Blood-letting punctures at twelve Jing-Well points of the hand can treat cerebral ischemia in a similar manner to mannitol

A rat model of middle cerebral artery permanent occlusion was established using the modified Longa method. Successfully established model animals were treated by blood-letting puncture at twelve Jing-Well points of the hand, and/or by injecting mannitol into the caudal vein twice daily. Brain tissue was collected at 24, 48 and 72 hours after modeling, and blood was collected through the retinal vein before Evans blue was injected, approximately 1 hour prior to harvesting of brain tissue. Results showed that Evans blue leakage into brain tissue and serum nitric oxide synthase activity were significantly increased in model rats. Treatment with blood-letting punctures at twelve Jing-Well points of the hand and/or injection of mannitol into the caudal vein reduced the amount of Evans blue leakage into the brain tissue and serum nitric oxide synthase activity to varying degrees. There was no significant difference between single treatment and combined treatment. Experimental findings indicate that blood-letting punctures at twelve Jing-Well points of the hand can decrease blood-brain barrier permeability and serum nitric oxide synthase activity in rats following middle cerebral artery occlusion, and its effect is similar to that of mannitol injection alone and Jing-Well points plus mannitol injection.

A REPORT OF 300 CASES OF MIGRAINE TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE PLUS BLOOD-LETTING PUNCTURING AND CUPPING

Acupuncture combined with blood-letting puncturing and cupping Is quite effectivein treatment of migraine.The total effective rate of 300 cases is 95.7％.Combined treatment ofacupuncture and cupping can supplement each other in strengthening the therapeutic effect and is agood way for relieving headache.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ABOUT THE EFFECT OF BLOOD-LETTING OF JING-POINTS ON CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW IN STROKE PATIENTS AT THE EARLY STAGE AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON ITS MECHANISMS IN THE RABBIT

In this paper, the authors sum their research results about the effect of blood-letting of Jing (Well)-point on cerebral blood flow both in stroke patients and in experimental cerebral ischemia, cerebral hematoma and hypertension rabbits. In 30 cases of stroke (cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction) patients, blood flow state of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and the blood flow velocity of the bilateral vertebral artery (VA) and the basil artery (BA) are determined before and after pricking blood of the Twelve Jing-points. In experimental cerebral ischemia (by occlusion of the common carotid artery) rabbits, cerebral hematoma model rabbits and intravenous injection of noradrenaline induced hypertension rabbits, rheoencephalogram (REC) is detected before and after blood letting of the twelve "Jing"-points. In these 30 stroke patients, ultrasound Doppler examination’s results show that in 22 cases (73.33%) whose blood flow velocity decreases, after blood-letting of the 12 Jing-points, it increases significantly (P<0.01); in the rest 8 cases ( 26.67%) whose blood flow velocity speeds up, after treatment, it decreases evidently (P<0.01), showing a good dual-directional regulative effect of blood-letting therapy. In experimental cerebral ischemia rabbits, cerebral hematoma rabbits and hypertension rabbits whose REG lowers in the amplitude apparently (P<0.01), after blood letting stimulation of the 12 Jing-points, it increases at different degrees. Three patterns of stimulation as blood letting stimulation, pain stimulation and Jing-point stimulation, also the 3 factors of blood-letting therapy, may contribute to their effect on improvement of the cerebral blood flow. Somatic afferent nerve, sympathetic nerve of the vascular wall, central cholinergic nerve (M receptors) and adrenergic nerve (α receptors) participate in the effect of blood letting on cerebral blood flow.

