Clinical Observation on Treating Primary Blepharospasm with Acupuncture at Yinqiao and Yangqiao Meridians as Main Treatment Method

[Objectives]To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture on blepharospasm.[Methods]72 patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group with 36 cases in each group.In the treatment group,Shenmai,Zhaohai,Fengchi,Taichong,Fuyang,Jiaoxin and Jingming were selected as the main acupoints,while in the control group,routine acupoints were selected.With 4 weeks as a course of treatment,the two groups were compared after a course of treatment.The clinical effect of primary blepharospasm,blepharospasm intensity and scores of Hamilton Depression Scale were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.[Results]After treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups were significantly improved compared with that before treatment,the effective rate of the control group was 75.00%,the effective rate of the treatment group was 88.89%,indicating that the effective rate of control group was lower than that of the treatment group(P<0.05);after treatment,the degree of blepharospasm in both groups was significantly lower than that before treatment(P<0.05),and the treatment group had better effect in improving primary blepharospasm;the score of Hamilton depression scale in control group was lower than that in observation group(P<0.05).[Conclusions]The clinical curative effect of acupuncture at Yinqiao and Yangqiao meridians was better than that of conventional acupoints selected in relieving mild and moderate blepharospasm;it could definitely reduce the intensity of blepharospasm and relieve anxiety and depression of patients,so it is worthy of clinical promotion.

Mechanism of"Five Meridians Acupuncture"in Treating Postoperative Urinary Retention after Anorectal Diseases

In recent years,with the change of rhythm and eating habits of the public,the number of patients with anorectal diseases has gradually increased,and postoperative urinary retention has also become more common.Urinary retention refers to the symptoms of anorectal diseases and is caused by improper urination and incompletion of urination due to surgical and pain causes that result in bladder and urine filling and are accompanied by lower abdominal distention and pain.In traditional Chinese medicine,acupuncture is simple and effective as a treatment.In this article,we focus on five meridians that pass through the lower abdomen Ren meridian,kidney meridian,spleen meridian,stomach meridian,and liver meridian,namely the"five meridians,"and study the mechanism of action so as to provide new therapeutic ideas for clinical acupuncture treatment of postoperative urinary retention of anorectal diseases.

EXPERIENCE OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT BASED ON DIFFERENTIATION OF DISEASED MERIDIANS WITH "ZI WU LIU ZHU" THEORY

According to the theory of "Hour-Prescription of Acupoints" of midnight-noon ebb-flow (Zi Wu Liu Zhu), clinically, acupuncture therapy based on differentiation of diseased meridians was summarised and used for treatment of periodical diseases, with unique therapeutic effects. It is worthy to be popularized.

Forty-five Cases of Apoplexy Treated by Electroacupuncture at the Points of Yin Meridians

Forty-five cases of apoplexy were treated by electroacupuncture only at the points of Yin Meridians (i.e. the Hand- and Foot-Taiyin Meridians), and the other 30 cases as the controls were treated only at the points of Yang Meridians (i.e. the Hand- and Foot-Yangming Meridians). The total effective rate was 91.1% in the former and 86.7% in the latter, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups, indicating that acupuncture only at the points of Yin-Meridians is also an effective therapy for apoplexy.

Effect of acupuncture at different meridian acupoints on changes of related factors for rabbit gastric mucosal injury

AIM： To explore the regularity of multi-meridians controlling a same viscus （MMCSV）. METHODS： The rabbit gastric ulcer model was established by ethanol intragastric instillation. Fifty-six rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, model group （MG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Yangming Meridian group （YMG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Taiyin Meridian group （TYG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Shaoyang Meridian group （SYG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Jueyin Meridian group （JYG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Taiyang Meridian group （TYMG）, with eight rabbits in each group. Gastric mucosal nitric oxide （NO） and nitric oxide synthase （NOS） were assayed by the nitric acid reductase method, and prostaglandin E2 （PGE2） and epidermal growth factor （EGF） were measured by radioimmunoassay. The comprehensive effects were analyzed by weighing method. RESULTS： Compared to MG, SYG, JYG and TYMG, the rabbits gastric mucosal injury index （GMII） reduced very significantly in YMG （P〈0.01）. Compared to MG, the GMII also reduced significantly in TYG （P〈0.05）. NO, NOS, PGE2 and EGF increased very significantly in YMG （P〈0.01）. The EGF in YMG also increased significantly than that in TYG compared to those in MG, SYG, JYG and TYMG （P〈0.05）. The PGE2 and EGF also increased very significantly in TYG than those in MG, JYG and TYMG （P〈0.01）. While compared to SYG, the NOS increased significantly in TYG （P〈0.05）. NOS was the highest in YMG （P〈0.01）, and was higher in TYG than in MG （P〈0.01）. CONCLUSION： MMCSV is common. The Foot Yangming Meridian is most closely related to the stomach, followed by Foot Taiyin Meridian, Foot Shaoyang Meridian and Foot Jueyin Meridian. Foot Taiyang Meridian has no correlation with the stomach.

