Local Acupuncture Research Articles

A Combination of Acupuncture and Anisodine for the Treatment of Idiopathic Blepharospasm

We investigated the clinical effect of local acupuncture combined with compound anisodine injection in treating idiopathic blepharospasm. This study included 80 patients with idiopathic blepharospasm who received treatment in our hospital. The patients were divided into a single group and a combined group. The patients in the single group received simple compound anisodine injection alone, while those in the combined group received local acupuncture combined with compound anisodine injection. Patients in the combination group exhibited a higher clinical response rate than those in the single group. After therapy, patients in the combination group exhibited lower Blepharospasm Disability Index scores and Jankovic Rating Scale scores than those in the single group. No difference was observed in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. After six months of follow-up, patients in the combination group exhibited a reduced recurrence rate than those in the single group. Local acupuncture combined with compound anisodine injection for patients with idiopathic blepharospasm can improve clinical efficacy, accelerate patient recovery, maintain a low recurrence rate, and ensure high patient safety.

Acupuncture and dry needling for physical therapy of scar: a systematic review

BackgroundThere is a continuing interest in finding effective methods for scar treatment. Dry needling is gaining popularity in physiotherapy and is defined by Western medicine as a type of acupuncture. The terms acupuncture and dry needling have been used interchangeably so we have focused on the efficacy of dry needling or acupuncture in scar treatment.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to determine the usefulness of dry needling or local acupuncture for scar treatment. In our search process, we used the terms ‘acupuncture,’ ‘needling,’ or ‘dry needling’ to identify all relevant scientific papers. We have focused on the practical aspects of local management of different scar types with dry needling or acupuncture.Search strategyThe search strategy included different combinations of the following keywords: ‘scar’, ‘keloid’, ‘dry needling’, ‘needling’, ‘acupuncture’, ‘treatment’, ‘physical therapy’. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE (PubMed, EBSCOHost and Ovid), EMBASE (Elsevier), and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant publications from inception through October 2023.Inclusion criteriaThe studies that investigated the effectiveness of dry needling or acupuncture for scar treatment were included.Data extraction and analysisThe main extraction data items were: the needling technique; needle: diameter, length; needling locations; manual needling manipulation; number of sessions; settings; outcomes and results.ResultsAs a result of a comprehensive search, 11 manuscripts were included in the systematic review, of which eight were case reports, two were randomized trials and one study concerned case series. Two case reports scored 2–4 out of 8 points on the JBI checklist, five studies scored 5–7, and one study scored 8 points. The methodological quality of the two clinical trials was rated as good or fair on the PEDro scale. The case series study scored 7 of 10 points on the JBI checklist. A meta-analysis was not possible as only two randomized trials, eight case reports, and one case series were eligible for review; also, scar assessment scales and pain severity scales were highly heterogeneous.ConclusionsThe studies differed regarding the delivery of dry needling or local acupuncture for scar treatment. Differences included treatment frequency, duration, number of treatments, selection of needle insertion sites, number of needles used, angle of needle placement, and use of manual needling manipulation.Systematic review registrationINPLASY no. 202310058.

Acupuncture Relieves Cervical Spondylosis Radiculopathy by Regulating Spinal Microglia Activation Through MAPK Signaling Pathway in Rats.