OBSERVATION OF 14 CASES OF LARYNGEAL CARBUNCLE TREATED BY WEI JIA'S BLOOD-LETTING THERAPY

The author used the pricking-blood therapy to treat 14 cases of laryngeal car-buncle.The pricking-blood therapy included clumpy pricking(local area),spot pricking(prickingSanshang points on the thumb and three points of the helix).The therapy has role of clearing awaypathogentic heat and toxic materials and promoting subsidence of swelling.It could avoid forming py-opoiesis and free from operating treatment.The treatment was given once daily,result:13 cases cured(93%),1 case failed(7%).In 14 cases,antero-upper type has 13 cases which cured,postero-uppertype has only 1 case which treated failure.It is because its imflammation was located on posterior totonsillae,exposed bad and pricked difficulty.So the therapy only used antero-upper type of laryngealcarbuncle and had a good effect.

BLOOD-LETTING PUNCTURING AND CUPPING FOR TREATMENT OF 56 CASES OF RHEUMATIC ARTHRITIS

Presented is a summary of 56 cases of rheumatic arthritis treated with blood-letting puncturing and cupping. Patients acupoints selected were pricked first with a three-edged needle and then cupped for 15 min. The treatment was conducted once every other day and six times constituted a therapeutic course. After treatment, out of the 56 cases, 45 cases were cured, 4 markedly effective,3 effective and 4 ineffective, with the total effective rate of 92%.

Progress of blood-letting puncture on the treatment of psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterized by localized or wide spread squamous erythema or plaque. The pathogenesis is complicated. According to the TCM theory, psoriasis results from internal heat toxin and the deficiency of blood. And blood stasis exists throughout the disease, the treatment should focus on promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Blood-letting puncture can balance Qi and blood through stimulating the meridians, forcing evil Qi to go out, so as to dispel pathogenic factors and dredge the meridians. This article briefly discusses the basic mechanisms and clinical researches of psoriasis with blood-letting puncture, in order to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of psoriasis.

Efficacy of blood-letting puncture and cupping in the treatment of periarthritis of shoulder:a systematic review

Objective:To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of blood-letting puncture and cupping in the treatment of periarthritis of shoulder.Methods:We electronically searched databases including CNKI,VIP,PubMed,WanFang Data,EMbase Cochrane Library and to collect randomized controlled trials(RCTs)and quasi-randomized controlled trials about blood-letting puncture and cupping for periarthritis of shoulder and evaluated the quality of the documents collected by the Cochrane collaboration,provided by Review Manager 5 software for statistical analysis.Then the quality of the included trials was assessed using the Jadad scale and GRADE system was used to score the quality and grade recommendation.Results:Thirty RCTs involving 2556 patients were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that:Total effective rate OR=6.21[OR=6.21,95%CI(4.69,8.21),P<0.001].The results of GRADE system evaluation showed that the level of evidence was B,and the recommendation level was weak recommendation.Conclusion:Blood-letting puncture and cupping shows better effects than other treatments and preferably security in the treatment of periarthritis of shoulder.We do not find any serious adverse reaction reports.Due to limited quality of the included studies,more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.

Fire needle combined with blood-letting therapy for a case of 20-year trigeminal neuralgia

Background： Trigeminal neuralgia （TN） is a neuropathic pain syndrome. It is the most frequent cranial neuralgia and defined as sudden, usually unilateral and lightning-like, knife-like or burning-like recurrent episodes of pain within the distribution area of one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Here we reported that an 81-year-old woman with TN who complained of severe pain on her right face showed a complete clinical relief after comprehensive therapy containing fire needle, filiform needle and blood-letting therapy. Methods： The patient was applied fire needle combined with filiform needle therapy （3 times / week for 4 months） and three consecutive fire needle combined with blood-letting therapy （3 times / week for one week）. Fire needle was inserted into the back points of Du meridian, the first lateral line of bladder meridian, the right spreading area of the trigeminal nerve and the points around the pain radiation site. The filiform needle acupuncture was applied to the points on the right face including Yuyao （EX-HN4）, Yangbai （GB14）, Toulinqi （GB15）, et al; points on the abdomen including Xiawan （RN10）, Qihai （RN16）, Guanyuan （RN14） and the bilateral points including Tianshu （ST25）, Daheng （SP15）, Zusanli （ST36）, et al. Finally, the three-edged fire needle punctured the points of Yangbai （GB41）, Shangguan （GB3）, Jiache （ST6） on the right face accompanied by the cupping method on the bleeding points. Results： The patient reported the complete disappearance of pain and could open mouth and eat normally. The face was normal and no triggering pain recurred after one-month follow-up. Conclusions： The fire needle combined with blood-letting therapy can cure the TN and might provide an alternative non-drug therapy for those patients who still suffered from TN after other medical treatments or whom that refused surgical treatment.

