Based on the thought of Zhishen (a kind of mind regulation), Professor SHI Xue-min, academician of the China Academy of Engineering, found the Xingnao Kaiqiao (to refresh the mind and to cause resuscitation) acupuncture method, which still plays an important role in the acupuncture treatment of wind stroke nowadays. Meanwhile, great importance is attached to the comprehensive treatment of wind stroke. Danqi Piantan capsule (see text) is developed and "wind stroke unit" is set up. In recent years, Professor SHI shifts the center of research to the treatment of hypertension, the risk factor of wind stroke. Taking Renying (ST 9) as the major acupoint, acupuncture with standard measurement and manipulations is established. And good clinical effect has been obtained as well. Therefore, this article focuses on the introduction of Professor SHI Xue-min's contribution to wind stroke treatment.
Acupuncture ; education ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Humans ; Stroke ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic changes of capillaries and inflammatory cells in different regions of brain in rat with middle cerebral artery obstruction (MCAO), and the effects of acupuncture in different frequencies on them.

METHODSIn reference to Zea-Longa's method, rat model of MCAO was established by thread-ligation. Shuigou point (DU26), the main acupoint for "awakening brain and opening apertures", was stimulated by high (180 times/s) or low (60 times/s) frequency puncturing 5 s every 12 h for 6 times totally. The amount of capillaries (AC) and inflammatory cells (AIC) in brain cortex (BC), hippocampus (Hp) and corpus striatum (CS) was counted.

RESULTSChanges in AC and AIC of all brain regions (except for CS) in rats immediately after modeling were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). But 72 h later, AC in CS decreased, AC in Hp, AIC in BC and AIC in Hp increased significantly in the modeled rats, showing significant difference to the normal level, but AIC reduced to approach the normal. As compared with the rats un-intervened, AIC in BC and Hp was decreased in rats intervened with high frequency puncturing, AC and AIC in CS were increased in rats intervened by slow frequency puncturing (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAmount of capillaries and inflammation cells are changed dynamically in MCAO rats after brain ischemia, showing evident brain regional specificity; the ischemic improving effects of acupuncture in different frequencies are various in their action rings, also showing brain regional specificity.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) on central facial nerve paralysis after ischemic stroke, and explore dose-effect relationship among different stimulation intensities of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) as well as its optimal treatment plan.

METHODSAccording to different acupuncture stimulation intensities which were based on treatment time and needle insertion direction, fifty patients were randomly divided into a Hegu 1 group, a Hegu 2 group, a Hegu 3 group, a Hegu 4 group and a control group, ten cases in each one. Different stimulation intensities of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) combined with facial paralysis acupoints, including Yingxiang (LI 20), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6) and Quanliao (SI 18), were applied in Hegu 1 to 4 groups; meanwhile acupuncture at stroke acupoints, including Neiguan (PC 6), Shuigou (GV 26) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and medication treatment were adopted. Except acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4), the treatment of the control group was identical as Hegu groups. The treatment duration lasted for 14 days. The House-Brackmann facial never grading systems (H-B), Toronto facial grading system (TFGS), degrees of facial never paralysis (DFNP), facial disability index (FDI) and clinical efficacy were compared among groups.

RESULTS(1) Compared before the treatment, H-B, TFGS, DFNP and physical function score in FDI were all improved significantly in the Hegu 1 to 4 groups (all P < 0.05), but social function score in FDI was not obviously improved (all P > 0.05); all the scores in the control group were not evidently changed (all P > 0.05). (2) Compared with the control group, differences of H-B before and after treatment in the Hegu 1 to 4 groups, differences of TFGS in the Hegu 2 group and differences of DFNP in the Hegu 1 and Hegu 2 group were significantly improved (all P < 0.05). The differences of any scale among Hegu 1 to 4 groups were not significant (all P > 0.05), in which the most evident change was found in Hegu 2 group. (3) The total effective rate was 90.0% (9/10), 100.0% (10/10), 90.0% (9/10) and 80.0% (8/10) in Hegu 1 to 4 groups, which were significantly higher than 60.0% (6/10) in the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) has affirmative clinical efficacy on central facial nerve paralysis after ischemic stroke, in which oblique insertion along the opposite direction of meridian for 5 s of twirling manipulation has the best clinical effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Paralysis ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications

OBJECTIVESTo study the acupoint specificity through the comprehensive evaluation of the acupuncture effect on rat model with the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

