Sitting-pushing manipulation combined with bloodletting for 40 cases of thoracic facet joint disorder syndrome

Objective:To observe the clinical effect on thoracic facet joint disorder syndrome treated with the sitting-pushing manipulation,acupuncture at Yanglingquan(阳陵泉 GB34)and bloodletting at Weizhong(委中 BL40).Methods:A total of 40 patients of thoracic facet joint disorder syndrome were treated with the combined therapy of the sitting-pushing manipulation,acupuncture at GB34 and bloodletting at BL40,once every two days.The therapeutic effect was evaluated 6 days later.Results:After treatment,of 40 cases of thoracic facet joint disorder syndrome,31 cases were cured,5 cases improved,2 cases effective and 2 cases failed.The curative rate was 77.5% and the total effective rate was 95%.Visual analog scale(VAS)was(4.1±1.4)points before treatment and was(2.2±0.6)points after treatment,indicating the statistical difference in comparison before and after treatment(P0.05).Conclusion:The sitting-pushing manipulation combined with acupuncture at GB34 and bloodletting at BL 40 achieves a very satisfactory therapeutic effect on thoracic facet joint disorder syndrome.Such combined therapy is a kind of favorable method for thoracic facet joint disorder syndrome.     

OBSERVATION ON TREATMENT OF SCIATICA WITH HOUDING ACUPOINT

In the present paper,the author reports the results of acupuncture of Houding (GV 19) and other acupoints selected along the meridian for teating sciatica.A total of 92 sciatica patients were randomly divided into Houding group (n=62) and control group (n=30).In Houding group,patients were treated mainly with puncturing Houding (GV 19),combined with Huantiao (GB 30) when necessary.In control group,patients were treated with Huantiao (GB 30),Yanglingquan (GB 34) or Zhibian (BL 54),Weizhong (BL 40),Chengshang (BL 57),Kunlun (BL 60),etc.which were selected along the route of meridian.Results indicated that following 10 sessions of treatment,in Houing and control groups,of the 62 and 30 cases,44 and 15 were basically cured,18 and 10 were improved,0 and 5 failed in the treatment,with the total effective rates being 100% and 83.3% respectively.The therapeutic effect of Houding (GV 19) is significantly superior to that of acupoints selected along the meridian.     

ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF SUBACUTE THYROIDITIS WITH HYPERTHYROIDISM AT THE LATE STAGE

Causes inducing subacute thyroiditis have been unclear, but clinically it is treated mostlywith cortical hormones. In the present paper, it was reported that one case of subacute thyroiditis withhyperthyodism at the late stage was cured with acupuncture at Renying (ST 9), Fengchi (GB 20),Jiaji ponts on the neck and other points. In the treatment, differentiation of symptoms and signs wascombined with differentiation of disease, selection of proximal acupoints was combined with selectionof distal acupoints. The patient was treated in accordance with his physique. Therefore, the therapeu-tic effects were obtained rapidly.     

Clinical Research on Abdominal Acupuncture plus Conventional Acupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis

To probe the therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture plus conventional acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis. Methods： PEMS3.1 software was used. The 105 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into an abdominal acupuncture group, a conventional acupuncture group and a combined group （abdominal acupuncture plus conventional acupuncture）. For the abdominal acupuncture group, the abdominal acupuncture was performed at Zhongwan （CV 12）, Guanyuan （CV 4）, Wailing （ST 26）, Daheng （SP 15）, Lower Rheumatism point and Qipang with needles retained for 30 minutes. For the conventional acupuncture group, the acupuncture was practiced at Neixiyan （EX-LE4） and Dubi （ST 35） of the affected limb, Yanglingquan （GB 34）, Liangqiu （ST 34）, Xuehai （SP 10） and Xiyangguan （GB 33）. For the combined group, both methods were applied. Treatment was given once a day, 6 times a week, for 4 weeks. Lysholm knee scoring scale was used to score the functions of knee before and after treatment. Results： Of 35 cases in the abdominal acupuncture group, 8 cases were remarkably relieved, 10 cases relieved, 14 cases improved, and 3 cases failed, the total effective rate was 91.4%. Of 35 cases in the conventional acupuncture group, 7 cases were remarkably relieved, 8 cases relieved, 16 cases improved, and 4 cases failed, the total effective rate was 88.6%. Of 35 cases in the combined group, 13 cases were remarkably relieved, 16 cases relieved, 5 cases improved, and 1 cases failed, the total effective rate was 97.1%. There was a remarkable difference in the effect among 3 groups （P〈O.05）. The difference in scores of Lysholm knee scoring scale for knee joint after treatment among 3 groups was very significant （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Abdominal acupuncture has reliable effect for knee osteoarthritis and it has the synergized function when combined with conventional acupuncture.     