Effect of kinetic needling combined with blood-letting puncturing and cupping on functions of upper limbs of patients with shoulder-hand syndrome after apoplexy

Objective To observe influence of kinetic needling on functional restoration of upper limbs of patients with apoplexy-induced shoulder-hand syndrome. Methods Ninety patients were randomly divided into an observation group （45 cases） and a control group （45 cases）. Basic treatments selected according to corresponding stroke units were applied to both groups. Besides, scalp acupuncture at Dingnie Qianxiexian （MS 6, 顶颞前斜线）, Dingnie Houxiexian （MS 6, 顶颞前斜线） and Dingzhongxian （NS 5, 顶中线）, was applied in the treatment group. In the observation group, active and passive movement was carried out during the process of scalp acupuncture, and then needling plus bloodletting puncturing and cupping was applied. In the control group, only needling plus blood-letting puncturing and cupping was given. Therapeutic effects, pain scoring obtained by visual analogue scales （VAS）, FugI-Meyer and FugI-Meyer＇s scoring reflecting moving functions of upper limbs were made after 4 courses of treatments in both groups. Results The total effective rate was 95.5% and 91.1% in the observation group and control group, respectively, showing superiority of the former to the latter （P〈0.05）. After treatment, VAS scores were all obviously reduced in both groups （P〈0.01）, and the reduction in the former was significantly more than that in the latter （P〈0.01）. Moving functions of upper limbs shown by Fugl-Meyer＇s scoring were improved after 2 courses of treatment in both groups （P〈0.01）. The improvement was more obvious after 4 courses of treatment than that after 2 courses of treatment in both groups （P〈0.05）. After 4 courses of treatment, moving functions shown by FugI-Meyer＇s scoring were more remarkably improved in the observation group than those in the control group（t=3.9, P〈0.01）. Conclusion Both kinetic needling combined with needling plus blood-letting puncturing and cupping and simple needling plus blood-letting puncturing and cupping are effective in treating shoulder-hand syndrome after apoplexy, and the former is better than the latter.

Blood-letting puncture and cupping at Dong's unique extra points for 65 cases of neck type of cervical spondylosis

Objective To observe the clinical effect of blood-letting puncture and cupping at Chōngxiāo（冲霄 Extra） point of Dong＇s unique Extra-ordinary points in the treatment of neck type of cervical spondylosis.Methods Sixty-five patients of neck type of cervical spondylosis were selected and treated with blood-letting puncture and cupping at Chōngxiāo（冲霄 Extra） point once every two or three days,three times constituted one course and two successive courses were given,then the clinical effect was evaluated.Results The curative rate was 69.2%（45/65）,and the total effective rate was 92.3%（60/65）.Conclusion Blood-letting puncture and cupping at Dong＇s Chōngxiāo（冲霄 Extra） point can be used to treat neck type of cervical spondylosis with simple manipulation and obvious efficacy.

