein-rich blood.A folk remedy for treating arthritis, back pain and rheumatism for 3,000 years in China , practitioners say that such pinpointed stings can repair damaged cells, stave off bacteria and ease inflammation.Doctors at Xizhihe hospital believe they can even cure liver ailments, diabetes and cancers.They admit, however, that they do not re...
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Comment on Article: Poking holes in acupuncture theory
2007-01-15 14:32:00
http://www.murfreesboropost.com/news.php? viewStory=1739At first glance, the title of this article seems to tell us that the author is attacking acupuncture. However, upon further reading, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author, Dr. Mark Kestner, is NOT bashing acupuncture per se. On the other had, he actually acknowledges that it works!So what is Kestner's beef? He believes that the ancient Chinese way of explaining pathophysiology and treatment is difficult for the western mind to understand. Actually, I agree. Granted, his presentation of Chinese medical theory in the article is oversimplified, but I agree with his assessment that Chinese medical theory is difficult to comprehend for the conventional western doctor.Difficult, but not impossible.I decided to comment on this article and link to it because I believe that this is the proper attitude with regards to western doctors looking at acupuncture. Dr. Kestner is basically saying, "Hey, I don't get how it wor...
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Non-prescription Compound Found In Chillies Destroys Cancer Tumours Safely
2007-01-12 04:43:00
UK scientists have shown that capsaicin, the chemical that burns your mouth when you eat chillies and an active ingredient of over the counter drugs, can kill cancer cells with little or no harmful side-effects.The study is published in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.The team that conducted the research came from the Universities of Nottingham in England and Cardiff, in Wales, and was led by Dr Timothy Bates, who is a member of the Medical Research Council (MRC) College of Experts.The researchers believe that capsaicin, and other similar compounds, attack the mitochondria of cancerous cells, causing them to "switch off" and die (apoptosis, or cell death) without harming surrounding tissue. Mitochondria are organelles (tiny granules of tissue with their own DNA) that live inside the cells of our bodies and convert nutrients into ATP - the chemical fuel that feeds our cells with energy.Dr Bates, who is an international expert in anti-cancer drug develo...
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Traditional healing arts under attack in modern China
2007-01-10 05:47:00
Traditional healing arts under attack in modern China ONLINE PETITION TO REMOVE PROTECTED STATUS IGNITES FURORBy Mark MagnierLos Angeles TimesXIKOU, China - The fur is flying, not to mention the acupuncture needles, the herbs and the $15,000-a-pound bull gallstones.China's ancient healing arts, as integral to national identity as the Great Wall or steamed dumplings, have become embroiled in the country's struggle to balance tradition and modernity.A professor at a regional university kicked off the controversy in October with an online petition calling for traditional medicine to be stripped from the Chinese constitution. It has a protected status that, in theory, guarantees it equal footing with its Western counterpart.Zhang Gongyao and fellow critics have blasted Chinese medicine as an often ineffective, even dangerous, derivative of witchcraft that relies on untested concoctions and obscure ingredients to trick patients, then employs a host of excuses if the treatment doesn't w...
More About: Tradition , Arts , Healing , Modern

Eclecticdoctor.com
2007-01-10 05:44:00
Thanks to Google and Blogger's cooperation, I can now use my eclecticdoctor.com domain name directly with blogger's services without having to worry about webspace! Just like with Google's domain services, Blogger does the hosting while I just point the domain to blogger.Now if only templates were easier to customize (hint hint!)At the same time, I've decided to reserve eclecticdoctor.com's use for news and commentaries about Complementary and Alternative Medicine. I'm going to be coming up with a different personal blog soon.
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Happy New Year 2007!
2007-01-09 13:23:00
...albeit a little late, here are my new year greetings! More updates as soon as I feel energetic enough to type them...Time to needle the Zusanli point...
