FREEZING ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION

Hou Shengkui

(Shenyang Institute of TCM, Liaon'mg)

Based on the principle of traditional Chinese medicine 'heat symptom-complex must be treated with drugs cold in nature', freezing acupuncture and/or freezing moxibustion therapy is used in the treatment of diseases by applying cold factors to acupuncture points so as to adjust the functions of vital energy and blood in internal organs, or in other words, to nourish Yin (vital essence) and lower the evil fire through meridians and collaterals. In 1979 we built an Electron Freezing and Warming Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapeutic Apparatus, and clinical observations were made by it.

The 60 cases chosen were all chronic asthmatic bronchitis (32 cases were combined with emphysema, 28 with infection of respiratory tract), receiving treatment of traditional Chinese medicine and/or Western medicine for a long time only to find little effect. The acupuncture points used were Qishe, Shanzhong, Dingchuan and Feishu. Two points were used once daily. Each course of treatment consisted of 2-3 weeks. The temperature used was 10°C below zero. The rates in cases of cough, expectoration and asthma are 92%, 80% and 73% respectively. X-ray examination had revealed that 36 cases had shown positive findings. After treatment, however, 28 cases fully recovered or much improved in the finding of emphysema. In 12 cases with leukocytosis, 10 became normal after treatment. In 23 cases counting of eosinophils was made, in which 4 cases with eosinophilia became normal after treatment. And in all the 23 cases, the average drop being 144/mm3.

38 cases of diabetes received medical treatment showing little effect, were treated based on an over-all analysis of symptoms and signs on the three types of diabetes. The acupuncture points used were Feishu, Sanyinjiao, Weishu and Shenshu. Two points were used once daily. Each course of treatment consisted of two weeks. During the first course the temperature used was 15°C below zero, while during the second course the temperature was 0°C. The curative rates in the treatment of thirstiness, hungriness and frequency of urination were 100%, 97% and 100% respectively. The average drop of blood sugar was 78mg%, 16% becoming normal and 27% being negative in glycosuria.

Other diseases responsive to the treatment were glaucoma, nephritis and prostatitis. The treatment proved effective for deficiency of Yin (vital essence) leading flaming up of evil fire, by choosing the proper temperature and points depending on an overall analysis of symptoms and signs. This therapy can strengthen the patient's resistance and dispel the invading pathogenic factors. In the therapy reduction results in reinforcement, and what's more acupuncture can be combined together with moxibustion without any side effects. The therapy is not only simple but cheap.