Review on the development and application of electroacupuncture apparatus in the past 5 years in China

Objective: To review the problems existing in the development and application of current electroacupuncture (EA) apparatuses, and provide reference for the development of EA apparatuses. Methods: Related literatures about EA apparatus were derived from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang) and Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP) between 2013 and 2017. Literatures about the development of EA apparatuses and the application for experimental research and clinical treatment published in Chinese journals were retrieved, and the development and application of EA apparatuses were summarized. Results: Among the 107 selected literatures, 48 types of EA apparatuses were used, of which only 11 models could be found in the registration list and within the validity period. There was no registration information for the EA apparatus newly developed in the past 5 years. The EA parameters used in experimental research and clinical treatment in Chinese medicine were differe nt, and the combi nation of stimulatio n parameters was diverse. Conclusion: At present, most of the new EA products are still in the experimental or research stage, and the transformation of results has not yet been achieved. Moreover;there is no unified standard for the use of EA apparatus and its stimulation parameters in experimental research and clinical treatment, which is not conducive to the standardization process of EA stimulati on.

Electroacupuncture:clinical and experimental researches of the recent 5 years

The article discussed the parameters selection for electroacupuncture and the concerning problems.Literatures on experimental researches and clinical studies with electroacupuncture in the past 5 years were analyzed.Detailed studies were made on the parameters selected in those literatures.It is concluded that selection of different parameters is essential for the result of researches.However,the comparability of the researching results and the referable validity of clinical studies are affected since a unified standard is lacked in selection of various apparatus and parameters.

Frequency steps and compositions determine properties of needling sensation during electroacupuncture

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship of electro-parameters and the electroacupuncture sensation(EAS),which is thought to be an important factor for optimal treatment.METHODS:The frequency steps and compositions of three frequently used electrical stimulations were set when the switch of the electroacupuncture apparatus was turned to the second or third grade of the dense-disperse frequency wave(DD2and DD3,respectively) or the second grade of the continuous wave(C2).Three groups of patients according to the three electroacupuncture stimulations were divided again into three sub-groups according to the stimulated acupoints:the face acupoint Quanliao(SI 18),the upper-limb acupoint Quchi(LI 11) and the back acupoint Dachangshu(BL25).The EAS values were measured every 5 min during 30 min electroacupuncture treatments using a visual analogue scale.RESULTS:The frequency compositions of the three electroacupuncture stimulations were 3.3 and 33 Hz,12.5 and 66.7 Hz,and 3.3 and 3.3 Hz;each frequency step was 30,54 and 0 Hz,respectively.In each sub-group of the C2 group,the EAS values from 10 to 30 min were significantly weaker than at 0 min.The sensation fluctuations in the DD2 and DD3 groups were different during the 30 min.CONCLUSION:The greater the frequency step of the electroacupuncture stimulation,the longer the needling sensation lasted.The electroacupuncture stimulations of the DD3 group were unsuitable for the facial acupoint because of its painful and uncomfortable EAS,but more suitable for the back acupoint.