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
Bell's palsy, most frequently occurring in peripheral facial paralysis, is a well-recoverable disease showing spontaneous healing in 70% of patients. This chronic patient of Bell's palsy has persisted for more than two years. Many medical institutes have diagnosed that it was very difficult to remedy completely. The rating score was 24 (full score : 40 points), having sequelae of synkinesis, facial spasm, crocodile tears and other problems. By thermography, the temperature difference between the normal side and the paralyzed side was 0.9°C, and the paralyzed side's temperature was lower. To improve microcirculation on the paralyzed side, electro-acupuncture treatment has been applied to the facial nerve and facial expression muscles. <BR>After evaluating mainly the score for facial paralysis and thermography, the score was increased with disappearance of the temperature difference between the normal side and the paralyzed side. Subjectively, it also became easier to move facial expression muscles, and the phenomenon of crocodile tears was decreased. Long-term electro-acupuncture treatment is considered to be effective for improving the microcirculation and enhancing the QOL of the patient.
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
The purpose of this study was to observe the effect on the change of heart rate and respiratory function by four kinds of different stimulation. We applied low frequency stimulation (1-30Hz) to 15 healthy volunteers. Each subject received stimulation at both 1Hz and 30Hz on Hegu (LI4)/Kong zui (L6) and rhomboids muscles.<br>The results indicated that a 1Hz current injection on the rhomboids muscle was the most effective for the respiratory function. An increase in the forced vital capacity (FVC) and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and a decrease in the peak expiratory flow (PF) were observed. The change showed a similar tendency to that of a 1Hz stimulation to the rhomboids muscles of the patients wish asthma. This results suggests that the clinical application of acupuncture stimulation is feasible for respiratory diseases.<br>We also observed a correlation between the respiratory function and the autonomic function of heart on the 30Hz stimulation using points Hegu (LI4) and Kong zui (L6).