ABSTRACT
[Purpose]Various factors may affect tinnitus, but the effects of acupuncture on tinnitus have not been evaluated. Therefore, we accumulated cases, and evaluated the characteristic effects of acupuncture on tinnitus.<BR>[Methods]Of 46 patients with tinnitus who visited the Acupuncture Clinic, Meiji School of Oriental Medicine between April 2004 and March 2014, 31 who underwent acupuncture therapy consecutively 5 times or more were included as the subjects for analysis. The median age of the subjects was 60 years old (range: 26-88 years old), and the duration of tinnitus was 1 month or more in 81%of the cases. A total of 29 patients had visited otolaryngological clinics, and hearing loss had been detected in 23patients. Tinnitus loudness was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), handicap due to tinnitus in daily life with the Japanese version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and tinnitus persistence and annoyance with the subjective expression of the Standard Tinnitus Test (1993). In situ acupuncture was performed once per week at acupoints around the mastoid process, such as at GB 12 (Wangu), and at points in the head and neck area that changed the tinnitus when compressed.<BR>[Results]At the completion of acupuncture therapy, the tinnitus loudness evaluated by VAS was significantly decreased. THI scores and annoyance also significantly decreased, but tinnitus persistence did not change. Tinnitus change was observed in 6 patients during the compression of points in the head and neck, and for all of them tinnitus reduction was observed at the completion of acupuncture therapy. Of the other 21 patients, who showed no change during the compression of points in the head and neck, tinnitus reduction was observed in 57%, no change in 14%, and aggravation in 29%.<BR>[Discussion and Conclusion]Acupuncture might reduce tinnitus loudness, annoyance, and handicap caused by it in daily life. Acupuncture therapy may be effective for patients in whom tinnitus changes during the compression of points in the head and neck area, suggesting the involvement of somatosensory stimulation in its development.
ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating rhinitis due to allergic reaction to housedust and mites was tested by inducing an allergic response through a nasal mucosa test and observing the influence of acupuncture stimulation in the stellate ganglion. Stimulating the ganglion of the same side as that nasal passage which was most strongly blocked obtained suppression of nasal drip on that side with improvement in clearance of the nasal air passage in four out of five subjects. This is thought to be due to the excitation of the sympathetic nervous system in the cervical region.<br>Next, acupuncture therapy was coupled with conservative therapy to test their usefulness in combination. Seven subjects were treated for allergic rhinitis and of these, six subjects' subjective symptoms (such as nasal obstruction) improved immediately after the acupuncture stimulation. Of these six subjects, two subjects' improved condition continued while the other four subjects' relief lasted only one day.<br>Then five of the subjects were given long term acupuncture treatment with all five subjects having a complete improvement of their nasal allergy symptoms to housedust and mites.
ABSTRACT
A statistical study on effects of laser-puncture was carried out. In addition, an attempt was made to compare between the effect of acupuncture and this method. The treatments were under-taken for various chronic and acute cases with pain. In the laser-puncture treatment, two types of laser (<i>i, e.</i> low energy 10mW laser and 70mW sharp laser) were used. Laser-beam was given to 20-30 points which were located in painful areas, innervating nerve areas and remote areas for 40 sec for each.<br>In the open study, 10mW laser-puncture was effective (including ‘rather effective’) in 64% of the cases, and 70mW laser-puncture 73%. In the blind test, ‘the day’ evaluation showed that the laser-punctures were more effective than placebo treatment: 10mW laser-puncture was effective in 80% of the cases, and placebo in 67%. 70mW laser-puncture was effective in 87% of them, and placebo in 80%. <i>In situ</i> acupuncture was effective in 97%, and no effect was seen in 7%.<br>Only ‘the day’ evaluation in the open study showed that 70mW laser-puncture was more effective than 10mW one. In the blind best, 10mW and 70mW laser-puncture were more effective than placebo, and in situ acupuncture was more effective than the laser-punctures, but there were no significant differences among the three treatmets.