Techniques of stimulation of the acupuncture points

DERMOJET INJECTION

This is a very fast and simple method of point stimulation. It uses a high-pressure (jet) spray injection technique, without the need for needles. It is very suitable for stimulating points on the limbs of horses and cats which would not accept needling of the same points. It is also ideal for the treatment of zoo animals.

The nozzle of the instrument is held 1-2 cm from the skin and the lever is depressed. The jet of spray is shot into the point, leaving a blister on the skin. Solutions which are suitable for point injection are also suitable for the dermojet technique. This technique is especially valuable in nervous or highly-strung animals. French vets claimed highly successful results in treating colic in horses by using Dermojet treatment of points such as Tsu San Li (ST36), Pi Shu (BL20), Ta Chang Shu (BL25), Kuan Yuan Shu (BL26) and Tien Shu (ST25). Dermojet is also very valuable in the treatment of cats.

Cats tolerate needling of the face and trunk very well but they resent needling of the distal parts of the limbs. Dermojet is ideal for these parts.

IMPLANTS, INCISION, NERVE MASSAGE

In human AP sterile foreign bodies are often implanted in the tissues at AP points to elicit long-term stimulation in chronic diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Stainless steel AP needles and other special steel implants may be used. They are anchored externally or internally so that they can be removed easily, if required.

Absorbable material such as catgut and foetal or placental tissue is also used. In this method a curved suture needle is used to introduce the material in through the active point and out through another (such as Fei Shu (BL13) and Chueh Yin Shu (BL14) in asthma). The ends are cut off at the skin and the skin is massaged to bury the material in the tissues, where it is left until it is resorbed by the body. This method is listed as a valid method in vet AP textbooks but it does not appear to be popular. It could be used in chronic conditions of the lumbo-sacral and sacroiliac region and chronic gastric and pulmonary conditions.

Other types of implant include press needles, AP staples and gold beads. Press needles and intradermal needles are made of stainless steel, usually 30-32 gauge. Press needles may be 1 or 2 mm long. Intradermal needles may be up to 10 mm long. They are inserted into the dermis and are taped in position for 1-6 weeks, depending on the condition being treated. Press needles are used especially on EarAP points. Intradermal needles (5-10 mm long) may be used on Ear or body points (but usually on the body points). They are used especially in human chronic diseases and chronic pain. For instance to counteract withdrawal symptoms when cigarette smokers let go of the habit, press needles may be put in Ear points Lung and Shenmen and left in for 2-4 weeks. In asthma, intradermal needles may be put in points PC06; NX04; CV17; BL13 and press needles in Earpoints Lung or Asthma. Intradermal needles are left in position for 1-2 days in summer and for longer periods in winter. Care must be taken to prevent local infection at the needle sites.

Gold beads 1 mm diameter, are useful implants in certain chronic conditions in animals. For instance in treating hip dysplasia in dogs, the late Grady Young of Thomasville, Georgia, inserted these beads under general anaesthesia. The hip area is shaved and prepared for surgery. Then, 5-8 hypodermic needles, c. 50 mm long and 12-14 gauge are inserted through the skin and tissue until the tip of each needle touches the rim of the acetabulum. A stilette is then used to deposit one gold bead near the rim of the acetabulum.

The technique is fast, safe and very effective. Only one session is needed. Alternatively, small double knots of orthopoedic suture wire, with the loose ends clipped off, can be used instead of gold beads. They are inserted in the same way as the beads. To prevent postoperative infection/ inflammation, penicillin is injected i/m and oral antibiotic is given for 5 days afterwards. Young used gold bead implants in >200 dogs, with no serious complications. Marked improvement in the clinical signs can be expected in >80% of cases in 1-3 days after the operation.

Stainless steel staples, shot into the skin by special surgical staple-guns, are used by American and Canadian vets. The technique is fast and easy to use, especially in large animals. The staples are left in position until they fall out. The method has been used on body points with claims of success in many conditions responsive to AP. They have also been used on Ear points. However, chondritis (which may be difficult to treat) may follow puncture of ear cartilage. (The use of such staples in the human ear has caused this problem already).

The advantage of the method is its speed and the claim that many conditions (such as muscular lameness, pain and other chronic conditions) respond to one treatmentsession because the AP stimulus continues for a long time after insertion. Some authorities would advise against the use of staples near the eyes; over bony areas; over major blood vessels and nerves and in the ears. Their use over well muscled areas would seem to be safe enough.

Incision of certain AP points, leaving a 10-25 mm wound in the skin down to the subcutaneous layer, is used in certain chronic human conditions also. An example is Yu Chi (LU10) in chronic asthma. This method does not appear to be used in vet AP in the West, although in vet AP texts it is mentioned in relation to certain points, especially in the horse and ox. The use of the wide (spear-shaped) lance needle would have identical effects.

In the West of Ireland, traditional healers (not vets !) used a method similar to incision and implantation to treat shoulder lameness and dislocation of the shoulder joint in cattle. Two twigs about 250 mm long and 10 mm diameter were cut from the willow tree. The external bark was removed to leave the moist, white inner wood. One end of each twig was sharpened with a knife. Then 4 stab-incisions were made with the knife about 70 mm above, below, cranial and caudal to the shoulder joint. One twig was inserted above and advanced downwards to emerge at the lower incision. The other twig was inserted at the cranial incision and advanced to emerge at the caudal. A piece of string was used to secure the implants in position. It was said that the lameness disappeared quickly and that dislocated joints spontaneously reset themselves. The implants were removed when the problem was corrected or within one week, whichever occurred first. I cannot vouch for the efficiency of this method but it was still used in the countryside in the 1960s.

Incision, with exposure of the nerve and blunt massage of the nerve using artery forceps is used in poliomyelitis paralysis in China. For instance incision of Chien Cheng (SI09) over the junction of the radial, median and ulnar nerves above the posterior axillary crease is used in paralysis of the upper limb or difficulty in raising the shoulder. Other points which may be treated in this way in very serious cases are Ho Ku (LI04) and Chu Chih (LI11) near branches of the radial nerve; Huan Tiao (GB30) near the superior gluteal nerve; Yang Ling Chuan (GB34) near the tibial and common peroneal nerves and ST36 near the deep peroneal nerve. This method does not appear to be used in vet AP.