Acupuncture Treatment on the Local Area versus the Distal Area: Questionnaire Survey
10.3777/jjsam.54.14
- VernacularTitle:局所治療と遠隔部治療アンケート調査
- Author:
Takayoshi OGAWA
;
Shuiti KATAI
;
Shoji SHINOHARA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
questionnaire survey;
treatment on the local area;
treatment on the distal area;
mechanism of acupuncture treatment
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
2004;54(1):14-26
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
We used a questionnaire survey to assess the JSAM (the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) members' use of local therapy and distal therapy. We wanted to apply the results of the discussion titled “the definition of local therapy and distal therapy” in the symposium during the 52nd Annual JSAM meeting (2002, Kagawa). Questionnaires were distributed to 500 of the 1250 JSAM members registered in 1991. The subjects who received questionnaires were selected at random. Of the 500 questionnaires sent out 145 replies were received. Each respondent was asked to submit their definition of local and distal therapy.
Also, eight examples of local and distal therapies were given and respondents were asked to reply as to whether they treat with local or distal therapies and the.reasons for these choices.
The results were analyzed by simple and cross tabulation. We were able to define local therapy as 1) insertion to the injured area by acupuncture, 2) treatment on the area traveling along a nerve, and 3) treatment on the area where the patient feels some sensation. And we also defined treatment with a spectrum of tender points as local treatment, according to relationships with nervous reflexes such as an axon reflex, similarly to needling on muscles and along the path of the nerve. The use of distal therapy was usually carried out at points with relationships to fundamental treatment, tender points, meridians, autonomic nervous system and mechanisms through nerve centers. It was found that most practitioners consider distal points that are defined with some theory. Distal points were not selected randomly without the above consideration.