Using acupoint-to-acupoint penetrative needling to treat poststroke spastic paralysis： a clinical progress review

OBJECTIVE： To determine the characteristics and advantages of acupoint-to-acupoint penetrative needling（AAPN） treatment for post-stroke spastic paralysis（PSSP） to improve the clinical outcomes of this disease in the future.METHODS： Randomized, controlled trials of PSSP patients receiving AAPN treatment were searched from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database between January 2006 and June 2013. Key words included： clinic or clinical, acupuncture, needling, acupoint-to-acupoint, penetrative or penetration or penetrating,stroke or apoplexy or cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage, spastic paralysis or spasticity or palsy,and hypermyotonia. Language was limited to English and Chinese. Case series reports, review articles, and animal studies were excluded.RESULTS： AAPN showed better clinical results on PSSP than other acupuncture treatments, especially when combined with adjunct therapies such as electroacupuncture, bloodletting, and rehabilitation. The greatest benefit was achieved with rehabilitation combined with penetration from Yang-channel acupoints to Yin-channel acupoints in the upper limbs, and from Yin-channel acupoints to Yang-channel acupoints in the lower limbs with a reinforcing maneuver.CONCLUSION： AAPN is an effective treatment for PSSP, and it can accelerate and enhance functional repair of PSSP patients.     

Effect of combined acupuncture and Shen Zao An Shen Tang on sleep quality of insomnia patients due to deficiency of the heart and spleen

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with Shen Zao An Shen Tang for insomnia due to deficiency of the heart and spleen, investigate the law of treating insomnia based on syndrome differentiation, and thus provide evidence for treatment based on differentiation of insomnia in traditional Chinese medicine. Methods： A total of 62 cases with insomnia due to deficiency of the heart and spleen were randomized into a combined acupuncture and Chinese herbal formula group and a Western medication group, 31 cases in each group. Acupuncture and self-made Shen Zao An Shen Tang were employed in the former, while Estazolam was used in the latter. After a 28-day treatment, the clinical efficacy, sleep efficiency, sleep dysfunction rating scale （SDRS） and adverse reactions in the two groups were observed and compared. Results： The total effective rate in the combined acupuncture and Chinese herb formula group was 96.8%, versus 74.2% in the Western medication group, showing a statistically significant difference （P〈0.05）. After treatment, the sleep efficiency ratios in both groups were significantly increased （P〈O.01, P〈0.05）, and there was a between-group statistically significant difference （P〈0.05）. Also, the SDRS scores in both groups were decreased （P〈0.01, P〈0.01） and there was a between-group statistically significant difference （P〈0.01）. In addition, the adverse reaction rate in the combined acupuncture and Chinese herb formula group was significantly lower than that in the Western medication group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Combining acupuncture and Chinese herb formula can obtain a substantial clinical efficacy for insomnia due to deficiency of the heart and spleen and improve the patients＇ sleep quality. Compared with Estazolam, it is better in effect and less in adverse reactions.     

针药并用治疗书写痉挛症5例（英文）

Combined acupuncture and Chinese herb decoction were applied for 5 cases with graphospasm.Acupuncture included scalp acupuncture and body acupuncture.Using transcranial repeated needling,Baihui(百会GV20),Chorea-trembling controlled area,Emotional area,as well as Dazhui(大椎GV14),Fengchi(风池GB20),and Yingxiang(迎香EX-HN8) etc.were stimulated by proposed by Sun Shentian.Meanwhile,the patients took orally Chinese herb decoction,on the basis of the Siwu decoction(四物汤four substances decoction) addition and subtraction,relieve symptoms under syndrome differentiation.The treatment was carried out for 4 courses in total.One course consisted of 5 days,with an interval of 2 days between two courses.After treatment of 5 patients,2 patients were cured,2 patients achieved markedly effective response,and 1 patient achieved effective response.     