CLINICAL STUDY ON ACUPUNCTURE IN THE TREATMENT OF POST-STROKE DEPRESSION WITH THE METHOD OF ACTIVATING THE DU MERIDIAN AND CLEARING THE MIND

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) with the method of activating the Du Meridian and clearing the mind. Methods: Two hundred and thirty one cases of PSD were randomly divided into two groups, acupuncture and control groups. In acupuncture group, Baihui (百会 GV 20), Dazhui (大椎 GV 14), Neiguan (内关 PC 6), Taichong (太冲 LR 3) and Shenmen (神门 HT 7) were selected as the main points to invigorate flow of qi in the Du Meridian and clear the mind. Patients in the control group received Fluoxetine orally, 20 mg once per-day. In addition, the same routine treatments were given to both groups, strengthened with rehabilitation exercises as early as possible; 8 weeks constituted one therapeutic course. HAMD and severity of neuro-functional defect of each case were evaluated before and 8-week after the treatment. Results: The total effective rate of acupuncture group was 92.37%, the control group, 72.88%. According to χ2 test, the difference between the two groups was remarkably significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy of activating the Du Meridian and clearing the mind in the treatment of PSD was safe and effective.

CLINICAL STUDIES ON CEREBRAL INFARCTION TREATED WITHACUPUNCTURE AT ACUPOINTS OF GOVERNOR MERIDIAN

In this paper, 148 cases of cerebral infarction were treated with acupuncture at acupoints of Governor meridian (treatment group), and the other 97 cases were treated simultaneously with conventional body acupuncture (control group). The results show that the marked improvement rate was 42. 6 % and the total effective rate was 96. 6 % in the treatment group; while in the control group, the marked improvement rate and the total effective rate were 28. 9 % and 89. 1 % respectively.It suggests that the therapeutic effect in the treatment group is better than that of the control group.The roles of regulation and ameliorating hemorheology of acupuncture at acupoints of Governor meridian are the foundation of its treatment mechanism.

Acupuncture at the San Jiao meridian affects brain stem tissue G protein content in a rat migraine model

BACKGROUND： G protein is closely associated with vasomotion. Vasomotor dysfunction accompanies migraine attack. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of the San Jiao meridian acupuncture on G protein content in a rat migraine model. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The present randomized grouping, cellular and molecular biological level trial was performed at the Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University ＆ Key Laboratory for Tumor Proteomics of Ministry of Health between October 2003 and June 2004. MATERIALS： Forty healthy, male, Sprague Dawtey rats were included in this study. The G6805-2A electro-acupuncture apparatus was a product of Shanghai Huayi Medical Instrument Factory, China. Nitroglycerin was produced by Guangzhou Mingxing Pharmaceutical Factory, China. Antibodies against inhibitory and stimulatory G proteins were purchased from Sigma Chemical Company, USA. METHODS： All 40 rats were randomly and evenly divided into 4 groups. In the blank control group, the rats remained untouched. Rats from the normal control group were subcutaneously administered 2 mL/kg physiological saline. In the model group, migraine was induced with a subcutaneous injection of 10 mg/kg nitroglycerin （5 g/L）, and the rats received no further treatment. In the acupuncture-treated group, 30 minutes after migraine induction, acupuncture was performed at the bilateral Waiguan （SJ 5） and Yifeng （SJ 17） points, with an acupuncture depth of 1 mm. Electric-stimulation parameters of 20 Hz for low frequency, 40 Hz for high frequency, and 0.5-1.0 mA for current intensity were set. Ten acupuncture sessions were applied, with 20-minute low-frequency and 20-minute high-frequency stimulation and 3 seconds of interval time. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Inhibitory and stimulatory G protein contents were detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS： At 4 hours after migraine induction, compared with the blank control and normal control groups stimulatory G protein concentration was significantly increased, while inhibitory G protein levels were significantly decreased in the model group （P 〈 0.01 ）. In the acupuncture-treated group, both stimulatory and inhibitory G protein concentrations were significantly increased following acupuncture treatment （P 〈 0.01）, but stimulatory G protein levels were less and the inhibitory G protein concentrations were greater compared to the model group （P 〈 0.01 ）. There was no significant difference in stimulatory and inhibitory G protein levels between the blank control and normal control groups （P 〉 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Dysfunctional G protein signal transductions in the rat brain stem may be responsible tor migraine attack. Acupuncture at the San Jiao meridian ameliorates migraines by mediating the G protein signal transduction pathway.

