Application of meridian and acupoint diagnosis of three yin meridians of foot in the treatment for gynecological diseases with acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

With three representative types of gynecological diseases (dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammation, polycystic ovary syndrome) as examples, the application methods of meridian and acupoint diagnosis for gynecological diseases treated with acupuncture and moxibustion are discussed. During clinical diagnosis and treatment, it is recommended to examine the patient's leg segment along the three yin meridians of foot, aiming to explore the positive reactions of the meridians and acupoints (color, shape, skin temperature, sensory abnormalities, etc.). Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment at this positive reaction place can improve the clinical efficacy. Meridian and acupoint diagnosis could provide basis for meridian syndrome differentiation, thus guiding the selection of acupoint prescriptions; it is also helpful to clarify the deficiency, excess, cold and heat of the disease nature, thus guiding the selection of acupuncture and moxibustion methods. In addition, it is an auxiliary method to estimate the prognosis and outcome of the disease.

Regularity of body surface resistance at the acupoints of three yin meridians of the foot in reflecting physiological changes of the uterus / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the specific regularity of body surface resistance at different acupoints of the meridians associated with the uterus in reflecting menstrual cycle by observing the change in body surface resistance at source points, cleft points, confluent points, and non-specific points of three yin meridians of the foot in different menstrual cycles in normal female college students, to lay a foundation for the in-depth research on the mechanism of acupoints reflecting the function of zang-fu, and to provide a reference for the clinical and scientific research on the biophysical characteristics of menstrual cycle-related acupoints in normal female. METHODS: A total of 90 normal female college students were recruited. The source points, cleftpoints, confluent points, and non-specific points of three yin meridians of the foot which were located in the adjacent spinal segments of the uterus were selected, and body surface resistance was monitored for 30 consecutive minutes at the same time-points of menstrual phase, follicular phase, ovulation phase, and luteal phase to observe the change in the resistance of each acupoint during the menstrual cycle. RESULTS: There was no significant change in the resistance value of unilateral acupoints during the menstrual cycle (P>0.05). In the same period, there was no significant difference in resistance value between unilateral three source points, three cleftpoints, different acupoints of the spleen meridian, and different acupoints of lumbar 4 dermatomere (P>0.05). As for the comparison of resistance of the same acupoint at the left and right sides, Taichong (LR3) at the left side had a higher resistance value than that at the right side in the menstrual phase (P<0.05); Taibai (SP3) at the left side had a higher resistance value than that at the right side in the ovulation phase (P<0.05); Zhongdu (LR6) at the left side had a higher resistance value than that at the right side in the follicular phase, the ovulation phase, and the luteal phase (P<0.05); Taixi (KI3), Diji (SP8), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) at the left side had a higher resistance value than those at the right side in the menstrual phase, the follicular phase, the ovulation phase, and the luteal phase (P<0.05); Shuiquan (KI5) at the left side had a lower resistance value than that at the right side in these four phases (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The change trend of the resistance of the acupoints at the left and right sides associated with the three yin meridians of the foot can specifically reflect the change in qi and blood in the uterus during the menstrual cycle. The change trend of the source and cleft points of the liver meridian in the menstrual phase is different from that in the other phases, and the change trend of SP3, a source point of the spleen meridian, in the ovulation phase is different from that in the other phases, which suggests the specificity of meridian points in reflecting function. The mechanism by which meridian points reflect the function of zang-fu is associated with the meridian points and the spinal cord segments of zang-fu, and meanwhile, it has a specific relationship with the meridians to which meridian points belong and the attributes of acupoints.

