Triple needling plus moxibustion and Tanbo-plucking tender points for the third lumbar vertebra transverse process syndrome

Objective：To observe the clinical efficacy of triple needling plus moxibustion and Tanbo-plucking tender points in treating the third lumbar vertebra transverse process syndrome. Methods： Totally 108 patients with the third lumbar vertebra transverse process syndrome were randomized into two groups, 56 cases in the observation group were intervened by triple needling method plus moxibustion and Tanbo-plucking tender points; 52 cases in the control group were by acupuncture plus moxibustion. The pain rating index（PRI）, visual analogue scale （VAS）, and present pain intensity （PPI） from the short-form McGill pain questionnaire （SF-MPQ） were observed before and after intervention for comparing the therapeutic efficacy. Results： The total effective rate was 96.4% in the observation group versus 76.9% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. After intervention, the sensory-PRI, affective-PRI, totaI-PRI, VAS, and PPI scores were markedly changed in both groups （P〈0.05）. The difference in comparing the change of clinical sign score was statistically significant between the two groups （P〈0.05）. The follow-ups performed 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment showed that there were significant differences in comparing the relapse rate between the two groups （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Triple needling plus moxibustion and Tanbo-plucking tender points can produce a better efficacy in treating the third lumbar vertebra transverse process syndrome than acupuncture plus moxibustion alone, and the relapse rate is relatively low.

Efficacy observation on degenerative gonitis treated with triple needling combined with thunder-fire moxibustion

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of degenerative gonitis treated with triple needling combined with thunder-fire moxibustion for better promotion and clinical application. Methods Ninety-eight patients with degenerative gonitis were randomly divided into a thunder-fire moxibustion group （group A） and an acupuncture group （group B） according to randon number table, with forty-nine cases in each group. In group A, Neixiyan （内膝眼 EX-LE 4）, Dubi （犊鼻 ST 35）, Yanglingquan （阳陵泉 GB 34）, Xuehai （血海 SP 10）, Liangqiu （梁丘 ST 34）, Zusanli （足三里 ST 36）, Yinlingquan （阳陵泉 SP 9） and Xiyangguan （膝阳关 GB 33） were selected to accept triple and needling thunder-fire moxibustion for 20 min after the needles were retained for 40 min. The patients in group B were only treated with acupuncture. Thunder-fire moxibustion was not applied in the group B. The treatment was given once a day for four weeks. Knee function score and knee stiffness score in both groups were recorded before and after treatment, and the therapeutic effect was assessed. Results After four weeks＇ treatment, the total effective rate of group A was 93.9% （46/49）, which was superior to 71.4% （35/49） in group B （P〈0.05）. Improvement in knee stiffness in group A was superior to that in group B （P〈0.01）. Conclusion Triple needling combined with thunder-fire moxibustion had clinical efficacy on degenerative gonitis, which is a better treatment option with the total efficacy significantly superior to that of acupuncture only.

Treatment for Injury of Superior Clunial Nerves by Triple Puncture Needling with Massage

Superior clunial nerve injury occupies a high percentage in lumbocluneal tissue injuries. It is commonly seen in winter and in athletic competition and training. The authors have treated 67 cases of pain of the superior clunial nerves by triple puncture needling combined with massage and obtained satisfactory therapeutic result. A report follows.

Effect of Wei’s triple nine needling therapy on flash visual evoked potentials in rats with traumatic optic neuropathy

