Discussion on the needling technique with filiform needle in acupuncture-moxibustion teaching materials in the Republic of China / 中国针灸

Through collecting the literature data of the needling technique with filiform needle in 20 acupuncture-moxibustion teaching materials in the Republic of China， the manipulation techniques with filiform needle were analyzed, such as the technique of needle insertion, the technique of reinforcing and reducing, and the management of acupuncture abnormal conditions, as well as manual techniques and analgesics methods. It is found that the era of the Republic of China was the transition period of traditional acupuncture techniques to the modern ones in acupuncture-moxibustion teaching materials, in which, the twirling technique was predominated in the technique of needle insertion. In that period, the insertion technique of tube needle had been introduced and simplified, the theory and method of the new-style technique of reinforcing and reducing were emerged and the types of acupuncture abnormal conditions recorded in the teaching materials were different from those at present. Additionally, the applicable manipulation had not been specified nationally. There were the highly influential teaching materials, i.e. , and . The acupuncture-moxibustion teaching materials in the Republic of China has been influenced by the transition of acupuncture-moxibustion education modes, the introduction of Chinese-translation version of Japanese acupuncture-moxibustion books, the academic thoughts of acupuncture masters and the manufacturing process of needle devices.

Summary and core technique on the origin and evolution of reinforcing-reducing manipulation achieved by lifting and thrusting the needle / 中国针灸

By analyzing the evolution of reinforcing-reducing manipulation achieved by lifting and thrusting the needle recorded in ancient literature of traditional Chinese medicine, it is found that the main contents of reinforcing-reducing manipulation by lifting and thrusting the needle include manipulating speed change, manual amplitude, insertion layer, gender, the direction to the acupuncture receiver, forenoon and afternoon and relevant quantity. Among them, gender, the direction to the acupuncture receiver, forenoon and afternoon and relevant quantity are the unnecessary parameters, while the manipulating speed change, manual amplitude and insertion layer are the indispensable parameters. The manipulating speed change is the core of the necessary parameters for the reinforcing-reducing manipulation achieved by lifting and thrusting the needle. Combined with the manual amplitude, the manipulating speed of needle determines the volume of needling stimulation. The insertion layer is decided on the base of the clinical demand. In the core technique of reinforcing-reducing manipulation by lifting and thrusting the needle, the reinforcing is achieved by thrusting the needle forcefully and quickly and then lifting the needle body slowly and evenly back to the original layer. The reducing is achieved by lifting the needle forcefully and quickly and then thrusting the needle body slowly and evenly back to the original layer. The manipulating speed and manual amplitude of needling are the parameters to quantize acupuncture manipulation. In association with the acupuncture effects in human body, these parameters contribute to the interpretation of the dose-effect relationship of acupuncture and the improvement of clinical effects.

Study on Response of TRPV1 Sensitive Neurons in Spinal Cord under Moxibustion of Different Temperatures / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To observe the response of TRPV1 sensitive neurons in spinal cord under moxibustion of different temperatures in "Zusanli". Methods Totally 40 healthy male SD rats were chosen and stimulated with moxibustion at "Zusanli" in 41 ℃, 45 ℃ and 49 ℃. Extracellular recording techniques of glass microelectrode was used in the rats' L4spinal cord neurons. Capsaicin vehicle and solution was injected into the rats through "Zusanli" to filter the sensitive neuron to TRPV1. The response of sensitive neurons to TRPV1 in spinal cord under moxibustion of three different temperatures was recorded and compared. Results The TRPV1 sensitive neurons responded to all the three temperatures. Viewing from the nature of the responding neurons, the neuron in 45 ℃ and 49 ℃ mainly performed in agitation, while the number of agitated and inhibitory neurons appeared same in 41 ℃. Viewing from the character of the responding neurons, different temperatures correspond to differential discharge frequency: 41 ℃was (8.26±2.14) spikes/s, 45 ℃ was (4.69±2.61) spikes/s, 49 ℃ was (10.66±5.97) spikes/s. Viewing from the change of discharge frequency, the neurons in 41 ℃ was found without obvious change, while the neurons in 45 ℃and 49 ℃ discharge frequency apparently increased (P<0.01). Conclusion Sensitive neurons in TRPV1 in spinal cord can response to 41 ℃, 45 ℃ and 49 ℃, whose character, nature and degree are related to the temperature gradient.

