OBSERVATION ON THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF LOCAL SELECTION OF POINTS COMBINED WITH ABDOMINAL ACUPUNCTURE FOR FACIAL SPASM

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of local selection of points combined with abdominal acupuncture in the treatment of facial spasm. Methods Eighty cases of facial spasm were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 40 cases in each group,treated respectively by abdominal acupuncture combined with local selected points and local points simply. After 30 sessions of treatment, the therapeutic effect was evaluated. Results In the treatment group, the total effective rate reached 92.5%, the curative rate 75.0%; while in the control group, the total effective rate was 80.0%, the curative rate 55.0% with a significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05 ). Conclusion The therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with local points is superior to that of simple local selection of points in the treatment of facial spasm.

TREATMENT OF 25 CASES OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA WITH ABDOMINAL ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY

Trigeminal Neuralgia is often found in female between 40-60 years old, marked by sudden severe pain on the face (a feeling of knife cutting, electric shock), and it is characterized by sudden, paroxysmal and periodical attack and triggered by touch). The attack usually lasts for 1 to 2 minutes with different intervals. The patient’s life quality can be seriously affected. It is mainly treated with orally taken drugs in western internal department but without satisfactory result, and with local closing therapy in surgical department. The problem may reoccur half a year later in most patients complicated with facial paralysis, so western medicine is not likely to be accepted by the patients. The author has tried to apply abdominal acupuncture in the treatment of 25 cases of trigeminal neuralgia with good effect. The result is as follows.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON 36 CASES OF SCAPULOHUMERAL PERIARTHRITIS TREATED BY ABDOMINAL ACUPUNCTURE AND BODY ACUPUNCTURE

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture plus body acupuncture and simple body acupuncture in treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis. Methods: 68 cases of scapulohumeral periarthritis patients were randomly divided into abdominal acupuncture plus body acupuncture (AABA) group (n=36) and simple body acupuncture (BA) group (n=32). In AABA group, abdominal acupuncture points used were Zhongwan(CV 12),Shangqu (KI 17) (on the healthy side) and Huaroumen sanjiao (on the affected side); and body acupoints employed were Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao(TE 14), Binao (LI 14), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5) and Hegu (LI 4) on the affected side. In BA group, the body acupoints used were the same to those mentioned above. The acupuncture needles were retained for 20 min. Acupuncture treatment was given once daily, with 10 sessions being a therapeutic course and the interval between two courses being one week. 2 courses of treatment were conducted altogether. Results: Following 2 courses of treatment, in AABA and BA groups, 6 (16.7%) and 1 (3.1%) cases were cured, 19 (52.8%) and 12 (37.5%) had remarkable improvement, 11 (30.6%) and 17 (53.1%) had improvement, 0 and 2(6.25%) had no effect respectively. There was a significant difference between two groups in the therapeutic effect (P<0.05). Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture plus body acupuncture is superior to that of simple body acupuncture in treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis.

Acupuncture Treatment of Abdominal Pain

Case History Mr. Li, a university student aged 23 years, paid his first visit on July 16, 2001, with the chief complaint of abdominal pain for one day. The patient stated that one day before when it happened to be the weekend, he got abdominal pain after supper, which went worse gradually and caused him to roll all over in bed. The pain was slightly alleviated half an hour later after he had taken some pain killers. Upon inquiry, the patient said that because of their newly graduation from the university, he and his classmates were so excited that they went to have a sumptuous lunch with alcoholic drinks. And in the evening he ate again a delicious supper cooked for him by his mother, after which he continued to have some fruit and dessert.

Bo′s abdominal acupuncture improves disordered metabolism in obese type 2 diabetic rats through regulating fibroblast growth factor 21 and its related adipokines

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Bo′s abdominal acupuncture(BOAA)on fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21)and its related adipokines in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)rats.METHODS:This study established obese T2DM rat model by high-fat diet(HFD)with a dose of streptozotocin(STZ,30 mg/kg).Obese T2DM rats were randomly subdivided into four groups(n=10):negative,BOAA,conventional acupuncture(COA group)and metformin group(Met group)groups.The biochemical parameters,mRNAs,and proteins were analyzed using enzyme-lined immunoassays kits,quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.RESULTS:Treatment with BOAA attenuated the histopathological changes in visceral fat and restored the alterations in the levels of body weight,fasting blood glucose(FBG),homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).BOAA treatment significantly decreased the levels of triglyceride,total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein cholesterol,leptin,and increased the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21),adiponectin(ADP),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPAR-γ),C-peptide(C-P)in obese T2DM rats.Furthermore,BOAA treatment significantly increased the mRNA expressions of FGF21,ADP,leptin,PPAR-γ,PPAR-αand adenosine 5‘-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK).Besides,BOAA treatment upregulated the protein expressions of fibroblast growth factor receptors3(FGFR3),PPAR-α,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),phosphorylated ERK(p-ERK),AMPK,p-AMPK,Liver kinase B1(LKB1),phosphorylated LKB1(p-LKB1),acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACC)and phosphorylated ACC(p-ACC),while downregulated the protein expressions of FGF21 and PPAR-γin visceral fat.CONCLUSIONS:BOAA treatment reduced FBG and body weight,and improved insulin sensitivity through regulating FGF21 signaling pathway and its related adipokine in obese T2DM rats.