Local acupuncture has been found to have a good analgesic effect in rats with cervical spondylosis radiculopathy (CSR), but it lacks a regulatory effect on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome types of CSR. We proposed "Invigorating Qi and activating Blood" (IQAB) acupuncture, compared with Fenbid, and local electroacupuncture (LEA), to observe whether it has advantages in the protection of the CSR rat model and to elucidate its mechanism through the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathway. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, sham, model, Fenbid, LEA, and IQAB. The CSR model was induced by inserting nylon sutures to compress the C4-T1 nerve root. The Fenbid group was treated with ibuprofen sustained-release capsules (15 mg/kg·d, ig). The LEA group received electroacupuncture at both C5 and C7 EX-B2 once a day. The IQAB group received acupuncture at both ST36 and BL17 based on the LEA group's intervention. Mechanical allodynia and gait, morphological changes in the spinal cord, IL-6 and TNF-α levels, MAPKs phosphorylation ratio, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in the spinal cord, and the expression of p-p38 in the spinal cord and its colocalization with neurons and glial cell activation markers were detected. Mechanical allodynia, gait disorder, edema, reduced Nissl-positive cell numbers, and increased IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the spinal cord were observed in CSR rats. IQAB significantly alleviated these changes, and the effects were generally comparable to those of Fenbid. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation ratios of p38 and extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), co-expression of p-p38 with neuron/microglia, and MCP-1 levels in the spinal cord were markedly down-regulated by IQAB compared with those in CSR model rats. IQAB reduced p38-activation-related microglia activation and MCP-1 levels, thus alleviating pathological changes, inflammation levels in the local spinal cord, and pain behavior of CSR.

Conditioned pain modulation and analgesia of local acupuncture for chronic musculoskeletal pain: An exploratory study

ObjectiveConditioned pain modulation (CPM) has been found to be inefficient in patients with chronic pain. Animal and human studies showed that CPM is involved in acupuncture analgesia. This study explored the relationship between the potency of CPM and the extent of acupuncture analgesia. Materials and methodsThirty-five (35) participants with chronic non-specific low back pain or knee osteoarthritis were given sessions of acupuncture treatment at the pain sites twice per week for four weeks. Participants were asked to complete a diary, before and after the treatment, to monitor changes in clinical pain intensity, daily pain duration and analgesic intake. The potency of CPM was assessed before and after the treatment course. Correlation between potency of CPM and extent of acupuncture analgesia was analysed. ResultsClinical average pain intensity (0.79 ± 1.09, p < 0.01), daily pain duration (1.45 ± 3.77 hr, p = 0.03) and analgesic intake (1.41 ± 3.96, p = 0.04) decreased significantly after treatment, while potency of CPM increased significantly (18.21 ± 49.94%, p = 0.04). Pearson correlations showed those with less efficient baseline CPM presented with better pain reduction after treatment. Those with less efficient baseline CPM were associated with greater improvement in potency of CPM after treatment (r = 0.60, p < 0.01). There was no association between the change in potency of CPM and the change in clinical pain intensity. ConclusionsIndividuals have varied acupuncture analgesia. People with less efficient baseline CPM would likely benefit from local acupuncture with greater pain relief and improved potency of CPM. Larger studies with a control arm are needed to confirm these results.

Chronologically Change and Importance of Acupuncture Points Used in Bell’s Palsy in Classical Literature

Objectives: Many acupuncture points have been suggested for the treatment of Bell's palsy, but information on which acupuncture points are more important in treatment is not provided. This study was conducted to investigate the importance of acupuncture points currently used clinically in Bell's palsy.Methods: By reviewing the full text of 11 books that recorded acupuncture prescriptions from the Qin Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, the frequency of use of acupuncture points, their meridians, and their location were investigated.Results: The average number of acupuncture points used for local, adjacent and distal points selection was 10.5, 2, 4 respectively. The number of acupuncture points increased from the Qin Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty 《Bojaebang》 and then decreased, but the proportion of local points has been still high. From the Ming Dynasty, ST4, ST6, GV26, and GV24 were mainly have been used as the local points. Except for the GB12, the use of the rest of the acupuncture points gradually decreased in the adjacent points. In the distal acupuncture points, it was summarized to point of lung and large intestine channel until the Ming Dynasty, and LI4 was mainly used in the Qing Dynasty. Yangming meridian has been most often used at the local and distal area except for the adjacent area.Conclusions: In the treatment of facial paralysis, the lower part of the face had the highest proportion among local acupuncture points, and the Yangming had the highest proportion by meridian.