Anti-depressive effect of acupuncture on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate anti-depressive effects of acupuncture on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 60 patients with depression were randomly assigned to the control group (30 cases) and the treatment group (30 cases). All patients took one kind of SSRIs. Those in the treatment group were additionally treated by acupuncture. All were treated for 6 weeks. Patients' efficacies were evaluated with Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Eisenberg antidepressant side effects scale (Asberg).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group after 6 weeks of treatment, the cured-markedly effective rate was improved by 33.4% in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The HAMD was lower in the treatment group. The tendency of interaction of sleep disorder factor and anxiety/somatization factor was different between at the end of 1-week treatment and at the end of 6-week treatment in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The SDS score decreased at the end of 6-week treatment in the treatment group. The reduction rate was elevated by 19.23% (P < 0.05). By the end of 6-week treatment, the average score of Asberg decreased by 3.77 score in average in the treatment group, while it decreased by 0.07 score in average in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture could effectively improve anti-depressive effects of SSRIs and reduce their adverse reactions.</p>

To recognize the emergency and understand the value of moxibustion: book review of Bei ji Jiu fa (Moxibustion for Emergency) / 中国针灸

Around the background and main content of Bei ji Jiu fa (Moxibustion for Emergency), the need and possibility of moxibustion for emergency in the ancient are analyzed in this paper, and its characteristics of acupoint selection and manipulation are summarized. The result shows that the reason why moxibustion is effective for emergency in the ancient is that it was common in the ancient to have infectious diseases and deficient medical resource, moxibustion has the advantage of warming, promotion and connection for emergency pathology, and it is easy for the public to use. During the treatment, the distal acupoints are more used, the burning is the key point in the manipulation and the number of moxa cone is based on the severity of the diseases.

Observation on effective characteristics of acupuncture combined with medicine on depression of different syndrome types / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate and analyze the clinical therapeutic effect and characteristics of acupuncture combined with medicine on depression of different syndrome types.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases of depression were dividede into liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency group (group A, 35 cases), deficiency of both heart and spleen group (group B, 21 cases) and yang deficiency of both spleen and kidney group (group C, 24 cases) according to the syndrome differentiation. They were all treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Sishen-cong (EX-HN 1), Neiguan (PC 6) etc. and oral administration of 5-HT selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) tablets. The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and self-made syndrome differentiation symptoms evaluation scale were adopted to evaluate the therapeutic effect.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment of 4 weeks, the total effective rate of 91.4% in group A and of 90.5% in group B, both were superior to that of 87.5% in group C (P < 0.01,P<0. 05). There was a significant difference in comparison of HAMD scores between the group A and group C after treatment of 4 weeks (P < 0.05). The symptom scores of syndrome differentiation in all three groups were obviously decreased after 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks treatment compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.001), the symptom scores of group C had significant differences compared with the group A and group B after treatment of 2 weeks (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The reducing scores rate of the group A had singificant differences compared with the group B and the group C after treatment of 4 weeks (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture combined with SSRI has better therapeutic effect on depression of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency type. The syndrome differentiation symptoms evaluation scale is more exact and sensitive to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of TCM treatment.</p>

Effect of acupuncture on plasma peptide YY in the patient of simple obesity / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe changes of plasma peptide YY (PYY) in acupuncture for slimming.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-four cases of simple obesity were treated with acupuncture for 3 courses. Body mass index (BMI), and fat percent (F%), and insulin, PYY, blood fat, and blood sugar levels before and after treatment were determined, with 20 normal persons used as controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical total effective rate was 88.23%. Acupuncture could increase the decreased insulin sensitive index and PYY level (both P < 0.01), with no correlativity between them (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Regulation of PYY is possibly one of the mechanisms of acupuncture in slimming, but the relation of PPY with insulin resistance remains to be studied.</p>