Effect of Acupuncture Combined with Blood-letting by a Three-edged Needle on 50 cases of Bell＇s Palsy at the Acute Stage

Objective： To observe clinical effects of acupuncture combined with blood-letting by a three-edged needle for treating Bell＇s palsy of wind-heat syndrome at the acute stage. Methods： One hundred patients were randomly divided into a treatment group （50 cases） treated by acupuncture plus blood-letting and a control group （50 cases） treated by simple acupuncture. Four courses of treatments were given in both groups. The main symptoms and signs were observed and clinical effects evaluated with scores after one week, 2 weeks and one month of treatments respectively. Results： After treatment, the scores for symptoms and signs were significantly different from those before treatment in both groups （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. After one month of treatment, the improvement of the symptoms and signs in the treatment group was more than that in the control group with a significant difference （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus blood-letting can produce good therapeutic effects on Bell＇s palsy of wind-heat syndrome at the acute stage.     

Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with western medication for ninety cases of Bell's palsy at different stages: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To observe the differences in the clinical effect on Bell's palsy at the acute stage and the recover stage, as well as the differences in the clinical effect between the simple acupuncture-moxibustion therapy and the combined therapy of acupuncture-moxibustion and western medication, explore the optimal intervention time point and therapeutic regimen.Methods: All of the patients were collected from the outpatients and the inpatients in the Specific Department of Acupuncture for Facial Paralysis in Hubei Chinese Medicine Hospital. A total of 128 patients with Bell's palsy were collected from February 2017 through to February 2018 and 90 patients of them were in compliance with the inclusion criteria. 90 cases were randomized into three groups, named group A(acupuncture and moxibustion at the acute stage), group B(acupuncture and moxibustion combined with western medication at the acute stage) and group C(acupuncture and moxibustion combined with western medication at the recovery stage), 30 cases in each one. In the group A, acupuncture and moxibustion were adopted at the acute stage of Bell's palsy. In the group B, at the acute stage, acupuncture and moxibustion were adopted in combination with the oral medication of hormone and vitamin. In the group C, at the recovery stage, acupuncture and moxibustion were adopted in combination with the oral medication of hormone and vitamin. The clinical healing time and the total effective rate were observed in the patients of the three groups and the occurrence of sequelae in facial paralysis was followed-up.Result: ①The clinical healing time in the Group B was slightly shorter than the Group A, but without statistical significance in comparison(P 0.05). The clinical healing time in either the Group A or the Group B was shorter than Group C, indicating the statistical significance in comparison(both P 0.05).②The results of 3-month follow-up observation showed that there were 3 cases of sequelae in the group A, 2 cases in the Group B and 7 cases in the Group C. ③After treatment, the total effective rate in either the Group A or the Group B was higher than the Group C, indicating the statistical significance in comparison(both P 0.05).Conclusion: The simple use of acupuncture and moxibustion at the acute stage achieves the similar clinical effect on Bell's palsy as the treatment of acupuncture-moxibustion combined with western medication. The simple application of acupuncture and moxibustion prevents from the potential side effects of hormone to the largest extent and displays its dominate advantages in safety. Besides, the early intervention of acupuncture-moxibustion shortens the healing time and effectively improves the prognosis of Bell's palsy.     

Therapeutic efficacy observation on integrative acupuncture therapy for chronic urticaria

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of comprehensive acupuncture therapy for chronic urticaria. Methods: A total of 70 patients with chronic urticaria were treated with acupuncture, bloodletting after pricking and cupping [on Shenque (CV 8)]. The changes of signs and symptoms were observed before and after treatment. The therapeutic efficacy was then assessed according to the change rate of clinical symptoms scoring. Results: After treatment, 11 of the 70 cases got basic recovery, 21 cases got marked effectiveness, 27 cases got improvement and 11 cases got no effect. The total effective rate was 84.3%. There was statistical significance in symptoms score between before and after treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion: Combining acupuncture, bloodletting after pricking and cupping on Shenque (CV 8) is effective for chronic urticaria.     

Clinical observation on treatment of insomnia with puncturing Back-Shu acupoints

Objective： To evaluate the clinical efficacy of puncturing Back-Shu acupoints for insomnia. Methods： Sixty patients were randomly divided into two groups, 30 cases in each. Back-Shu acupoints acupuncture was employed in the treatment group, whereas conventional acupoints acupuncture was administered in the control group. And the efficacy was assessed by the efficiency rate of relief of sleep disorders and the global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSOJ） score. Results： The total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group, versus 80.0% in the control group, showing that the two groups were significantly different （P〈0.01）. After treatment, the global PSO, I scores in the two groups decreased compared with those before treatment （P〈0.01）, and the global PSO, I scores of the two groups after treatment were also statistically different （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Puncturing Back-Shu acupoints can effectively reduce the global PSQI score, improve the patient＇s quality of life, has a good effect on insomnia.     