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Merck to "pirate" Traditional Chinese Medicine compounds to develop new dru
2006-12-18 12:35:00
German pharmaceutical giant Merck announced last week that it would collaborate with a Chinese pharmaceutical company to develop new cancer drugs based on traditional Chinese herbs and botanical medicines.Hong Kong-based Chi-Med -- a pharmaceutical firm that develops consumer health products from natural ingredients used in Tradition al Chinese Medicine (TCM) -- said it will team with Merck to find potential cancer drugs among roughly 10,000 herbal TCM compounds. However, critics say the partnership will only serve to allow Merck to generate more profits from "pirated" natural plant chemicals sold as expensive pharmaceuticals.Consumer health advocate Mike Adams, author of "Take Back Your Health Power," said Merck's partnership with Chi-Med would result in the company locating, copying and patenting chemicals found in Chinese herbs, then selling them as prescription drugs."When Chinese firms steal intellectual property from the United States, we call it piracy, but when drug companie...
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An Open Letter to Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ
2006-12-06 05:25:00
Dear Father Reuter,I am writing to you based on the statements you have been making regarding the Subic rape case. I hope you still remember me. I interviewed you in 1992 and you told my mother you were impressed with my understanding of media. I met you again in Europe in 1999 and you were happy to see me. Please do not be offended by what I am about to say.I think that while offering spiritual guidance to the accused (I will not say "convicted rapist and the acquitted, since you deemed the trial a farce), is a magnificent and holy deed, the remarks you have made to the media are, in my humble opinion, out of place. I quote:"I think that these boys were tried by headline, they were tried by the media, and the media went with the first ghastly headlines, which were not true, " he said. http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-12-04 -voa13.cfmIs this not the same media that you have been a part of all these years? The same media you yourself champion and work with? Forgive me for say...
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ASEAPS Lecture
2006-12-02 13:34:00
Today I gave a lecture on behalf of Dr. Ed (whose blog is linked to on the sidebar) for the First ASEAPS (Association of South East Asian Pain Societies) Congress. It was held in Philippine Plaza Hotel.I admit I felt honored and a little ego-boosed by Dr. Ed's asking me to take his place. I mean, the guy knows dozens of acupuncturists. Of all of them, he asked me to do it. Either he thinks I'm good enough or he realizes I can still be ordered around, heh heh.Either way, it was a fun experience, to talk about Acupuncture to other pain specialists. Meeting and chatting with Kit Navarro was a pleasure, as well.

Five Phases Sentai!
2006-11-23 15:36:00
For those not in the know, sentai refers to the genre of japanese kiddie shows wherein five multicolored spandex clad superheroes fight as a team against an evil empire. Power Rangers is a collection of americanized sentai. In the Philippines, Bioman is the classic example.Next year's sentai is rumored to be Beast Fist Squadron Gekiranger. And their theme is the five phases or five elements of Chinese philosophy! These five phases are very significant in Chinese medicine as well.Exerpt from Wikipedia: * GekiRed will represent Mars (火星, Kasei, lit. the "Fire Star"), and practice Dragon Kung Fu. * GekiBlue will represent Mercury (水星, Suisei, lit. the "Water Star"), and practice Snake Kung Fu. * GekiYellow will represent Jupiter (木星, Mokusei, lit. the "Wood Star"), and practice Leopard Kung Fu. * GekiBlack will represent Saturn (土星, Dosei, lit. the "Earth Star"), and practice Tiger Kung Fu. * GekiPink will represent Venus (金星, Kinsei, lit. the "M...
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RIP, Ken Ishikawa
2006-11-22 05:03:00
I got this news a bit late, but I still have to write my thoughts.Ken Ishikawa is mostly unknown among non Japanese, but to fans of GETTER ROBO, this is a great loss. GO NAGAI is familiar as the creator of the Super Robot genre, illustrating and writing MAZINGER Z.But for Getter Robo, Go tapped his friend Ken Ishikawa to do the illustrations. And I dare say Ishikawa is responsible for making Getter Robo on par with Mazinger.Here is an article on Getter Robo that I wrote for Japan Hero. You can see some stills from the 1974 anime and some artwork by Ishikawa. Ironically, I had forgotten to mention Ishikawa in this review... Anyway I was writing about the ANIME not the manga...GETTER SHINE!