Physiotherapy, Local Acupuncture, and Auricular Acupuncture for Frozen Shoulder

Purpose: To compare local acupuncture and auricular acupuncture with physiotherapy in the treatment of frozen shoulder. Methods: A randomized clinical trial with 3 parallel groups in an outpatient clinic was conducted at a university hospital. In total, 116 participants with frozen shoulder were randomly allocated to 3 groups and underwent physiotherapy or local acupuncture or auricular acupuncture. Shoulder active and passive ranges of motion were assessed, and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index questionnaire was used to assess pain and disability before and after the treatments. Results: Active and passive ranges of motion were best improved by physiotherapy in abduction and flexion (all P &lt; .001). Passive external rotation was best increased after physiotherapy (P = .030). For active external and internal rotation, and also for passive internal rotation, there were no significant differences among the treatments. Pain reduction was more successful with acupuncture, especially with auricular acupuncture (P &lt; .001). Auricular acupuncture was more effective in improving patients' functional abilities (P &lt; .001). None of the participants reported any side effects resulting from the treatments. Conclusion: Acupuncture, particularly auricular acupuncture, is more effective in relieving pain and decreasing disability than physiotherapy. All the interventions were beneficial in improving range of motion.

Comparative Effects of Therapeutic Massage and Acupressure on Neck Pain

Depending on the cause, neck pain can persist anywhere from a few days to several years; Osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, ruptured disc, pinched nerves, emotional and physical stress, strain, bad posture, tumor, and other disorders are among the most common causes acupressure on local and distal acupuncture sites may provide drowsiness and relaxation, which may help to relieve chronic neck discomfort. Objective: To compare the effects of therapeutic massage and acupressure on neck pain. Methods: ISRA University Hospital Karachi conducted a randomized clinical trial. A total of n=30 individuals were between the ages of 20 and 35, with neck discomfort ranging from 3-6 on the VAS scale. The n=30 participants were separated into two groups: therapeutic massage (n=14) and acupressure (n=15). The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 22.0. Results: Mean age of study participants was 24.34± 4.3 years. A total of n=12 were female, and the remaining n=18 were male. The analysis showed that pain and neck disability significantly improved in both groups (p&lt;0.05). When compared in both groups, the intensity of pain was not significantly different in both groups, but neck disability was significantly improved in the acupressure group as compared to the massage group after six weeks of intervention. Conclusion: The study concluded that both techniques benefit neck pain and disability and found significant results. But results show that acupressure was found to be more beneficial and significant than the therapeutic massage.

A Randomized, Blinded and Controlled Study Using Digital Thermal Imaging to Measure Temperature Change Associated with Acupuncture in Dogs with Back Pain

Digital thermal imaging provides an objective and measurable evaluation of the changes in radiant energy emitted by the body. This study sought to determine the effects of acupuncture immediately after back pain treatment in dogs through digital thermal imaging. Dogs ≥ 6 months exhibiting clinical symptoms of back pain with pain scale 1 or 2 (0-4 scale) were recruited for the study. Subjects (n=24) were randomly assigned to the Acupuncture Group (n=12) which received dry needle acupuncture at GV-14, BL-23 bilateral, Bai-hui and Shen-shu for 15 minutes or the Control Group (n=12) which was not treated but waited 15 minutes. Digital thermal images were obtained before and after the acupuncture treatment (Acupuncture Group) or the waiting period (Control Group) by a person blinded to the group assignments. Maximal temperature was recorded within the affected surface area and absolute change of temperature was compared between study groups. Group comparison of subject signalment data, baseline pain score, and baseline (pre-treatment) temperature (all p-values &gt; 0.05) suggested group comparability for the study. The mean±SD temperature change in the Acupuncture Group was 1.60±0.51°F, and in the Control group was 0.44±0.26°F. The overall temperature change difference between the two subject groups was statistically significant (p = 2.96×10-6). The results from this study indicate that local acupuncture treatment at a site of pain can lead to temperature changes in the location which may have effects on pain reduction. Future studies to investigate the association of acupuncture created temperature change and pain mitigation are warranted.

