Investigation and analysis on the current situation of clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture and moxibustion at home and abroad / 中国针灸

To provide directional suggestions for the establishment of international clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture and moxibustion by investigating the current situation of clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture and moxibustion at home and abroad. The clinical practice guidelines were obtained by questionnaire survey, database retrieval and experts consulting. The guidelines were read carefully, and the content was analyzed. A total of 27 acupuncture-moxibustion clinical practice guidelines were retrieved, of which most of the guidelines came from China. The definition and scope of "acupuncture and moxibustion "vary according to different guidelines; and the focus of the content and the method of establishing the guidelines are quite different, so it is very necessary to unify the formulation methods of acupuncture-moxibustion clinical practice guidelines. Chinese clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture and moxibustion were characterized by taking the ancient literature as the evidence. Excavating the value of ancient literature and clinical experience of acupuncture-moxibustion experts are the key points and difficulties in the developing of clinical practice guidelines of acupuncture and moxibustion in the future.

Origin and relationship of -well points and Shixuan (EX-UE 11) / 中国针灸

Both the twelve -well points and Shixuan (EX-UE 11) are the commonly used first-aid points. These two kinds of acupoints are located closely and similar in function, hence, they are often confused in application. In order to explore the origin of their location and theory as well as their relationship, the relevant data were retrieved. It has been found that the relationship between -well points and Shixuan (EX-UE 11) is traced at the earliest time to (). It is believed that the -well points refer to the starting points or the ending points of the twelve regular meridians and Shixuan (EX-UE 11) are located at the crossing sites of - related meridians of the regular meridians. These two kinds of acupoints are interconnected, share the same source and are also different from each other. Qiduan (EX-LE 12) is also named as foot-Shixuan. Shixuan (EX-UE 11) and Qiduan (EX-LE 12) can be regarded as the same category, just like -well points. In clinical practice, the -well points are generally selected in treatment of internal diseases, local diseases and those on the running course of meridians. They can be used separately in treatment. Shixuan (EX-UE 11) is the first option, or combined with Qiduan (EX-LE 12) in the emergent treatment of tense syndrome and syncope. The -well points and Shixuan (EX-UE 11) are different even though sharing the same origin. They are mutually benefited and supplemented with each other in clinical practice.

Progress of the application of PET technology in acupuncture research / 中国针灸

To further investigate the application of positron emission tomography (PET) technology in acupuncture research field, with "PET" and "acupuncture" as keywords, the related literature published from 1997 to 2018 was searched in PubMed, CNKI and WANFANG database; then the literature was classified and analyzed. The results showed that in clinical and experimental studies, whether in physiological or pathological conditions, PET technology has verified the specificity of acupoints, bidirectional regulation of acupoints, and the clinical effect of -arrival from the level of brain functional activity. It has deeply revealed the central mechanism underlying that acupuncture has multi-target, multi-channel and multi-level overall effects. The purpose of this study is to provide objective scientific basis for acupuncture research, and then potentially guide the clinical practice.

Exploration into the simplex reinforcing-reducing manipulation of acupuncture / 中国针灸

Four controversial types of simplex reinforcing-reducing manipulation of acupuncture and their possible meanings were summarized to explore several key elements of reinforcing-reducing manipulation of acupuncture, in addition, the simplex reinforcing-reducing manipulation of acupuncture was classified by single factor. It is concluded that the definition of simplex reinforcing-reducing manipulation of acupuncture should try not to include other non-manipulative elements. According to single factor, it can be divided into: needle-oriented reinforcing-reducing manipulation, twisting reinforcing-reducing manipulation, lifting and interpolating reinforcing-reducing manipulation, fast and slow reinforcing-reducing manipulation, breathing reinforcing-reducing manipulation, opening and closing reinforcing-reducing manipulation. In addition, after considering the effect and principle of number reinforcing-reducing manipulation, it can be considered.

