More evidence for the neural specificity of particular acupuncture points comes from a Chinese study that used fMRI to investigate the effects of acupuncture at Neiguan P-6. fMRI was performed on the brains of 36 healthy subjects while they received acupuncture at Neiguan P-6 and two control points (Daling P-7 and Guangming GB-37). Needling at Neiguan P-6 caused extensive signal decreases (deactivations) in cerebrocerebellar and subcortical areas, whereas needling at GB-37 induced widespread signal increases (activations). The deactivations persisted for a prolonged time following the end of needle stimulation. In addition, acupuncture at Neiguan P-6 (unlike stimulation at Daling P-7...Weiterlesen

von Petra Koczy Moxibustion zur Unterstützung der körperlichen Genesung nach Schlaganfall. Synergieeffekte durch Kombination von Reha-Training mit Moxa-Therapie: Die Wirksamkeit von Rehabilitationsmaßnahmen für Schlaganfallpatienten mit spastischer Hemiplegie konnte in einer chinesischen Studie durch zusätzliches Moxen gesteigert und dadurch den Patienten mehr Eigenständigkeit und Lebensqualität gegeben werden. Schlaganfall ist weltweit die dritthäufigste Todesursache. Aber selbst wenn es nicht zum Äußersten kommt, führt die zeitweilige Unterversorgung des Gehirns bei etwa 90 % der Patienten zu bleibenden Schädigungen. Diese können sich u.a. in kognitiven, psychischen oder sprachlichen Defiziten sowie Einschränkungen der motorischen Fähigkeiten äußern. Allein und in Kombination schränken sie die Lebensqualität der...Weiterlesen

Dimitrova Alexandra Medical Acupuncture. December 2017, Vol. 29, No. 6: 352-365 ABSTRACT Background: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is defined as damage to the peripheral nervous system caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction. Multiple recent trials have suggested that acupuncture is beneficial for treating neuropathic pain. One challenge in acupuncture research is the lack of standardization of point selection, number of needles used, needle-retention time, needling depth, amount of needle manipulation, and use of moxibustion and electroacupuncture (EA). Objectives: This article presents a standardized acupuncture protocol for the treatment of PN that incorporates structural acupuncture principles based on proximity to peripheral...Weiterlesen

A Chinese herbal formula, ‘Ningdong granules’ (NDG), has been shown to reduce tics in children with Tourette’s syndrome. The formula, which contains the herbs Tian Ma (Rhizoma Gastrodiae), Dang Shen (Radix Codonopsis), Mai Men Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis) Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae alba), Long Gu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi), Mu Li (Concha Ostreae), Di Long (Pheretima) and Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) has previously been used in China the treatment of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in China. In a randomised, double-blind study 120 paediatric Tourette’s patients were randomly divided into four groups. One group received NDG, another received usual drug treatment, consisting of the antipsychotic medicationhaloperidol (Hal), the third group...Weiterlesen

A Chinese herbal formula has shown potential for improving working memory performance in healthy adults, an Australian pilot study has found. Sailuotong (SLT) is a standardised three-herb formula that combines specific doses of the key bioactive constituents from the concentrated extracts of Panax ginseng (ginsenosides), Ginkgo biloba (flavone-glycosides) and Crocus sativus (crocins), which has been developed to enhance cognitive and cardiovascular function. Using a randomised crossover design, the study assessed the effect of treatment for one week with SLT and placebo on neurocognitive and cardiovascular function in 16 healthy adults. Neuropsychological testing showed that treatment with SLT, but not placebo,...Weiterlesen

A large, prospective cohort study carried out in Japanese seniors has found that consumption of green tea is significantly associated with a lower risk of developing functional disability (problems with daily activities, such as bathing or dressing). Information on daily green tea consumption and other lifestyle factors was collected via questionnaire from 13,988 Japanese individuals aged 65 or over, and subjects were followed up for three years. The results showed an inverse relationship between functional disability risk and the consumption of green tea – the more green tea people drank, the lower their disability risk. Nearly 13% of those who...Weiterlesen

ABSTRACT Objective: Motion sickness is the main cause of nausea-related symptoms during passive motion in transportation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) for the reduction of motion sickness symptoms. Materials and Methods: Study participants were randomly assigned into three groups: Group A, therapeutic EA; Group B, sham EA; and group C, a control group. After an EA session, participants were exposed to a motion stimulus, using a rotating chair. Their symptoms were measured using the Greek version of the Gianaros Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ). Application of verum EA and sham EA to the...Weiterlesen

ABSTRACT Background: Multiple sclerosis is considered a complex and heterogeneous disease. Approximately 85% of patients with multiple sclerosis indicate impaired gait as one of the major limitations in their daily life. Acupuncture studies found a reduction of spasticity and improvement of fatigue and imbalance in patients with multiple sclerosis, but there is a lack of studies regarding gait. Design: We designed a study of acupuncture treatment, according to the Heidelberg model of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to investigate if acupuncture can be a useful therapeutic strategy in patients with gait impairment in multiple sclerosis of relapsing-remitting type. The sample consisted...Weiterlesen

Abstract Objective To determine differences in cerebral activity evoked by acupuncture and conventional stroke treatment, and identify the treatment targets. Methods In total, 21 patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (11 patients) received both acupuncture and conventional treatment, while Group B (10 patients) received conventional treatment only. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed on each participant before and after treatment. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis was performed to investigate the potential mechanism of acupuncture treatment by comparing differences in cerebral activity between treatments. Results Group A showed higher ReHo in the frontal lobe (BA6, BA46), supra-marginal...Weiterlesen

Objective: To observe clinical effects of acupuncture combined with blood-letting by a three-edged needle for treating Bell’s palsy of wind-heat syndrome at the acute stage. Methods: One hundred patients were randomly divided into a treatment group (50 cases) treated by acupuncture plus blood-letting and a control group (50 cases) treated by simple acupuncture. Four courses of treatments were given in both groups. The main symptoms and signs were observed and clinical effects evaluated with scores after one week, 2 weeks and one month of treatments respectively. Results: After treatment, the scores for symptoms and signs were significantly different from those...Weiterlesen