ACUPUNCTURE VIEWED FROM THE TREATMENT OF RHEUMATISM

Liu Guanjun, )i Qingshan, Guo Mingyi, Li Ying, Peng Xuejie, Ma Menghua, Huang Yi

(Changchun College of TCM, film)

80 cases of rheumatism were randomly observed among 329 patients with rheumatism by means of temperature of skin, threshold of pain, electrical current of the points and rheography in the extremities in the clinic of acupuncture and moxibustion. 49 of 80 cases were male and 51 female, the youngest was 15 years old and the oldest 79. The patients at the age of 40-50 were 50%. Among them there were 12 patients whose affected area was around the shoulder, 9 on the lumbar and back region, 31 at the upper limbs and 28 at the lower limbs. 72 of 80 cases were due to wind, cold and damp, 6 to injury and 2 to parturition.

Method of treatment: The points were selected according to the affected areas and differentiation of syndromes. The following points were taken for observation: Quchi for the upper limbs, Yanglingquan for the lower limbs, Tianzhong for the shoulder and Shenshu for the lumbar and back. The needles used were No. 8 (mm). The methods were the twisting and twirling of needle and mainly the lifting and thrusting of needle. After needling reaction took place and the propagated sensation along meridian was felt, the electrical apparatus was applied with continuous stimulation at 50 times per second, the output power being within the limit of the patients' endurance.

According to the different areas and the points chosen, the examinations of the temperature of skin, threshold of pain, electrical current of the points and the rheography in the extremities were performed with comparative records before and after acupuncture. Special persons were in charge of the treatments and examinations. The temperature of the operation rooms was between 21 and 25°C.

Results: The results show that the temperature of the points with needling reaction. Shenshu was the highest, the next was Quchi and the least was Tianzong. There was a significant difference in number between the cases changing and unchanging in temperature of the points before and after acupuncture (P<0.01).

In the observation on the clinical results of the points with needling reaction, the temperature rising on the effective points was 1.60°C on an average, on the ineffective points 0.21°C- The difference was remarkable (P<0.01). Concerning the threshold of pain of the points with needling reaction, Quchi was the highest, Shenshu, Tianzong and Yanglingquan were next as the following. The increasing rates of threshold of pain were in accordance with the therapeutic results. For the rising value of electrical current of the points with needling reaction, Tianzong was the highest, next were Quchi, Shenshu and Yanglingquan. The changes of its electrical current of the points were in accordance with the therapeutic results. The difference was remarkable in comparison between the numbers of the cases with the rising electrical current of the points and of the ineffective cases (P<0.01).

By the examination of rheography in the extremities, 29 cases improved after needling reaction took place among 33 cases with the lower amplitude before acupuncture treatment. The percentage of efficacy was 87.8%. Before acupuncturing, the rising time of the amplitude was prolonged for 49 cases, of whom 31 improved (63.2%) after needling reaction took place. The rising of the amplitude and shortening of the rising time appeared at the same time, changing with acupuncturing and improvement.

Rheumatism was caused by stagnation of activities of meridians and circulation of blood. The needling reaction, which was showed by the rising of amplitude of rheography and the shortening of the rising time, indicating that the blood flow in the local area supplied sufficiently, the blood vessels dilated fully and its elasticity strengthened so that convulsion and stagnation of blood vessels disappeared gradually- It is obvious that acupuncture has the therapeutic effect that activities of meridian are unlocked while blood and qi are circulating. In addition, the temperature of skin and electrical current on the points are lower before acupuncture. This shows that Yin Qi is more than Yang Qi in the patients with rheumatism. In this condition it is changed by acupuncture. As a result, the latter is superior in the points, which gives the rising of temperature of skin with increase of electrical current of the points. In this way, the therapeutic aim is reached and that the normal circulation of blood leads to the dredging of meridians, the proper regulation of Yin and Yang, the strengthening of bones and muscles and flexibility of joints, as a result, illness is cured.