Comparative study on curative effects of stroke treated with acupuncture by NIRS / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the intracephalic imaging differences of stroke treated with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture and body acupuncture only, in order to apply the image basis for the differences of clinical curative effects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty cases of stroke were randomized into a body acupuncture group (group A) and a scalp and body acupuncture group (group B), ten cases in each group respectively. In group A, body acupuncture was applied simply, and different acupoints were selected according to the symptoms: Shousanli (LI 10), Jianliao (TE 14), Huantiao (GB 30) and Jiaji (EX-B 2) etc. were selected for hemiplegia, Fengchi (GB 20), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Quanliao (SI 18) etc. were for facial paralysis, Fengfu (GV 16) and Lianquan (CV 23) etc. were for aphasia. In group B, combined therapy were applied, the body acupoints selection was same as above; for scalp acupoints, corresponding motor area, sensory area and foot motor sensory area were selected. Instant changes of local cerebral blood flow before and after treatment were examined and evaluated by NIRS and the curative effects of both groups were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total therapeutic effective rate was 90.0% (9/10) and the basically cured rate was 30.0% (3/10) in group A; and 100.0% (10/10) and 50.0% (5/10) respectively in group B, indicating that the clinical curative effect in group B was superior to that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05). Both imaging results showed that blood flows of prefrontal cortex in both groups were increased with varying degrees after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the cerebral blood flow in group B was much more improved than that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture can significantly increase blood flow and oxygen saturation in brain cortex, and the effect with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture is superior to that with body acupuncture.</p>

Effects of electric-moxibustion on brain mantle accessed with near-infrared imaging / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of electric-moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) or Shenque (CV 8) on the cerebral blood flow.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty healthy volunteer were treated by electric-moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) or Shenque (CV 8) with multi-functional electric-moxibustion instrument. The changes of the forehead cortex blood flow during moxibustion were detected by dynamic continuous spectrum near-infrared imaging.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences as the forehead cortex blood flow after electric-moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) for 20 and 30 minutes compared with their initial data (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); and as the forehead cortex blood flow after electric-moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) for 10, 20 and 30 minutes compared with their initial data (P<0. 05, P<0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electric-moxibustion at both Baihui (GV 20) and Shenque (CV 8) can improve the volume of brain cortex blood flow and electric-moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) has rapid effect.</p>

Clinical observation on combined acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for treatment of 160 cases of polyneuritis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe clinical therapeutic effect of combined acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on polyneuritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and sixty cases were treated with combined scalp acupuncture, body acupuncture (stimulating root of nerve as main), cupping and pricking at segmental root of nerve, and electric hot moxibustion, and their therapeutic effects were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and thirty-eight cases were cured (86.3%) and the total effective rate was 100.0%. The average recovery time for clinical symptoms was 12.81 days, the average recovery time for nervous system signs was 19.76 days, the average recovery time for recovery of ocular muscular dyskinesia was 15.14 days. There was significant therapeutic effect for improvement of simple symptoms, with significant differences when the first and second therapeutic courses compared with that before treatment (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined acupuncture and moxibustion therapy has a definite therapeutic effect on polyneuritis.</p>