Warm needling at Back-Shu acupoints for melasma in women

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of warm needling at the Back- Shu acupoints for melasma in women. Methods： A total of 100 cases who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into a treatment group of 52 cases and a control group of 48 cases. Cases in the treatment group were treated with warm needling at the Back-Shu acupoints, whereas cases in the control group were treated with conventional acupuncture therapy. The therapeutic efficacies were then evaluated after three courses of treatment. Results： The total effective rate in the treatment group was 96.2%, versus 85.4% in the control group, showing a statistical difference （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Warm needling at the Back-Shu acupoints works well for melasma in women.     

推拿结合灸法治疗慢性疲劳综合征临床研究(英文)

目的:观察推拿结合灸法治疗对慢性疲劳综合征患者的影响。方法:将60例符合纳入标准的慢性疲劳综合征(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,CFS)患者,随机分为2组,治疗组30例予推拿结合雷火灸治疗,对照组30例予普通针刺治疗。治疗4星期后进行临床疗效比较。结果:治疗组治愈率为36.7%,总有效率为93.3%,对照组治愈率为16.7%,总有效率为76.7%,两组治愈率和总有效率差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论:推拿结合雷火灸治疗CFS疗效优于普通针刺。     

Effect of electroacupuncture at Huantiao (GB 30) and Weizhong (BL 40) on serum IgG and IgM in rabbits with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation

Objective

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Huantiao (GB 30) and Weizhong (BL 40) on thigmesthesia, gait function, and expression levels of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in rabbits with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH).

Methods

Forty healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group, an EA at acupoint group and an EA at non-acupoint group, with 10 rabbits in each group. The LIDH pathological model of rabbit was established using the self-made LIDH model maker. The thigmesthesia and gait function of rabbits were recorded by Siegal method. The serum IgG and IgM expression levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

EA at Huantiao (GB 30) and Weizhong (BL 40) could improve the clinical symptoms of thigmesthesia and gait function, and inhibit the expressions of serum IgG and IgM in the LIDH rabbits, which were significantly different compared with those in the model group and EA at non-acupoint group.

Conclusion

EA at Huantiao (GB 30) and Weizhong (BL 40) can improve the clinical symptoms of LIDH rabbits, which is associated with inhibition of the serum IgG and IgM expressions and reduction of the immunoinflammatory factor release. This may be one of the mechanisms of EA at Huantiao (GB 30) and Weizhong (BL 40) in the treatment of LIDH.

     

Diagnosis and objective pain assessment of traditional Chinese medicine may be useful to demonstrate specific effects of acupuncture in low back pain: A prospective, randomized, controlled and single blinded pre-study

Objective： To prove specific effects of acupuncture on chronic pain. It was speculated that the potential specific effectiveness of acupuncture could be better shown in more properly designed studies. Therefore, diagnoses of both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） were used as inclusion criteria to allocate acupoints more precisely to the complaints of the patients. Secondly, objectively measurable parameters of pain relief in addition to usual Visual Analogue Scale （VAS） were chosen to quantify the effects of acupuncture. Methods： The study was prospective, randomized, controlled and single-blinded. Eighteen patients with chronic back pain and TCM diagnosis of a Taiyang/Yangming syndrome received one single session of acupuncture chosen according to TCM diagnosis or acupuncture on points outside the meridian system （controls）. We evaluated pain via VAS and increased mobility via inclinometry of the back. Results： Although the sample size was small, there was a statistically significant improvement in pain and mobility in the intervention group （n=13）, but not in the control group （n=5）. The calculated sample size adequate power was lower for inclinometry than for VAS, indicating that VAS is less probable to discriminate acupuncture effects. Conclusion： Objectively measurable physical parameters such as the angle of flexion before and after acupuncture （inclinometry） may be more suitable to measure pain relief than subjective assessment by VAS in acupuncture studies. TCM diagnosis may be a helpful inclusion criterion in studies on acupuncture, so as to potentially allocate interventions better to the complaints of patients.     

