Integrative techniques using acupuncture,Chinese herbal medicine,diet,and supplements for polycystic ovary syndrome:a case report

Patients with a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） are on the rise. About 4%-12% of women are currently estimated to have this condition. It is hypothesized that PCOS appears in women who have long-standing insulin resistance （1R）, which leads to high androgen and testosterone levels; this ultimately disrupts their menstrual cycles. Some researchers attribute IR to genetic factors, although there have been only minute changes in the human genome in the past 20 000 years. However, even with a stable gene pool, genes can be turned on and offby the environment, food and air quality and toxin exposure.

The use of traditional Chinese medicine internally and externally combined with auricular acupuncture point bloodletting in the treatment of vulvar leukoplakia

Vulvar leukoplakia refers to the chronic disease of degeneration and hypopigmentation of the skin and mucous membrane of the vulva with unbearable itching in women, seriously affecting the quality of life. The main treatment of western medicine for vulvar leukoplakia is the external use of glucocorticoids or estrogen, resulting to the high recurrence rate and side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has the characteristics of the overall concept and dialectical treatment with a variety of ways. Literature review in recent years found that the treatment of TCM decoction combined with external therapies, such as external fumigation, acupuncture and other treatments, or the combination of TCM decoction and external western medicine hormone ointment, can obtain good effects in vulvar leukoplakia. During the clinical practice, we found that the use of TCM internally and externally combined with auricular acupuncture point bloodletting was highly effective with unique advantages in the treatment of vulvar leukoplakia, providing the ideas guidance for clinicians.

Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Combination Therapies for Insomnia

Insomnia, a common sleep disorder, affects general well-being, hastens the onset of other diseases, and impairs work performance. Hypnotic medications are efficacious in the short term but have obvious side effects. Acupuncture, often used to treat insomnia in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is considered to be beneficial in restoring the normal sleep-wake cycle by regulating and restoring the natural flow of qi (energy power). The three main TCM theories for treating insomnia by acupuncture are the tranquilization disturbance, zangfu disturbance (disequilibrium of internal organs), and imbalance of yin and yang theories. Moxibustion, another treatment for insomnia, is usually combined with acupuncture. Acupuncture and moxibustion with tuina (exercise massage), acupuncture with Chinese herbal injection, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture with medication or psychotherapy are other interventions. Some acupuncture-based methods such as needle-rolling acupuncture, auricular acupoint plaster therapy, phlebotomy, and acupoint catgut-embedding therapy are used as well. Although most clinical trials have shown that acupuncture and its combination therapies are significantly effective in insomnia, the beneficial effects may have been overvalued, because of small sample size, nonstrict inclusion and exclusion criteria, flawed methodology, short follow-up, or nonstandardized evaluation. Therefore, clinical studies of high methodological quality are needed to verify the efficacy of acupuncture, moxibustion, and other combination therapies in insomnia.

COMBINED TREATMENT OF 54 CASES OF APOPLECTIC SEQUELAE WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS

In the present paper, 54 cases of apoplectic sequelae were treated with acupuncture plus Chinese medicinal herbs. Acupoints used were scalp point Motor Area (MS 6), points of body acupuncture: Jianyu(LI 15) and Shousanli(LI 10) for paralysis of the upper limb; Zusanli (ST 36)and Xuanzhong (GB 39) for paralysis of the lower limb, combined with other points based on syndromes. Chinese medicinal herbs for reinforcing qi, promoting blood circulation, relieving muscular spasm and dredging meridians were used. Patients of the control group were treated with Troxerutinum, enteric Aspirin, etc.. Findings showed that out of the 54 cases of the treatment group, 28 were cured basically, 16 had marked improvement, 8 had improvement and 2 were ineffective, with the total effective rate of 96. 3%; of the 28 cases in the control group, 3 were cured basically, 7 had striking improvement, 13 had improvement and 5 were ineffective, with the total effective rate of 82.2%.Both the total effective rate and the basic-cure rate of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0. 01). Results of the present paper display that manipulating the needle to cause "qi reaching the affected area" and applying Chinese medicinal herbs can act on the locus by way of meridians which is the key point for achieving better therapeutic effect.

Study of Mongolian Warming Needle Acupuncture Therapy

The Mongolian warming needle acupuncture therapy is a Mongolian traditional external treatment method that uses special silver needles to insert specific acupoints on the human body,and then stimulates them with warm acupuncture to achieve the purpose of disease prevention and treatment.This paper reviewed the theoretical basis,acupuncture methods,acupuncture classification,acupuncture tools,acupuncture points,indications,and contraindications of Mongolian acupuncture.Besides,it also summarized the clinical application of the Mongolian warming needle acupuncture therapy.In addition,it elaborated the its principle of regulating cold and heat in the body,leading the disease out,dialectically coordinating the whole,and changing the local part,highlighting its important position in medicine,so as to better promote clinical practice.