CLINICAL INVESTIGATION ON TREATMENT OF ISCHEMIC APOPLEXY BY ACUPUNCTURE ALONG DU MERIDIAN

In the present study,245 patients suffering from lschemic apoplexy were dividedinto treatment group and control group.The 148 cases in the treatment group were punctured mainlyat points on the Du meridian and the other 97 cases in the control group were punctured on routineacupoints.It was noticed that 87.2％ of the cases in the treatment group and 52.6％ of the cases inthe control group were improved or cured by our treatment.The effective rate of the treatment groupwas 96.6％ and that of the control was 89.7％.There was a statistically significant difference in thetherapeutic effects between the two groups（P【0.05）.The blood rheological indexes were also examinedto study the mechanisms of this therapy primarily.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON 50 CASES OF WIND STROKE TREATED MAINLY BY ACUPUNCTURE AT 13 POINTS ALONG THE DU MERIDIAN

The acupuncture at 13 points along the Du meridian - Baihui, Fengfu, Dazhui, Taodao, Shenzhu, Shendao, Zhiyang, Jinsuo, Jizhong, Xuanshu, Mingmen, Yaoyangguan and Changqiang is an empirical recipe originated by Wang Leting, a senior in the acupuncture circles. I used this set of acupoints in the treatment of 98 cases of wind stroke, and its therapeutic result (50cases) was compared with control (48 cases). It is indicated that this therapy is more effective (P< 0.05) than the control.As one of the eight extra-meridians, Du meridian is the governor of all the Yang meridians and connected with the brain and spinal cord. Acupuncture at the points along the Du meridian may regulate flow of many other meridians and effectively treat wind stroke.

SEVEN CASES OF SPINAL ARACHNOIDITIS TREATED BY ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE ALONG THE DU MERIDIAN AND MOXIBUSTION ON GUANYUAN POINT

Spinal arachnoiditis is also known as ad-hesive spinal arachnoiditis.The clinical mani-festations are paraplegia or weakness of thelower extremities,with pain,muscular atrophyand incontinence of urine and stool.Seven caseswere treated with electro-acupuncture along

Clinical effect of Yin-Yang blending acupuncture combined with Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction in treatment of cervical vertigo

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of Yin-yang blending acupuncture with traditional Chinese medicine combined with Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction in treating patients with cervical vertigo.Methods:120 patients with cervical vertigo treated in our hospital were selected,and the acupuncture group and the acupuncture group were divided into 60 cases each according to the order of the patients.The two groups of patients were given basic treatment measures.Xia Baizhu Tianma Decoction was treated,and the control group was given Yin and Yang blending acupuncture.The left and right vertebral arteries(LVA),right vertebral arteries(RVA),and basal arteries(BA)were compared before and after treatment in the two groups.,Clinical symptom score,clinical efficacy.Results:after treatment,the Vm values of LVA,RVA,and BA in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the acupuncture group(P<0.05);after treatment,acupuncture The dizziness,neck and shoulder pain,headache,daily life work,psychological and social adaptability scores of the drug group were higher than those of the acupuncture group(P<0.05);after treatment,the cure rate of the acupuncture group was 42.37%,and the effective rate was 37.29%.The efficiency was 16.95%,the inefficiency was 3.39%,the cure rate in the acupuncture group was 26.32%,the marked efficiency was 35.09%,the effective rate was 29.82%,and the ineffective rate was 8.77%.The clinical efficacy of the acupuncture group was better than that of the acupuncture group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Traditional Chinese medicine Yin-yang reconciliation acupuncture combined with Pinellia Baizhu Tianma Decoction is definitely effective in treating patients with cervical vertigo,and it can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and clinical effects of patients.

RELATIONSHIP OF ACUPOINTS AND MERIDIANS TO CONNEXIN 43

Objective To explore the relationship between connexin 43 and acupoints and meridians. Methods we detected one major skin gap junction connexin （connexin43, Cx43） in meridians and acupoints, and studied the expression of Cx43 in Zusanli （足三里 ST 36） acupoints compared with control non-acupoint regions in rats after acupuncture treatments. The expression of Cx43 was detected by using immunohisto- chemistry, immunoblotting, and RT-PCR for Cx43 protein and mRNA level. Results The results showed much more abundant Cx43 expression in some cells in the skin and subcutaneous tissue of rat at ST 36 acupoints and bladder and kidney meridians than that of in the controls. The mRNA and protein levels of Cx43 in acupoints were significantly higher than those of in the control points in non-acupuncture groups and even more so after acupuncture treatments. Conclusion Our research implied that connexins and gap junctions could have a close relationship to acupoints and meridians, and gap junctional intercellular communication might play an important role in the effect of acupuncture.

