CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF MANIPULATION WITH REINFORCING AND REDUCING METHODS

Chen Keyan, Liang Shuying, Zhang Guizhi, Feng Xiu'e, Zhang Hairong

(Institute of Acupuncture, Academy of TCM, BeiJing)

The correct manipulation with reinforcing and reducing methods is one of the key link to enhance the effects of acupuncture treatment. We applied the slow and rapid, reinforcing and reducing manipulations which are widely used. We observed the effects separately on the skin temperature (infrared photography, temperature measurement with thermo-metry, temperature measurement with semi-transmitter thermometer), nail-fold microcircula-tion, post-operative fever (only to observe the excessive heat syndromes), toxic reaction of the chemical anticarcinogen (deficient syndrome). The results are as follows:

1. As to the observed patients with normal body temperature, acupuncture with reinforcing or reducing method will produce the different effect on the skin temperature. In the observation of changes of the local skin temperature (10 patients with normal body-temperature) after insertion at point Hegu, it indicates that not only reinforcing method but also reducing method may raise up the local skin temperature. The thermometry becomes bright. But raising the body-temperature with reinforcing method is higher than that with reducing method. In the observation of changes of the skin temperature after insertion at Waiguan, 0.5 cm apart from the point of insertion (10 healthy persons), it can be seen that the skin temperature raises obviously up with reinforcing method. Reducing method can only raise the body-temperature a little. When point Hegu is inserted, infrared photography may reflect the temperature changes on the skin of both hands. It can be seen that reinforcing method makes both hands mostly presenting dark and bright changes or becoming bright. Reducing method makes both hands mostly becoming dark obviously. These results indicate reinforcing method is to raise up the temperature as the stress. The place where the body-temperature raises is mostly located at the local area of insertion and near the insertion; while reducing method is to decrease the body-temperature as the stress. The area for decreasing the temperature is much wide. But the temperature at the local area of insertion may slightly raise up and present an opposite change.

2. The record of needle sensation of 10 cases of insertion on point Hegu mentioned above has been indicated besides local area, reinforcing method can mostly induce heat sensation, while reducing method can mostly induce pain and partial cold sensation.

3. As to 10 healthy persons mentioned above, the observed result of changes of nail-fold micro-circulation on ring finger when point Waiguan is inserted indicates though reinforcing method produces certain extensive function to the capillaries of limb ending, the positive rate is not very high. The main function is to promote the speed of micro-circulation of blood flow. Reducing method produces an irregular influence on the speed of blood flow of micro-circulation. Its main function is to promote the contraction of capillaries at the limb ending.

4. As to 111 cases which pertain to excessive heat syndrome, the patients, who absorb heat after operation for surgery, should separately give acupuncture treatment with reinforcing and reducing method (Selecting the points Quchi and Zusanh) or no acupuncture treatment in order to make the comparison between these two groups. It can be seen reducing method has obvious and immediate function to reduce fever but reinforcing method has no obvious function to reduce fever. The date for recovery to the normal situation of the body temperature of each group is also observed. The group of reducing method is at the third day. The group of reinforcing method is at the fourth day. The control group without acupuncture treatment is at the fifth day. These results indicate that although both reinforcing and reducing method can produce therapeutic effects to this kind of fever. The reducing method is obviously superior to the reinforcing method.

5. As to 30 cases who suffer from carcinoma mammae and after radical operation now receive chemical anticarcinogen treatment. The patient with deficiency syndrome should be separately given acupuncture treatment of reinforcing and reducing method (Selecting the points Dazhui combined with Zusanii, Shenzhu combined with Sanyinjiao) and no acupuncture treatment in order to make the comparison between these two groups.

The result indicates reinforcing and reducing method can produce very good function to improve the hemopoietic system, to prevent the decrease of the total amount of white blood cells and to relieve the symptoms. So reinforcing methods slightly superior to reducing method.

6. According to the analysis to each observation, the result indicates that the body to the response in the course of insertion not only depends on the manners of function but also depends on different kinds of manipulation such as reinforcing or reducing method. Using acupuncture to reinforce deficiency and reduce excess is exactly of great significance to enhance the therapeutic effects. But in some cases, methods of reinforcing excess and reducing deficiency are applied under arrangement, certain effects may also be obtained. No bad reactions occur.