Systematic evaluation and Meta-analysis of acupuncture and collaterals cupping therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective:In order to obtain the best treatment program for Knee Osteoarthritis(KOA),to alleviate the pain of patients with KOA,and to systematically evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture cupping therapy for KOA.Methods:we used computer to search the databases of CNKI(1989-2018.10),Wanfang(1989-2018.10),VIP(1989-2018.10),PubMed(1966-2018.10),EMbase(1986-2018.10)and Cochrane Library(the 3rd issue of 2018).And the literature quality was evaluated by Jadad scale.Results:A total of 19 eligible RCT studies were included,and a total of 2,088 patients participated in the eligible clinical study.Meta-analysis results showed that the total effective rate OR combination=2.85[OR=3.98,95%CI(2.98,5.32),P<0.00001].The results showed that the curative effect of acupuncture and collaterals cupping in the treatment of KOA was superior to other therapies.Conclusion:Acupuncture and cupping therapy of traditional Chinese medicine is effective and safe in treating KOA.Due to the impact of the original study on Meta-analysis results,more large samples and high-quality clinical trials are still needed to verify.

COMBINED TREATMENT OF 200 CASES OF PERIPHERY FACIAL PARALYSIS WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS

In the present study, 200 cases of periphery facial paralysis were treated with combined therapies of handle needle, electroacupuncture (EA), electronic moxibustion and oral administration of Supplemented Qianzheng San. After treatment, of the 200 cases, 176 were cured, 15 had marked improvement and 9 had improvement. Two groups of acupoints were chosen and used alternately for keeping the excitement of acupoints, preventing acupoint fatigue and raising the therapeutic effect. In the acute stage of periphery facial palsy, acupuncture treatment was performed using shallow needling, mild manipulation and no needling penetration. In the convalescence stage and sequela stage, penetration needling was adopted and stronger stimulation given. During acute period and when facial muscular spasm appeared, EA stimulation was not suitable for facial acupoints. Over use of vision should be avoided.

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF OBESITY

Obesity manifests itself as derangement of qi and blood with disorder of the defensive qi inparticular to be a causative factor of primary importance,meanwhile,deficiency of theprimary qi in Sanjiao may also contribute to it.Fundamentally,its pathological changesare also related to dysfunction of the spleen and stomach.According to syndromedifferentiation,obesity can be classified into three types,namely,heat in the stomach andintestine,spleen and stomach qi deficiency,and deficiency of primary qi.The mainmethods of treatment include clearing and reducing heat in the stomach and intestine;regulating qi in the fu organs and promoting water metabolism;balancing and regulatingqi and blood,yin and yang,and removing stagnation of defensive qi.

Acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome: A blinded placebo-controlled trial

AIM:Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder and many patients fail to find adequate relief from conventional therapies for their symptoms. This study tests the claim that acupuncture is effective for a majority of these patients. METHODS: A prospective, blinded, sham acupuncture-controlled trial of traditional Chinese acupuncture was performed at a single postgraduate teaching hospital in Europe. Sixty patients with well-established IBS were recruited. The blinded comparator was sham acupuncture administered by the second of two acupuncturists who alone was aware of the randomization, and who otherwise followed the prescription of the first. The primary end-point was a defined fall in the symptom score at 13 wk (by intention to treat). The prior expectation was a 30% placebo response, and a response rate of 70% from acupuncture, for which the study was adequately powered. RESULTS: Patients in treated and sham groups improved significantly during the study-mean improvement in scores being equal (minus 1.9) and significant for both (P<0.05; one-tailed t test). There was a small numeric but nonsignificant difference between the response rate in patients receiving acupuncture (40.7%) and sham treatment (31.2%). Several secondary end-points marginally favored active treatment, but an improved symptom score of any degree of magnitude occurred more often with sham therapy (65.6% vs 59.2%). For no criterion was statistical significance approached. CONCLUSION: Traditional Chinese acupuncture is relatively ineffective in IBS in the European hospital setting, and the magnitude of any effect appears insufficient to warrant investment in acupuncture services.

Acupuncture Ameliorates AIDS Symptoms in 36 Cases

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS)is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV).At present,there is no specific treatmentavailable.To explore a method of treatment,weapplied acupuncture in 36 HIV infected cases in amilitary hospital in Zambia,from May 1995 to May1996.The results are reported as follows.

Treatment of Phlegm-and Heat-induced Insomnia by Acupuncture in 120 Cases

Clinical DataThe 120 cases in this series were outpatients suffering from insomnia due to interior-stirring by phlegm-heat, ranging in age from 28 to 67 years. They were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group.

