PULSELESS DISEASE TREATED BY ACUPUNCTURE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Wang Chongxiu, Zhang Cunsheng, Han Jiangxian, Lii Fengcheng, Zheng Yonghua Director:

Shi Xuemin

(Department of Acupuncture, The First Hospital of Tianjm College of TCM, Tianjm)

Clinical Data

13 cases of pulseless disease were treated. Age (yr): 21-32. Sex: 12 female, 1 male,

The longest course of disease was 8 years and the shortest 2 months. Others were 2-5 years.

Clinical symptoms and signs:

All cases suffered from pulseless, acrodynia in the pulseless side, chills, weakness, severe fatigue. In addition, dizziness, headache, poor memory, poor eyesight, cardiac pain and mild fever, etc. happened respectively. The pulses on both sides disappeared in 6 cases, on the left side in 4 cases, on the right side in 3 cases; meanwhile, 2 cases were in company with the disappearance of Fuyang (the pulse of anterior tibial artery) in lower extremities.

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) in the first hour was more than 20 mm in 6 cases; blood vessel spasm in 2 cases; in 7 cases, the blood flow of four extremities was measured, in company with the prolonged time of flow in the troubled extremities and with lower flat amplitude, 3 of them with the figure of cerebral blood-supply deficiency; the abnormal signs did not occur in cholesterol, ECG (electrocardiogram) and chest films.

Method and Treatment

Principle of treatment:

Blood circulation was prompted with regulation of vital energy; relax and activate the tendons were relaxed and activated, main points: Taiyuan, Renying, Qichong and Chongyang.

These points were applied for patients with pulseless diseases in lower extremities. The acupuncture points Fengchi Jingming, Zanzhu, Xinshui, etc. may be selected according to the symptoms.

The main points were punctured with reinforcing method by twisting and rotating the needle, with small amplitude and high frequency, 1-3 minutes each point, two times daily.

Taiyuan is the source point of lungs and Hui point (located at the crossing of the meridian), points Renying, Chong yang and Qichong are the places where meridian energy of stomach meridian reached. This meridian is full of vital energy and blood.

Puncturing these points might regulate the vital energy and blood, and dredge the meridian passage. It may be resulted in the nourishing of vital energy.

Appraisement of Result

Generally it was needed to treat for 2-3 months. Curative effect: The curative rate was 38.46%, including 5 cases of recovery, 8 cases of improvement among the 13 cases.

According to the analysis of the theory of differentiation of syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine, pulseless disease pertains to "primary disease of meridian" of lung and heart meridians termed "syncope of arms"; to "primary disease of meridian" of stomach meridian termed "syncope of lower extremities" due to wind-cold-wetness evil attacked to the main meridians to cause blood stasis. It is effective to treat the pulseless disease by acupuncture, being verified by the physiologic parameter of blood flow in extremities.