USE OF SCALP ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF 40 CASES OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE

Fang Yunpeng, Xin Rutling, Lii Heliung. Huang Linna, Zhou Ernan

(Scalp-acupuncture Research Group, Xi'an Hospital of TCM)

Forty cases of coronary heart disease had been treated with scalp-acupuncture therapy. Diagnosis, stages of treatment and evaluation of clinical effects were all according to the China national standard (revised 1974). During the course of acupuncture, no other forms of treatment were used.

Method of treatment:

Acupuncture points selected: The principle points used were the relevant positions of Fuzang and Daozang. Supplementary points used were the relevant positions of Fuxiang and Daoxiang. In addition, Huxun and other points were used as the symptoms demanded.

Needle Manipulation: Rapid perpendicular puncturing and slow angled puncturing were used alternatively. The former was the principle method used when the symptoms were severe. Needles were inserted once per day for periods of thirty minutes, and were twirled once during this time. The entire course involved ten treatments with a pause of 2 days after the first 5. Observation was continued for 40 days.

Analysis of Curative Effects

(1) Clinical symptoms: Palpitations, shortness of breath, pressure and pain in the chest, and other symptoms disappeared or were reduced with an effectiveness of 96,51%.

(2) Electrocardiograph (ECG) findings were improved in 87.5% of the patients. Particularly significant effects were noted for patients suffering from arrhythmia, high voltage of the left ventricle, and insufficiency of blood in the coronary arteries.

(3) After treatment, cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced (p <0.01).

(4) Determination of left ventricular function (LVF) indicated improvement of one LVF level in 26 of the cases treated. Of 11 cases, for example, at abnormal levels before treatment, only one remained afterward.

(5) Average blood pressure was reduced from 162.8±2.72/94.08+1.62 mmHg before treatment to 129.38±2.72/85.20±1.62 mmHg (p<0.01).

(6) No significant changes were noted in the encephalohemogram (EHG), chest X-rays, as funduscopy.

(7) Of the six indices of heart performance - peripheral resistance, volume per stroke, volume per minute, cardiac index, beat rate and cardio-motility-all but the last showed significant improvement (p<0.01).

(8) Treatment was most effective on patients in the latent stage, for whom over 90% showed improvement in a short period of time after the treatment. Therapy was satisfactory for patients with angina cordis, with an effectiveness of 85.44%. There were not enough cases to determine whether the treatment had any effect on myocardial infarction.

Clinical observations in the 40 cases of coronary heart disease reveal that scalp-ac-puncture therapy may provide quick relief of symptoms and increase the blood supply to the heart. Presumably the mechnism is an adjustment of the functioning of the vegetative nervous system by acupuncture at the points fuzang and daozang. This leads to the improvement of the left ventricular function, reduces the demand for oxygen in the heart muscles