ABSTRACT
Objective:We successfully treated a patient suffering from pain and numbness in the waist and lower limbs with phobia. Sedative acupuncture treatment was performed in addition to somatic treatment.<BR>Case:A 64-year-old woman complained mainly of pain and numbness in the right waist and the lower limbs and had a sense of fear. Following the postoperative pain of lumbar disk herniation (L4-L5) in X-14 year, dorsal positioning without grasping anything frequently triggered a sense of fear with a scary feeling that her body was suspended in midair, which could not be alleviated by medication. As the symptoms in the waist and lower limbs recurred due to a fall in January of X year, she consulted an orthopedist in April. She was given a diagnosis of lumbar disk hernia (L5-S1) and hospitalized. Since the symptoms sustained, she consulted the department of acupuncture attached to the Kansai University of Health Sciences Clinic in November. The sense of fear triggered by dorsal position in the acupuncture treatment interfered with the treatment. When she was referred to the department of psychosomatic medicine, the diagnosis of "Other types"of the DSM-IV "300.29 specific phobia"was given. While low-frequency acupuncture electrotherapy on the same side and the same level as the hernia was provided, we applied sedative acupuncture treatment once a week 30 times using the following acupuncture points:GV23;PC6;CV17;and CV6. Before and after every acupuncture treatment after the 10th, the symptoms were evaluated with Finger Floor Distance (FFD), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain and mood (feelings) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). <BR>Results:The sense of fear during the acupuncture treatment slowly decreased after the 14th treatment. Decreases in FFD, VAS for pain and mood (feelings), and state anxiety score of STAI were observed. The pain and the numbness in the waist and the lower limbs decreased in parallel with the sense of fear. Furthermore, the dosage of hypnotic agent decreased gradually as sleep improved. <BR>Conclusion:Pain and numbness in the waist and the lower limbs with phobia were relieved by sedative acupuncture treatment.
ABSTRACT
[Objective] To compare the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture with that of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of lower back pain and to investigate problems with conducting rigorous trials in Japan. [Design] A multi-center, randomized, observer-blinded, controlled trial with two parallel arms. [Setting] Four medical facilities affiliated with universities or colleges in Japan. [Subjects and methods] Low back pain patients without sciatica suffering for at least two weeks were randomly assigned to either an acupuncture with electro stimulation group (Group A) or a TENS group (Group T). Plans called to recruit 80 patients in the protocol. Patients in both groups were treated twice a week for 2 weeks with 1 Hz electro-stimulation for 15 minutes. Visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain relief and the scores recommended by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA Score) were measured. Primary endpoint was improvement of pain that was assessed from the changes in VAS. [Results] Three patients were withdrawn after one-week run-in period and one patient was withdrawn from Group A during treatment the period. Consequently, 31 in group A and 33 in group T completed the trials and were available for evaluation. There was no difference between the groups in primary endpoint and JOA scores. [Discussion] Problem of patient recruitment should be resolved by strategically selecting facilities or by advertising for participants. Future investigation with attentive trials using adequate intervention is required to conclude whether or not acupuncture exceeds TENS in efficacy. [Conclusion] There was no statistical difference between electro-acupuncture and TENS for lumbago in this study.
ABSTRACT
The relationship between coldness of the hands and feet (“Hiesho”) and Blood Stagnation (“Oketsu”), a disorder description unique to Oriental Medicine, was examined using the Oketsu score of five Hiesho cases based on the Terasawa Oketsu Diagnostic Criteria. The effects of acupuncture treatment were studied by evaluating Oketsu symptoms and accompanying complaints, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and subjective evaluation of coldness of the hands and feet.<br>The results were as follows:<br>1) 100% of the five females with Hiesho were also positive for the Oketsu factor.<br>2) The Oketsu score showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) upon treatment with acupuncture.<br>3) An improvement in subjective Hiesho symptoms (VAS) was seen in three of the five cases upon acupuncture treatment.<br>4) It was suggested that the subjective improvement in Hiesho symptoms, i. e., coldness of the hands and feet, was related to the disappearance of the resistance and pain upon pressure in the ileocecal region that is characteristic of Oketsu, and the improvement in menstrual disorders.
ABSTRACT
The levels of stress-related hormones in the blood were measured before and after doing Qi Gong health-maintenance exercises, and a control group of walkers with a similar level of movement selected for the basis of a comparative study. The adrenaline, noradrenaline and growth hormone responses of the Qi Gong group were compared with the pre-exercise values. Although no significant difference was observed immediately after exercise, there was a significant drop in all values 30 minutes after exercising. Similar changes in the blood cortisol were noted in the Qi Gong group and walker group. Compared with the pre-exercise value, both group exhibited significant reduction in blood cortisol both immediately following exercise and 30 minutes after exercise, with the lowest value occurring 30 minutes after exercise. In contrast to the increase in stress-related hormones typical after light exercise that was seen in the walker group, the significant reduction response seen in the stress-related hormones of the Qi Gong group with the similar amount of movement was seen as unusual. This suggested that Qi Gong may be a positive means of stress-reduction and a useful health-maintenance method in today's stressful society.
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 order to studying the action mechanism of moxibustion from a viewpoint of the sexual periodicity, an experiment was attempted to ascertain whether the irregular estrous cycles were able to recover the regular cyclicity by preiodic moxibustion in rats ovariectomized and transplanted subcutaneously with the ovaries.<br>From the day of operation, two groups of the rats were given every four days subcutaneous injections of 2.0mg of progesterone, and 0.5mg of reserpine, respectively, for 40 days. one group of the rats were used as moxibustion animals. 5mg of moxa was every four days divided into 6 cones and they were treated by each 2 cones at right GB-25, left GB-25 and GV-20, respectively, for 40 days. Vaginal smears were recorded every day during the treatment period and subsequent 40 days. It is suggested that an isochronal 4-day rhythm appears to be established as early as about 10 to 20 days after the start of the moxibustion receiving animals and the results of experiment gave nearly agreement with the value that were given every four days injections of 2mg of progesterone, respectively, for 40 days.
ABSTRACT
We examined effects of electro-acupuncture on the jaw opening reflex. Using rats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (40mg/kg: intraperitoneal) the jaw opening reflex was evoked by electrical stimulation of the dental pulp. The reflex was evoked by electro-myograms were recorded from the digastric muscle, showing di- or triphasic potentials with latency of about 6 msec. The dental pulp stimulation was preceded by single pulse electroacupuncture (EA) of the fore- or hind-leg.<br>Facilitation followed by inhibition of the jaw opening reflex was induced by the EA. The facilitation lasted for about 20 msec and 30 msec in case of the fore- and hind-leg EAs, respectively. The following inhibition was observed up to about 300 msec and 400 msec after the fore- and hind-le2 EA9, respectively.<br>It is worthy of note that train pulse EAs diminished inhibition of the jaw opening reflex.