This paper introduces GAO Wei-bin's academic thought in treatment of medulla oblongata paralysis with acupuncture. Through analyzing the etiologies and locations of medulla oblongata paralysis, in accordance with "selecting the nearby acupoints of the affected area", the acupoints are selected from the nape region, the nape acupuncture therapy and the corresponding new points are developed. Based on the human anatomy of the nape region, the anatomic structures of new points (e.g. Gongxue, Tunyan-1, Tunyan-2, Fayin, Zhiqiang and Tiyan) and their effect mechanism are explained. The treatment principle, "distinguishing the symptoms from the root causes, mutual treatment for both symptoms and root causes", is proposed, and the importance of electric stimulation of nape acupuncture is suggested in treatment of medulla oblongata paralysis.
Humans ; Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive/therapy* ; Medulla Oblongata ; Paralysis

Professor GAO Weibin academically advocates, based on basic theory of TCM and theories of different schools, modern science technology should be used for the methods and principles of acupuncture and Chinese medicine for neuropathy, so as to explore and summarize the rules, characteristics and advantages of TCM for nervous system disease, especially bulbar paralysis. During the treatment of bulbar paralysis, professor GAO creatively proposes the effective acupuncture points such as Gongxue, Tunyan-1, Tunyan-2, Fayin, Tiyan and Zhifanliu from the aspects of neuroanatomy, and analyzes their anatomical structure and action mechanism.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; history ; therapy ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy between elongated needle therapy and regular needle therapy at Tiantu (CV 22) on the basis of xingnao kaiqiao (activiting brain and regaining consciousness) acupuncture therapy so as to explore the effective therapeutic method in treatment of dysphagia induced by bulbar palsy.

METHODSSeventy one cases of dysphagia induced by bulbar palsy were randomized into two groups. The xingnao kaiqiao acupuncture therapy was applied at Shuigou (GV 26), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the others in the two groups. In the elongated needle therapy group, on the basis of xingnao kaiqiao acupuncture therapy, the elongated needle was used to puncture Tiantu (CV 22). In the regular needle therapy, the regular acupuncture technique was used at Tiantu (CV 22). In both groups, the treatment was given once a day in a week except Sunday and lasted for 4 weeks totally. Before and after treatment, the swallowing condition and the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) were observed in the patients and the efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 97.2% (35/36) in the elongated needle therapy group, which was better than 77.1% (27/35) in the regular needle therapy group (P<0.05). After treatment, SSA score was reduced significantly as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.05). SSA score in the elongated needle therapy group was reduced much more apparently as compared with that in the regular needle therapy group after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOn the basis of the xingnao kaiqiao acupuncture therapy, the elongated needle therapy at Tiantu (CV 22) achieves the superior effect on bulbar palsy-induced dysphagia as compared with the regular acu- puncture at Tiantu (CV 22).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; complications ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effect of five-needle-in-nape acupuncture treatment and the routine acupuncture treatment for poststroke pesudobulbar paralysis dysphagia.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into a five-needle-in-nape (FNN) group and a routine acupuncture (RA) group (n=30 in each group). Ya-men (GV 15), Tianzhu (BL10), Zhiqiang acupoint (Extra) were needled and the training of swallowing was practiced when needling in FNN group. Lianquan (CV 23), Tongli (HT 5), Zhaohai (KI 6) were needled in RA group. The course of acupuncture treatment consisted of needling once time every day, six times a week for two weeks. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after two courses of acupuncture treatment.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 93.3% in FNN group, better than that of 80.0% in RA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect in FNN group was better than that of RA group for poststroke pesudobulbar paralysis dysphagia.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharynx ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the efficacy on speech and swallowing dysfunction of medulla oblongata palsy (MOP) after brainstem infarction between electroacupuncture at eight-neck-occiput points and routine acupoints.

METHODSSeventy-two patients were randomized into a neck-occiput points group and a meridian points group, 36 cases in each one. In the neck-occiput points group, the eight-neck-occiput points (Neck 1-4 points, Occiput 1-4 points) were selected. In the meridian points group, Lianquan (CV 23), Futu (LI 18), Tongli (HT 5), Hegu (LI 4) and the others were selected. Electroacupuncture was used in the two groups, dense-dispersion wave, retaining for 30 min. The treatment was given once a day, 5 treatments a week. Totally, 4 weeks were required. The symptom scores of speech and swallowing dysfunction were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of speech and swallowing dysfunction were improved significantly after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The results in the neck-occiput points group were better than those in the meridian points group (both P < 0.01). The curative rate of speech dysfunction was 30.6% (11/36) and that of swallowing dysfunction was 22.2% (8/ 36) in the neck-occiput points group, which were better than 11.1% (4/36) and 5.6% (2/36) in the meridian points group, respectively. The differences were significant in comparison of the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at eight-neck-occiput points achieves a better efficacy on speech and swallowing dysfunction of MOP after brainstem infarction as compared with the routine acupoints. This therapy is characterized as more accurate point localization and safer operation.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Stem Infarctions ; complications ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Deglutition ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged