[Objective]This case evaluates the effects of acupuncture for a Parkinson's Disease patient with frozen gait.
[Case]Patient:a 58-year-old male. Chief complaints were frozen gait and fatigue of legs. The gait disturbance was realized about three years ago, and has been gradually worsening. The Hoehn &Yahr stage is III. Treatment:The patient received medication and acupuncture treatment once a week or two for 18 months. Electric acupuncture treatment was adopted on arms and lower legs, and lone needles on the back and legs. Measurements:Outcome measures were timed in a 10 m walk and turn for frozen gait and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for fatigue of legs.
[Results]From a long term point of view, there were no significant changes for the outcomes measured. However just after the treatment VAS was statistically improved, and the patient reported a comfortable feeling.
[Conclusion]The effect of acupuncture for frozen gait was not seen, but the improvement in fatigue of legs was noted, and the patient felt comfortable after the treatment.

A series of cases underwent acupuncture treatment for frozen shoulder at our clinic.
1. Twenty-one cases of frozen shoulder were collected.
2. Fifteen cases (71%) Showed improvement in pain and activities of daily life (ADL) during the course of acupuncture treatment.
3. Temporary relief from pain during motion (67%), pain during rest (44%), and pain during the night (56%) was obtained after acupuncture treatment.
4. Patients whose pain was not reduced after treatment tended to drop out.
Acupuncture treatment for frozen shoulder was effective for reducing pain, and it is expected to prevent contracture when combined with exercise.

The effect of acupuncture treatment on ending peripheral facial nerve paralysis was examined using standard set by the Japan Society of Facial Nerve Treatment. A comparison was made of how recovery was affected by acupuncture treatment alone, drug treatment alone, and a combination of drugs (steroids) and acupuncture.
As a result we found that 1) in groups having an ENoG of 41% or more, the acupuncture-only group showed less recovery than did the group that received oral steroids. 2) Among the groups having an ENoG of 21% or more, there was no significant difference between the group given oral steroids and the group given both steroids and acupuncture treatment. 3) For groups having an ENoG of 1%-20%, there was no difference in recovery between the group given large doses of injected steroids and the group given large doses of injected steroids concommitant with acupuncture. But the group that was given both oral steroids and acupuncture did not recover as well as the other groups. 4) A comparison of the groups receiving only medication and receiving medication with acupuncture showed there was no special hastening of recovery seen with the administration of acupuncture; in fact, the acupuncture may have even delayed recovery.
The above results indicate that the administration of steroids is more important than the use acupuncture in the treatment of peripheral facial nerve paralysis, and that a suitable treatment should commence within 7 days after the occurrence of symptoms.

[Objective] Using a near infrared spectrometer and laser Doppler blood flowmeter, we investigated how the number of moxa applications influences blood flow at moxibustion and peripheral sites.
[Method] The subjects were nine healthy adult males, aged 25-28 years (average age 25.4). Skin blood flow was measured with a laser Doppler blood flowmeter while changes in the deep tissue (deep subcutaneous level and muscle surface course level) blood volume were measured with a near infrared spectroscopy. Each of the probes was located at the moxibustion treatment site and 20 mm away from the site.
On different days, measurements were taken from a control group not receiving stimulation, groups receiving five-cone and seven-cone moxibution (2 mg of moxa per application), respectively.
Measurements of the control group were taken for 25 minutes, while measurements for the other two groups were taken for 5 minutes before conducting moxibustion and for 20 minutes directly after completion of moxibustion.
[Results and Discussion] The skin blood flow demonstrated an further increased tendency after seven-cone moxibustion than five-cone moxibustion. This seemed to be due to the strong flare phenomenon affecting cutaneous blood flow quantity by increasing the number of moxibustion cones.
The effect of moxibustion on skin blood flow volume is suggested to be due to the strong flare phenomenon induced by increasing the number of moxibustion. The effect to the deep tissue indicated a tendency for the blood flow volume to decrease.
It is considered that further detailed experiment will be necessary in the future regarding these ambiguous points.

[Objective] For one facial palsy subject with synkinesis, we applied asynchronous 100Hz EAT and examined the effects. We also examined changes in the effects according to various frequencies.
[Methods] We applied EAT to Mm.faciales, and the evaluation was based mainly on EMG findings (the EMG amplitude, EMG survival continuance time) as well as facial palsy score, VAS, ENoG. We examined changes after treatment and observed the process.
[Results] Change in EMG amplitude were not recognized, but the EMG persistance was shortened after treatment and during the process of observation. VAS, facial palsy score, and ENoG were improved. EMG persistance was not changed by 1 Hz EAT, was prolonged by 30Hz EAT, and was shortened by 100 Hz EAT.
[Conclusion] One hundred Hz EAT shortened EMG persistance, and reduced the subjective symptoms of synkinesis. In addition, we were able to improve facial palsy score and ENoG value.

[Objective]More accurate data of the relationship between the composition and distribution of the pelvic plexus and hachiryoketsu is discussed to get an effective acupuncture method.
[Methods]Detailed dissections were performed under a stereomicroscope in five cadavers belonging to the Unit of Clinical Anatomy, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
[Results]1. The pelvic plexus is composed of the sympathetic hypogastric nerve and sacral splanchnic nerve, and the parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerve.
(1) The hypogastric nerve arises from the superior hypogastric plexus contributing constantly to the second and third lumbar splanchnic nerves, and enters the postero-superior horn of the pelvic plexus. The sacral splanchnic nerves arise from the third and fourth lumbar gangalia and enter the postero-inferior horn of the pelvic plexus.
(2) The pelvic splanchnic nerves mainly arise from the most ventral layer of the ventral primary of the third and fourth sacral nerves, and enter the postero-inferior horn of the pelvic plexus. These nerves tend to compose the common trunk with the pudendal nerve and the nerve to the levator ani.
2. The visceral branches of the pelvic plexus do not originate and distribute equally, but tend to divide into I-IV groups. Especially, group III is considered important clinically as these nerves are related to sexual and voiding functions.
[Conclusion] 1. BL33(Zhongliao, Churyo) and BL34 (Xialiao, Geryo) are suggested to have an effect on the function of the intrapelvic organs as these acupuncture points can stimulate the pelvic splanchnic nerves directly rather than BL31 (Shangliao, Joryo) and BL32 (Ciliao, Jiryo).
2. The point of the needle into the hachiryoketsu reaches the side of the rectum, so treating with a needle to the median direction should be avoided or paid attention to.