PERIPHERAL EOSINOPHIL CELLS UNDER DIFFERENT METHODS OF ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION

Chen Keqin, Yang Jinrong, Nie Yongmei

(Shanxi Provincial Academy of TCM and Pharmacology. Xi'an)

In the present experiment, the effects of different methods of acupuncture and moxibustion on eosinophil cells in the human peripheral blood were studied in order to analyze the discrepancies in the actions induced by various points and different methods of acupuncture and moxibustion,

The present experiment was carried out on human bodies and was divided into the following groups at random: (1) Zusanii, Yanglingquan; (2) Sanyinjiao, Yinlingquan; (3) Hegu, Waiguan; (4) Tongli, Neiguan; (5) Baihui, Dazhui. These groups were given acupuncture (twisting 10 minutes after normal needling sensation occurred, then pulling out the needle) and moxibustion with 8 mugwort cones; (6) Guanyuan, Qihai. Besides the method of acupuncture and moxibustion applied for groups (1)-(5), this group was in turn divided into the following sub-groups according to the retaining of the needle at 5 min, 20 min, 40 min, 60 min and moxibustion with mugwort stick (3 centimeters apart from the point, 3 centimeters of mugwort stick burnt) and warm needling sub-groups (3 centimeters of mugwort stick burnt on the handle of a needle).

Results of the experiment indicated that in 240 cases, eosinophil cells of 16 cases were unchanged, accounted for 6.67%; 47 cases were increased, accounted for 19.58%; 177 cases were decreased, accounted for 73.75%.

So far as different methods of acupuncture were concerned, the extents of decrease were acupuncture>moxibustion (the former amounted 100% as compared to pre-acupuncture cases with decrease above 40%; the latter only amounted 48%); moxibustion with mugwort cones moxibustion with mugwort sticks (the former of decreased cases amounted 83.3%. the latter amounted 70%). Among needle retaining sub-groups, the 40 min needle retained sub-group was excellent, but there was no great discrepancy within other needle retained subgroups. The effects of warm needling sub-group were weaker than those of moxibustion group or sole acupuncture group.

Among 20 cases in the control group, There were 6 cases unchanged and 6 cases increased, each accounted for 30%. Decreased cases amounted 8, accounted for 40%,