Effect of Remote and Local Acupuncture Points on Periarthritis of Shoulder: A Comparative Study.

Periarthritis of shoulder is a painful condition of the shoulder, affecting 2-3% of the general population and 20% of diabetic patients. Acupuncture is a widely practiced traditional Chinese medicine. Recent evidence shows that it alleviates shoulder pain with different needling techniques. The present study is to compare the efficacy of remote and local points on PAS. 60 subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, remote acupuncture group (n = 30) and local acupuncture group (n = 30). Both groups were assessed at baseline and at the end of 12 sessions. Shoulder pain and its disability index (SPADI) and (ROM) were measured using goniometer. The intervention was given weekly thrice on alternate days for four weeks with 20 min for each session. The result shows that both remote and local acupuncture points were beneficial in the pain management and rage of motion when compared within the group. The effects of acupuncture at remote acupoints were better than those at local acupoints in SPADI and ROM when compared between two groups. In treatment of periarthritis of shoulder remote acupuncture points may have higher therapeutic value when compared to local points.

Analysis of acupoint selection of plaster therapy in treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on data mining

This article analyze acupoint selection and characteristics of plaster therapy for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary di-sease(COPD) by data mining. The CNKI, VIP, CBM, WanFang, PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library were retrieved for collecting clinical studies of plaster therapy for stable COPD. After literature screening, a total of 46 systematic reviews were included. Frequency statistics, cluster analysis, and Apriori correlation analysis were used to analyze the pattern and characteristics of plaster therapy for stable COPD. The result showed that the main acupoints for stable COPD were BL13, Dingchuan, CV22, BL23 and BL20. The acupoints used are mainly concentrated on the chest and back. The most frequently used meridian is the bladder meridian. Analysis of the acupoints yielded 27 correlation rules. And cluster analysis grouped the high frequency acupoints into 5 categories. The results of the study showed that the current choice of acupoints is rather concentrated. &quot;Local acupuncture points&quot; and &quot;matching points with front and back&quot; were the main acupoint selection rules. The choice of acupuncture points reflected the traditional Chinese medicine treatment principle of strengthening healthy Qi to eliminate pathogenic factor, treating both manifestation and root cause of disease, and preventing measure taken after the occurrence of disease.

Korean Medicine Treatment for Chronic Atypical Chest Pain Diagnosed as Coronary Artery Disease: A Case Report

Background The aim of this study was to determine the overall effects and the clinical effect of Korean medicine treatment on chronic atypical chest pain. Case Report A 56-year-old male patient suffering from chronic atypical chest pain was treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture. We used the Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a verbal numerical rating score (VNRS) to assess the patient’s symptoms. The administration of the new herbal medicine and local acupuncture point stimulation improved the chest pain and dyspnea symptoms. No side effects were observed during the treatment. Conclusions The study findings suggest that Korean medicine treatments, such as herbal medicine and local acupuncture point stimulation, may be effective as treatments for atypical chest pain and secondary symptoms in patients with coronary artery disease. Keywords: atypical chest pain, coronary artery disease, Korean medicine, herbal medicine, acupuncture, functional chest pain

Herbal Medicine and Local Acupuncture Point Stimulation Administration and Their Clinical Effect on Quality of Life for Cervicogenic Dizziness (CGD) Patient: A CARE Guideline Compliant Case Report

Herbal Medicine and Local Acupuncture Point Stimulation Administration and Their Clinical Effect on Quality of Life for Cervicogenic Dizziness (CGD) Patient: A CARE Guideline Compliant Case Report

Initiation mechanisms of acupuncture effect: a literature review of basic studies

To summarize the research status of the changes in local microenvironment of acupoints caused by acupuncture, provide theoretical guidance for the initiation mechanisms of local acupuncture effect at acupoints. Using acupuncture, acupoint as key words to search China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), PubMed and other databases, the representative articles were selected for review. Acupuncture could excite afferent nerves, activate cells, and promote the release of chemical substances like neuropeptide, hormone, cytokines, etc. in the local site of acupoints. Besides, it may cause mechanical deformation of connective tissues, and change chemical ions as well as ion channels. The microenvironment changes around acupoints are crucial to acupuncture effect; the concept of ‘acupoints network’ can be used to objectively describe the local changes around the acupoints after acupuncture.

