Acupuncture and Meridian Studies

Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis with the Yuan-Luo Point Pair: A Clinical Case Report Publication date: Available online 3 June 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Jonathan Day Abstract This case report chronicles the treatment of a case of plantar fasciitis with acupuncture and tuina over six clinic visits. The patient was a 41-year-old female with plantar fasciitis for two months. A variety of acupuncture and electroacupuncture protocols were used at first, with no benefit. After the fourth and fifth visits, however, the patient experienced total relief of pain and a significant reduction in stiffness that persisted through her final visit two weeks later. These later treatments included the yuan-luo (origin-connecting) acupuncture point pair KI 3 and BL 58, which is one possible explanation for their effectiveness. The yuan-luo pair is a classical point combination with much theory behind it, yet no studies have been published regarding its practical uses in clinic. This case is an example of one practical application of the pair; further examples are needed.

The Analogy Between the Tradition Chinese Acupuncture and Phlebotomy in Medieval Bohemia Publication date: Available online 17 May 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Alexandr Ivanov

Complete Recovery Following Electroacupuncture Therapy in Refractory Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss Publication date: Available online 26 April 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Warangkana Arpornchayanon, Supanimit Teekachunhatean Abstract Role of electroacupuncture (EA) in refractory unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) remains unclear but might be promising for the Meniere's disease. Two cases of unilateral SNHL who were unresponsive to conventional treatment of sudden SNHL showed complete recovery after receiving EA therapy. The first case was a 46-year-old woman who received EA in the seventh month after the acute onset of sudden right hearing loss and tinnitus. She had mild-to-moderate degree of SNHL at high frequencies in the right ear with episodic vertigo. The second case was a 55-year-old woman who received EA in the sixth year after developing sudden SNHL in the right ear. Before the EA began, her pure tone average of the affected ear was 45 dB and the phonetically balanced score was 88%. The regimen for both patients included 12 sessions of EA over four weeks at the main acupoints (Tinggong (SI 19), Ermen (TE 21), Qimai (TE 18), Yifeng (TE 17), and Zhongzhu (TE 3)) on the affected ear and the bilateral adjuvant acupoints (Hegu (LI 4), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Taixi (KI 3), and Taichong (LIV 3)). Both patients regained their normal hearing thresholds three weeks after the first EA. No adverse events were observed. Hence, EA may be a useful additional therapy in unilateral SNHL, even at the late phase when other treatments have failed because the possibility of Meniere's disease cannot be excluded.

Canine and Feline Patients Referred Exclusively for Acupuncture and Herbs: A Two-Year Retrospective Analysis Publication date: Available online 24 April 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Justin Shmalberg, Huisheng Xie, Mushtaq A. Memon Abstract Acupuncture and the administration of herbal supplements are increasingly used in veterinary practice, but no retrospective studies have examined patient characteristics and treatment interventions in a population of dogs and cats presenting exclusively for such therapies. This two-year retrospective analysis of 161 referrals to an integrative medicine service at an academic teaching hospital found that dogs were more frequently treated than cats (91.9% vs. 8.1%, respectively) and that small animal patients most frequently were presented for musculoskeletal (26.7%), neurologic (16.8%), oncologic (14.9%), and dermatologic (10.6%) conditions. Cats were older than treated dogs (12.7 ± 3.7 vs. 9.5 ± 4.3 years) and more likely to be treated for oncologic complaints (odds ratio = 5.6). Patients received acupuncture (95.4%), herbal supplements (76.4%), acupuncture with percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (electroacupuncture, 26.1%), and/or cyanocobalamin injections at acupuncture points (aqua-acupuncture, 23.6%). Some differences were detected between treatment groups. This retrospective analysis provides a foundation for designing future prospective studies using acupuncture and herbs in dogs and cats.

Effects of Scalp Acupuncture on Functional Deficits Induced By Early Sensorimotor Restriction Publication date: Available online 24 April 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Angela K. Zanella, Jessié M. Gutierres, Felipe Stigger Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of scalp acupuncture and electrostimulation, combined or not, in a disuse model consisted of early sensorimotor restriction in rats. Male Wistar pups received sensorimotor restriction from the second postnatal day (P2) until P28. Animals were divided into five different groups (n = 6): control (CT), sensorimotor restricted (SR), acupuncture (AC), electrostimulation (EL), and electroacupuncture (AC+EL). Experimental animals received sham, acupuncture, or electrical stimulation, combined or not, of two scalp regions for 7 days (P29-P35). Before treatment period (P29) and after treatment (P36), animals were evaluated with the narrow suspended bar, horizontal ladder, and stride length tests. SR animals had worse performance in the narrow suspended and horizontal ladder tasks compared with SR animals at P29 (p ≤ 0.005). Significant improvements were observed in both tasks in AC, EL, and EL+AC groups comparing P29 and P36 (p < 0.001). Also, at P35, all treated animals performed significantly better motor tasks compared with SR group (p < 0.05). There was no difference between treated groups. Finally, acupuncture and electrical stimulation, combined or not, have beneficial effect on motor performance following early developmental disuse.

Wet Cupping—Traditional Hijamah Technique versus Asian Cupping Technique in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial Publication date: Available online 24 April 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Sulaiman M. Al-Eidi, Ashry Gad Mohamed, Raid A. Abutalib, Abdullah M. AlBedah, Mohamed K.M. Khalil Abstract Background Low back pain is a common complaint worldwide. Wet cupping (Al-Hijamah) therapy, which is one of the common traditional therapies in Saudi Arabia, Asia, and some European countries, is usually used to relieve low back pain. However, the majority of high-quality wet cupping trials were conducted in Asia and Europe, where they use a different cupping technique compared to our local wet cupping technique in Saudi Arabia. Objectives The objective of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of comparing the effect of the traditional Hijamah and the Asian wet cupping techniques in the management of patients with chronic low back pain. Design This is a randomized clinical trial comparing traditional versus Asian wet cupping techniques for CLBP. Setting The study setting was the outpatient clinics in two secondary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Patients Seventy eligible participants with CLBP for at least three months were randomly allocated to either traditional cupping group (34) or the Asian cupping group (36). Intervention Participants were randomized to receive one session of wet cupping using either the Asian technique or traditional Hijamah technique. Cupping was done at four sites of the bilateral Bladder Meridian (BL 23, BL24, and BL25). Outcome measures The Numeric Rating Scale, Present Pain Intensity, and Oswestry Disability Questionnaire scores were measured immediately after intervention, at seven days, and 14 days after intervention. Results In both groups, there was a significant decrease in Numeric Rating Scale, Present Pain Intensity, and Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, immediately after intervention and at seven days, and 14 days after the intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups across all the outcome measures up to 14 days after intervention. Conclusions The study did not show a superiority of one technique compared to the other. Longer follow-up periods and more than one cupping session may be needed to evaluate the difference, if any, between both techniques. Trial registration NCT02012205.

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation of PC5 and PC6 Acupoints Modulates Autonomic Balance in Heart Transplant Patients: A Pilot Study Publication date: Available online 23 April 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Beatriz R. Moreira, Alice P. Duque, Carole S. Massolar, Rodrigo de Lima Pimentel, Mauro F.F. Mediano, Tereza C.F. Guimarães, Luiz F. Rodrigues Abstract The increased resting heart rate (HR) in heart transplant patients is associated with enhanced metabolic demand, the potential for fatigue, and lower quality of life. In the present study, we hypothesized that transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) could modulate autonomic balance and reduce resting HR in these patients. A single-arm clinical trial was conducted with patients aged >18 years, at ambulatorial accompaniment after heart transplantation, who were submitted to a single TEAS (40 minutes at pericardium channel acupoints PC5 and PC6). The arterial blood pressure and RR interval were recorded from 20 minutes before to 20 minutes after TEAS. The RR intervals were used to calculate HR variability (HRV) and the sympathovagal index. Linear mixed models were used for comparing variables before, during, and after TEAS. The significance level was set as P < 0.05. TEAS acutely improved HRV in transplant patients and enhanced the sympathovagal index during its application. Significant increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were observed at recovery, such as a slight, but significant, decrease in HR. In conclusion, TEAS at PC5 and PC6 acutely modulates HRV and hemodynamics in transplant patients.

Concurrent Effects of Dry Needling and Electrical Stimulation in the Management of Upper Extremity Hemiparesis Publication date: Available online 23 April 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Maryam S. Ghaffari, Ardalan shariat, Roshanak Honarpishe, Azadeh Hakakzadeh, Joshua A. Cleland, Sepehr Haghighi, Tohid S. Barghi Abstract Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability in western countries. A variety of rehabilitation programs for the treatment of patients after stroke have been proposed. We describe the outcomes of a 49-year-old female patient with a 5-year history of right upper extremity hemiparesis after stroke. Physical examination revealed a right wrist extensor strength grade of 1 according to the Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Testing scale, Stage 4 according to the Brunnstrom hand functional recovery, and Grade 1 in finger flexor and in wrist flexor according to the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale system of muscle spasticity. Magnetic resonance imaging taken immediately after the stroke was indicative of an abnormal signal in the left paraventricular and lentiform nucleus. After receiving a single session of dry needling and electrical stimulation, the patient had significant improvement including a strength grade of 3 for the right wrist extensor muscles, Stage 6 according to the Brunnstrom hand functional recovery, and Grade 0 in finger flexor and in wrist flexor according to the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale system of muscle spasticity. This case report found that dry needling combined with electrical stimulation may be effective in hand function recovery, wrist extensor muscles strength, and decreased wrist and finger spasticity.

Editorial Board Publication date: April 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, Volume 12, Issue 2 Author(s):

The Effect of Manual Acupressure (Point BL32) on Pain Associated with Intramuscular Injections of Magnesium Sulfate Publication date: April 2019 Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, Volume 12, Issue 2 Author(s): Seyed S. Najafi, Setareh Nazaribin, Marzieh Momennasab, Amin Kordi Yoosefinejad Abstract The aim of this study was determining the effect of acupressure on the severity of pain associated with intramuscular injections of magnesium sulfate administered by the Z-track technique in patients with eclampsia and preeclampsia. Forty-eight patients participated in this single-group clinical trial, which was conducted in three stages. For each patient, three intramuscular injections were administered by the Z-track technique. The first injection was administered by the conventional method. The second injection at a sham control point and the third injection using acupressure (BL32) were administered. Pain severity was measured on a visual analogue scale. The mean pain intensity was 7.22 in the first, 4.75 in the second and 1.94 in the third injections (p < 0.001). The results of the study showed that acupressure at the BL32 point before intramuscular injection of magnesium sulfate significantly reduced the injection-related pain.

Alexandros Sfakianakis
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alsfakia@gmail.com