Changes of microcirculation in superficial tissues of acupoint regions of lower leg during menstrual cycle in healthy young girls / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To observe changes of microcirculation in the superficial regions of acupoints of the three Yin meridians of foot during the menstrual cycle in young college students, so as to provide experimental evidence for explaining the saying of traditional Chinese medicine that acupoints reflect the state of physiological and pathological activities of the internal organs. METHODS: Ninety healthy female volunteer college students were recruited in the present study. The subjects were asked to take a supine position on an examination couch to expose the Yuan-primary acupoints Taixi (KI3), Taibai (SP3) and Taichong (LR3), and Xi-cleft acupoints Shuiquan (KI5), Diji (SP8) and Zhongdu (LR6) which are related to the uterus of the three Yin meridians of foot， the crossing acupoints of the three Yin meridians of foot Sanyinjiao (SP6), non-specific acupoint of the Spleen meridian Xuehai (SP10), non-related meridian acupoint Xuanzhong (GB39) and non-meridian-non-acupoint (being at the same level of GB39, between the Stomach and Gallbladder meridians on the lateral aspect of the lower leg). The laser speckle blood flow imaging technique was used to detect the state of microcirculation (average blood perfusion volume) during menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases. RESULTS: The average blood perfusion volume (ABPV) of the right SP8 region was significantly lower in the menstrual phase than in the ovulation and luteal phases (P<0.05), and in the follicular phase than in the ovulation phase (P<0.05). In the left LR6 region, the ABPV was obviously lower in the menstrual period than in the follicular, ovulation and luteal phases (P<0.05). In the SP8, SP6, KI3 and KI5 regions, the ABPV was significantly higher in each of the 4 phases on the left side than on the right side (P<0.05). In the right GB39, the ABPV in each of the 4 phases was apparently higher on the right side than on the left side (P<0.05). In the SP10 region, the ABPV was considerably higher on the left side than on the right side in the ovulation period (P<0.05). The ABPV of SP3 in the menstrual phase and that of the non-acupoint in the luteal phase were significantly higher on the right side than on the left side (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The blood perfusion of microcirculation in the superficial tissues of Xi-cleft acupoints SP8 and LR6 is obviously lower in the menstrual phase than in both of the ovulation and luteal phases in healthy young college students, which may specifically reflect the periodical activities of the uterus in the physiological state, and provide a basis of acupoint selection for menstrual healthy care.

Clinical effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three meridians of wrist on wrist joint contracture after stroke / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three meridians of wrist combined with rehabilitation training and simple rehabilitation training on wrist joint contracture after stroke.@*METHODS@#A total of 72 patients with wrist joint contracture after stroke were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 36 cases in each one. In the control group, simple rehabilitation training was applied, 5 times a week, 3 weeks as one course and totally 3 courses were required. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, plum-blossom needle tapping at three meridians of wrist was adopted in the observation group. The tapping regions were wrist traveling parts of three meridians of hand, ranging from up 3 to below 1 of wrist crease, 3 times a week, 3 weeks as one course and totally 3 courses were required. The active range of motion (AROM) of active wrist extension, Fugl-Meyer score (FMA) and Barthel index (BI) score were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#The AROM, FMA scores and BI scores after treatment in the two groups were superior to before treatment (<0.05), and the improvements of 3 indexes in the observation group were superior to the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle tapping at three meridians of wrist combined with rehabilitation training is superior to simple rehabilitation training on wrist joint contracture after stroke.

Effects of acupuncture on muscle tension of lower limb in children with spastic cerebral palsy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of acupuncture at different acupoints in meridians and meridians on lower limb muscle tension in children with spastic cerebral palsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety children with spastic cerebral palsy aged between 2 to 6 years old were divided into a yin-meridian group, a yang-meridian group and a rehabilitation group, 30 cases in each one. The patients in the rehabilitation group were treated with routine rehabilitation treatment; the patients in the yin-meridian group were treated with routine rehabilitation treatment and acupuncture at Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3) and Taichong (LR 3) along meridians; the patients in the yang-meridian group were treated with routine rehabilitation treatment and acupuncture at Futu (ST 32), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Guangming (GB 37) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) along meridians. All the three groups were treated once each other day, 10 times as one course, and totally 20-day treatment was given. Before and after treatment, modified Ashworth scale (MAS), clinical spasm index (CSI) and integrated electromyography (iEMG) of surface electromyogram of gastrocnemius muscle were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared before treatment, the MAS and CSI in the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were improved after treatment (<0.05, <0.01); the differences before and after treatment in the rehabilitation group were not significant (both >0.05). After treatment, the differences between the rehabilitation group and yin-meridian group, yang-meridian group were significant (<0.05, <0.01); the differences of MAS and CSI between the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were not significant (both >0.05). Compared before the treatment, the right-side iEMG and left-side iEMG were reduced in the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group (all <0.05); the right-side iEMG was increased in the rehabilitation group (<0.05). After treatment, the iEMG in the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were lower than that in the rehabilitation group (all <0.05); the differences of iEMG before and after treatment in the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were higher than that in the rehabilitation group (all <0.05); the differences of iEMG between the yin-meridian group and yang-meridian group were not significant (both >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at meridians and meridians could reduce muscle tension of lower limb and improve limb spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy, and the two acupuncture methods have similar clinical curative effect.</p>