METHODSDuplicated MCAO model by Zea-longa's thread ligation was assessed by Zausinger's six-point method, and rats with 1-3 scores were chosen to be grouped. According to the randomized and controlled principle, rats were divided into 6 basic control groups (including normal group, sham group, model control group, model group without intervention, Nimodipine group, lateral-to-Renzhong group) and 6 acupuncture groups [including Neiguan (PC6) group, Weizhong (BL40) group, Chize (LU5) group, Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, Renzhong (DU6) group and non-acupoint group]; in each acupoint or non-acupoint 9 different parameter combinations were respectively set by orthogonal intersection method. There were in total 60 groups, and each group had 12 rats. The rats were treated by acupuncture with the lifting-thrusting manipulation every 12 h, in total 6 times. Indices of neurobehavioral scores, cerebral blood flow, infarction rate, microcirculation, and light microscope, etc. were measured. In order to comprehensively evaluate the acupuncture effect to research the specificity of acupoint, a cluster analysis was made with SPSS17.0 for the comprehensive effect scores of the samples computed according to the comprehensive evaluation models, and then sorting and classification were made for the comprehensive effect scores.

RESULTSIn the acupuncture groups every acupoint had different therapeutic effect due to different acupuncture parameter combinations; among the acupuncture groups the orders of curative effect were as followings: Neiguan group was of exceptional result, Weizhong group and Sanyinjiao group were of valid results in upper level, Chize group and Renzhong group were of valid results in lower level, and non-acupoint group was of invalid result; the therapeutic result of acupoint group was superior to non-acupoint group; and the curative effect of acupuncture group was also superior to basic control group.

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint has the specificity of acupuncture effect, and the acupoint specificity is relative.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Cerebral Infarction ; therapy ; Cluster Analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of acupuncture parameters on the acupuncture effect through the cluster analysis in Wistar rat model with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

METHODSDuplicated MCAO models by Zea-longa's thread ligation and chose rats with 1-3 scores assessed by Zausinger's six-score method to be grouped. The rats were divided into 6 basic control groups [(including a normal group, a sham group, a model control group, a model group without intervention, a Nimodipine group, a lateral-to-Renzhong (DU6) group] and 6 acupuncture groups [a Neiguan (PC6) group, a Weizhong (BL40) group, a Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, a Chize (LU5) group, a Renzhong (DU6) group and a Feixue (non-acupoint) group]. In the acupuncture groups, for every acupoint or needling site, 9 different parameters [2 factors (frequency and time) and 3 levels (180, 120, and 60 cpm of the frequency and 5, 60, and 180 s of the time)] were set respectively by the orthogonal intersection method, in total 54 groups. The rats were treated by acupuncture with a lifting-thrusting manipulation once every 12 h, in total 6 times. Neurobehavioral scores, cerebral blood flow, infarction rate, microcirculation, light microscopy, etc. were measured. The factor analysis was first applied to get the comprehensive effect scores of the samples in the acupuncture groups and then by which the cluster analysis was made with the statistical software of SPSS17.0.

RESULTSFor the Neiguan (PC6) group, the exceptional results of acupuncture comprehensive effect were parameters 7, 8, 9, 10; the valid results were parameters 2, 3, 4, and the invalid were parameters 5, 6. For the Weizhong (BL40) group, the exceptional results were parameters 2, 4; the valid results were parameters 3, 5, 6, 7, and the invalid were parameters 8, 9, 10. For the Chize (LU5) group, the exceptional results were parameters 7, 8; the valid results were parameters 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10; and the invalid was parameter 2. For the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, the exceptional results were parameters 4, 6; the valid results were parameters 2, 3, 5; and the invalid were parameters 7, 8, 9,10. For the Renzhong (DU6) group, the exceptional results were parameters 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10; the valid results were parameters 2, 5; and the invalid was parameter 8. For the Non-acupoint group, the exceptional result was parameter 10; the valid results were parameters 2, 3, 4, 7, 9; and the invalid were parameters 5, 6, 8.

CONCLUSIONSFor each meridian acupoint, different acupuncture parameters could consequently get a different acupuncture effect; each meridian acupoint had the most suitable or optimal acupuncture parameters; acupuncture parameters might be the main factors impacting on acupuncture effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; therapy ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reference Standards

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effect of acupuncture treatment and western medicine Carbamazepine for thalamic pain.

METHODSCrossover trial design was used, 11 cases diagnosed as thalamic pain were randomly divided into two groups according to the mini-unbalance-index method, group I (with 6 cases received acupuncture first and then western medicine) and group II (with 5 cases received western medicine first and then acupuncture). When the effects were evaluated, the two groups were named as acupuncture group and western medicine group, 11 cases in each group. The method of clearing away the heart fire, regulating the spirit, activating blood and relieving pain was adopted in acupuncture treatment, Ximen (PC 4), Yinxi (HT 6), Xuehai (SP 10) and Zhaohai (KI 6) were selected; the western medicine group was treated with oral administration of Carbamazepine, and one course as well as the eluting period were both 10 days. The effects were evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS) and evaluation scale of Anderson Cancer Center pain in US (MD Pain Evaluation value) respectively.

