Antispastic effect of electroacupuncture and moxibustion in stroke patients

Spasticity is a frequently observed motor impairment that develops after stroke. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion (Mox) on spasticity due to stroke. The subjects consisted of 35 stroke patients with elbow spasticity whose mean duration of stroke was 2.97 months. Fifteen patients were randomized to the EA group, ten to Mox, and ten to control. Every other day, 30 minutes of electrical stimulation with a frequency of 50 Hz was given through four needles on the Ch'ü-Ch'ih-San-Li (LI-11-LI-10) and Wai-Kuan-Ho-Ku (TB-5-LI-4) points of the paretic side. Direct Mox was applied to Ch'ü-Ch'ih (LI-11), San-Li (LI-10), Wai-Kuan (TB-5) and Ho-Ku (LI-4) points three times a day every other day. The control group was given only the routine acupuncture therapy for stroke and range of motion (ROM) exercise, which were also applied to the EA and Mox groups. The efficacy of treatment was measured before, immediately, 1 hour, 3 hours, 1 day, 5 days, 10 days and 15 days after the start of treatment using a modified Ashworth scale (MAS). In the EA group, spasticity was significantly reduced immediately, 1 hour and 3 hours after treatment (p < 0.05). Reductions were significant on the 5th day and thereafter (p < 0.05). In the Mox group, there was no significant change in the MAS scores after the first treatment. In the Mox and control group, there was no significant change in MAS scores. This study suggests that EA can temporarily reduce spasticity due to stroke, and if applied repeatedly it can maintain reduced spasticity.

Acute lymphangitis treated by moxibustion with garlic in 118 cases

TCM holds that acute lymphangitis is pathogenically caused by the accumulated internal fire and toxicity, and the external skin injury-induced infection, leading to toxicity going upward along the meridians. The treatment should be given to clear away heat and toxin. Blood letting by a three-edged needle may promote qi and blood circulation and remove the toxic heat. Garlic has the function of antagonizing Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus dysenteriae and various kinds of bacteria. Since the volatile oil in moxa is antagonistic to bacteria, the burning moxa can also promote the local flow of qi and blood, and enhance the antagonistic effect of garlic on bacteria. Therefore, satisfactory curative results can be achieved by the therapy.

The role of the sympathetic nervous system in moxibustion-induced immunomodulation in rats

The effects of chemical sympathectomy on moxibustion-induced changes in splenic natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, T and B cell proliferation were studied. Direct moxibustion was applied to the unilateral Zusanli region. NK cell cytotoxicity was suppressed by moxibustion in both vehicle-treated rats and sympathectomized rats. T cell proliferation was not affected by moxibustion. B cell proliferation showed no significant change in vehicle-treated rats, but an increase was seen in sympathectomized rats treated with moxibustion. Sympathectomy alone induced an augmentation of NK cell cytotoxicity and a suppression of T cell proliferation. These results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has no significant role in the mechanism of moxibustion-induced immunomodulation.

Acupuncture for soft tissue shoulder disorders: a series of 201 cases

A retrospective observational study was performed on shoulder pain cases seen in a community general practice. Two hundred and one patients were treated with acupuncture (on distant points plus local shoulder points), moxibustion and auriculotherapy. Data was retrieved from records over a three-year period to assess the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on pain, mobility and disability, and to compare perceived efficacy rates with published reports from Chinese acupuncturists. Using a four-point outcome scale in this series of 201 patients the study found: one patient (0.5%) reported no improvement, 12 (6%) simple improvement, 68 (33.8%) remarkable improvement, and 120 (59.7%) clinical resolution. Only two patients left the programme. In conclusion, treatment of soft tissue shoulder disorders with acupuncture and moxibustion in this series seems to have good clinical results in diminishing symptoms, shortening disease duration time and improving functional ability, even in long-lasting disease (up to 10 years). A combination of distant points plus local points, moxibustion and auriculotherapy seems to increase effectiveness, reduce the number of sessions per patient, and increase the time between sessions, suiting the needs of patients and those of a busy National Health Service clinic. The authors report results similar to those reported by Chinese acupuncturists when using similar diagnostic procedures, techniques, outcome measures and patients. This case series is the first step towards conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of acupuncture efficacy in shoulder pain. Such trials are needed to confirm the perceived efficacy of acupuncture from observational studies.

