Comparison of Pharmacological Treatment Versus Acupuncture Treatment for Migraine Without Aura——Analysis of Socio-medical Parameters

This study was carried out in 120 patients affected by migraine without aura, treated in 4 public health centers and randomly divided into acupuncture group (AG) and conventional drug therapy group (CDTG). The evaluation of clinical results was made 6 and 12 months after the beginning of treatment and was worked out as well according to socio-medical parameters. Acupuncture was applied to the following points: Touwei (ST 8), Xuanlu (GB 5), Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Lieque (LU 7), treated with the reducing method. In AG, the figure scoring the entity and frequency of migraine attacks drops from 9,823 before treatment to 1,990 6 months after and 1,590 12 months after; while in CDTG, it drops from 8,405 before treatment to 3,927 6 months after and 3,084 12 months after. In AG, the total absence from work amounted to 1,120 working days/year, with a total cost (private + social costs) of 186,677,000 Italian liras. In CDTG, the absence from work amounted to 1,404 working days/year, with a total cost of 266,614,000 Italian liras. If we consider that in Italy the patients affected by migraine without aura are around 800,000, and that acupuncture therapy is able to save 1,332,000 Italian liras on the total average cost supported for every single patient, the application of acupuncture in the treatment of migraine without aura would allow a saving of the health expenses in Italy of over 1,000 billion liras.

Differential Acupuncture Treatment of Hyperplasia of Mammary Glands

Hyperplasia of mammary glands is a common disease in the middle-aged women, and it is a precancerous lesion of mammary glands. For many years, the author has used Rugen (ST 18) of the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming as the main point withcertain auxiliary points chosen on basis of the differentiation types to treat the disease and obtained satisfactory therapeutic effects. A report follows. ……

Prof.Sheng Canruo's Experience in Acupuncture Treatment of Throat Diseases with Yan Si Xue

Yan Si Xue(咽四穴)refer to four points in the throat summarized by Prof.Sheng Canruo in his long-year clinical experience based on the combination of TCM theory and the knowledge of modernmedical anatomy.By taking “Yan Si Xue” as main points,and other differential adjunct points,Prof.Sheng has obtained satisfactory therapeutic results in treating various throat diseases such ashoarseness,paralysis of vocal cord,dysphonia after radiotherapy on throat tumor,vocal nodules,disorder of the glossopharyngeal nerve,hysteric aphasia,and acute or chronic laryngopharyngitis.

ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS

Case HistoryName:Kerstin Wiest;Sex:female;Age:46 years;Occupation:teacher;Date of firstvisit:April,1996.Chief complaint:Allergic rhinitis for fiveyears.The patient stated that five years before,she got the sensation of weakness and lassitudeafter undergoing a uterectomy,which

Acupuncture Treatment of Depressive Syndromes after Cerebral Vascular Accidents

Depressive syndrome is a common complication in cerebral vascular accidents (CVA), which accounts for 70% of the complications. A mild case of the syndrome is marked by grief, sleeping disturbance, weakened mental activities, worry, loss of interest, and irritability. A severe case may have worse symptoms and signs, except the above mentioned ones, such as anxiety, reduced appetite, hallucination, delusion, desperation, etc. The author has adopted acupuncture to treat depressive syndromes after CVA with good therapeutic result as reported in the following.

Experience in Acupuncture Treatment of Dizziness and Vertigo——A Report of 3 Cases

Dizziness and vertigo is a commonly encountered disease in clinic. There has been the saying from ancient times that "there would be no dizziness if without wind", " there would be no dizziness if without phlegm", "there would be no dizziness if without deficiency", and " there would be no dizziness if without fire". However, in the author's view, the dizziness and vertigo caused by blood stasis blocking the collaterals is most commonly seen in clinic, which should deserve more attention. The following is an introduction about the author's experience in treating 3 cases of dizziness and vertigo with acupuncture.

Acupuncture Treatment for 57 Cases of Hiccup

In recent years, the author has treated 57 cases of hiccup due to radiotherapy, chemotherapy or introducing therapy by acupuncture with satisfactory results as reported in the following.

Evaluation of effect of acupuncture treatment on carotid arteriosclerosis plaque by three-dimensional ultrasound VPQ technology

Objective:To evaluate the structural changes of atherosclerotic plaque before and after acupuncture treatment by three-dimensional ultrasound of Vascular Plaque Quantification technology.Methods:Forty subjects were recruited and randomly divided into acupuncture group and sham acupuncture group.All patients were treated twice a week for 3 months and were observed the changes of the bilateral carotid plaque volume(PV),gray scale value(GSM)and inner media thickness(IMT).Results:The acupuncture group’s PV decreased after 3 months,while the sham group’s increased slightly.The result were statistically significant(P≤0.05).After treatment,the acupuncture group’s left GSM was higher than before,while the sham group’s was slightly lower than before.The result were statistically significant(P≤0.05).Although the difference of the acupuncture group’s right GSM before and after treatment was not statistically significant,it also had a rising trend.Conclusion:Acupuncture can reduce the volume of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and stabilize the nature of the plaque.

Clinical Observation on Scalp Acupuncture Treatment in 50 Cases of Headache

Headache is frequently encountered in clinic, including vascular headache, cervical headache, traumatic cerebral headache, and tonic headache, which may be seenin many acute or chronic diseases. During the period from Aug. 1996 - Apr. 2000, the author had treated 50 cases of headache by scalp acupuncture therapy and got quite satisfactory therapeutic results as reported in the following. ……

Experience in Acupuncture Treatment of Occipital Neuralgia

Clinically, occipital neuralgia is commonly encountered. It is manifested by pain in the unilateral suboccipital and postmastoid region, which may radiate to the upper occipital part, the ear and copular part, and even to the orbit. The pain is severe, and often cause spasm of the cervical muscles. The authors applied acupuncture for treating occipital neuralgia with good therapeutic results reported as follows.

RECENT PROGRESSES OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE

In the present paper, the authors review recent progresses of acupuncture treatment of cerebral hemorrhage and theoretical research. Regarding the clinical application of acupuncture therapy, in the acute stage of the disease, many doctors adopt body acupuncture and scalp-acupuncture, fewer doctors applied eye acupuncture; while in the chronic stage of the disease, many medical workers employ body acupuncture, scalp-acupuncture, combined therapies of acupuncture, functional exercise, massage, acupoint injection, etc.. Concerning studies on the mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage, abundant experience evidence show that acupuncture can raise the activity of the plasma fibrinolytic system to promote the absorption of blood clots of the foci; improve microcirculation; reduce cerebral tissue edema; regulate some chemical substances’ levels to lessen harmful effects of oxygen free radicals; and enhance the patient’s immune function. However, some problems still exist in clinical researches at present and affect the reasonable evaluation on the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture.

ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF MIGRAINE AND PLASMA CGRP AND SP CONTENT CHANGES

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in treatment of migraine and the accompanied changes of plasma OGRP and SP. Methods: 186 migraine patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group (n=126) and medication group (n=60). Acupoints used were Taichong (LR 3), Xingjian (LR 2), Fengchi (GB 20) and Yanglingquan (GB 34). Patients of the medication (control) group were asked to take Nimodipine 30 mg (3 times per day), Sibelium 5 mg (once every night), and Ergotamine caffeine (taken curing attack). Plasma OGRP and SP contents were detected by using radioimmunoassay. Results: The therapeutic effect of acupuncture was significantly su- perior to that of medication group (P < 0. 01). In migraine patients, plasma CGRP and SP levels were significantly higher than those of normal people (P <0. 01). After acupuncture treatment, CGRP and SP levels lowered obviously (P<0.05).

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.

ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA WITH DAZHUI AND FENGCHI ACUPOINTS

Objective: To explore therapeutic method for occipital neuralgia. Methods: A total of 90 occipital neuralgia patients were randomly divided into treatment group (n=60 cases) and control group (n=30). In treatment group, Dazhui (GV 14) was punctured and stimulated with reinforcing method, and Fengchi (GB 20) punctured and stimulated with reducing needling method. In control group, the tender point was punctured and stimulated with reducing needling method. The acupuncture needles were retained for 30 min and the treatment was conducted once daily, with 10 times being a therapeutic course. Results: After one session of treatment, the markedly effective rates of treatment and control groups were 98% and 57% respectively. Comparison between two groups showed a considerable difference in the therapeutic effect (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture of Dazhui (GV 14) and Fengchi (GB 20) are effective in the treatment of occipital neuralgia.

COMMENTS ON ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF DISEASES ACCORDING TO SEASONAL CONDITIONS IN 《THE INTERNAL CLASSIC》

In the present paper, the author gives some comments on acupuncture treatment of diseases from 1) selecting acupoints based on seasonal conditions; 2) performing reinforcing or reducing needling manipulations in accordance with the waxing and wanning of the moon; 3) conducting acupuncture treatment in accordance with the time and the state of disease; and 4) performing acupuncture treatment based on the prosperity or decline of the meridian-qi, which are described in medical book The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic

Acupuncture Treatment of Insomnia

Case HistoryPatient Lu,a male engineer aged 27 years,paid hisfirst visit on March 12,1990,with the chief complaint ofinsomnia for 3 months.The patient Stated that he hadonce got insomnia 5 years before when he was studyingat school,and it was cured later.In the recent 3 months,

INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT INTERVALS OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT ON BONE INTENSITY IN PRIMARY OSTEOPOROSIS PATIENTS

Objective: To observe the influence of different intervals of acupuncture treatment on bone intensity in primary osteoporosis subjects. Methods: A total of 45 cases of primary osteoporosis female patients were randomly divided into 1 treatment/week (1-T/W), 2 treatments/week (2-T/W) and 3 treatments/week (3-T/W) groups, with 15 cases being in each group. Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23), Taixi (KI 3) and Pishu (BL 20) were used and stimulated with reinforcing needling manipulation. For patients with deficiency syndrome of kidney-yang, thermal acupuncture was applied to Shenshu (BL 23), and for patients with spleen-deficiency syndrome, thermal acupuncture applied to Zusanli (ST 36). Results: After 6 months’ treatment, in 1-T/W group, no apparent change of bone intensity was observed, while in 2-T/W and 3-T/W groups, the bone intensity was increased significantly (P<0.05, 0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus moxibustion treatment twice or 3 times every week can obviously improve the bone intensity.

Clinical research progress on acupuncture for the treatment of otogenic vertigo

Otogenic vertigo is a common disorder that affects the vestibular system,which often results in considerable discomfort and impaired daily functioning.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),including acupuncture and moxibustion,has been historically utilized to manage the symptoms of vertigo.However,the effectiveness and methodology of these treatments have rarely been investigated in the medical literature.This study reviews the existing literature on the point selection,method,and therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion to provide a reference for the TCM treatment of otogenic vertigo.A literature search was performed using the PubMed search engine.The terms used included otogenic vertigo,acupuncture treatment,and acupuncture point selection.A total of 34 relevant articles were retrieved from PubMed.These suggest that the clinical treatment of otogenic vertigo should consider the functions of zang-fu organs and meridians and select different acupuncture treatment methods according to syndrome differentiation based on the difference between deficiency and excess.Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy should be based on acupoint selection,considering the syndrome differentiation,supplemented with experience.The treatment of otogenic vertigo with acupuncture and moxibustion refers to the selection of appropriate acupuncture methods under the guidance of TCM theory and following the principles of syndrome,disease,and meridian differentiation.Common acupuncture methods include body acupuncture,auricular acupuncture,scalp acupuncture,acupoint injection,electroacupuncture,and moxibustion.There are many acupuncture and moxibustion acupoints selected for the treatment of otogenic vertigo.Individualized treatment according to the patient’s specific condition is effective and safe,which can help to improve the patient’s vertigo symptoms and cerebral blood perfusion.