ABSTRACT
At the 45th Japanese National Acupuncture and Moxibustion Conference, Kitakoji et al. of the Research Committee's Urology Group reported the results of controlled clinical trials, using the envelope method, on the effectiveness of acupuncture for urinary dysfunction. This was presented as a case in which the “Guidelines and Recommendations for clinical Trials in Acupuncture” were applied in actual clinical research. A controlled investigation was carried out by the Information and Evaluation Group, Research Section, Aichi Regional Association, at multiple institutions (9 hospitals and clinics) on the effectiveness of the zhongji (cv-3) point for urinary dysfunction, using the envelope method of Kitakoji et al. Although the zhongji (cv-3) point was not found to be effective against urinary dysfunction, we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to conduct controlled clinical trials at multiple institutions based on soft data.
ABSTRACT
Many patients present with indefinite symptoms which are thought to be due to stress. Recently, an increasing number of patients are being treated at acupunctural clinics for these symptoms. We describe a patient with bronchial asthma who presented with multiple indefinite symptoms. We decided to treat this patient with Taikyoku Ryohoh (Kurono-shiki basic meridian points for total conditioning of the body). A total of 21 treatments was given. Most of the symptoms, including asthma, disappeared as a result of Taikyoku Ryohoh. Moreover, patholoqical signs, which had been evident before treatment, were ameliorated. Clinical assessment charts for patients with indefinite symptoms were used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. These charts were devised by members of the indefinite symptoms study group of the Japanese Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Indefinite symptoms were reduced by 43.6% after Taikyoku Ryohoh. Thus, this form of therapy was effective in treating indefinite symptoms.