Testing strategies to reduce diarrhea in persons with HIV using traditional Chinese medicine: acupuncture and moxibustion

Diarrhea affects more than 60% of persons living with HIV/AIDS. Diarrhea can be caused by pathogens, neoplastic diseases, side effects of medications, malabsorption, and/or enteropathy. Activities of daily living and quality of life are often affected by HIV/AIDS-related diarrhea. Traditional Chinese medical interventions such as acupuncture and moxibustion show promise in the area of gastrointestinal symptom management. The purposes of this study were to (a) determine the influence of acupuncture and moxibustion in reducing the frequency of diarrhea and increasing stool consistency in HIV-infected men with chronic diarrhea (defined as three or more episodes of watery, liquid, or loose stools in a 24-hour period for 3 weeks or more), (b) ascertain the feasibility of the methodology for a future prospective randomized controlled trial, and (c) determine sample size estimate for a prospective randomized controlled trial. Using a time-series design, 15 HIV-positive men with chronic diarrhea received the same acupuncture/moxibustion treatment for six sessions over a 3-week period. Each participant maintained a daily stool frequency/consistency and medication diary. All treatments were administered by a licensed acupuncturist trained in traditional Chinese medicine. Based on the intent to treat analysis comparing the change in stool frequency from baseline (Week 1) to Week 3 and Week 4, stool frequency reduced approximately one episode per day (Week 3: p < .001; Week 4: p < .005). Stool consistency also improved, from baseline to Week 3 and Week 4, by more than 1 point on Hansen's stool consistency scale. Acupuncture and moxibustion are promising modalities for the symptom management of chronic diarrhea in HIV/AIDS. The results of this pilot study also establish the feasibility of a larger study and provide the empirical basis to serve as preliminary data from which to estimate statistical power and sample size for a larger efficacy study, inclusive of women as well as men.

Moxibustion in breech version--a descriptive review

The management of breech presentation at term remains controversial. It appears logical that maternal and perinatal outcomes would be improved if breech presentation could be avoided. External cephalic version is considered a safe procedure if cases are selected appropriately and anaesthesia avoided. Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese method of treatment, which utilizes the heat generated by burning herbal preparations containing the plant Artemisia vulgaris to stimulate the acupuncture points. It is used for breech version with a reported success rate of 84.6% after 34 weeks gestation. Moxibustion technique is cheap, safe, simple, self-administered, non-invasive, painless and generally well tolerated. Although many studies give encouraging results regarding the use of moxibustion in inducing cephalic version of breech presentation, a definitive conclusion cannot be made as most involve small sample sizes and are not randomised. Moxibustion could be an extra option offered to women with breech presentation along with vaginal delivery, caesarean section and external cephalic version. This article discusses the possible role of moxibustion in correction of breech presentation in the hope that, some interest will be stimulated in what is a very interesting area for future research.

Moxibustion for breech presentation

Breech presentation at term is considered a possible obstetric complication, and the management before and during labour remains controversial. A technique called 'moxibustion' is used in traditional Chinese medicine to encourage version of the fetus in breech presentation. It has been used in the maternity unit in Plymouth for 11 years. The results would seem to suggest it may have a positive effect and play a part in reducing the number of breech presentations at term and therefore also a reduction in the number of caesarean sections which are so often advocated in breech presentation. This article describes the technique in greater detail and discusses the potential for the future.

[Treatment of simple obesity in children with photo-acupuncture]

OBJECTIVE

To study the treatment of simple obesity in children and observe its effect.

METHODS

Two hundred and two patients were treated with self-produced photo-acupuncture apparatus (101 cases) or ear-pressing (101 cases), and their effects were observed and compared.

RESULTS

Effects of both methods were satisfactory. The photo-acupuncture showed a better result than that of the ear-pressing. After treatment, the obesity indexes lowered significantly and levels of blood lipids, glucose, cortisol and triiodothyronine were all improved markedly.

CONCLUSIONS

Photo-acupuncture is a safe, painless, nontraumatic and effective method for treatment of simple obesity, and it is easy to be accepted by children.

Clinical therapeutic effect of drug-separated moxibustion on chronic diarrhea and its immunologic mechanisms

In the present paper it was reported that 24 cases of ulcerative colitis and 23 cases of chronic colitis were treated by drug-separated moxibustion and the total effective rates were 95.83% and 95.65% respectively, which were markedly superior to that of western medicine group. Observation in 15 cases of ulcerative colitis showed that drug-separated moxibustion could inhibit humoral immunity and elevate cellular immune function. The therapy possibly regulated the abnormal ratio of T-lymphocyte subgroups and corrected the abnormal state of autoimmunity of patients, so that pathological changes of intestinal mucosa were corrected effectively.

116 cases of gonococcal arthritis treated with acupuncture

The present parper deseribes the combined treatment of gonococcal arthritis by acupuncture, garlic moxibustion, pricking blood, cupping and drawing hydrarthrus. Dazhui (Du 14), Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (St 36) points were selected, plus points along the meridian which were needled as indicated by the affected joint. Results showed that of the 116 cases, 74 were cured, 13 were markedly helped, 11 improved and 11 failed. The total effective rate was 84.5%.

The anti-aging effect of moxibustion and moxibustion combined with skin allograft evaluated from optic and electron microscopy study of thymus and pituitary glands

The effect of moxibustion combined with acu-area skin allograft therapy for the aging was evaluated using a mice model. This study provides experimental basis and a new research clue for the clinical application of "combination" therapy with the use of optic and electron microscope. We observed that moxibustion, skin allograft, and a combination of the two had the effect of retarding the aging of the thymus gland and pituitary gland. Among them, the moxibustion combined with skin allograft was more effective compared with other single therapies. This study suggests that the combined therapy could raise the therapeutic effect.