Combination Treatment with Gua Sha and Blood-letting Causes Attenuation of Systemic Inflammation,Activated Coagulation,Tissue Ischemia and Injury during Heatstroke in Rats

Objective： Gua Sha and Blood-letting at the acupoints were Chinese traditional therapies for heatstroke. The purpose of present study was to assess the therapeutic effect of Gua Sha on the DU Meridian and Bladder Meridian combined with Blood-letting acupoints at Shixuan （EX-UE 11） and Weizhong （BL 40） on heatstroke. Methods： Anesthetized rats, immediately after the onset of heatstroke, were divided into four major groups： Gua Sha group, Blood-letting group, Gua Sha combined with Blood-letting group and model group. They were exposed to ambient temperature of 43℃ to induce heatstroke. Another group of rats were exposed to room temperature （26℃） and used as normal control group. Their survival times were measured. In addition, their physiological and biochemical parameters were continuously monitored. Results： When rats underwent heatstroke, their survival time values were found to be 21-25 min. Treatment of Gua Sha combined with Blood- letting greatly improved the survival time （230 ± 22 rain） during heatstroke. All heatstoke animals displayed and activated coagulation evidenced by increased prothrombin time （PT）, activated partial thromboplastin time （aPTT）, D-dimer, and decreased platelet count, protein C. Furthermore, the animals displayed systemic inflammation evidenced by increased the serum levels of cytokines interleukin-1β （IL-1β）, tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α） and malondialdehyde （MDA）. Biochemical markers evidenced by cellular ischemia and injury/dysfunction included increased plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen （BUN）, creatinine, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase （SGOT）, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase （SGPT）, and alkaline phosphatase （ALP） were all elevated during heatstroke. Core temperatures （Tco） were also increased during heatstroke. In contrast, the values of mean arterial pressure were significantly lower during heatstroke. These heatstroke reactions were all significantly suppressed by treatment of Gua Sha and Blood-letting, especially the combination therapy. Conclusion： Gua Sha combined with Blood-letting after heatstroke may improve survival by ameliorating systemic inflammation, hypercoagulable state, and tissue ischemia and injury in multiple organs.

Collateral-pricking and blood-letting cupping combined with electroacupuncture for post-herpetic neuralgia

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of collateral-pricking and blood-letting cupping combined with surrounding needling technique electroacupuncture in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia(PHN).Methods:Seventy-two patients with post-herpetic neuralgia were randomized into observation group and control group.Of the 72 cases,12 cases fell off,so finally 30 cases in each group.The observation group was treated with collateral-pricking and blood-letting cupping combined with surrounding needling technique electroacupuncture,while the control group was treated simply with pregabalin capsules for 20 consecutive days.On the basis of the western medication pregabalin capsules,the same as that of the control group,collateral-pricking and blood-letting cupping combined with electroacupuncture in a surrounding needling technique,was adopted for the observation group,once every two days,ten days as one course of treatment,a total of two courses.The immediate visual analogue scale(VAS)before and after treatment were observed in the two groups,and their clinical effects were compared.Results:The VAS scores of PHN patients in the two groups after treatment were lower than those before treatment(both P<0.01),and the scores of observation group were lower than those of control group(P<0.05).The total effective rate of the observation group was 86.7%,higher than 73.3% of the control group.Conclusion:The clinical effect of collateral-pricking and blood-letting cupping combined with electroacupuncture is relatively satisfactory in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia.

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.

Observation on the effect difference in migraine treated with the combination of acupuncture and blood-letting therapy and medication with carbamazepine

