ABSTRACT
It is presumed that oversensitivity to cold is derived from the imbalance of the autonomic nervous system. As a result of the cold condition, the patient may complain of various other problems as well. According to oriental medicine, the main origin of oversensitivity to cold is the invasion of cold, an external evil. In neurometry, this symptom is depicted by low measurement values. Before each treatment session we performed neurometry to assess the patient's condition. Then we performed general Ryodoraku regulation therapy, using a 60mm length, 0.24mm diameter needle as a 200μA (12V) negative electrode for 7 seconds. withI the objective of tonifying and warming the body. In addition, we performed half-rice grain size moxibustion 7 flashing moxas on the special effective extraordinary meridian points. Hanfeng, Lisanli, and main meridian points Fengmen, Zhishi. Neurometry revealed that oversensitivity to cold is related to values of the F, Ryodoraku which are lower than the normal physiological range. The treatment indicated by neurometry proved to be successful in increasing the F, Ryodoraku values.
ABSTRACT
In previous papers, we experimentally demonstrated the enhancing effect of D-phenylalanine (DPA) administration on the analgesic effect of acupuncture by the increase of pain threshold. In the present study, we examined the effect of administration manners in the patients with chronic lumbago who visited our anaesthesiological department. We conducted a double-blind study with two different administration manners: “previous-day” and “just-before”.<br>METHODS<br>Fifty-six patients suffering from chronic low back pain for more than three months were devided into two groups. DPA or placebo was orally administered intwo different manners prior to low-frequency electro-acupuncture treatment. Group I patients (26 cases), took 0.5g three times (i. e. a total of 1.5g): after the evening meal and before go to bed on the day before, and after the beakfast on the day of acupuncture (“previous-day” administration). Group II patients (30 cases), took 4.5g 30 minutes before acupuncture treatment “just-before” administration. The treatment was undertaken twice with DPA administration and twice with placebo administration for each group. “Direct effect” was determined by the number scale method and a comparison between the two groups was made. In the additional experiment, three volunteers were orally given 4.0g or 1.5g DPA, and blood phenylalanine level was determined two hours, four hours and one month later.<br>RESULTS<br>In the group I (previous-day administration), “DPA+acupuncture” produced the following result: excellent 7.8%, good 69.2%, moderate 19.2%, (significantly different from placebo administration). In the group II (just-before administration), “DPA+acupuncture” produced the following result: excellent 23%, good 37%, moderate 20%, and no-effect 20% (significantly different from placebo administration). Comparing group I with group II, the percentage of the “excellent” or “good” cases in the former was larger than that of the latter (+17%). Blood phenylalanine level showed its high value 2-4 hours after administration of 4g DPA, whereas 2 hours after that of 1.5g DPA.<br>Conducting a clinical investigation into the effectual administration (timing and doses) of DPA, we found that previous-day administration is more effective than “just-before” administration in enhancing effect of acupuncture analgesia. Although there is room for further studies with a larger number of cases, considering that DPA has a “slow onset long acting” effect (Ehrenpreis), we can conclude that the series administration of DPA on the day before acupuncture treatment is advisable.