Effects of twirling-rotating reinforcing and reducing technique for left ventricular morphology, concentration of ET-1 and expression of type I, III collagen mRNA in spontaneous hypertensive rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect differences between twirling-rotating reinforcing and reducing technique of acupuncture on cardiac damage in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty male 11-week-old SHR were randomly divided into four groups: a model control group (group A), a twirling-rotating reinforcing technique group (group B), a twirling-rotating reducing technique group (group C) and a needle retaining group (group D), 15 rats in each one. In addition, twelve male 11-week-old Wistar rats were used as a blank control group (group E). Acupuncture was not used in group A and group E, only with grasp, capture and binding stimulation that was also adapted in the rest groups. Rats in the group B were treated with acupuncture at "Taichong" (LR 3) by twirling-rotating reinforcing technique for 1 min and then the needles were retained for 9 min; rats in the group C were treated with acupuncture at "Taichong" (LR 3) by twirling-rotating reducing technique for 1 min and then the needles were retained for 9 min; rats in the group D were treated with acupuncture at "Taichong" (LR 3) but without any technique and then needles were retained for 10 min. Before and after acupuncture, blood pressure monitor was used to measure the rats' systolic pressure and diastolic pressure every 6 days. Twenty-eight days after the treatment, HE and Masson staining were adopted to observe the status of left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis. ELISA method was applied to test the content of endothelin-1 (ET-1). PCR semiquantitative method was used to analyze Type I and III collagen mRNA in the left ventricular.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Blood pressure: after the treatment, the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were both increased in the group A and the group B (P < 0.05); while the two pressures were both lowered in the group C and the group D (P < 0.05), which was more obvious in the group C (P < 0.05). (2) According to HE and Masson staining, except for the group E, the myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis could be found in the rest groups, in which the group C was the modest, followed by the group D, while the group A and the group B were more severe. (3) Concentration of ET-1: there were differences of concentration of ET-1 among 5 groups (P < 0.05), and the concentration value from high to low was the group A, B, C, D and E. (4) Type I collagen mRNA: the difference of level of Type I collagen mRNA between group C and D was not statistically significant (P > 0.05); compared with the group A and B, the level was lower in the group C; the level was the lowest in the group E. Type III collagen mRNA: the difference between the group A and B was not statistically significant (P > 0.05); compared with the group A, B and D, the level was lower in the group C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The twirling-rotating reducing could reduce the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure in SHR, effectively prohibit the production of ET-1 and expression of Type I and III collagen mRNA, and it has more obvious inhibiting effect on Type III collagen mRNA. There is biological effect difference between twirling-rotating reinforcing and reducing technique.</p>

Cross-sectional survey of characteristics of reaction point Jingtong in balance acupuncture / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the performance patterns of reaction point Jingtong in balance acupuncture through multi-center and big-sample clinical investigation. Methods The Jingtong points of balance acupuncture on healthy side and affected side were observed among 230 cases of cervical spondylosis and scores of self-discomfort in reaction point, color of skin, changes of skin, morphology of subcutaneous tissue and abnormal pressing pain were recorded. The software SPSS 15.0 was applied to statistically analyze the recorded scores.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 230 cases, the reaction point appeared in 226 cases, accounting for 98. 3%. Among the 226 cases who had reaction point, the total score of symptom and sign was (1.08+/-1.09) on the healthy side and (0. 84+/-1. 36) on the affected side, which had statistical significance (P<0. 01); score of self-discomfort in reaction point was (0. 76 +/-0. 83) on the healthy side and (0. 40+/-0.80) on the affected side, which had statistical significance (P<0.01); the score of skin color was (0.10+/-0.36) on the healthy side and (0. 03+/- 0. 19) on the affected side, which had statistical significance (P<0. 05); the score of abnormal pressing pain was (2. 47+/-2. 46) on the healthy side and (1. 39+/-2. 37) on the affected side, which had statistical significance (P<0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The total score of symptom and sign of reaction point Jingtong on the healthy side is higher than that on the affected side, indicating positive reaction of Jingtong on the healthy side has specificity for cervical spondylosis. When patient has cervical spondylosis on either side of neck, the other side will have anomaly in Jingtong.</p>

Effects of reinforcing and reducing methods by twirling and rotating the needle on contents of CGRP and NO in rats with stress-induced hypertension / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the different effects of reinforcing and reducing methods by twirling and rotating the needle on stress-induced hypertension and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a nomal group (group A), a model group (group B), an acupuncture control group (group C), an acupuncture with reinforcing method group (group D)and an acupuncture with reducing method group (group E), 12 rats in each group. The model of stress-induced hypertension was established by foot-shock and noise stimulation in the other groups except group A. Group C was treated by acupuncture at left "Taichong" (LR 3) with no manipulation, group D with twirling reinforcement method and group E with twirling reducing method at the same acupoint, respectively, and group A and B with no acupuncture treatment. The contents of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nitrogen monoxidum (NO) in blood plasma and hypothalamus after 7 days were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After acupuncture treatment, the contents of CGRP in blood plasma and hypothalamus were (375.9 +/- 36.5) pg/mL and (213.6 +/- 50.1) pg/mg in group A, which were higher than (261.0 +/- 20.1) pg/mL and (156.0 +/- 21.8) pg/mg in group B , and (255.3 +/- 33.6) pg/mL and (154.3 +/- 47.3) pg/mg in group C (all P < 0.05), and (465.9 +/- 53.2) pg/mL and (250.74 +/- 47.7) pg/mg in group E higher than those in group C and (283.3 +/- 29.8) pg/mL and (164.6 +/- 47.4) pg/mg in group D (all P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference among group B, C and D (all P > 0.05). After acupuncture treatment, the contents of NO in blood plasma and hypothalamus were (43.7 +/- 5.5) micromol/L and (23.3 +/- 2.9) micromol/g in group B, (46.5 +/- 6.4) micromol/L and (23.1 +/- 3.3) micromol/g in group C, (45.8 +/- 6.7) micromol/L and (25.0 +/- 2.7) micromol/g in group D, which were all lower than (64.5 +/- 9.9) micromol/L and (30.7 +/- 1.6) micromol/g in group A (all P < 0.05), (55.9 +/- 4.6) micromol/L and (30.4 +/- 2.1) micromol/g in group E higher than those in group C and group D (all P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference among group B, C and D either (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture with twirling reducing method can increase the contents of CGRP and NO in rats with stress-induced hypertension, thereby causing a fall in blood pressure, however, no significant influence with twirling reinforcing method. Reinforcing or reducing method by twirling and rotating the needle has different efficacy.</p>

