ABSTRACT
[Objective] In this study, the pain of receiving acupuncture was evaluated with or without individual finger stalls.<BR>[Design] In a randomized, subject- and operating person-blind, controlled study.<BR>[Methods] Sixteen acupuncturists and same number of normal volunteers participated in this study. Two needles were inserted into each side of the lumbar muscles. The trials were carried out twice using finger stalls and with bare fingers. These trials were performed in random order. Right after the insertion of needles and at the beginning of electrical stimulation, the subjects were asked to answer a questionnaire about the severity and quality of pain on receiving acupuncture. Durations of procedures were measured. We asked the acupuncturists whether they felt any difficulty in performing acupuncture using finger stalls.<BR>[Result] The majority of acupuncturists reported that using the finger stalls during treatment was inconvenient. Although the severity of pain of acupuncture did not significantly differ between that with and that without finger stalls, the average value was slightly higher with finger stalls. The qualities of pain on receiving acupuncture did not significantly differ between the two methods, however, the numbers of selected words differed on some items. The subjects could not recognize the use of individual finger stalls. The use of finger stalls did not influence the duration of the procedure.<BR>[Conclusion] In this study, the qualities of pain on receiving acupuncture did not significantly differ between that with and that without finger stalls. The subjects could not recognize the use of individual finger stalls.
ABSTRACT
Meige syndrome is a disease which is characterized by blepharospasm. We report thefavorable effects of Electro-acupuncture therapy (EAT) on a patient with Meige syndrome.<BR>This patient, a 56-year-old female, received standard medical treatments for 3 months, however the treatementsdid not relieve her from the distress of blepharospasm.<BR>After three months, EAT treatments was included. EAT was applied to the orbicularis ocule muscles and thefacial nerves. The treatment indexes of both the average number of blinks and the Jankovic score were improvedafter EAT, though there had been no changes in the indexes in the first three months without the additional EATtreatment.<BR>The results suggest that EAT is an effective treatment for Meige syndrome.
ABSTRACT
We studied the effect of bath products consisting of sodium bicarbonate and sodium sulfate on living subjects when these products are used with herbal ginseng extract as a trial for a new bath product; changes in dynamic circulation were used as indicators.<br>Experiments were conducted from December 1990 to February 1991 on 20 subjects consisting of healthy male adults (35.6±8.9 years).<br>Two types of bath products were used. One consists of sodium bicarbonate and sodium sulfate and the other was the combination of the former with ginseng extracted by alcohol. Twenty five grams of each product was dissolved in 200 liters of water.<br>As indicators of dynamic circulation, skin surface temperature on thorax, abdomen, dorsal side of hand and dorsum of foot, volume of blood flow in leg skin (on tibia), deep body temperature in frontal region and right calf, electrocardiograph, blood pressure, and the volume of the pulsewave in the right index finger and big toe were measured. After the experiment, each subject's opinion was gathered through a questionnaire.<br>The experiment was performed in an air conditioned room (26°C and 50% humidity) with bathing at 41°C for 10 minutes. The value of each indicator was measured before bathing and 15, 30, 45, and 60min after bathing.<br>Although no significant differences in measured values were found between the two kinds of bathing, we observed faster decrease in skin temperature and faster lowering of blood flow rate in the ginseng bath group as compared with the control group. We also noted a decreased difference in pulsewave height between upper and lower extremities after bathing in the ginseng bath group, but not in the control group. This response was observed solely in the ginseng bath group because a significant increase in pulsewave height occurred in the big toe while no increase is observed in the fingers in contrast to the control group.<br>Faster decrease in blood flow rate in the skin and increase in pulsewave height caused by the exposure to the same temperature imply increased heat conducting distance and interruption of heat transfer from deep areas to the skin. We therefore conclude that ginseng bathing is effective in keeping the body warm. The results of inquiries after bathing indicated that many subjects felt that ginseng bathing tended to warm their bodies.<br>As a result of using ginseng extracted by alcohol with bath products consisting of sodium bicarbonate and sodium sulfate, differences in peripheral vessel resistance between extremities tended to decrease after bathing. We consider that this is due to the improved general circulation throughout the whole body.