Pengaruh Kombinasi Titik Lokal Dan YNSA Terhadap Penurunan Derajat Nyeri Pada Pasien Nyeri Pinggang (Low Back Pain)

Background: Low Back Pain is a common disorder involving the muscles, nerves and spine. The use of combination acupuncture, namely the local point and Yamamoto News Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) is expected to accelerate the decrease in pain in patients with Low Back Pain. Methods: This study is used 45 respondents divided into 3 treatment groups, namely 1) Local point acupuncture therapy group, 2) Yamamoto News Scalp Acupuncture acupuncture therapy group, and 3) Local point combination with Yamamoto News Scalp Acupuncture therapy group. This research was conducted in the working area of the Ngemplak Community Health Center, Boyolali from January 2017 to September 2017. Measurement of pain using Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: The evaluation results showed that the respondent's data is normally distributed and homogeneous. ANOVA test showed there was a significant relationship between the local point acupuncture therapy group, Yamamoto News Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA) and Combination. The F value in this study is smaller than α (0.05). The T test showed that local acupuncture therapy is more effective than Yamamoto acupuncture therapy. News Scalp Acupuncture, and point combination acupuncture therapy are more effective than local points. Conclusion: Therfore it is the first report that proved the better method of combination (Local Point and YNSA) for reducing LBP quickly.

Treatment of Chronic Cough in an Upper Airway Cough Syndrome (UACS)-Suspected Patient with Local Acupuncture Points Stimulation and Application of Topical Herbal Mixed Heating Cream : A Case Report

Treatment of Chronic Cough in an Upper Airway Cough Syndrome (UACS)-Suspected Patient with Local Acupuncture Points Stimulation and Application of Topical Herbal Mixed Heating Cream : A Case Report

Local Acupuncture and Distal Gua Sha for the Treatment of Recurring Ankle Sprains: A Case Report

Local Acupuncture and Distal Gua Sha for the Treatment of Recurring Ankle Sprains: A Case Report

A summary of acupuncture standardization in Australia, Korea, Japan and the USA

ObjectiveBy comparing the focus of acupuncture standards, management modes of acupuncture in certain areas are summarized to provide a reference for institutions and regions when formulating suitable standards for local acupuncture services. MethodsJapan, South Korea, the USA and Australia were selected as the representative countries. The standards language were limited to English, Japanese and South Korean. The websites of the national standards bodies and the official websites for the acupuncture association/institute of these four countries were searched systematically. The laws of acupuncture were included in the study. ResultsTechnical standards made up the most of the standard system for acupuncture in Japan, basic standards accounted for the most of the system in South Korea, while management standards accounted for the largest proportion of acupuncture standard systems in the USA and Australia. ConclusionJapan and South Korea, which use acupuncture mainly due to cultural and historical influences, place emphasis on establishing technical and basic standards. The USA and Australia, which use acupuncture as a complementary therapy, place emphasis on establishing management standards of acupuncture.