He–Ne laser acupuncture for 30 cases of unilateral nervous tinnitus

Objective

To observe the clinical effects of the unilateral nervous tinnitus treated by He–Ne laser acupuncture.

Observation on warm needling therapy for third lumbar vertebra transverse process syndrome

Objective： To observe the effect of warm needling therapy plus acupuncture on third lumbar vertebra transverse process syndrome. Methods： Sixty cases of third lumbar vertebra transverseprocess syndrome were randomly divided into a warm needling groupor an acupuncture group, 30 cases in each group. Cases in the acupuncture group were treated by routine points and needle sticking manipulation, while those in the warm needling group were treated by moxibustion plus needling as same as the acupuncture group. Japanese orthopedic association scores （JOA） in the two groups were observed and compared after 2 treatment courses. Results： After treatment, the JOA score in the warm needling group was higher than that in the acupuncture group （P〈0.01）; subjective symptom, clinical syndromes, activity of daily living （ADL） in the warm needling group were all higher than those in the acupuncture group （allP〈0.05）; the score of pain in the warm needling group was significantly lower than that in the acupuncture group （P〈0.01）; the total effective rate in the warm needling group was 76.7%, versus 70.0% in the acupuncture group, showing a statistically significant difference （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Warm needling therapy is more effective thannormal acupuncture in treating third lumbar vertebra transverseprocess syndrome.     

Experimental study on the effect of An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30) on certain brain nuclei of pleasure circuits in rats with chronic neuralgia

Objective

To explore the central neurobiological mechanisms of pleasure effect on rats with neuralgia treated by tuina manipulations of An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30).

Methods

A total of 64 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used in this study. Eighteen rats were randomly selected as a normal group, and the other 46 rats were used to duplicate the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. Ten rats failed in modeling and 36 rats succeeded. These 36 rats were then randomly divided into a model group and a tuina group, with 18 rats in each group. The rats in the normal group and the model group did not receive any interventions, while those in the tuina group received An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30), 1 min for each time, once a day, 3 weeks in total. Heating tests were evaluated to observe the change of pain-sensitivity score before intervention, 1 week after intervention, 2 weeks after intervention, and 3 weeks after intervention. After 1 week of intervention, 2 weeks of intervention, and 3 weeks of intervention, 6 rats were randomly selected from each group respectively for brain extraction. The change of Nissl’s body and β-endorphin in the accumbens nucleus as well as amygdaloid nucleus of pleasure circuits, and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the arcuate nucleus were analyzed by methods of histochemistry and molecular biology.

Results

After modeling, the pain-sensitivity scores of the tuina group and the model group were statistically different from the score of the normal group (both P<0.05). After An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30) for one week, the pain-sensitivity score of the tuina group had statistical difference compared with that of the model group (P<0.05). At each different time point: the amounts of Nissl’s body in accumbens nucleus and amygdaloid nucleus of the tuina group were significantly more than those of the model group (all P<0.01). Besides, the numbers of β-endorphin immunoreactive cells in the accumbens nucleus and amygdaloid nucleus of the rats in the tuina group were significantly higher than those in the model group (all P<0.01), and so was the expression of POMC in arcuate nucleus (all P<0.01).

Conclusion

An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30), where the sciatic nerve is ligated, can reduce pain-sensitivity score and increase pain tolerance value of rats with chronic neuralgia. It can increase the activity of neurons in accumbens nucleus and amygdaloid nucleus of pleasure circuits, which indicates that the analgesia effect of tuina therapy may correlate with pleasure effect, and also reveals a part of neurobiological mechanisms of neuralgia.

     

Combined Acupuncture and Bloodletting on Chize （LU 5） and Weizhong （BL 40） for Chronic Eczema

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of combined acupuncture with bloodletting on Chize （LU 5） and Weizhong （BL 9） for chronic eczema. Methods： A total of 40 cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 20 in each. Cases in the observation group were treated with acupuncture plus bloodletting on Chize （LU 5） and Weizhong （BL 9）, whereas cases in the control group were treated with acupuncture alone. The acupuncture was conducted once a day, bloodletting twice a week. The therapeutic efficacy was statistically analyzed after one month of consecutive treatment. Results： The recovery and total effective rates in the observation group were significantly higher than that in the control group （P〈O.05）. Conclusion： Combined acupuncture and bloodletting on Chize （LU 5） and Weizhong （BL 40） could obtain a better effect than acupuncture alone.