RESULTSThe VAS and MD value in two groups were obviously decreased after treatment (both P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between two groups; the markedly effective rate of pain relieving in acupuncture group was 63.6% (7/11), which was higher than that of 36.4% (4/11) in western medicine group, but there was no significant difference between two groups.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture treatment of regulating spirit, activating blood and relieving pain has a better therapeutic effect for thalamic pain, and can reach to the same therapeutic effect with western medicine Carbamazepine.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Circulation ; Carbamazepine ; therapeutic use ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; physiopathology ; Pain Management ; Pain Measurement ; Spirituality ; Thalamus ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the specificity of the acupoints and related factors on acupuncture effects.

METHODSThe rat model of cerebral median artery occlusion (MCAO) was established with thread ligation according to Zea-Longa method. The acupoint group and the non-acupoint group were stimulated by acupuncture with 9 different parameters (marked group No. I - VI) combined by frequency (60 Hz, 120 Hz, 180 Hz) and time (5 s, 60 s, 180 s). The acupoint of "shuigou" (GV 26) was selected for the acupoint group, the fixed point which was at a distance of 10 mm from the iliac crest below the ribs in the affected side. The acupuncture effect was evaluated with the percentage of brain infarct area after TTC dyeing.

RESULTS(1) Acupoint groups could obviously reduce the brain infarction area in MCAO rats. Under 9 intervention parameters, acupoint groups had much more effectiveness tendency than that of the non-acupoint groups. (2) Acupoint group VI was the most effective in reducing the brain infarction area among 9 acupuncture parameter groups.

CONCLUSION(1) Acupoint has specificity effect on reduction of brain infarct area in MCAO rats. (2) Acupoint group VI (180 Hz; 5 s) could significantly reduce the percentage of cerebral infarction area by TTC dyeing.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Brain Infarction ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo select optimal parameters and judge the comprehensive effect of acupuncture.

METHODSThe middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model was duplicated. Nine acupuncture parameters groups were set up by the frequency of acupuncture (slow, medium, and fast: 60, 120, and 180 times/min) and the acupuncture duration (short, medium, and long: 5, 60, and 180 s). Twisting technique was used in needling at Neiguan (PC6). By taking neurological impairment scoring, leptomeningeal cerebral blood flow, microcirculation (input branch diameter, output branch diameter, input/output), and cerebral infarction rate as effect indicators, the comprehensive effects of different acupuncture parameters at Neiguan (PC6) on MCAO were determined by factor analysis, thus screening the optimal parameters.

RESULTSBy factor analysis, the highest score for comprehensive effect could be achieved with the acupuncture parameters of 180 times/min and 60 s. That is to say, fast frequency and middle time duration could achieve the optimal acupuncture effects, suggesting that appropriate acupuncture time duration should be used under the condition of guaranteeing fast frequency when treating ischemic stroke by needling at Neiguan (PC6).

CONCLUSIONThe 180 times/min and 60 s were the optimal parameter group when needling at Neiguan (PC6) by twisting technique for treating ischemic stroke.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stroke ; therapy

As an important link during the whole operation process of acupuncture, it is very necessary to launch quantity study closely related to acupuncture finger force in the acupuncture quantity study. After retrieval of related literatures on finger force during acupuncture in recent 20 years, it was found out that although some exploration on acupuncture finger force had been made, it was scattered and had no deep research, which pointed out it was a weak link in the acupuncture quantity study. So study of finger force should be paid attention to in acupuncture-moxibustion field, the level of theoretical and experimental research and development of measuring instrument on acupuncture finger force should be strengthened, the application of instrument should be expanded in teaching and scientific research areas, which could promote the modernization and internationalization of acupuncture and moxibustion better and faster.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans

The present situation of the study on the specificity of meridian points effectiveness through checking up the relevant literatures on the study of this subject published in recent 10 years from the databases such as CNKI and SCI are summarized in the paper. It is indicated in the summarization that the effectiveness of meridian points is specific and the meridian points bring their role into play probably through the biological mechanism in the body. But, it is still limitative in systematic, complete and scientific study on such conclusion. In future, the relevant study is required by adopting adequately modern scientific technology and facility, strict and scientific experiment designs as well as assessment method and taking extensive diseases or disease models as the carriers.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Humans ; Meridians