Acupuncture Treatment of Common Cold

Case HistoryMs.Li,a 58-year-old retired cadre,paid herfirst visit on Dec.7,1998,with the chief complaintsof headache,fever,nasal obstruction,cough,andgeneral pain with anhidrosis for two days.Whenplaying with her grandson in the yard in the

Acupuncture Treatment of Melancholia

Case HistoryMs. Liu, a 63-year-old housewife, paid her first visit on Oct.7, 1986 with main complaint of distension and pain in the chest and hypochondrium, and insomnia for one month.

Observation on clinical effects of acupuncture plus external medicine application for cervical radiculopathy

Objective： To observe the clinical effects of acupuncture plus external medicine application for cervical radiculopathy. Methods： A total of 98 patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group based on the random digital table. The observation group （50 cases） was treated by acupuncture plus external medicine application and the control group （48 cases） was treated by acupuncture alone. The patients received the treatment every day. Ten sessions made a course. Cervical spondylosis symptom scale was used to assess the cases before and after the treatment. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups after the treatment. Results： The total effective rate was 98.1% in the observation group versus 87.6% in the control group with a statistically significant difference between the two groups （P〈0.05）. The cure rate was 52.0% in the observation group versus 18.8% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups （P〈0.05）. There was no significant difference in the score of cervical spondylosis symptom scale between the two groups before the treatment （P〉0.05）. It increased with a significant difference in both groups after the treatment （both P〈0.05）, while a significant difference was found in the results between the two groups after the treatment （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus external medicine application is more effective than acupuncture alone for treating cervical radiculopathy. The method also effectively improves the clinical symptoms.

Clinical Observations on the Treatment of 90 Chronic Gastritis Patients by Combination of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Objective： To investigate the clinical efficacy of combined acupuncture and herbal medicine based on Prof. QIN Liang-fu＇s experience in treating chronic gastritis. Methods： Ninety chronic gastritis patients were randomly divided into acupuncture, herbal medicine and acupuncture plus herbal medicine groups. The clinical effects were evaluated after 6 months. Results： After 6 months, the clinical effect was better in the acupuncture plus herbal medicine group than in the acupuncture group and in the herbal medicine group（P〈 0.05）. Conclusion： The curative effect on chronic gastritis was better in the acupuncture plus herbal medicine group than in the acupuncture group and in the herbal medicine group.

Diagnosis and Objective Pain Assessment of Traditional Chinese Medicine May Be Useful to Demonstrate Specific Effects of Acupuncture in Low Back Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled and Single Blinded Pre-study

Objective: To prove specific effects of acupuncture on chronic pain. It was speculated that the potential specific effectiveness of acupuncture could be better shown in more properly designed studies. Therefore, diagnoses of both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were used as inclusion criteria to allocate acupoints more precisely to the complaints of the patients. Secondly, objectively measurable parameters of pain relief in addition to usual Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were chosen to quantify the effects of acupuncture. Methods: The study was prospective, randomized, controlled and single-blinded. Eighteen patients with chronic back pain and TCM diagnosis of a Taiyang/Yangming syndrome received one single session of acupuncture chosen according to TCM diagnosis or acupuncture on points outside the meridian system (controls). We evaluated pain via VAS and increased mobility via inclinometry of the back. Results: Although the sample size was small, there was a statistically significant improvement in pain and mobility in the intervention group (n=13), but not in the control group (n=5). The calculated sample size adequate power was lower for inclinometry than for VAS, indicating that VAS is less probable to discriminate acupuncture effects. Conclusion: Objectively measurable physical parameters such as the angle of flexion before and after acupuncture (inclinometry) may be more suitable to measure pain relief than subjective assessment by VAS in acupuncture studies. TCM diagnosis may be a helpful inclusion criterion in studies on acupuncture, so as to potentially allocate interventions better to the complaints of patients.

Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on chromatin remodeling-related enzymes in the colon tissue of rats with Crohn disease