Objective:To observe the clinical therapeutic effect on migraine treated with acupuncture combined with blood-letting therapy.Methods:A total of 90 patients of migraine were included in compliance with the requirement and divided into a blood-letting therapy group,a western medication group,an acupuncture plus blood-letting therapy group,30 cases in each one according to the random number table.In the two control groups,the simple blood-letting therapy was exerted at Dàzhuī(大椎GV14)and the oral administration with carbamazepine were provided respectively.In the acupuncture plus blood-letting therapy group,acupuncture was exerted at Bǎihuì(百会GV20)and other points,with blood-letting therapy combined.The treatment was given once daily and 12 treatments were as one course.After 2 courses of treatment,the score of therapeutic effect on symptoms and signs,pain score of visual analogue scale(VAS)and clinical therapeutic effect were compared among the three groups before and after treatment.Results:At the end of treatment,the scores for symptoms and signs and VAS score were reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment in the three groups(all P<0.01).Compared with the blood-letting therapy group and the medication group,the scores for symptoms and signs and VAS score were all reduced more obviously in the acupuncture plus blood-letting therapy group respectively(all P<0.01)and the differences were not significant between the blood-letting therapy group and the medication group(P>0.05).The total effective rate in the acupuncture plus blood-letting therapy group was higher obviously than either the blood-letting therapy group or the medication group(both P<0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture combined with blood-letting therapy achieves a better clinical therapeutic effect on migraine as compared with either simple blood-letting therapy or medication.Such combined treatment obtains a satisfactory therapeutic results and deserves to be promoted in clinical application.

Treatment of Acute Gouty Arthritis by Blood-letting Cupping plus Herbal Medicine

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of blood-letting cupping plus herbal medicine for acute gouty arthritis.Methods:The 34 cases of acute gouty arthritis were treated by blood-letting cupping plus herbal medicine.Results:21 cases were cured and 13 cases improved.Conclusion:The therapeutic effect of this therapy was satisfactory for gouty arthritis.

Clinical observation on 30 cases of external humeral epicondylitis treated with electroacupuncture at Zhouling and Ashi points combined with blood-letting cupping

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture(EA)at Zhouling(Extra)and Ashi points in combination with blood-letting cupping for the treatment of external humeral epicondylitis(EHE).Methods:Thirty EHE patients were treated with EA at Zhouling(Extra)and Ashi points in combination with blood-letting cupping,once every 2 days,twice a week,4 times as one course of treatment,and2 successive courses of treatment were given.Before treatment,after 1 course of treatment,and after 2 courses of treatment,the visual analogue scale(VAS)score and Mayo elbow performance score(MEPS)were adopted to evaluate the curative effect.Results:Before treatment,the VAS score of patients was 7.81±1.39.After 1 course of treatment and after 2 courses of treatment,it was 4.77±1.56 and 2.95±1.23 respectively,lowered than before treatment,and the difference was statistically significant(both P<0.01).Before treatment,the Mayo score of patients was 32.17±19.31.After 1 course of treatment and after 2 courses of treatment,it was 47.39±19.85 and85.21±20.47 respectively,increased than before treatment,and the difference was statistically significant(both P<0.01).Of the 30 patients,5 were cured,accounting for 16.67%;14 cases obviously effective,accounting for 46.67%;8 cases effective,accounting for 26.67%;3 cases ineffective,accounting for 10.00%,and the total effective rate was 90.00%.Conclusion:EA at Zhouling(Extra)and Ashi points and blood-letting cupping used in combination are remarkably effective in the treatment of EHE,being worthy for popularization.

Blood-Letting Therapy for Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of blood-letting therapy(BLT)in treatment of hypertension.Methods:A comprehensive electronic and manual bibliographic searches were performed in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,Excerpt Medica Database(EMBASE),PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Chinese Scientific Journal Database,Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,and Wanfang Database to identify randomized controlled trials(RCTs)in which hypertensive patients were treated with BLT or BLT plus antihypertensive drugs(BPAD)against placebo,no treatment or antihypertensive drugs.The Cochrane Risk Assessment Tool was used to assess the methodological quality of trials.The Review Manager 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.Results:A total of 7 RCTs with 637 hypertensive patients from 1989 to 2017 were identified.Compared with antihypertensive drugs,blood pressure was significantly reduced by BLT(RR=1.21,95%CI:1.01 to 1.44,P=0.03;heterogeneity:P=0.06,I^2=60%)and BPAD(RR=1.25,95%CI,1.02 to 1.53,P=0.03;heterogeneity:P=0.01,I^2=71%).Moreover,a significant improvement in Chinese medicine syndrome by BLT(RR=1.32;95%CI:1.14 to 1.53,P=0.0002;heterogeneity:P=0.53,I^2=0%)and BPAD(RR=1.47;95%CI:1.06 to 2.04,P=0.02;heterogeneity:P=0.13,I^2=56%)was identified.The reported adverse effects were well tolerated.Conclusions:Although some positive findings were identified,no definite conclusions regarding the efficacy and safety of BLT as complementary and alternative approach for treatment of hypertension could be drew due to the generally poor methodological design,significant heterogeneity,and insufficient clinical data.Further rigorously designed trials are warranted to confirm the results.

