On characteristics of acupuncture effects

The characteristics of holistic, biphasic are systematically expounded and it is indicated that understand the characteristics of acupuncture effects fast and physiological regulation of acupuncture it is the core question in and to grasp the factors acupuncture science to nfluencing acupuncture effects.

Observation on the Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture for 60 Cases of Simple Obesity

Simple obesity refers to a disease characterized by body overweight due to excessive calorie intake and over accumulation of adipose tissue in the body. With the improvement of life conditions, obesity has become a factor that impairs the health of the people. From 1997 to 1998, the author had treated 60 cases of simple obesity with acupuncture and obtained satisfactory results. The results of treatment are reported as follows.

Effect of acupuncture at different meridian acupoints on changes of related factors for rabbit gastric mucosal injury

AIM： To explore the regularity of multi-meridians controlling a same viscus （MMCSV）. METHODS： The rabbit gastric ulcer model was established by ethanol intragastric instillation. Fifty-six rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, model group （MG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Yangming Meridian group （YMG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Taiyin Meridian group （TYG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Shaoyang Meridian group （SYG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Jueyin Meridian group （JYG）, model plus acupuncture at Foot Taiyang Meridian group （TYMG）, with eight rabbits in each group. Gastric mucosal nitric oxide （NO） and nitric oxide synthase （NOS） were assayed by the nitric acid reductase method, and prostaglandin E2 （PGE2） and epidermal growth factor （EGF） were measured by radioimmunoassay. The comprehensive effects were analyzed by weighing method. RESULTS： Compared to MG, SYG, JYG and TYMG, the rabbits gastric mucosal injury index （GMII） reduced very significantly in YMG （P〈0.01）. Compared to MG, the GMII also reduced significantly in TYG （P〈0.05）. NO, NOS, PGE2 and EGF increased very significantly in YMG （P〈0.01）. The EGF in YMG also increased significantly than that in TYG compared to those in MG, SYG, JYG and TYMG （P〈0.05）. The PGE2 and EGF also increased very significantly in TYG than those in MG, JYG and TYMG （P〈0.01）. While compared to SYG, the NOS increased significantly in TYG （P〈0.05）. NOS was the highest in YMG （P〈0.01）, and was higher in TYG than in MG （P〈0.01）. CONCLUSION： MMCSV is common. The Foot Yangming Meridian is most closely related to the stomach, followed by Foot Taiyin Meridian, Foot Shaoyang Meridian and Foot Jueyin Meridian. Foot Taiyang Meridian has no correlation with the stomach.

THE ROLE OF CONNEXIN 43 GENE IN ACUPUNCTURE ANALGESIA

Objective To and connexin 43. Methods investigate the possible relationship between the analgesic effect of acupuncture Connexin 43 gene knock-out mice were randomly divided into 4 groups： a wide type （WT） control group, a WT acupuncture group, a heterozygous （HT） control group and HT acupuncture group. Hot-plate test and writhing response induced by acetic acid were used for investigating the different analgesic effect of acupuncture on HT and WT mice. Results There was no significant difference in the basic pain threshold value between HT and WT mice （P 〉0.05）. Acupuncture could significantly increase the pain threshold value, prolong the latency period of writhing body and decrease the number of writhing body as compared with pre-acupuncture in WT and HT mice （P 〈 0.01 or P 〈 0.05）. The pain threshold, latency period of writhing and number of writhing body in HT mice were less than WT mice post-acupuncture （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Connexin 43 gene knock-out might partially inhibit the analgesic effect of acupuncture, suggesting that connexin 43 is possibly related with meridians and the effect of acupuncture.

EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON PLASMA GLUCOSE LEVEL IN HUMAN VOLUNTEERS

Objective To observe the changes of plasma glucose level （PGL） in human volunteers after acupuncture. Methods Seventy-seven human volunteers were taken up from the acupuncture clinic. All of them were non-diabetic subjects. Electroacupuncture at acupoints Zhongwan （中脘 CV 12） and Guanyuan （关元 CV 4） was given for 20 minutes. Venous blood was collected before acupuncture and 10 minutes after completion of acupuncture. All cases were at four hours abstinence from food before doing acupuncture. Results Plasma glucose level varied 5 mg% or more in 62 cases （80.51%） and only those were considered for computation. PGL increased in cases who had generally plasma glucose level below 90 mg% before acupuncture; and PGL decreased in cases who had plasma glucose 90 mg% or above. In 10 control cases there was no variation of the considerable level of 5 mg% in any case. Conclusion Bi-directional variation of PGL after acupuncture indicates that acupuncture can be used to maintain optimum PGL through endogenous mechanism, suggesting that it is applicable in controlling hyperglycemia in diabetes rnellitus patients.

STUDY ON SCALP ELECTROACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF APOPLEXY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON HEMORHEOLOGY IN ISCHEMIC APOPLEXY PATIENTS

Objectives: To compare the therapeutic effect of scalp electroacupuncture with that of conventional body acupuncture for apoplexy (wind stroke) and to observe the influence of both acupuncture therapies on hemorheology of ischemic apoplexy.Methods: 183 patients, whose diseases are attributed to apoplexy according to the diagnostic criteria, are randomly divided into treatment group (93 cases) and control group (90 cases) and treated respectively with scalp electroacupuncture and conventional body acupuncture. 11 items of hemorheology of patients’ blood samples are tested with NXE-1 Viscometer which are taken in the early morning before and after treatment under fasting condition. Results: Both scalp electroacupuncture and conventional body acupuncture exert therapeutic effect for apoplexy, but the effect of scalp electroacupuncture is obviously better than that of conventional acupuncture (P< 0.05 ); both treatment group and control group are statistically significant in reducing plasma viscosity, high shear reduced viscosity, low shear reduced viscosity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hematocrit and fibrinogen, (P<0.01 and 0.05); while the treatment group is statistically significant in reducing whole blood viscosity, ratio of whole blood viscosity, erythrocyte index of rigidity and electrophoresis time of erythrocyte (P<0.01～ 0.05), but the control group is not significant statistically in influencing these indexes (P>0.05).

COMMENTS ON THE HOLISTIC ACTION OF ACUPUNCTURE IN VIEW OF ITS INFLUENCE ON NERVE-ENDOCRINE-IMMUNE NETWORK

In the present paper, the author makes some comments on the holistic action of acupuncture from the regulative effect on the nerve-endocrine-immune network, and the close relationship between the nerve-endocrine-immune network and the meridian-collateral system of TCM. The wholism concept of TCM refers to the organism being an integrated entirety, and the regulatory effect of acupuncture on functional activities of the organism relies on the integral connection of the acupoint-meridian-collateral-zangfu-organ system. When stimulated with acupuncture, the human body will brings its potential force into full play in preventing and treating diseases.

TREATMENT OF NINETY-FIVE CASES OF MULTIPLESCLEROSIS WITH ACUPUNCTURE

From December of 1998 to August of 2002, the author treated 95 cases of multiple sclerosis with acupuncture. The observation has confirmed that acupuncture is a very effective method for treating this disease, especially to sclerosis patients in the early stage; and furthermore it can slow down the development of the pathological conditions of the patients. Thus it is an important therapeutic method worthy of the choice by European and American clinical doctors.

CLINICAL APPLICATION OF ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY

In the present paper, the authors review some major effects of acupuncture in the treatment of clinical diseases and sum up some results of experimental researches on the mechanisms of acupuncture. Up to now, clinical practice and experimental researches demonstrate that acupuncture possesses good analgesic effect, integrative regulation effect on the functional activities of the body and defense-immune-potentiation effect.

SCALP ACUPUNCTURE WITH MOVEMENT IN TREATMENT OF HEADACHE: AN OBSERVATION OF 181 CASES

cases suffering from different kinds of headache were treated by the authors with scalp acupuncture with movement. The results of instant and long term therapeutic effects show that the scalp acupuncture with movement is a simple and effective skill. The instant therapeutic effects: the headache in 163 cases disappeared; in 9 cases the effect was quite obvious; and in 7 cases it was effective; the total effective rate amounted to 98.9%. The long term therapeutic effects: 135 cases (74.6%) were cured. The toral effective rate was 77.2%.

