3. CLINICAL CASES OBSERVED AT VGH AND CMC

I attended 4 long clinics at VGH and two short clinics at CMC. I observed over 100 clinical cases presented for their first treatment. (Repeat treatments were being given in other clinics, but I wished to see each case, as presented, for the first time and to assess the response (if any) to AP at that treatment. The patients, nursing staff and doctors were most helpful and friendly. They discussed freely each case history, allowed me access to the medical records and discussed why a particular combination of points was chosen. I wish to thank these generous people most sincerely for helping me to learn more about AP and human nature.

Most cases involved pain syndromes (headache, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand pain + stiffness, back and lowback rain + stiffness, hip, thigh, knee, ankle or foot pain + stiffness, chest or abdominal pain). A few cases with constipation, asthma, numbness of extremities, muscle tremor, facial paralysis and post CVA paralysis were also seen.

The cases were scored from 0 to (+++) on the result obtained at the end of the first session: (0) = no improvement was noted or reported; (+) = slight improvement; (++) = good improvement; (+++) = excellent improvement; (?) = result unknown.

It should be noted that selection of points is not a routine, standardised procedure. It depends on the doctor, the patient and on the response obtained. Furthermore, most of these patients would require further treatment sessions before they could be said to be cured or stabilized. My notes are not complete and many other cases observed were not detailed in writing.

Table 1 shows a summary of the responses noted at the end of the treatment session (usually about 20 min) in 39 cases for which my notes had a result indicated (0 to +++). The notes did not record a result in 9 patients. Good or excellent relief occurred in 69.2% of the cases. Slight relief occurred in 23.1%. Only 7.7% reported no relief. In the 39 recorded responses, 13 (33.3%) had a marked response within two minutes (cases 11-14,16,17,24-26,34,40,43 and 45). These rapid responses are comparable to those reported in the Huneke Phenomenon.

These results are most impressive, especially when one realises that they were responses to the first session of AP. Most disorders require 1-6 or more sessions of AP to obtain maximum response. A good initial response is usually an excellent prognosis for a satisfactory outcome. Many patients with a poor response to the first session can be helped by further sessions.

TABLE 1
Summary of responses noted (0 to +++) and unknown (?) in 48 cases from my notes. (Case 4 was included twice).

Details recorded in my notes

1. Aches and pains "all over the body"

Some patients report "wandering pains" or static pains in head, neck, back, upper limbs, lower limbs or "all over the body." These cases would be difficult to treat (too many needles) if each area had to be treated separately. In such cases, the VGH clinic uses needles in LI04 and LV03 (bilateral) for 2-3 sessions, at which time the pain usually "localises" in 1-2 areas and is easier to treat then. In the early stages, many TP/AhShi areas may be found but the real TPs can be isolated after 2-3 sessions of LI04, LV03.

Female: "aches and pains all over": (GB area of head, legs, shoulders) with insomnia and malaise. LI04, LV03 (bilateral) needled. Doctor was very gentle and caring with this patient and the "Tender Loving Care" (TLC) had marked effect on her reaction to the staff. Response (?).

Tension, insomnia, neurasthenia: In VGH, I was told that AP can help these problems. Main points included LI04, HT07, ST36, LV03. However, many sessions may be required and other causes and therapies must be considered. I saw few such cases during my visits. None could be assessed as to the outcome.

2. Insomnia, tension for 10 years: LI04, LV03 (bilateral). Response (?)

AP in pain following local trauma: Many of the pain syndromes presented for APtherapy are caused by local trauma (falls, industrial accidents, car crashes, athletic injury etc). In acute cases, presented soon after the injury, AP is a highly efficient method of controlling the pain. It also has anti-inflammatory and restorative effects which speed up the resolution of the injury, especially where this involves soft tissue injury, bruising, oedema and swelling. Chung has done extensive clinical research in this area.

Acute traumatic injury: Ipsilateral GB34 is the pain-point par excellence. On its own, it often controls the pain (and reduces swelling). Sometimes, ipsilateral BL62 or an APpoint near the local area may improve the effect. Chung reports that pain relief is more efficient if AP is given on or after day 2 (rather than day 1) of the accident. About 70% of acute traumatic pain (including fracture pain) may be relieved following one 20-min session of AP. Treatment 1-2 times/day for 3 occasions gives pain control in > 95% of cases.

In contusions GB34

In abrasions GB34

In fractures GB34 (66% excellent results)

In costal trauma, especially lateral GB34

GB34 (ipsilateral) is the key point for traumatic pain anywhere in the body. Because of the marked analgesic effects it is most important to diagnose the cause of the pain and togive supplementary treatment (for example, plaster cast in simple fractures). It is possible to do severe damage in the region of a broken bone if one uses it following APanalgesia, unaware that the fracture was present.

To obtain complete relief from chronic pain, caused by trauma some weeks or months previously, AP may be required 1-2 times/week for 1-2 months. GB34 (ipsilateral) is also used in chronic cases, but other points are often added. These include AhShi points, when present.

Chronic traumatic pain of:

head and neck:GB34 + LU07 + BL62

lumbar area :GB34 + BL40 + SI06

elbow area :GB34

ankle area :GB34

 

GB34 is also useful for joint and muscle stiffness which often follows removal of a plaster cast. GB34 controls the muscles and sinews.

3. Left lowback pain following trauma: Needling ipsilateral GB34 caused radiating sensation to flank and costal area. SI06 (contra- lateral) needled. 20 min. Pain was greatly eased but not completely gone (+++).

4. Knee and shoulder pain (bilateral) following car accident some weeks previously. Scar on anterior thigh. Bilateral TP/AhShi were located in infraspinatus. Needled AhShi, GB34,BL40,57,62, TH05. Twenty minutes. Pain slightly improved. (+)

5. Elbow pain following local trauma: GB34, LI11 ipsilateral. Twenty minutes. Pain gone completely (+++).

6. Eye pain and swelling following local trauma: GB34 ipsilateral. Within minutes, patient opened eye, Pain gone when needle removed at 20 min. (+++). (One treatment is often sufficient in "black eyes": C.C. Chung).

7. Pain in left palm near HT07, due to local trauma (fall from bicycle) one month before. Left GB34 needled. Marked pain relief in 20 min.(+++)