Modulation of Gluteus Medius Strength by Yang Qiao Mai Stimulation: A Multiple Case Report

Yang Qiao Mai, one of the eight channels known as extraordinary meridians, is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to relieve tension in the lateral muscles of the legs. According to TCM, each extraordinary vessel has main points, coalescent points, and one single master point (BL62 Shenmai for Yang Qiao Mai), which can influence the entire path of the meridian. We performed a test which involved measuring the changes in abduction strength of the gluteus medius following stimulation with a new type of photobiomodulation device, which delivers a very low level of modulated light on the BL62 Shenmai acupuncture point. Twenty-two healthy volunteers were measured, stimulated, and the measurement repeated 30 minutes after the first measurement. In addition to showing a regulatory effect of the stimulation, the test confirmed that a modulated red-light emission with a stimulus duration of 20 s for a total delivered energy of 0.35 mJ can induce an acupuncture-like response, even in the short term. The difference between the two body sides generally results as being around 6 Kg: this figure appears to be a physiological limit, probably due to an anatomical compensation of the body asymmetries. These results offer a new insight into the interpretation of the signaling process along the meridians, and appears to involve the return to homeostasis of the extracellular soft tissue matrix promoted by the photon flow.

Treating Grief with Saam Acupuncture / Meditation

This is an introduction for the treatment of grief using a traditional Korean Acupuncture protocol. Saam Acupuncture / Meditation is use of meditation upon the acupuncture point prescription of Saam’s Lung channel to engage and direct the patient’s mind in channeling grief. The author has found this to be highly effective for remedying pathological grief as it gives control to the patient to meditate upon the acupuncture points both in and out of clinic when grief overwhelms.

Ear acupuncture as an adjunct in a treatment protocol for anorexia nervosa: utilization rate and nurses’ experience

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a life-threatening illness. Sometimes long inpatient treatment is necessary, increasing the anxiety that comes with hospitalization and the necessary weight gain. Safe, non-pharmacological adjunctive therapies that improve subjective health are called for. Objective: The aim of this non-randomized, mixed-methods observational study was to describe the utilization rate and nurses’ experiences of ear acupuncture in a highly specialized clinic for eating disorders in Sweden, in which acupuncture had been implemented as part of routine clinical care. Twenty-five patients with AN-treated voluntarily or by law were included. The semi-standardized National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) ear acupuncture protocol, sometimes combined with needling at 2 traditional acupuncture point locations on the body, had been implemented as a voluntary adjunct to usual care, twice weekly. To evaluate the acceptance of acupuncture, the study examined how often patients chose acupuncture when offered on schedule, and how often they asked for extra acupuncture sessions. Patients rated their subjective health using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and visual analogue scale (VAS), treatment satisfaction with usual care and acupuncture, and health-related quality of life with the RAND36 instrument. A credibility/expectancy questionnaire (CEQ) was used to measure confidence in treatment. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated to follow the patients’ recovery. Nurses’ experiences of giving acupuncture as a part of routine care were captured in interviews, and analysed with content analysis. Ethical approval was obtained. Results: Despite an initially moderate level of trust in acupuncture, the utilization rate of the scheduled acupuncture was 89% and patients asked for extra acupuncture sessions on 28 occasions. No serious side effects were reported. Nurses’ experiences of providing acupuncture were positive. They were generally enthusiastic, although they reported finding it difficult to organize group treatments and to find time for acupuncture sessions if they were not scheduled. Conclusion: Further research into the effectiveness and costs of acupuncture in psychiatric care is needed. This study provides relevant information for clinicians as well as researchers planning future randomized controlled trials.

