The paper presents professor WU Han-qing's experience in treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with "sinew-bone three needling technique" of Chinese medicine. Based on the theory of meridian sinew, the points are located by "three-pass method" in terms of the distribution of meridian sinew and syndrome/pattern differentiation. The cord-like muscles and adhesion are relieved by relaxing technique to work directly on the affected sites and alleviate the local compression to the nerve root. The needle technique is operated flexibly according to the affected regions involved, due to which, the needling sensation is increased while the safety ensured. As a result, the meridian qi is enhanced, the mind and qi circulation is regulated; and the clinical effect is improved.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/therapy* ; Meridians ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; Acupuncture Points

Jingjin (muscle region of meridian) is a distal diagnosis and treatment system of the sinew/fascia disorders on the base of the concept of jin in TCM. Jin should be a particular palpable structure rather than a single anatomic structure with a specific distributing course. Yizhi weishu refers to a idea running through the whole process of diagnosis and treatment of sinew/fascia disorders, in which, the results, obtained by the overall observation and palpation of patient's sinew/fascia structure, are taken as the criteria of treatment. Yitong weishu (taking the sites of sensitivity or tenderness as the points) verifies this idea in practice. Under the guidance of yizhi weishu, through identifying the primary from the secondary, and regulating yin and yang, the spasticity and flaccidity of sinews/fascia can be cured and the induced diseases treated. The diagnosis and treatment system of jingjin, based on yizhi weishu, develops the original jingjin theory with vague concept involved, formulates a systematic thinking of treatment for sinew/fascia disorders and provides a new approach to clinical treatment.
Humans ; Meridians ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Muscle Spasticity

There is a commonality between jingjin (muscle region of meridian) and the fascial network for coordinating the balance in the body. The occurrence and the progression of tumor may disrupt the overall coordination between the fascial network and jingjin directly or indirectly, thereby, the impairment of this coordination may result in cancer pain. Rooted on the theory of overall balance of the fascial network, and combined with understanding of pain in jingjin theory, professor HUANG Jin-chang emphasizes the importance of "relaxing the knot" in treatment of cancer pain. It is recommended to select the fascia reaction point as the target point, in accordance with the principle of balance adjustment and apply various acupuncture and moxibustion therapies, such as Fu's subcutaneous needling, small-needle scalpel therapy, fire needling, and moxibustion.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Cancer Pain ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Fascia ; Neoplasms/therapy*

The paper summarizes the definition, location and main indication of qicimai points recorded in Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor 's Inner Classic). It is found that qicimai points are the "upward moving points" in reference to the meridian distribution rule of "rooting, running, infusing and moving"; and corresponding to the sites of "running outwards and inwards" of the meridians' "separating, meeting and running outwards and inwards". It also includes the infusing points for the sea of qi and marrow. The new idea, "selecting qicimai points for the treatment of qi obstruction in the neck gate", is proposed. Based on the systematic application of the acupoints on the nape region, it is anticipated that a new approach will be provided to the treatment of the diseases in the neck, shoulder, head, face, the five sensory organs, mental disorders and zangfu qi dysfunction.
Humans ; Meridians ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training and electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training in the treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). METHODS: A total of 206 patients with PSCI were randomized into a needle retaining group (103 cases, 9 cases dropped out) and an electroacupuncture group (103 cases, 6 cases dropped out). In addition to the conventional basic medical treatment and the rehabilitation treatment, in the needle retaining group, electroacupuncture at Shenting (GV 24) and Baihui (GV 20) was applied, with continuous wave of 50 Hz in the first 15 min and with disperse-dense wave of 2 Hz/50 Hz in the last 15 min, the needles were continuously retained for 1 h after electroacupuncture, during which cognitive training was adopted; in the electroacupuncture group, cognitive training was performed after the same electric stimulation exerted for 30 min, without additional needles retaining. The treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week for totally 8 weeks in the two groups. Before and after 8-week treatment, the TCM syndrome score was observed; before and after 4,8-week treatment, the scores of mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and ability of daily living were observed in the two groups. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated after 8-week treatment. RESULTS: After 8-week treatment, the TCM syndrome scores were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05); the TCM syndrome score in the needle retaining group was higher than that in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05).After 4,8-week treatment, the scores of MMSE, MoCA and ability of daily living were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05); MMSE, MoCA scores after 4,8-week treatment and ability of daily living score after 8-week treatment in the needle retaining group were higher than those in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.4% (85/94) in the needle retaining group, which was superior to 82.5% (80/97) in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training and electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training can effectively treat PSCI, improve the clinical symptom, cognitive function and ability of daily living in PSCI patients. Needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training has a better therapeutic effect.
Humans ; Electroacupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cognitive Training ; Acupuncture Points ; Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy* ; Stroke/complications* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: To observe the clinical effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture on postpartum abdominal pain and its influence on serum beta-endorphin (β-EP) level in puerpera. METHODS: Seventy patients with postpartum abdominal pain were randomly divided into an acupuncture + herbal medication group (35 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a herbal medication group (35 cases, 2 cases dropped out). In the herbal medication group, 1 day after delivery, modified shenghua decoction was taken orally, one dose a day. In the acupuncture + herbal medication group, on the basis of herbal medication, wrist-ankle acupuncture was given at the Lower 1 and Lower 2 of the ankles, once daily. The duration of treatment was 3 days in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, serum β-EP level, uterine fundus height, postpartum conditions of lochia and the uterine recovery at 42 days postpartum were compared in the patients of the two groups. RESULTS: At each time point after treatment (24 h, 48 h and 72 h after delivery), VAS scores and the uterine fundus height were reduced as compared with those before treatment (2 h after delivery) in the two groups (P<0.05); these indexes in the acupuncture + herbal medication group were lower than those in the herbal medication group (P<0.05). After treatment (72 h after delivery), β-EP levels in the serum were increased when compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the β-EP level in the acupuncture + herbal medication group was higher than that in the herbal medication group (P<0.05). The volume of postpartum lochia discharge in the acupuncture + herbal medication group was higher than that in the herbal medication group (P<0.05), while the duration of postpartum lochia discharge and the total time of lochia discharge were shorter (P<0.05). Regarding the recovery of the uterus at 42 days postpartum, there was no statistical significance between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Wrist-ankle acupuncture obviously reduces the degree of postpartum abdominal pain and promotes the lochia discharge and the uterine recovery. The effect mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of serum β-EP level and the increase of pain threshold so that analgesia is obtained.
Female ; Humans ; Ankle ; beta-Endorphin ; Wrist ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Abdominal Pain ; Acupuncture Points

