INFLUENCE ON HYPERLIPIDEMIA BY NEEDLING NEIGUAN:

CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF 72 CASES

Zhao Hex, Zhang Ren Li Huanbin, Chang Xingguo

(Shanxi College of TCM, Xianyang)

Hyperlipidemia is one of the important causes of coronary heart disease. In order to observe the therapeutic effect of needling one single point, 72 cases of hyperlipidemia were treated by acupuncture using Neiguan point from Oct to Dec in 1981 and March to May in 1982. Good results were obtained. The methods and procedure are as follows:

Diagnostic basis

Increased content of blood lipoid include (1) cholesterol 2: 200 mg%, (2) triglyceride:110mg%. (3) P-lipoprotein>530mg%. In each case, at least one of them was present.

Methods of observation

Before acupuncture treatment the content of blood lipoid of every patient was examined. Neiguan point in each arm was used by turns every other day. After inserting the needle rapidly, the handle of the needle was lifted and twisted and rotated for two minutes, and needling sensations including soreness, numbness, distention and radiation were resulted. During 20 minutes of retaining the needle in the point, the same manipulation was used twice for keeping and strengthening the stimulation. Each cause consisted of 10 treatments. Every patient received 2 causes of treatment separated by a period of 3-5 days between successive causes. At the end of the treatment, the content of blood lipoids of patients was examined again as a control. While the patients received this therapy, other medicines well discontinued and the patients were asked to follow their usual life-patterns.

Results

In the 72 cases with 52 cases of cholesterol, 65 cases of triglyceride and 63 cases of lipoprotein were increased in hemolipoids of most of them including 40 cases (75.47%), 50 cases (76.92%) and 48 cases (70.59) respectively in cholesterol, triglyceride and lipoprotein, which were decreased in different degrees after treatment. Highly significant difference were noted in the three groups of cholesterol, P-lipoprotien and triglyceride of patients, when compared before and after acupuncture (P<0,001). Therefore Neiguan point should be regarded as of great importance in the treatment of this disease. As a whole, this work provided that the mechanism of acupuncture possibly regulates the functions of the endocrine and various enzymes. It also indicates that the procedure in needling might exert an influence on synthesis, absorption and excretion of cholesterol and triglycerid in the liver and the tract of bowel, so that the content of hemolipoids may be reduced.