Teaching self-acupuncture survey report

Background: People have been teaching self-acupuncture (SA) in the United Kingdom since 1977. More recently, a small body of research has been conducted on SA. However, detailed guidelines on teaching and delivery of SA have so far, to our knowledge, not been developed. Methods: Acupuncturists were invited to participate in an online survey about their experiences of teaching SA. Data from the survey were extracted, analysed using descriptive statistics and translated into SA teaching guidelines. Results: One hundred thirty-eight acupuncturists completed the survey. Nineteen percent of participants had taught SA. The most common symptoms for which acupuncturists taught SA were pain, nausea, anxiety, hot flushes, headaches/migraines and breathlessness. The six most commonly taught traditional acupuncture point locations were LI4, ST36, SP6, PC6, LR3 and TE5. No participants had received reports of adverse effects from their patients. Conclusion: Acupuncturists who teach SA find it to be an acceptable and safe option for patients. The presented data have important implications for guiding the practice of SA.

Comparative effect of dense-and-disperse versus non-repetitive and non-sequential frequencies in electroacupuncture-induced analgesia in a rodent model of peripheral neuropathic pain

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a complex disease that remains challenging to treat. Low-frequency dense-and-disperse (DD) electroacupuncture (EA) has been used as adjuvant therapy for neuropathic pain; however, its analgesic effect decreases as stimulation time increases, or when it is repeatedly used. We hypothesized that a new frequency parameter could improve the effectiveness of EA, and aimed to compare the efficacy and duration of the analgesic effect between classic DD-EA and non-repetitive and non-sequential frequency (random frequency (RF)-EA) in neuropathic rats. Furthermore, the effect of RF-EA at local traditional acupuncture point locations versus auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) was evaluated. Methods: Male Wistar rats with peripheral neuropathy were subjected to a single session of DD-EA or RF-EA for 20 or 40 min at ST36 + GB34. An additional group of rats was treated with RF-EA for 20 min using aVNS at the appropriate ear point locations. Paw pressure test, von Frey filaments and spontaneous pain scores were evaluated. Sham-operated rats were used as controls. Results: In all, 20 min of RF-EA reversed hyperalgesia (for 24 h) and allodynia (for 8 h), showing a longer analgesic effect than DD-EA. Both RF-EA and DD-EA induced partial inhibition of spontaneous pain for 8 h. Forty minutes of DD-EA did not interfere with the NP phenomena; however, RF-EA induced significant long-term analgesia. aVNS induced an analgesic effect similar to local stimulation. Conclusion: This pilot study shows that RF-EA at both local traditional acupuncture point and auriculotherapy point locations induces long-lasting analgesia in neuropathic rats, and more effectively so than classical DD-EA.

How to Insert Acupuncture Needles into the Subacromial Space through LI15

LI15 is an important acupuncture point to treat shoulder pain. There are 4 needling methods for LI15 in the textbook; 1 method requires the insertion of the needle horizontally between the acromion and the great tuberosity of the humerus with the arm lowered for supraspinatus tendonitis. This method is also applicable for all conditions of rotator cuff disease, but it has not previously been described in detail. Providing X-ray scans and describing needle direction and depth of insertion will provide evidence for needling with the arm down as an effective stimulation of the subacromial space. Firstly, for this technique, with the arm raised, a concave point is located between the front edge of the acromion and the humerus, and the lower upper arm. Secondly, the acupuncture needle is inserted slightly posteriorly towards the supraspinous fossa, in the direction of the supraspinatus tendon and to a depth of 30-40 mm.

Bee Venom Acupuncture Effects on Pain and Its Mechanisms: An Updated Review

Bee venom (BV) is a complex natural toxin that contains various pharmaceutical compounds. Bee venom acupuncture (BVA), involving a BV injection into a certain acupuncture point, has been utilized to relieve a range of pain conditions. Regardless of whether pain is caused by disease or injury, if not effectively treated, pain can exert a detrimental effect on all aspects of life. In the past decade, many researchers have investigated the anti-nociceptive effects of BVA through clinical use and experimental evaluation. This report reviews the existing knowledge on the analgesic effects of BVA, focusing on musculoskeletal pain, inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain, and its analgesic mechanisms. Although further clinical trials are needed to clinical application of experimental results, this review will contribute to the standardization and generalization of BVA.