The Taiwan Report
Experimental studies:
Experimental AP research in Taiwan is based largely on researching the physiological effects of stimulating some of the Master Points, especially LU07, LI04,11, ST25,36, SP06,HT07, BL23,52,40, PC06, GB20,34, LV03, GV14,26.
Drug interactions and the pathways activated in the nervous system are also being studied. The approach is pragmatic. There is great awareness of the need for properly controlled observations.
The ancient concepts of Five Phases, Pulse Diagnosis, the Perverse External Insults, etc receive little (if any) credence from medical or veterinary scientists trained in the "Western" method. These concepts are still held by those doctors whose training is solely in traditional Chinese medicine. However, since few of the Traditionalists are active in AP research, I conclude that current research in Taiwan largely ignores the esoteric aspects of traditional APand concentrates on the physiological effects and the mechanisms involved from a "Western Scientific" viewpoint. Research areas include:
a. AP analgesia: In experimental pain in animals (rats, monkeys), using tail flick test, Jaw opening reflex, Naloxone effects on AP analgesia in animals, Long-term abolition of APanalgesia by severing the dorsolateral funiculus in the cervical 2-3 area in monkeys, APeffects on stimulation evoked potentials in the human cortex - the importance of DeQi(needle feeling), The role of Dorsal Root Antidromic Activity in AP analgesia, AP effects on pain threshold in normal and paraplegic humans.
b. Brain sites activated by AP: Sensory projection of AP sites in the cortex of monkeys,AP effects on brain membrane changes, AP effects on the feeding and chewing centres in rabbits.
c. Cord sites activated by AP: AP effects on Dorsal Root Antidromic Activity in animals, Horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport to label cord sites activated by AP.
d. Brain stimulation effects: Effects of raphe nucleus stimulation on cardiovascular function during painful stimulation, Stimulation-produced analgesia in periaqueductal grey area - effects of naloxone.
e. AP effects on cardiovascular function, metabolic rate and thermoregulation:
AP effects in cardiac function,
AP effects on experimental cardiac abnormalities in animals,
AP effects on skin temperature/vasomotor responses in normal/paraplegic humans;
AP effects on metabolic rate and human body temperature;
ST36 implants on thyroxine levels and pulmonary function in rabbits;
AP at GV14 on thermoregulation in experimental fever in rabbits.
f. The DeQi Phenomenon:
The role in DeQi of reflex muscle contraction around the needle;
The role in DeQi of mechanical twining of connective tissue around the needle tip;
The induction of DeQi in "non-points."
g. Miscellaneous physiological effects of AP:
at GB20 on bile flow in rabbits and on high density lipoproteins in blood;
on levels of cholesterol and lipoproteins in normal and hyperlipoproteinaemic humans;
at GB34 on cholesterol levels in rabbits fed high cholesterol diets;
on blood sugar in alloxan-induced diabetes in mice;
on experimental alcoholism in pigs & mice;
on Kirlian auras in man;
on pupil width in cats;
on phagocytosis, leucocytosis and lymphoid cells in animals;
in recovery from experimental x-irradiation sickness in animals (red cells, white cells; spleen, thymus and bone marrow metabolism);
on antibody production to various antigens including cobra toxin in animals.
Clinical studies include: Many studies on effects of AP in clinical pain syndromes in man; Comparison of simple needling with low-frequency electro AP in pain control in man; Comparison of TP/AhShi therapy and AP therapy using distant points in control of clinical pain syndromes; Earpoint AP in control of clinical pain in man; AP analgesia for human surgery; Studies of AP in withdrawal symptoms from narcotics and tobacco; AP effects on blood pressure of normal and hypertensive patients; AP and moxibustion effects in asthmatic patients; Earpoint AP in the treatment of refractive disorders of the eye; EA at SP04 in the prevention of threatened abortion or premature labour in women; Earpoint AP in disorders of the G/I tract; reproductive disorders and psycho-neurological disorders; Effects of AP on T4, LH and IgE levels in blood of human patients; AP in piglet diarrhoea - comparison with antibiotic therapy; AP in bovine infertility (repeat breeders, anoestrus, cystic ovaries).
Vet AP research projects planned for the future:
Pig production is most important to the agricultural economy of Taiwan. Clinical AP research will be aimed at control of three major problems in pigs:
1. Delayed puberty in gilts;
2. Postpartum anoestrus and infertility in sows;
3. Postpartum agalactia.
Milk and beef are less important to the Taiwan economy. However, because of very positive results in preliminary trials, further work will be conducted on AP effects on bovine fertility.
These projects will be carried out under the direction of Jen-Hsou Lin from the Dept. Animal Husbandry, National Taiwan University (Taipei) and H.P. Fung, of the Vet School (Taichung), in co-operation with other vets and commercial stockmen.