Clinical observation on regulating the three energizer by acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture in treating abdominal obesity:a randomized controlled trial

Objective To observe the clinical effect of acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture for treatment of abdominal obesity under the theoretical guidance of regulating the three energizer.Methods One hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into acupoint catgut embedding group（group A）,abdominal acupuncture group（group B）,acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture group（group C） and blank control group（group D） based on blocked random method,with 30 cases each;the first three groups based on the principle of regulating three energizer were respectively given acupoint catgut embedding at Zhongwan（中脘 CV12）,Tianshu（天枢 ST 25）,Yinjiao（阴交 CV 7）,Zhigou（支沟 TE 6）,Guanyuan（关元 CV 4）,Zusanli（足三里 ST 36） with catgut embedding once every 7 days,three times for each course of treatment,abdominal acupuncture once every3 days,seven times for each course of treatment.Results The therapeutic effect of each group after treatment was respectively 46.7%（14/30）,43.3%（13/30）,76.7%（23/30） and 26.7%（8/30）,with statistically significant difference.For comparison of waist circumference difference,there was no statistical significance between acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding group（P=0.54）,and for comparison of weight difference,there was statistical significance in terms of therapeutic effect between acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture and A,B,D groups（4.49±0.59 vs 2.64±0.53,2.87±0.44,1.45±0.26,all P〈0.05）.Conclusion Acupoint catgut embedding combined with abdominal acupuncture had the best effect in terms of total effective rate for treatment of abdominal obesity,equivalent therapeutic effect to simple acupoint catgut embedding in terms of waist circumference reduction,and the best therapeutic effect in terms of weight reduction.

Discussion on the mechanisms of BO's abdominal acupuncture therapy

This article discussed the mechanisms and precautions of abdominal acupuncture from three different perspectives. First, the relationship between Shénquè （神阙 CV 8） and zang-fu and eight extra meridians stated in the ancient literature explained that the theory of CV 8 as the theoretical core of abdominal acupuncture therapy had literature support and theoretical evidence; second, with emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment based on differentiation of syndromes, four methods for selecting the points, including the ones according to hologram, meridians and collaterals, the Ba-kuo （八 廓） and three energizer, meanwhile, the origin of method selecting the points according to Three Energizer and clinical experience was also addressed; third, some problems about the manipulation of abdominal acupuncture therapy were put forward, such as selection of depth, direction, needle tool, as well as personal ideas and precautions, in order to ensure the clinical effect.

Abdominal acupuncture combined with scarring moxibustion at Qìhǎi(气海 CV 6) for 15 cases of periarthritis of shoulder

Objective To verify the therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with scarring moxibustion at Qìhǎi（气海 CV 6） on periarthritis of shoulder.Methods Thirty cases of periarthritis of shoulder were randomly divided into an acup-moxibustion group and an acupuncture group,15 cases in each group.The patients in the two groups were treated with abdominal acupuncture at Zhōngwǎn（中脘 CV 12）,Xiàwǎn（下脘 CV 10）,Shāngqǔ（商曲 KI 17）,Huáròumén（滑肉门 ST 24）,with scarring moxibustion at Qìhǎi（气海 CV 6） added in the acup-moxibustion group,5 treatments each week,altogether 15 treatments.The therapeutic effects were assessed on the 20th day of acupuncture.Results The effective rate was 93.3%（14/15） in both the acup-moxibustion group and the acupuncture group,and the cured and markedly effective rate in the acup-moxibustion group and the acupuncture group was 86.7%（13/15） and 53.3%（8/15）,respectively,the acup-moxibustion group being better than that in the acupuncture group（P〈0.01）;after treatment the cumulative score of pain and the cumulative score of shoulder joint active function were significantly increased in the two groups（all P〈0.05）,with more significantly increased in the acup-moxibustion group（both P〈0.05）.Conclusion The therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with scarring moxibustion on periarthritis of shoulder is better than that of the simple abdominal acupuncture.