NEIMADIAN-POINT ACUPUNCTURE ANESTHESIA IN ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY OF EXTREMITIES: AN ANALYSIS OF 198 CASES

Neimadian-point is a newly-found acupointwith a good analgesic effect. 306 orthopedic op-erations on extremities were underNeimadian-point acupuncture anesthesia withgood results. 198 cases with complete clinicalmaterials were selected and analyzed in the pa-per.

Activities of Liquid Crystals in Acupuncture Points

The theory of Meridians is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Modern science should play its role in analysing and making clear the mystique of the theory. The relation between the activities of liquid crystals in acupuncture points and the regulative actions of Meridians was studied in this paper. The results showed the intimate intrinsic association between them.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE ACUPUNCTURE EFFECTS ON CALCIUM ION CONCENTRATION IN RABBITS' ACUPOINTS

In this article, the concentration of calcium ion(Ca21 ) in rabbits’ acupoints hasbeen observed in vivo by means of the Ca21 selective acupuncture electrode (Ca21 SAE). We discov-ered that stimulating the acupoints in the meridian could cause the Ca21 concentration increasing inother points of the same meridian but reducing in the control points （lateral to the meridian points）.The results indicate that Ca21 may involve in the activities of the meridians.

Two Definitions of Life Will Highlight on Physiological Understanding of Six Meridians

Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases is an ancient guideline for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) clinicians which classified all diseases into six meridians.In Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases, many syndromes are enunciated in simple vocabularies without physiology and pathology, which is always criticized.It seems that a bridge is necessary for physiological and pathological understanding on Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases.In past decade, two definition of life in cell and in our body are presented respectively.In both definitions, energy conversion is the core pathways for all organisms which can be regarded as motion of qi.Moreover, metabolism of energy agents can be seen as yang while gene expression and stem cell proliferation & differentiation(SCPD) should be seen as yin in cell and in our body respectively.The both definitions also outline the physiology and pathology of six meridians in Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases, which can be unveiled as followings: taiyang meridian-elimination of energy and end metabolites;yangming meridian-acquiring energy agents;shaoyin meridian-the conversions of energy agents;taiyin meridian-new born somatic cell attending the metabolism of energy agents and then going to die;shaoyin meridian-storage and activity of stem cell;jueyin meridian-proliferation & differentiation of stem cell to produce somatic cell.These definitions will ignite new physiological and pathological understandings on Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases.

Clinical effect of acupuncture along fascia,meridians,and nerves combined with ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia:a randomized parallel-controlled study

OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture along fascia,meridians,and nerves combined with ultrasound-guided nerve blockage in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.METHODS:A total of 61 outpatients with post-chest and back herpes zoster neuralgia were recruited in the Department of Pain at the Xiyuan Hospital,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from May 2019 to June 2021.They were randomly divided into two groups.Thirty-one patients in the control group were treated with ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral nerve block(PVB)alone,one patient declined to continue during treatment(n=30),and thirty patients in the observation group received the acupuncture along the fascia,meridians,and nerves combined with ultrasound-guided PVB treatment(n=30).Both control and observation group received treatment weekly for 4 weeks.The medical history data such as age,sex,presence or absence of comorbidities and disease course were analyzed.The visual analog scale(VAS)score was used to assess the pain degree of two groups at T0(before treatment),T1(1-time treatment ended),T2(2 times treatment ended),T3(3 times treatment ended),and T4(4 times treatment ended).The sleep state was examined by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)before and after the study.RESULTS:There was no significant difference in general conditions between the control group and the observation group(P>0.05).The VAS score in both control and observation group was decreased in a time-dependent manner after 1-4 weeks of treatment.There were no significant differences in VAS scores between the two groups after 1 or 2 weeks of treatment(P>0.05).After 3 and 4 weeks of treatment,the VAS score was significantly decreased in the observation group compared with that in the control group(P<0.001).In addition,the reduction in VAS score(after treatment-before treatment)between the two groups was statistically significant[D value:-1.53,95%CI(-2.32,0.74),P<0.001].Furthermore,the sleep state of patients in both groups markedly improved and much obvious in the observation group than that in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:These results suggest that a combination of acupuncture along fascia,meridians,and nerves with ultrasound-guided PVB treatment is more effective than ultrasound-guided PVB treatment alone.

ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF 26 CASES OF PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA

In the present paper, 26 cases of primary dysmenorrhea were treated with acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Results showed that after only two sessions of treatment, 16 cases were cured, 8 improved and 2 ineffective, with an effective rate of 92%.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF 52 CASES OF STIFFNECK

In this paper, 52 ases of stiffneck were treated by acupuncture, the cure rate was 53. 9 %. The other 30 cases were treated with massage, the cure rate was 40. 0 %. There is a signifi cant difference(P < 0. 05 ) between two groups.