A moxibustion device with the functions of auricular fumigation moxibustion and heat-sensitive moxibustion is designed. The smoke of the ignited moxa stick is used for the fumigation moxibustion at the external auditory canal, while the heat generated works on Dazhui (GV 14) for heat-sensitive moxibustion. The device consists of five parts, i.e. combustion chamber, smoke pipe, smoke processing chamber, power module and connector. It solves the limitations such as unpleasant experience in treatment, unfavorable temperature control, easy scalding and excessive manual dependence induced by usual fumigation moxibustion and during heat-sensitive moxibustion. This moxibustion device may improve the safety and convenience when delivering the treatment with fumigation moxibustion and heat-sensitive moxibustion, as well as the work efficiency of medical staff.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Hot Temperature ; Fumigation ; Smoke ; Temperature

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cerebral metabolism in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated cognitive dysfunction (T2DACD) and explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at the acupoints for Tiaozang Xingshen (adjusting zangfu function and rescuing the spirit) in treatment of T2DACD, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. METHODS: Fifteen patients with T2DACD (observation group) and 22 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled. In the observation group, the patients were treated with EA for Tiaozang Xingshen at Baihui (GV 20) and Shenting (GV 24), and bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3). EA was operated with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency and 0.1 mA to 1.0 mA in current intensity; 30 min each time, once daily. One course of EA consisted of 5 treatments, at the interval of 2 days and the intervention lasted 8 courses. Before treatment in the control group, before and after treatment in the observation group, the score of Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA), the score of clinical dementia rating (CDR), Flanker paradigm, Stroop paradigm, Nback paradigm, the score of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), the score of self-rating depression scale (SDS), and the score of Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) were evaluated separately; the glycolipid metabolic indexes (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], glycosylated hemoglobin type A1c [HbA1c], total cholesterol [TC], triacylglycerol [TG], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]) were determined；with the magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique adopted, the metabolites in the basal ganglia area were detected. The correlation analysis was performed for the metabolite values with MoCA score, CDR score , Flanker paradigm, Stroop paradigm, and Nback paradigm. RESULTS: Before treatment, compared with the control group, in the observation group, MoCA score was lower (P<0.001), CDR score and the levels of FPG and HbA1c were higher (P<0.001); the reaction times of Flanker non-conflict, Flanker conflict, Stroop neutrality, Stroop congruence, Stroop conflict, and 1-back were prolonged (P<0.05, P<0.001), and the accuracy of Flanker conflict, Stroop conflict, and 1-back decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the ratio of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) to creatine (Cr) in the left basal ganglia area was dropped (P<0.001), and that of myo-inositol (MI) to Cr in the right side increased (P<0.05). In the observation group after treatment, compared with the levels before treatment, MoCA score was higher (P<0.001), the scores of CDR, SAS and HAMD were reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05), the reaction times of Flanker conflict and Stroop conflict shortened (P<0.001, P<0.05), and the accuracy of Flanker conflict and 1-back increased (P<0.001, P<0.05); the ratio of NAA to Cr in the left basal ganglia area and that of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to Cr in the right increased (P<0.05), that of MI to Cr in the right decreased (P<0.05). Before treatment, in the observation group, the ratio of MI to Cr in the right basal ganglia area was positively correlated with the reaction time of Stroop congruence (r=0.671, P=0.012) and this ratio was positively correlated with the reaction time of Stroop conflict (r=0.576, P=0.039). CONCLUSIONS Electroacupuncture for "adjusting zangfu function and rescuing the mind" improves the cognitive function of T2DACD patients, which may be related to the regulation of NAA, MI and GABA levels in the basal ganglia.
Humans ; Electroacupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy* ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy* ; Cholesterol ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