Reporting quality and effect size comparison in randomized controlled trials of bo's abdominal acupuncture using CONSORT statement and STRICTA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials(RCT) that compared Bo's abdominal acupuncture with conventional body acupuncture, and compare the efficacy and safetybetweenthembyperforminga Meta-analysis.METHODS: All RCTs comparing Bo's abdominalacupuncture with conventional body acupuncture were included. English and Chinese databases were searched from their respective inceptions to March 2014. The reporting quality was assessed according to the "Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials"(CONSORT) checklist for parallel RCTs and the revised "Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture"(STRICTA). A Meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the effect sizes,and publication bias was evaluated by the Egger linear regression test using Stata.RESULTS: Ninety-seven studies were included, of which most lacked adequate reporting information, and 80.4% showed that the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture is superior to conventional body acupuncture, especially for the following diseases:lumbar disc herniation, cervical spondylosis, omarthritis and cervical vertigo, except simple obesity.Effect-sizes were controversial when evaluating different outcomes.CONCLUSION: The international standard CONSORT statement and STRICTA guidelines should be strictly applied when reporting acupuncture RCTs in the future. Abdominal acupuncture appears to be more effective compared with conventional body acupuncture for some diseases. However, further high quality blind RCTs using validated outcomeindexesandstandardreportingarewarranted.

Abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian for chronic pharyngitis

Objective：To evaluate the effectiveness of abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian in treating chronic pharyngitis. Methods：Thirty eligible subjects with chronic pharyngitis were given abdominal acupuncture plus needling Lieque （LU 7） and Zhaohai （KI 6）, two out of the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian, once a day, 10 sessions as a course, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after a treatment course. Results：After a treatment course, of the 30 subjects, 21 were recovered, 5 showed markedly effective, 2 were improved, and 2 failed,the total effective rate was 93.3%. Conclusion：Abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian is effective in treating chronic pharyngitis, worth promoting in clinic.

Insomnia treated with abdominal acupuncture combined three-route relaxation therapy

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy on insomnia treated with abdominal acupuncture and three-route relaxation therapy. Methods Seventy-six cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 38 cases in each one. In observation group, abdominal acupuncture was applied to Yinqi Guiyuan Xue [引气归元穴： conduct qi back to the origin, Zhōngwǎn （中 脘 CV 12）, Xiàwǎn （下脘 CV 10）, Qìhǎi （气海 CV 6）, Guānyuán （关元 CV 4）], combined with three-route relaxation therapy. In control group, according to syndrome differentiation, modified Guipi Decoction （归脾汤）, Anshen Dingzhi Pill （安神定智丸） plus Suanzaoren Decoction （酸枣仁汤）, Huanglian Ejiao Decoction （黄连阿胶汤）, Longdan Xiegan Decoction （龙胆泻肝汤）, Huanglian Wendan Decoction （黄 连温胆汤） were administered. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI） score was compared between two groups. Results After treatment, PSQI total score and the scores of 7 factors all decreased in two groups as compared with those before treatment （all P0.05）, but the improvements in PSQI total score and the scores of 7 factors in observation group were remarkable compared with those in control group （all P0.05）. Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture plus three-route relaxation therapy has good clinical efficacy on insomnia, which is superior to Chinese herbal medicine.

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.

Clinical observation of abdominal acupuncture for subhealth insomnia

Objective： To assess the clinical efficacy of abdominal acupuncture for subhealth insomnia. Methods： Eighty-two cases of subhealth insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group （41 cases） and a control group （41 cases）. The control group was treated with conventional acupuncture. The observation group was treated with Bo＇s abdominal acupuncture on the basis of conventional acupuncture. Six treatments constituted one treatment course. The measuring scale of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome for subhealth state （MSSSHS） and Pittsburgh sleep quality index （PSQI） scores were compared between the two groups after two courses, to estimate the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture for subhealth insomnia. Results： One case dropped out from the observation group, while 2 cases dropped out from the control group. The MSSSHS score and PSQI score both declined after the treatment in the two groups （all P〈0.05）. The MSSSHS and PSQI scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group （both P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The abdominal acupuncture is effective for subhealth insomnia, and it can enhance the effect of conventional acupuncture.