Objective:To investigate the effect of Wei’s triple nine needling therapy on the N2-P2 wave of the flash visual evoked potential(FVEP)in rats of the of the transverse directional pulling model.Methods:Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly grouped,nine were in normal control group without any treatment,and the remaining 27 were surgically modelled in the right eyes.Eighteen of these rats were randomly divided into a Wei’s triple nine needling therapy group and a model group of nine rats each after the TON model was made using the transverse quantitative retraction method.The other 9 rats were sham-operated,and only the optic nerve was exposed without retraction.On the next day of modelling,the Wei’s triple nine needling therapy group was treated with Wei’s triple nine needling therapy for 20 minutes/1 time/1 day for 14 days.The model group,sham-operated group and normal control group were not intervened.Wei's triple nine acupoints were represented as follows:1st link:"Jingming"(BL1)and"Chengqi"(ST1);2nd link:"Sizhukong"(SJ23)penetrating"Taiyang"(EX-HN5);and the third:"Fengchi"(GB 20)and"Taichong"(LV3).The FVEP of each group was observed on 1d,7d and 14d.The FVEP of each group was observed on 1d,7d and 14d.Results:Compared with the model group,the N2 wave latency and P2 wave latency were shortened in the Wei’s triple nine needling therapy on 1d(P<0.05,P<0.01);on 7d,their N2 wave latency was shortened(P<0.01)and the N2-P2 wave amplitude was increased compared with the model group(P<0.05);on 14d,their P2 wave latency was shortened(P<0.05)and the N2-P2 wave amplitude was increased.There was no statistical difference in N2 wave latency,P2 wave latency and N2-P2 wave amplitude in the sham-operated group on 1d,7d and 14d(P>0.05).The delayed N2 and P2 wave latencies in the model group did not improve from 1d to 14d(P>0.05)and the amplitude decreased throughout,showing a significant difference on 14d compared to 1d(P<0.05).In contrast,the N2 wave latency in Wei’s triple nine needling therapy group was not significantly different until 7d to 14d(P<0.05);its P2 wave latency,although significantly delayed from 1d to 7d(P<0.05),recovered on 14d and reached a level that was not statistically different from 1d and 7d(P>0.05).There was also no significant decrease in N2-P2 wave amplitude between 1d and 14d in Wei’s triple nine needling therapy group(P>0.05).Conclusion:In this experiment,the TON rat model was successfully established by the transverse quantitative retraction method,and the treatment of TON rats with Wei’s triple nine needling therapy reduced the P2 wave delay of the FVEP electrophysiological signal and increased the N2-P2 amplitude,which had a certain positive effect on the repair of optic nerve injury,probably related to its effect of improving the conduction function of the optic nerve and protecting the retinal ganglion cells that had not been degenerated and necrosed.

Traditional Chinese acupuncture manipulations and “dry needling”

In this paper, the authors studied the manipulation of ＂dry needling＂, reviewed Chinese ancient and modern literature of acupuncture-moxibustion, and found that ＂dry needling＂ is very similar to triple needling, superficial needling, joint valley needling, surround needling, and other traditional Chinese acupuncture- moxibustion manipulations; even if in modern China, before and after the invention of ＂dry needling＂, some unique therapies, such as oblique insertion therapy at Ashi point, sliver needling, Fu＇s subcutaneous needling, and long-round needling, were also invented. It can be seen that ＂dry needling＂ therapy is actually a kind of differentiation of traditional Chinese acupuncture- moxibustion in the international communication. The spread of traditional Chinese acupuncture-moxibustion in the West is the basis for the invention of ＂dry needling＂ therapy, and ＂dry needling＂ therapy develops and enriches traditional Chinese acupuncture-moxibustion.

Electroacupuncture plus external application of Chinese medicine for knee osteoarthritis

Objective： To reveal the action mechanism and efficacy of electroacupuncture（EA） plus external application of Wei Ling Xian（Radix Clematidis） extract in treating knee osteoarthritis（KOA）, for providing theoretical evidence and novel plan for the treatment of KOA. Methods： Totally 284 inpatients were divided into an EA group and an observation group by the random number table, 142 cases in each group. The EA group was intervened by EA, ultrashort waves, and oral administration of Glucosamine Hydrochloride capsules; while the observation group was by external application of Wei Ling Xian（Radix Clematidis） extract at topical area in addition to the treatment given to the EA group. The intervention lasted 14 d in both groups. X-ray examination of knee joint was ordered before and after treatment, as well as the detection of positive expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1（MMP-1） in cartilage of knee joint, hyaluronic acid（HA） and interleukin-1β（IL-1β） in the inflammatory effusion; the Western Ontario and McM aster Universities osteoarthritis index（WOMAC） and visual analogue scale（VAS） were adopted to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Results： In the observation group, the X-ray examination result of knee joint was significantly improved, the positive expressions of MMP-1 and IL-1β content were significantly decreased, the level of HA was increased, WOMAC and VAS scores dropped, and the total effective rate was 91.5%, which were significantly different from those in the EA group（P〈0.05）. Conclusion： EA plus external application of Wei Ling Xian（Radix Clematidis） extract can produce a more significant efficacy in treating KOA compared to ordinary EA treatment.