Observation on therapeutic effects of postoperative enteroparalysis treated with acupuncture

Objective To verify the clinical efficacy of postoperative enteroparalysis treated with acupuncture. Methods One hundred and seven cases of postoperative enteroparalysis were divided into three groups. In group A, 35 cases were immediately treated with acupuncture when routine fasting, gastrointestinal decompression and support treatment were applied at same time; Neiguam （内关 PC 6）, Zusatnli （足三里 ST 36） and Shatngjuxu （上巨虚 ST 37） were selected. In group B, 36 cases were treated by western medicine routine therapy, such as enema, Domperidone or Mosapride with oral administration. In group C, 36 cases were treated with acupuncture as well after 5 days ineffective treatment of western medicine routine therapy; the acupoint selection was as same as that in group A. The curative effect was evaluated after 3 weeks treatment. Results The effective rate of 97.1% （34/35） in group A was superior to that of 58.3% （21/36） in group B and 80.6% （29/36） in group C （both P〈0.05）. The treatment days of cured patients in group A were obviously shorter than that of group B and C （both P〈0.05）. Conclusion Postoperative enteroparalysis can be effectively treated by acupuncture, and the effect will be better with early intervention of acupuncture.

COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION ON ACPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF CLINICAL SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS WITH DZHUī (大椎GV14) IN COMMON COLD PATIENTS WITH HIGH FEVER

Objective To probe into the effective acupuncture treatment for high fever and other clinical relevant symptoms in common cold. Methods Based on randoming and multi-central clinical trial principle, the included 276 cases were randomized into experimental group （138 cases） and control group （138 cases） in statistics. Electric acupuncture on Dazhui（大椎 GV14） was applied in experimental group and the injection with antondine was in control group. The immediate antipyretic and clinical therapeutic effects were observed in 24 h. Results The body temperatures at different times in experimental group were all lower than those in control group after treatment （P〈 0.01 ）. The scores of relevant symptoms in 3- 24 h after treatment were lower than those in control group （P〈0.05）. The response time （1.42± 1.79） h in experimental group was shorter than that （3.44±5.10） h in control group （P〈0.05）. The response times for chills, soreness of limbs, headach and sweating in experimental group were shorter than those in control group （P〈0. 01 ）. The recovery times for chills and headache in experimental group were shorter than those in control group （P〈0.05）. The systematic therapeutic effects were different significantly between two groups in 24 h （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture on Dazhui（大椎 GV14） had achieved definite effects on treatment for high fever in common cold. It released remarkably chills, soreness of limbs, headache and sweating and improved the systematic therapeutic effects on common cold.

Effects of Electroacupuncture at Different Points on Colorectal Distention-induced Changes in Blood Pressure, Electrogastrogram, Gastric Tension and Gastric Blood Flow

Objective: To investigate the specificity of the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at different acupoints on gastric functional activity and gastric blood flow after colorectal distension (CRD) in the rat. Methods: Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: a control group, a Zusanli group, a non-point group, a Taichong group and a Neiguan group. Rats were anesthetized after 18 h of fasting, and a rat model of nociceptive blood pressure elevation and abnormal electrogastrogram (EGG) and gastric tension (GT) was prepared by gasbag-induced CRD. EA was given bilaterally, and its effects on gastric blood flow (GBF) of the arcus vasculosi of the greater omentum, blood pressure, EGG fast wave properties, and gastric smooth muscle tension (GT) were quantified. Results: CRD induced an increase in blood pressure that was significantly inhibited by EA at all points (all P<0.05), and the inhibitory effects were greater in the Zusanli and Neiguan groups compared to the non-point group (both P<0.05). CRD also caused reductions in GT and GBF, and in the amplitude, frequency and duration of EGG waves (all P<0.05). These effects were also reversed by EA. The effects of EA on EGG wave amplitude, GT, and GBF were superior in the Zusanli group compared to the Taichong group, Neiguan group, and the non-point group. Conclusion: EA significantly counteracted CRD-induced changes in blood pressure, GBF, EGG, and GT. The effects of stimulation at Zusanli (ST 36) were significantly greater compared to other points, indicating relative specificity of this acupoint.

