APOPLEXY TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION

Zeng Daobing, Luo Yongfen, Xu Shihui, Liang Xiaojing

(Department of Acpuncture, The Hospital of Chengdu College of TCM, Sichuan)

During the period from September 1980 to July 1982, 40 Cases in-patients of apoplexy were treated with acupuncture and moxibustion alone and obtained good results.

Of the 40 cases, 21 were male and 19 female, ages ranging from 31 to 80, The course of disease was from 3 weeks to a year and half after its occurrence. Among them, there were 9 cases of cerebral hemorrhage, 28 of cerebral thrombosis and 3 of cerebral embolism, including 6 cases of complete hemiplegia and 34 incomplete hemiplegia,

Method of Treatment:

Points Dicang and Jiache were applied for deviation of the eye and mouth; Lianquan, Tongli and Guanchong for deviation of tongue and incoherence; Jianyu, Quchi, Waiguan, Huantiao and Zusanii on the affected side for hemiplegia. Treatment for activating the blood circulation to eliminate blood stasis and dredging the collaterals was used as the main method for most of the patients in the group resulted from blocking of activities of meridians. In cases of deficiency of both vital energy and blood by differentiation of syndromes Baihui and Guanyuan were added and the warm reinforcing manipulation of acupuncture was performed, in combination with mild moxibustion. In cases of exuberance of Yang of the liver, Taichong and Puliu were added and the cool-reducing manipulation or mild reinforcing and reducing manipulation was performed, in combination with mild moxibustion. As a rule, 8-10 points were selected for the treatment once every morning. The needles were retained for 15-30 minutes. Every afternoon the patients were conducted to do suitable functional exercises as a supplementary treatment.

Results:

Of the 40 cases, 9 showed excellent results, 18 marked improvement, 12 moderate improvement, only 1 had no change. The total effective rate was 97.5%. The average hospitalization was 52.5 days. The results suggested that acupuncture and moxibustion showed good effects on activating the blood circulation to eliminate blood stasis, and dredging of the meridians and collaterals.