Affection of acupotomy lysis on leu-enkephalin (L-ENK) content in different parts of centrum of rats with knee osteoarthritis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the analgesia mechanism of needle-knife lysis in spinal cord and other parts of central nervous system by comparing the changes of Leu-Enkephalin (L-ENK) content in different parts of centrium of rats undergone needle-knife lysis and electro-acupuncture respectively.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty healthy SD rats were randomly devided into normal control group, model group, needle-knife lysis (NKL) group and electro-acupuncture (EA) group. 4% papain solution mixed with 0.3 mol/L cysteine solutin in the ratio of 1:1, paused for 0.5 h,injected the mixture, 20 microl each time,into the left knee joint cavities of rats in model, NKL, EA groups at the 1st, 4th, 7th day. After 4 weeks in NKL group and EA group were treated with needle-knife lysis and electro-acupuncture, respectively. Three weeks after treatment, samples of spinal cord of the swollen part of rat waists and rat brains were taken from and the content of L-ENK of medulla oblongata, midbrain, pituitary gland, and hippocampus were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>L-ENK content of model group increased higher than that of normal control group in spinal cord, hippocampus and midbrain (P < 0.01); there were no significant difference between normal control group and modle group on L-ENK in medulla oblongata and thalamus (P > 0.05). After intervening of NKL or EA, L-ENK content of NKL group increased higher in hippocampus than that of model group and EC group (P < 0.05); but L-ENK content of NKL group in midbrain was lower than that of model group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Needle-knife lysis has characteristic of regulation for the L-ENK content in different parts of central nervous system of rats with knee osteoarthritis, and analgesic effect of needle-knife was possibly related with regulation of center L-ENK.</p>

Debating some issues on the formulation and application of standardized manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion-part 6: acupoint injection / 中国针灸

Some issues on the formulation of Standardized manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion-part 6: acupoint injection are debated in this paper, including the definition of acupoint injection, characteristics of the standard and application of technical index etc. In the paper, the authors suggest that the issues on the selecting acupoints and drugs should be paid attention during the standard in use. Finally, the authors propose that the technical description of the acupoint injection in the reported literatures needs to be improved in order to better serve for clinical and scientific research.

Advances of studies on acupuncture reinforcing-reducing of twirling-rotating the needle / 中国针灸

The theories and clinical and experimental studies about reinforcing-reducing manipulation of twirling rotating the needle in recent 15 years are reviewed and a brief account of manipulation methods, mechanisms and effects of reinforcing-reducing manipulation of twirling-rotating the needle is given, and it is indicated that the following several aspects in the studies at present need to be completed. Standardization and establishment of national standard of acupuncture manipulation must be enforced; quantitative parameters of acupuncture manipulation and mechanisms of acupuncture reinforcing-reducing of twirling-rotating the needle need to be further studied.

Electroacupuncture at Zhongji (CV 3) for treatment of benign hyperplasia of prostate: a multi-central randomized controlled study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the role of Zhongji (CV 3) in treatment of benign hyperplasia of prostate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multi-central, randomized, controlled, single bland clinical method was adopted, and 276 cases were divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a medication group, 138 cases in each group. The EA group were treated with EA at Zhongji (CV 3) and the medication group with oral administration of Qianliekang tablets. After treatment of 1 course, their therapeutic effects and changes of international prostate symptom (I-PSS) cumulative score, life quality index (L) cumulative score, nocturia times, urine stream state, lower abdominal symptom, maximal volume of urine flow, residual urine volume, prostatic volume, etc. Were assessed in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 96.4% in the EA group and 86.2% in the medication group, the former being better than the latter (P<0. 01); the two groups were effective in improvement of international prostate symptom (I-PSS) cumulative score, life quality index (L) cumulative score, nocturia times, urine stream state, hypogastrium symptom, maximal volume of urine flow, residual urine volume, prostatic volume, etc. with the former better than the latter.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Zhongji (CV 3) has a significant therapeutic effect for treatment of benign hyperplasia of prostate.</p>

