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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ninety cases of simple obesity treated with the combined therapy of penetration needling, flash-fire cupping method and auricular acupuncture

Objective: To observe the clinical effects on simple obesity treated with the combined therapy of penetration needling, flash-fire cupping method and auricular acupuncture.Methods: In 90 patients of simple obesity, the Bo’s abdominal acupuncture therapy was adopted. Taking Shénquè(神阙 CV 8), the points 2 cun directly below CV 8 and 2 cun directly above CV 8 as the landmarks, 3 cun bilateral to each of the above three points, and penetrated through to the conception vessel. Then the electroacupuncture apparatus was connected, with the disperse-dense wave for 30 min.After acupuncture, the glass cup of the middle size was used to stimulate the selected points with the flash-fire cupping method. The cupping stimulation stopped when the skin turned to be slightly red. One treatment was given each day and every other day after 5 days. The 10 treatments made one course. In the auricular acupuncture therapy, Jīdiǎn(饥点), Shénm6 n(神门TF4), NèiFēnmì(内分泌CO18) and S5 njiāo(三焦 CO17) were selected. The auricular acupuncture therapy was given once every two days and 10 treatments made one course. After 3 courses of treatment, the waist circumference, hip circumference,body weight and body mass index(BMI) were observed.Results: Compared to before treatment, after 3 courses of treatment, the waist circumference of patients was(92.3 ±2.4 vs 80.4 ±2.3) cm, hip circumference(110.6 士 2.3 vs 99.2 ±2.5) cm, body weight(74.2 ±3.1 vs 68.2 ±2.4) kg and BMI(29.8 士 3.1 vs 25.2 士 2.1), they were all reduced obviously, indicating the significant differences(all P<0.05). Seventy-nine patients lost three to five kilograms, accounting for 87.8%.Conclusion: The combined therapy of penetration needling at abdomen, flash-fire cupping method and auricular acupuncture achieves the significant therapeutic effects on simple obesity.