REVIEW ON THE CLINICAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION

The author read the clinical reports on stroke, coronary cardiopathy, prostatitis, acute mastitis, gastroduodenal ulcer and ulcerative colitis treated with acupuncture and articles about bloodletting puncturing method in recent 10 years, analysed generally recent research articles about the above diseases treated with acupuncture, summed up some effective prescription of acupuncture, and pointed out some shortcomings in clinical research, classified the clinical reports on blood-letting puncturing method into three aspects according to the effects of clearing away heat and toxic material, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis and alleviating pain, and rescuing emergency. These reports suggested that there was no analytic study on the contraindication and the amount of bleeding,and also the basic research was not enough. In the end, the author introduced their research workappling acupuncture to rescue the patients with central respiratory failure and arrhythmia caused by cardiac infarction.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON HYPOTHALAMIC MECHANISMS OF ANALGESIA INDUCED BY FOUR KINDS OF ACUPUNCTURE THERAPIES IN ADJUVANT ARTHRITIS RATS

Objective.. To compare the mechanisms of analgesia induced by four kinds of acupunture therapies at the trypothalamic level in adjuvant arthritic rats. Methods： Forty-eight SD rats were randomized into normal, model, electroacupuncture （EA）, filiform needle （FN）, pricking blood-letting （BL） and point injection （PI） groups, with 8 cases in each. EA （20-100 Hz, 2-4 V and duration of 20 min）, FN, BL PI were respectively applied to “Kunlun” （昆仑 BL 60）. Arthritis model was established by injecting complete Freund＇s adjuvant （0.1 mL） into the rat＇s right foot pad. Behavioral reactions, pain threshold （latancy of tail flick to heat stimulation） and local swelling severity （foot volurne） were detected; the cordents of β-endorphin （β-EP） and α- drenocortiootropin （ACTH） were assayed with radioimmunoassay; and the expression of pro-opi-omelanocortin （POMC） mRNA in hypot were determined with hybridization method. Results： The pain threshold was significantly enhanced by all the four kinds of acupuncture therapies, and the effects of EA and PI were more obvious （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. The severity of local swelling was markedly alleviated by all the four kinds of acupuncture therapies （ P〈 0.01 ） without significant differences among them （P 〉 0.05）. The content of β-EP in the hypothalamus was obviously elevated by EA and FN （P〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01 ）, and the effect of EA was more obvious, but no marked effect of BL or PI on β-EP was found （ P 〉0.05）. The content of ACTH in hypothalamus was considerably elevated by PI （P〈0.05）, but not by the other three therapies. The expression of PCMCmRNA in hypothalamus was significantly strengthened by EA and FN （P〈0. 01）, but not by the other two therapies. Conclusion：EA, flliform needle, blood-letting and point-injection all can produce analgesic effect in adjuvant arthritis rats, the effect of EA and filiform needie may be related to their resultant increase of hypothalamic β-EP, and that of point-injectiON related to the increase of hypothalamic ACTH level.

TREATMENT OF 102 CASES OF ACUTE ABDOMEN BY BLOODLETTING PUNCTURE AND CUPPING THERAPY

102 cases of the acute abdominal disease were treated with the blood-lettingpuncture and cupping. 56 cases were cured, 22 markedly effective, 17 improved and 7 ineffective.Total effective rate was 93.1%.