Needle-embedding treatment for hemifacial spasm: research progress / 中国针灸

The articles regarding needle-embedding treatment for hemifacial spasm published before September 30, 2019 were searched from SinoMed, Wanfang, CNKI, VIP and PubMed database, and were analyzed and summarized from treatment methods, acupoint selection, stage differentiation and action mechanism. As a result, 45 Chinese articles were obtained. The needle-embedding treatment was divided into intradermal needling and acupoint thread-embedding; the top five acupoints were Sibai (ST 2), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6) and spasm trigger points. The basic research of needle-embedding treatment for hemifacial spasm is weak, and the literature regarding stage differentiation is insufficient, which are in need of further study.

Advances in application of needle-embedding therapy in rapid recovery during perioperative period / 国际中医中药杂志

Needle-embedding therapy is characterized by shallow puncture and long retention of needle, which can reduce the pain during acupuncture and prolong the time of acupuncture effect to improve the effect, especially suitable for perioperative patients. The study shows that the clinical application of needle-embedding therapy has the effects of sedation, analgesia, reducing stress response, protecting gastrointestinal function and promoting postoperative recovery. The paper shows the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment in the field of rapid recovery during perioperative period and provides a new method for perioperative patients.

Feasibility study of acupuncture treatment on the miniature pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To explore the feasibility of needle-embedding therapy in the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia using a miniature pig model established by placement of an Ameroid constrictor at the left anterior descending branch (LAD) of coronary artery in Bama miniature pigs during surgery. Methods The miniature pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia was established by placement of an Ameroid constrictor at the left anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery in Bama miniature pigs. The pig models were randomly divided into the treatment group (the"Neiguan " group) and the control group (the "Zusanli " group), and were treated with needle- embedding electroacupuncture at the"Neiguan" (PC6) and "Zusanli" (ST36) acupoints, respectively. Myocardial samples were taken at 6 weeks after surgery for light and electron microscopic examinations. Results Gross pathology showed that ischemic area in the myocardium appeared in both experimental groups. The ischemic area in the "Zusanli "group was larger than that of the"Neiguan"group. Histopathology showed that the acupuncture treatment at the"Neiguan"acupoint reduced the ischemic injury in the pig myocardial tissues. Ultrastructural observation of the myocardium showed mitochondrial vacuolization in cardiomyocytes and myocardial fibrosis in both groups. Conclusions Acupuncture therapy at the"Neiguan"acupoint of pericardial channel may exert protective effect on the myocardial ischemia by reducing the ischemia-injury of cardiomyocytes, but can not inhibit the already existed ischemia-induced cardiomyocytic injuries. Our findings suggest that the establishment of miniature pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia by surgically placing an Ameroid constrictor on the left anterior descending branch of left coronary artery and the needle-embedding in acupoints is feasible for the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia in this pig model.

Two Cases of Facial Foreign Body Granuloma Induced by Needle-Embedding Therapy / 대한피부과학회지

In oriental medicine, "needle-embedding therapy" or "acupoint embedding therapy" is currently being used for cosmetic purposes such as correcting facial wrinkles and face-lifting. However, there is not much knowledge about the adverse events associated with needle-embedding therapy. We herein report on two cases of foreign body granuloma that developed due to injection of acupoint embedding thread by herbal medicine doctors. Two women aged 48 and 36 years old presented with erythematous plaques and patches with crust on the face, respectively. They had previously received several sessions of needle-embedding therapy for facial rejuvenation in an oriental medicine clinic. The diagnosis of foreign body granuloma was confirmed by the histological findings.

Facial Foreign Body Granuloma by Gold Thread Needle-embedding Therapy / 대한피부과학회지

We read with interest a paper published in a recent issue of the Korean Journal of Dermatology, in which Baek et al. presented two cases of facial foreign body granulomas induced by needle-embedding therapy. The cases were foreign body granulomas induced by acupoint embedding thread by doctors of Oriental medicine. Recently we managed a patient who presented with two linear, fluctuating, erythematous nodules with a purulent discharge involving the left cheek 2 months after gold thread needle-embedding therapy, a so called gold-lifting procedure, in which gold thread is embedded via acupuncture for the purpose of face-lifting. A biopsy obtained from the lesion showed acute and chronic inflammatory cells with foreign body-type giant cells throughout the dermis and subcutis. Under the diagnosis of a foreign body reaction with clinicopathologic examination, we treated her several times with incision and drainage and oral corticosteroids. After 1 year of treatment, the lesions did not recur during 3 months of follow-up.

Clinical Study on Combined Needle-embedding and Medication for Depressive Sleep Disorder / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of combined needle-embedding and SSRIs for depressive sleep disorder. Method: Upon admission, 71 depression cases were randomized into needle-embedding group of 24 cases, using combined needle-embedding and SSRIs, acupuncture group of 21 cases, using combined acupuncture and SSRIs, and medication group of 26 cases, using SSRIs alone. After 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment, the HAMD sleep scores were compared. Result: The HAMD sleep scores in the needle-embedding and acupuncture group were remarkably superior to the medication group and there was significant statistical difference after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.01). However, there was no statistical difference after 6 weeks of treatment. Conclusion: SSRIs can improve HAMD sleep scores. The combined needle-embedding or acupuncture with SSRIs can work faster and better than medication alone. There was no statistical difference between needle-embedding and acupuncture group, however, needle-embedding can reduce the treatment frequencies and therefore has more active clinical meaning.

Clinical Observation of Vascular Headache Treated by Acupuncture plus Needle-Embedding Method / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Purpose: In order to explore the clinical effect in acupuncture treatment of vascular headache. Methods: 93 cases of vascular headache were randomly auocated into acupuncture group (n= 30), treated by puncturing Fengchi (GB 20), Ashi point and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on the sick side, acupuncture plus needle-embedding group (n= 36), treated by basic acupuncture treatment plus needle-embedding method in Taiyang (Ex-HN 5) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) on the sick side, and control group (n = 27), treated with oral administration of 5 mg Sibelium,twice a day, for observation of the changes in the clinical symptoms before and after treatments in the patients of three groups. Results: After treatment, the clinical symptoms in the patients of three groups were relieved or disappeared. The recent therapeutic effect was better in acupuncture plus needle-embedding group than in the control group (P＜ 0.05), and there was no significant difference (P＞ 0.05) between the acupuncture plus needle-embedding group and acupuncture group and there was no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05) between acupuncture group and control group, either. The long-term therapeutic effect was better in the acupuncture plus needle-embedding group than in the control group (P＜ 0.01), in the acupuncture group than in the control group (P ＜ 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the acupuncture plus needle-embedding group and acupuncture group. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment of vascular headache offers a better recent and long-term therapeutic effect, and acupuncture plus needle-embedding method is much better in the therapeutic effect.