OBJECTIVE: To observe the impacts of acupuncture on depressive mood and sleep quality in patients with comorbid mild-to-moderate depressive disorder and insomnia, and explore its effect mechanism. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with comorbid mild-to-moderate depressive disorder and insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off). In the observation group, acupuncture and low frequency repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) were combined for the intervention. Acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 24⁺), Neiguan (PC 6) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc., the needles were retained for 30 min; and the intradermal needles were embedded at Xinshu (BL 15) and Danshu (BL 19) for 2 days. After acupuncture, the rTMS was delivered at the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-DLPFC), with 1 Hz and 80% of movement threshold, lasting 30 min in each treatment. In the control group, the sham-acupuncture was adopted, combined with low frequency rTMS. The acupoint selection and manipulation were the same as the observation group. In the two groups, acupuncture was given once every two days, 3 times weekly; while, rTMS was operated once daily, for consecutive 5 days a week. The duration of treatment consisted of 4 weeks. Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores were observed before and after treatment, as well as 1 month after the treatment completion (follow-up period) separately. Besides, the levels of nerve growth factor (BDNF) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the serum were detected before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment and in follow-up, the HAMD-17 scores were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the total scores and the scores of each factor of PSQI were reduced in the two groups in comparison with those before treatment except for the score of sleep efficiency in the control group (P<0.05); the total PSQI score and the scores for sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep efficiency and daytime dysfunction in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). In the follow-up, except for the scores of sleep duration and sleep efficiency in the control group, the total PSQI score and the scores of all the other factors were reduced compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05); the total PSQI score and the scores of sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency and daytime dysfunction in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum BDNF and GABA were increased in comparison with those before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05), and the level of serum BDNF was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture relieves depressive mood and improves sleep quality in patients with comorbid mild-to-moderate depressive disorder and insomnia. The effect mechanism may be related to the regulation of BDNF and GABA levels and the promotion of brain neurological function recovery.
Humans ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy* ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Treatment Outcome ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Depressive Disorder

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on cardiac function and local field potential (LFP) in sensory and motor cortices in mice with stress cardiomyopathy (SC), and to explore the possible mechanism of EA in improving SC. METHODS: Twenty-seven female C57BL/6 mice were randomized into a blank group, a model group and an EA group, 9 mice in each group. In the model group and the EA group, SC model was established by continuous intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol (ISO) for 14 days. At the same time of modeling, EA was applied at "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Shenmen" (HT 7) in the EA group, with disperse-dense wave, in frequency of 2 Hz/15 Hz, 15 min each time, once a day for 14 days. After intervention, the total movement distance, the number of crossing grid and the number of crossing central grid of open field test within 5 minutes were observed; the left ventricular function indexes (left ventricular diameter of end-diastole [LVIDd], left ventricular diameter of end-systole [LVIDs], left ventricular volume of end-diastole [LVEDV], left ventricular volume of end-systole [LVESV], ejection fraction [EF] and fraction shortening [FS]) were detected by echocardiography; the changes in ST-segment amplitude and PR interval of electrocardiogram were observed; the morphology of myocardial tissue was observed by HE staining; the serum levels of cortisol (CORT), cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were detected by ELISA; the changes of LFP in sensory and motor cortices were recorded by Plexon multi-channel acquisition system. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the total movement distance, the number of crossing grid and the number of crossing central grid of open field test were decreased (P<0.05); LVIDd, LVIDs, LVEDV and LVESV were increased (P<0.05), EF and FS were decreased (P<0.05); ST-segment amplitude was increased (P<0.05) and PR interval was prolonged (P<0.05); irregular myocardial fiber arrangement, interstitial edema and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed; the serum levels of CORT, cTnT and BNP were increased (P<0.05); in the sensory cortex, the ratios of delta, theta, alpha and beta frequency bands were increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum of theta and beta frequency bands was increased (P<0.05), the power spectral density (PSD) of delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands was increased (P<0.05); in the motor cortex, the ratios of delta, theta, alpha and beta frequency bands were increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum as well as PSD of delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands were increased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, in the EA group, the total movement distance, the number of crossing grid and the number of crossing central grid of open field test were increased (P<0.05); LVIDd, LVIDs, LVEDV and LVESV were decreased (P<0.05), EF and FS were increased (P<0.05); ST-segment amplitude was decreased (P<0.05), and the PR interval was shortened (P<0.05); myocardial fiber injury and inflammatory cell infiltration were reduced; the serum levels of CORT, cTnT and BNP were decreased (P<0.05); in the sensory cortex, the ratios of theta, alpha and beta frequency bands were decreased (P<0.05), the ratio of gamma frequency band was increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum of theta frequency band as well as the PSD of theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands were decreased (P<0.05); in the motor cortex, the ratios of theta, alpha and beta frequency bands were decreased (P<0.05) and the ratio of gamma frequency band was increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum of delta frequency band was increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum of theta frequency band as well as the PSD of theta and gamma frequency bands were decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA can improve cardiac function in mice with stress cardiomyopathy, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of local field potentials in sensory and motor cortices.
Female ; Mice ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy ; Motor Cortex ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myocardium