Effect of Acupuncture on Chronic Pelvic Pain Secondary to Abdominal Myofascial Syndrome Not Responsive to Local Anesthetic Block: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Strong evidence shows that 85% of women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) have musculoskeletal disorders, such as abdominal myofascial pain syndrome (AMPS). The aim of this research was to assess the efficacy of local acupuncture treatment for women with CPP secondary to AMPS unresponsive to treatment with trigger-point injection. Materials and Methods: This pilot study involved 17 women with moderate-to-severe AMPS-related CPP. Acupuncture treatments were given at abdominal-wall trigger points once per week for 10 consecutive weeks. Pain relief was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS), the McGill questionnaire, and pressure dynamometer. Quality of life and psychosocial function (risk for anxiety and depression) were evaluated using the Short-Form-36 questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Assessments were performed at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment. Results: Both the VAS and McGill pain questionnaire showed significantly decreased pain intensity (VAS, P < 0.001; and McGill, P 0.049), and the effects were sustained even at 6 months after treatment. Conclusions: Acupuncture treatment was effective for the women who participated in this study, and the current authors believe that these preliminary results suffice to recommend performing randomized controlled trials.

Contribution of adenosine to the increase in skeletal muscle blood flow caused by manual acupuncture in rats.

Adenosine is believed to play an important role in local acupuncture analgesia. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of adenosine to the increase in skeletal muscle blood flow (MBF) caused by manual acupuncture (MA). Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats (310-360 g) were anaesthetised and divided into four equal groups (n=8 each): Saline, Saline+MA, Theophylline, and Theophylline+MA. In the two MA groups, the sparrow-pecking MA technique was applied at 30 repetitions per min for 1 min to a depth of 15-18 mm using a stainless steel acupuncture needle (0.20×40 mm). The stimulus point was located on the right tibialis anterior (TA) muscle 7-8 mm below the knee. Animals in the two theophylline groups were intra-arterially injected with 8-(p-sulphophenyl) theophylline, a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, at a dose of 30 mg/kg before MA. Animals in the two saline groups received control saline. Fluorescent microspheres (15 µm in diameter, yellow-green fluorescent) were used for MBF measurement in all four groups. MA of the TA muscle significantly increased MBF (Saline+MA vs Saline: p=0.001; Saline+MA vs Theophylline: p=0.008). Pre-treatment with theophylline appeared to inhibit this increase (Theophylline vs Theophylline+MA; p=1.000). MBF in the Theophylline+MA group was 43% lower than in the Saline+MA group, although this was not significantly different (p=0.104). The results suggest that adenosine leads to an increase in MBF caused by MA. Adenosine may play a role in acupuncture analgesia by washing out algesic substances. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate the precise mechanism.

Electro-Acupuncture at Zusanli Acupoint (ST36) Suppresses Inflammation in Allergic Contact Dermatitis Via Triggering Local IL-10 Production and Inhibiting p38 MAPK Activation.

Acupuncture has shown beneficial effect in the treatment of multiple dermatologic conditions including dermatitis, pruritus, urticaria, and hyperhidrosis; however, the detailed mechanisms are still kept unclear. This study aimed to investigate if electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment prevents 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in rats and explore its underlying mechanisms. ACD was induced by sensitizing and challenging with DNFB topically. Rats were treated daily following bilateral subcutaneous stimulation of EA at Zusanli acupoint (ST36) for 1week. Ear swelling and serum IgE levels were measured. The ear biopsies were obtained for histology. Inflammatory cytokines on the dermatological ear and local acupoint tissue were assayed. Spleen lymphocytes and the homogenized supernatant of local acupuncture area were used to co-culture for flow cytology and immune analysis, respectively. EA treatment at ST36 notably inhibited ear swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration on DNFB-induced ACD. EA also decreased serum IgE concentrations and alleviated the production of inflammatory cytokines in dermatological ear. Additionally, EA treatment attenuated the percentage of CD4+IFN-γ+ and CD4+IL-4+ T cells associated with ACD. Interestingly, secretion of interleukin (IL)-10 in the local acupoint tissue following EA stimulation was increased and showed suppressive function when co-cultured with the spleen lymphocytes from DNFB group. Lastly, EA treatment demonstrably suppressed p38 MAPK activation in DNFB-treated rats. Our findings suggest that EA treatment at ST36 may ameliorate inflammation associated with DNFB-induced ACD via triggering local IL-10 production and inhibiting p38 MAPK activation, which provide an alternative and promising therapy for ACD.