Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities.
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AIM: To evaluate the effect of Chinese Traditional Medicine, acupuncture and moxa treatment, on the semen quality in patients with semen abnormalities. METHODS: In a prospective, controlled and blind study, nineteen patients, aged 24 years approximately 42 years and married for 3 years approximately 11 years without children with semen abnormalities in concentration, morphology and/or progressive motility without apparent cause, were randomized into two groups and submitted to acupuncture and moxa treatment at the therapeutic (Study Group) and the indifferent points (Control Group), respectively, for 10 weeks. Semen analyses were performed before and after the treatment course. RESULTS: The patients of the Study Group presented a significant increase in the percentage of normal-form sperm compared to the Control Group (calculated U=16.0, critical U=17.0). CONCLUSION: The Chinese Traditional Medicine acupuncture and moxa techniques significantly increase the percentage of normal-form sperm in infertile patients with oligoastenoteratozoospermia without apparent cause. (+info)
Comparison of transient heart rate reduction associated with acupuncture stimulation in supine and sitting subjects.
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We investigated the difference in transient heart rate reduction associated with brief acupuncture in 20 healthy subjects at rest in a supine and in a sitting position. After the subjects had been at rest for about 20 minutes, acupuncture needling using the sparrow-pecking method, in which the needle is moved vertically lifting and thrusting, was performed for one minute at the Shousanli point on the right forearm (LI10). The procedure was carried out with the subjects in a supine position and in a sitting position. The position for stimulation of each subject, either supine or sitting, was selected at random, and on different days. The results showed that the average heart rate reduction associated with stimulation in supine subjects was 3.6 +/- 0.19 (mean +/- standard error (SE)) beats per minute (bpm), while that for sitting subjects was about 7.0 +/- 1.07 (mean +/- SE) bpm, indicating that stimulation reduces heart rate to a greater degree in subjects who are sitting (p<0.05, Mann-Whitney test). These results would be consistent with a mechanism involving reduced sympathetic drive to the heart, as sympathetic nerve activity has more influence on the heart rate in the sitting than in the supine position. (+info)
A case series of temporomandibular disorders treated with acupuncture, occlusal splint and point injection therapy.
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A treatment regime combining acupuncture, occlusal splint and point injection therapy for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is presented. There were 89 consecutive patients treated by the regime in this case series but four patients dropped out after two to three visits. Data and treatment results of the remaining 85 patients who had treatment completed were analysed. It was found that 73 (85%) of patients with TMD had symptoms relieved within six visits under this regime. Complications were rare and minor. Acupuncture treatment, in combination with splint therapy and point injection therapy, appears to be effective for managing TMD. However, further research, using randomised controlled trials should be conducted to ascertain its effectiveness over other treatment modalities. (+info)
Acupuncture for chronic venous ulceration.
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Acupuncture was used to treat a 69-year-old man for bilateral ankle pain related to his rheumatoid arthritis. This led to a dramatic improvement in one of his chronic venous leg ulcers. There is very little recent literature on such cases, where acupuncture may be a useful additional treatment. (+info)
The effect of acupuncture on the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis--an open randomised controlled study.
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BACKGROUND: Using an open randomised controlled study, we examined the effectiveness of manual and electroacupuncture on symptom relief for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee were randomised to one of three treatment groups. Group A had acupuncture alone, group B had acupuncture but continued on their symptomatic medication, and group C used their symptomatic medication for the first five weeks and then had a course of acupuncture added. Patients receiving acupuncture were treated twice weekly over five weeks. Needles were inserted (with manual and electrical stimulation) in acupuncture points for pain and stiffness, selected according to traditional acupuncture theory for treating Bi syndrome. Patients were assessed by a blinded observer before treatment, after five weeks' treatment and at one month follow up, using a visual analogue pain scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario McMaster (WOMAC) questionnaire for osteoarthritis of the knee. RESULTS: The 30 patients in our study were well matched for age, body mass index, disease duration, baseline VAS pain score and baseline WOMAC scores. Repeated measure analyses gave a highly significant improvement in pain (VAS) after the courses of acupuncture in groups A (P = 0.012) and B (P=0.001); there was no change in group C until after the course of acupuncture, when the improvement was significant (P = 0.001). Similarly significant changes were seen with the WOMAC pain and stiffness scores. These benefits were maintained during the one month after the course of acupuncture. Patients' rating of global assessment was higher than that of the acupuncturist. CONCLUSION: We conclude that manual and electroacupuncture causes a significant improvement in the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee, either on its own or as an adjunct therapy, with no loss of benefit after one month. (+info)
Acupuncture and moxibustion as an adjunctive treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee--a large case series.
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BACKGROUND: In 1997, the first Pain Management Unit, which was set up as part of primary health care within the Andalusian Public Health System, offered acupuncture among other therapies. This observational study was conducted in preparation for a randomised controlled trial. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study of patients who had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee. The patients received weekly acupuncture treatment, and related techniques, from November 1997 to November 2000. We recorded: socio-demographic data; measures of effectiveness, including intensity and frequency of pain; the daily dose of analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication; the degree of incapacity; and sleep disorders caused by pain in the knee. RESULTS: The 563 patients who presented were mainly female (88%) with an average age of 65 years (+/- 10.7); the average age of the male patients was 67 years (+/- 11.8). The condition in most patients (95%) was chronic: 54% had the condition for 5-10 years and a further 23% for more than 10 years. Of the total, 85 (15%) abandoned treatment and were excluded from the evaluation, while 75% of the remainder achieved a reduction in pain of 45% or more. This study is intended to form the basis for a subsequent controlled clinical trial of the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. CONCLUSION: The degree of pain relief experienced by patients from acupuncture justifies a more rigorous study. (+info)
Frequent ventricular extrasystole treated by needling neiguan (PC 6) plus oral administration of mexiletine--a report of 30 cases.
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PURPOSE: To observe the therapeutic effect of needling at Neiguan (PC 6) plus oral administration of mexiletine. METHODS: 60 cases of frequent ventricular extrasystole were randomly divided into two groups: a treatment group, and a control group. In the control group, mexiletine was orally administered, and in the treatment group needling at bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) plus oral administration of mexiletine were given. 2 weeks of treatments constituted a therapeutic course. RESULTS: Of the 30 cases in the treatment group, 23 cases were markedly effective, 5 cases improved, and 2 cases failed; while in the control group 16 cases were markedly effective, 8 cases improved, 4 cases failed, and 2 cases aggravated. The total effective rates of 90.3% and 80.0%, respectively in the treatment and control groups showed a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Needling at bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) may enhance the therapeutic effect for frequent ventricular extrasystole. (+info)
Acupuncture methods for treatment of hemiplegia.
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There are several acupuncture methods for various types of paralyses, based on different selections of points and needling methods, i.e. needling the points selected by the yin-yang principle; needling the polar points; needling both the local and opposite points; needling the upper points with the lower ones needled as supplementary; and needling by the method of reinforcing the channels and reducing the collaterals. The specific application of each method are described below. (+info)