PAIN RELIEF YIELDED BY ACUPUNCTURE AT SKIN REGION ALONG MERIDIANS

Luo Qingdao1, Huang Guying2, Luo Shouli3

Method: 75 patients with limb pain were selected and divided randomly into acupuncture group and control group.

Acupuncture group:

Skin regions below elbow and knee along meridian were adopted to the affected areas. Acupuncture was made at point Pianli of the Intestinum Crassum Meridian by piercing 2.5 inches upward along the meridian under the skin. As to the point Xiajuxu of the Ventriculus Meridian acupuncture was made 3 inches upward along the meridian under the skin. All the 12 meridians were done in the same way. The needle handle was connected with bi-directional twisting needle apparatus SN77 - 415(360°), and was continuously twisted for 15 min. Frequency of twisting was about 200 times per minutes.

Control group:

Pseudo-acupuncture was performed at skin regions along meridians, and the needle handle was connected with twisting needle apparatus.

Pulse volumes wave at painful area and tip of ring-finger were recorded in both groups, and pain thresholds at pain sensitive areas were also determined by using spring determining pain bar.

Results: After acupuncture, 18 patients showed a favorable effect (free from pain), 39 showed some effect, and 6 showed poor effect. Therefore the efficiency of pain relief was 90.48%. The raise of local press pain threshold was statistically significant (P<0.01).

After pseudo-acupuncture, 12 patients in the control group showed no effect of pain relief. The differences between the threshold of local press pain before and after acupuncture were not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Results mentioned above showed that acupuncture at skin regions along meridians might yield actions of pain relief, and there was no obvious relationship between the effect of pain relief and psychological factors.

Acupuncture at skin regions along meridians might affect peripheral vascular movements. After acupuncture pulse volume waves at painful areas were obviously increased, but pulse volume waves at ring-finger were obviously decreased. The difference was significant (P<0.01)

In the control group, both pulse volume waves at painful area and ring-finger decreased a little bit. The difference was not statistically significant.

Acupuncture at skin regions along meridians might improve blood circulation in painful areas, promote local metabolism, and transform some pain inducing substances or strengthen analgesic substances in order to relieve pains.

Clinical observations in 75 patients show that acupuncture at skin regions along meridians may yield obvious analgesic effect in 90.48% in the patients. Distinct raise of threshold of local press pain and pulse volume wave demonstrated that acupuncture at skin regions along meridians may improve blood circulation in affected areas to yield analgesic effects.

7. Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Anhui College of TCM

2. Wanxi Hospital, Anhui Office of National Defence Insustry

3. Gaoliu Hospital, Feixi, Anhui