Clinical study on abdominal acupuncture for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

Objective： To explore the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture in treating patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture （OVCF）. Methods： Forty-five eligible OVCF patients were randomized into an abdominal acupuncture （AA） group, a body acupuncture （BA） group and a medication group according to the random numbers generated by the SPSS 22.5 version software, 15 subjects in each group. Patients in the medication group were intervened by Ossotide injection （intravenous injection）, Caltrate （oral administration）, Alfacalcidol （oral administration）, and Salcatonin injection （muscular injection）. In addition to the intervention given to the medication group, patients in the AA group additionally received acupuncture at Zhongwan （CV 22）, Xiawan （CV 20）, Qihai （CV 6）, Guanyuan （CV 4）, Shuifen （CV 9）, and Huaroumen （ST 24）; while patients in the BA group additionally received acupuncture at Jiaji （EX-B 2, superior and inferior to the affected area） points, Ashi points, Weizhong （BL 40） and Chengshan （BI. 57）. For the AA and BA groups, the acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 6 d per week, for 3 weeks in total. Prior to the intervention, and respectively after 1-week treatment, 2-week treatment and 3-week treatment, visual analogue scale （VAS） and Barthel index （BI） were adopted to evaluate pain degree and activities of daily living （ADL）. Results： After intervention, the VAS and BI scores were significantly changed in the three groups （P〈0.05）. Respectively after 2-week, 2-week and 3-week treatment, the VAS and BI scores in the two acupuncture groups were significantly different from those in the medication group at the same time point （P〈0.02）. After 2-week and 2-week treatment, the improvements of VAS and BI scores in the AA group were more significant than those in the BA group（P〈0.05）; after 3-week treatment, there was no significant difference in comparing the VAS score between the two acupuncture groups （P〉0.05）, but a significant difference was found in comparing the BI score （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Abdominal acupuncture can produce a more significant effect in improving VAS and BI scores in OVCF patients than body acupuncture and pure medication treatment, and it＇s efficient and causes few sufferings.

Clinical Observation on the Effects of Bo’s Abdominal Acupuncture in 40 Cases of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Objective: To observe the curative effect of Bo’s abdominal acupuncture on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Methods: Forty cases with CFS were treated by Bo’s abdominal acupuncture at the points for conducting qi back to its origin and 4 points on the abdomen once a day for 2 weeks. Scores for symptoms and scores for fatigue questionnaires were compared before and after treatment. Results: After treatment, the clinical symptoms of patients were differently alleviated, and scores for symptoms, mental condition and neural feeling in questionnaires on fatigue were obviously reduced (P<0.01-0.05). Conclusion: Bo’s abdominal acupuncture has a good curative effect on general disease with complex symptoms, especially on lassitude, anorexia, insomnia, amnesia, diarrhea, and general pain.

Abdominal acupuncture in combination with Chinese herbal bag hot compress in the treatment of chronic pelvic inflammation

Objective To observe the clinical effect of abdominal acupuncture in combination with Chinese herbal bag hot compress in the treatment of chronic pelvic inflammation. Methods Fifty patients with chronic pelvic inflammation were treated with abdominal acupuncture and Chinese herbal bag hot compress. The following points were selected as Zhongwan （中脘 CV 12）, Xiawan （下脘 CV 10）, Qihai （气海 CV 6）, Guanyuan （关元 CV 4）, Huaroumen （滑肉门 ST 24）, Wailing （外陵 ST 26）, Daheng （大横 SP 15）, and abdominal acupuncture was given once every other day and Chinese herbal bag hot compress was given once a day and 15 days were one course. The clinical effect was observed after two courses of treatment. The observation data included clinical effect, the scoring comparison of main symptoms and signs before and after the treatment. Results Among 50 patients with chronic pelvic inflammation, 11 cases got clinically cured, 15 were markedly effective, and 20 effective and the total effective rate was 92.0%; dropping pain in the lower abdomen, abnormal leukorrhea and gynecological signs were significantly improved after the treatment （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal bag hot compress have the exact effect on the chronic pelvic inflammation.

Clinical application rules of different micro needle system therapy

Different micro needle system therapies have different advantages and characteristics.However,at present,the dominant diseases for which each therapy is appropriate are positioned relatively vaguely,and even the acupoint selections for the same disease are different.The clinical application of the dominant disease and application characteristics of each micro needle system therapy is a scientific problem that needs to be explored urgently.Based on the previous data mining study of the clinical application of auricular acupuncture,scalp acupuncture,abdominal acupuncture,eye acupuncture,wrist-ankle acupuncture,hand acupuncture,the second metacarpal bone lateral needling,facial acupuncture,mouth acupuncture and nose acupuncture,the diseases reported more in the clinical literature of each therapy were extracted to find out the same symptoms applicable to different micro needle systems.The clinical application and differences of different micro needle systems for the same disease were compared horizontally,and it demonstrated that the second metacarpal bone lateral needling,facial needle,mouth acupuncture and nose acupuncture were biased towards a partial corresponding therapeutic relationship between one part and the other part,and the eye acupuncture was biased to interfere with the whole by adjusting the function of the organs,and the auricular,scalp and abdominal needles had the both characteristics,and the wrist-malleolus acupuncture and hand acupuncture were often used in various disorders of the meridian-collateral level.The differences were researched and summarized to more accurately guide clinicians in the application of different micro needle system therapies.