Effects of acupuncture at stellate ganglion on lower limb atherosclerosis of early diabetes mellitus

Objective To compare the efficacy between acupuncture at stellate ganglion combined with intravenous administration of alprostadil and simple intravenous administration of alprostadil on lower limb atherosclerosis of early diabetes mellitus.Methods Sixty patients of lower limb atherosclerosis of early diabetes mellitus were randomly divided into an observation group and a

Knee osteoarthritis treated with acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation:a randomized controlled trial

Objective To compare the efficacy differences between acupuncture and western medicine in treating osteoarthritis of knee joints.Methods One hundred and twenty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a western medication group with 60 cases in each group.In the acupuncture group,acupuncture was applied mainly at Nèixīyǎn（内膝眼 EX-LE 4）,Dúbí（犊鼻 ST 35）,Yīnlíngquán（阴陵泉 SP 9） and Yánglíngquán（阳陵泉 GB 34） plus other acupoints selected according to syndrome differentiation.In the medication group,Glucosamine Hydrochloride capsules were orally given 3 times daily with 2 capsules each time.Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index（WOMAC）,Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey（SF-36,Chinese version） were used to assess therapeutic effects before treatment,after 4 weeks treatment and 9 weeks after treatment,respectively.Results After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rates were 86.7%（52/60） and 88.3%（53/60） in the acupuncture group and the western medication group,respectively,without significant difference（P〈0.05）.In 9 weeks after treatment,the total effective rates were 83.3%（50/60） and 61.7%（37/60） in the acupuncture group and the western medication group,respectively,with significant difference between the two groups（P〈0.05）.According to WOMAC and SF-36,the scores were all improved in both groups（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,with significant difference in follow-up visit of 9 weeks after treatment between the two groups（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,but not after 4 weeks of treatments（both P〈0.05）.Conclusion Short-term of therapeutic effects of acupuncture and oral administration of Glucosamine Hydrochloride on osteoarthritis of knee joints are similar,but long-term efficacy in the acupuncture group is better than that in the western medication group.

Ideas on Several Issues of Acupuncture-moxibustion Science

The Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Journal of Acupuneture and Tuina Science witnessed a development of numerous authors. On the occasion of the 6th anniversary of Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, I＇d like to share my ideas about several issues on acupuncturemoxibustion science.

Influence of constitution differences among races on application of acupuncture therapy

Based on the constitution differences among races, the influence of the different constitutions on TCM therapies is approached, raising the differences of different races in tolerance and adaptability to acupuncture, and different treatment principles of acupuncture therapy for different races, and each one case of the black race, the white race and the yellow race recorded in practicing medicine in Britain is taken for discussion. It is expected to be beneficial to the researches on TCM constitutional theories of races and the clinical application.

Prof. CHEN Han-ping： A Thinker in Principles and Practice of Acupuncture-moxibustion

CHEN Han-ping （chief physician, professor, doctoral supervisor, distinguished TCM physician and an expert entitled to the special allowance by the State Council）, was born in November 1937 in Fujian Province. He studied in the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 1957-1963. After graduation, he started to work on clinical treatment and research in Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian. In 1979, he went to the INSERM U-25,

Medical Acupuncture Modality:Principles, Explanatory Model, and Scientific Developments During 2005-2012

Medical acupuncture is a term given to a pragmatic treatment approach used within the public health services in North Western Europe and other Western countries. Its rationale and methods are derived from, but distinct from, classical traditional Chinese medicine as it is practiced in China and in Europe. The article summarizes 9 principles of the medical acupuncture modality, offers an explanatory model, and reviews international research during 2005 to 2012.