Brief introduction of professor Yang Jia-san's academic thought / 中国针灸

The present paper introduces Prof. YANG's academic thought from acupoint theory, acupoint selection method, filiform needle needling methods, reinforcing and reducing manipulation, clinical acupoint association, syndrome differentiation treatment thought, etc. Essence of acupoints is "Shenqi" freely flowing out and in, and is not local tissues of "skin, muscle, tendon and hone". Deeply understanding the essence of acupoints is of an important significance. Reinforcing and reducing of acupuncture are one of core links for attaining clinical therapeutic effect and are paid great attention by physicians of past ages. Prof. YANG deeply red classical works, learnt from all schools of thought, gradually achieve mastery through a comprehensive study of the subject, simplifying something by cutting out the superfluous, forming own acupuncture reinforcing and reducing style. YANG's syndrome differentiation treatment thought includes following 3 characteristics: (1) reflecting the spirit of special recipe, special drug and special acupoint for special disease; (2) being good at combined acupuncture and drug; (3) flexible clinical thinking and methods.

Textual research and differentiation of Dou Han-qing's works catalogue / 中国针灸

This paper aims at probing into evolving course of DOU Han-qing's works catalogue. On the basis of summarizing and referring to study achievements of our predecessors, through analysis of book lists and relative works and chapters, it is hold that the catalogue which were not attained by ZHULiang-neng possibly are the contents of acupuncture reinforcing and reducing methods; the books printed and published by ZHULiang-neng include the contents of both channels and acupoints; the book, Zhinan, which was attained by DOUGui-fang, includes the content catalogue of needling methods; Fu Zhenjiu Zashuo in Zhenjiu Sisu. Zhenjiu Zhinan also were extracted by DOU Gui-fang from Illustrated Manual of Acupoints of the Bronze Figure, and The Zhenjiu Biji Taiyi Zhi Tuxu and Dongzhi Yezhe Gongshuo should belong to The Fu Zhenjiu Zashuo.

Professor Yang Jia-san, a famous acupuncture and moxibustion specialist of China in the present age / 中国针灸

Professor YANG Jia-san was a famous acupuncture and moxibustion specialist of China in the present age. He had studied medicine since early youth and practiced medicine on his own at age of 17 years. He devoted himself to the development of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences. He was bold in making innovations, successfully combined modern medical knowledge with traditional acupuncture and moxibustion, and formed an unique academic thought system in selection methods of acupoints, needling technique, study on acupoint theory and clinical application of acupoints, etc.. Clinically, he achieved excellent therapeutic effect due to his wide theories and good techniques. He was the acme of perfection in application of prescription and drugs, he undertook scientific research, teaching and clinical work of acupuncture and moxibustion and trained a large number of people of talent in Beijing University of TCM, making important contribution to development of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences; he undertook medical and health-care work for central leaders for long time, and cured chronic and stubborn diseases for foreign high leaders for many times, winning prestige for the fatherland.

Effects of needle knife relaxing therapy on tension of local soft tissue and pain of osteoarthritis of knee / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into the mechanism and methods of needle knife relaxing therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis of knee from biomechanical view.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Needle knife relaxing therapy was given to 92 pain points around the knee joint in 14 cases of osteoarthritis of knee, and the displacement of the local pain point under the stress of 500 g (L500 g) was measured and the VAS scores were recorded before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>L500 g of the pain point was (4.72+/-1.03) mm before treatment and (5.39+/-1.01) mm after treatment with a very significant difference before and after treatment (P<0.01), and VAS score was (7.10+/-1.49) points before treatment and (1.49+/-1.24) points after treatment with a very significant difference before and after treatment (P<0.01), and there was a linear correlation between the changes of L500 g and VAS scores.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was close connection between the local pain and tension of local soft tissue in knee osteoarthritis. The needle knife relaxing therapy can relieve the neurovascular compression or traction syndrome by relaxing the local contracted, adhesive soft tissue, so as to relieve tension pain and finally recover internal force equilibrium of the knee joint.</p>

Study on the train of thought about study of standardization of the nomenclature of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

Acupuncture and moxibustion sciences have a long history, and their unique discipline language and theoretical system determine the obvious differences between acup-moxibustion sciences and modern natural sciences in the nomenclature. Their inheritance and development of several thousand years make the complicated nomenclature of acupuncture and moxibustion more confusing, unclear classification, unclear definition. Therefore, establishment of a unified and standard acupuncture and moxibustion nomenclature system is not only an important premise and basis for standardization, modernization, internationalization and information construction of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences, and also is an important composition of whole TCM standardization. The present paper preliminarily probe the necessity, basic principle, train of thought and relative problems, etc. in the studies of standardization of the nomenclature of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences.