Influence of Sancai and conventional acupuncture manipulations on injured sciatic nerve histomorphology and serum interleukin-6 expression

Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy non-specifically raises the pain threshold, relieves regional muscular tension, improves local blood circulation, accelerates elimination of algogenic substances such as acid metabolites, and promotes neural regeneration and functional rehabilitation. However, the effects of acupuncture are synthetically influenced by multiple factors, which vary with acu-puncture point, intensity, and manipulation. The present study explored the analgesic effects and mechanisms of specific Sancai acupuncture manipulation for sciatica. Results revealed that Sancai acupuncture manipulation significantly reduced inflammatory factor interleukin-6 expression in the blood serum of rats with sciatica, exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and promoted rehabilitation of injured nerves. In addition, Sancai acupuncture manipulation exhibited superior curative effects over conventional acupuncture manipulation.

De-qi,Not Psychological Factors,Determines the Therapeutic Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment for Primary Dysmenorrhea

Objective： To study the impact of De-qi （得气%, obtaining qi） and psychological factors on the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea, with an attempt to explore the relationship among De-qi, psychological factors, and clinical efficacy. Methods： The patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to a group of acupuncture with manual manipulation （manipulation group, n=67） and an acupuncture group without manipulation （non-manipulation group, n=64）. Pain intensity and pain duration were used as measures for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of the acupuncture treatment. De-qi, the sensations a patient experienced during the acupuncture treatment, was scored on a 4-point scale by the subjects. In addition, the psychological factors, including belief in acupuncture, the level of nervousness, anxiety, and depression, were quantitatively assessed. The personality of the subject was assessed using the Eysenck personality questionnaire （EPQ） and 16 personality factor questionnaire （16PF）. Results： Complete data were obtained from 120 patients, 60 patients in each group. There were statistically significant differences in pain intensity （W=2410.0, P〈0.01 ） and pain duration （W=3181.0, P〈0.01） between the two groups. The number of De-qi acupoints （W=1150.5, P〈0.01） and the average intensity of De-qi （W=1141.0, P〈0.01） were significantly higher in the manipulation group as compared with their non-manipulation counterparts. The correlation coefficients between De-qi and therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture were greater than those between psychological factors and therapeutic efficacy. Conclusions： Compared with the psychological factors, De-qi contributed more to the pain-relieving effect of acupuncture in subjects with primary dysmenorrhea. Moreover, manual manipulation is a prerequisite for eliciting and enhancing the De-qi sensations, and De-qi is critical for achieving therapeutic effects.

Is Sham Acupuncture as Effective as Traditional Chinese Acupuncture? It's too Early to Say

Many clinical trials and experimental studies claim that sham acupuncture is as effective as traditional Chinese acupuncture. However, these studies have no standard sham acupuncture control and many other factors can affect the clinical effect. These factors include needle retention time, treatment frequency, and the total number of treatments needed for satisfactory results, and all can change the clinical effect. The majority of existing acupuncture treatment studies do not consider these factors and lack standard dosage criteria. Therefore, it is still too early to conclude that sham acupuncture is as effective as traditional Chinese acupuncture. This article investigates the factors that influence the curative effect of acupuncture as to help set a standard for acupuncture studies in the future.