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on chromatin remodeling complex core catalytic subunit of Brahma-related gene 1(Brg1),histone deacetylase(HDAC)3,HDAC9,and males absent on the first(MOF)in the colon tissue of rats with Crohn disease(CD).Methods:Using the random number table method,60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups,including a normal group,a model group,an acupuncture group,a medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion group,and an acupuncture-moxibustion group,with 12 rats in each group.CD rat models were prepared using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)in all groups except the normal group.The normal and model groups received no interventions.In the acupuncture group,rats were intervened with acupuncture at bilateral Zusanli(ST36)and Shangjuxu(ST37),20 min/session,once a day.The medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion group received medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion at Qihai(CV6)and bilateral Tianshu(ST25)with 2 cones per point per session,once a day.The acupuncture-moxibustion group received both acupuncture and moxibustion interventions simultaneously.Each intervention was performed for 10 consecutive days.Observations included general condition,disease activity,macroscopic damage,and pathological changes in the rat’s colon tissue.Realtime fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the mRNA expression of chromatin remodeling-related enzymes Brg1,HDAC3,and HDAC9,while Western blotting detected the protein expression of Brg1,HDAC3,HDAC9,and MOF in rat’s colon tissue.Results:The model group showed significantly increased diarrhea score,occult blood score,macroscopic damage score of colon tissue,and colon macroscopic damage index(CMDI)score,as well as elevated mRNA expression levels of HDAC3 and HDAC9,protein expression levels of HDAC3,HDAC9,and MOF,and decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of Brg1 compared to the normal group(P<0.01).In contrast,compared to the model group,the diarrhea score,occult blood score,macroscopic damage score,CMDI score,mRNA expression levels of HDAC3 and HDAC9,and protein expression levels of HDAC3,HDAC9,and MOF were significantly reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the mRNA and protein expression levels of Brg1 were significantly increased(P<0.01)in the acupuncture group,the medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion group,and the acupuncture-moxibustion group.Conclusion:Both medicinal cake-insulated moxibustion and acupuncture,either used alone or in combination,can regulate the abnormal expression of chromatin remodeling-related enzymes Brg1,HDAC3,HDAC9,and MOF in the colon tissue,thus reducing colon inflammation in CD rats.

Observation on Treatment of Depression with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine： A Report of 52 Cases

Objective： To study the effectiveness of combined Acupuncture and Chinese medicine on depression. Methods： Ninety-eight patients were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group of 52 cases were treated by scalp acupuncture and electroacupuncture, Baihui （GV 20）, Shenting （GV 24）, Taichong （LR 3）, Neiguan （PC 6）, Guanyuan （CV 4）, Zusanli （ST 36）, Sanyinjiao（SP 6）, plus Chinese medicine, modified Xiaoyao Powder （a decoction for soothing liver and relieving depression） and the control group of 46 cases, only with Chinese medicine, modified Xiaoyao Powder. Results： The total effective rate was 94.2% in the treatment group and 78.26% in the control group; with a significantdifference between two groups（P〈0.05） Conclusion： Acupuncture plus Chinese medicine has a marked effect on depression.

Clinical efficacy observation of thalamic pain treated with acupuncture under the guidance of evidence-based medicine

Objective To study the feasibility of the crossover trial design and the minimal imbalance index random distribution method in the clinical small-sample-size randomized controlled trial（RCT） research of thalamic pain treated with acupuncture under the guidance of evidence-based medicine（EBM）.Methods The crossover trial design was adopted.Eleven cases with the definite diagnosis were randomized into a program-I group（6 cases,treated with acupuncture before western medicine） and a program-II group（5 cases,treated with western medicine before acupuncture） according to the minimal imbalance index method.In the statistical analysis,the groups were named as an acupuncture group and a western medicine group separately,11 cases in each one.Acupuncture was applied to Xìmén（郄门 PC 4）,Yīnxì（阴郄 HT 6）,Xuèhǎi（血海 SP 10）,etc.In the control treatment,Carbamazepine was prescribed for oral administration.Either the duration of treatment or the wash-out period was 10 days.The visual analogue scale（VAS） was adopted for the efficacy assessment.Results The total effective was 100.0%（11/11） after treatment in either group.The remarkably effective rates were 63.6%（7/11） and 36.4%（4/11） in the acupuncture group and the western medicine group separately,without statistically significant difference in comparison.Conclusion The crossover trial design and the minimal imbalance index distribution method can accomplish RCT of the clinical acupuncture and moxibustion research with the small sample size involved.They can provide the high-quality evidences for clinical acupuncture research.Acupuncture therapy can achieve the same therapeutic effect as Carbamazepine,the common western medicine,and the efficacy of it is potentially superior to that of western medicine.

Clinical observation of Shu-acupuncture method in Nei Jing (Classic of Internal Medicine) for shoulder and arm pain

To observe the clinical effects of Shu-acupuncture method in Nei Jing （Classic of Internal Medicine） in the treatment of shoulder and arm pain. Methods： A total of 90 patients with shoulder and arm pain were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 45 cases in each group. The treatment of Shu-acupuncture method in Nei Jing （Classic of Internal Medicine） was adopted in the observation group, routine acupuncture was used in the control group. The two groups were treated once every day, with 5 treatments as one course, and a 2-day rest between two courses. After 3 courses, pain was assessed by visual analog scale （VAS）, and the clinical effects were compared between the two groups. Results： After the treatment, VAS scores were significantly changed in both groups （both P〈O.01）. The VAS score was lower in the observation group than that in the control group, with a statistical difference between the two groups （P〈0.05）. The total effective rate was 100% in the observation group, versus 91.1% in the control group, the difference was statistically significant （P〈O.05）. Conclusion： The therapeutic effect of Shu-acupuncture method in Nei Jing （Classic of Internal Medicine） is better than that of routine acupuncture in treatinR shoulder and arm pain.