The Taiwan Report

Upper limb problems

22. Pain in forearm muscles below lateral epicondyle of humerus on both arms for 6 months. AhShi located in right infraspinatus, also below left GB20 and (bilateral) in forearm muscles near LI10. Needles in all AhShi plus GB34 (bi). Less pain after 20 min. (+).

23. Elbow pain and muscular stiffness: Duration and cause not noted. GB34 + localAhShi point needled, 20 minutes. Good response reported (++).

Respiratory difficulty

AP is used often to help patients with respiratory problems, such as asthma, dyspnoea, tight sensation in chest, shortage of breath. The main points include: PC06, LI11, BL13, SP04,ST40. Few such cases were seen during my visit. AP at PC06 was said to be very useful to help to control angina pectoris and improve cardiac microcirculation.

24. Difficult breathing and shortage of breath, with sensation of tightness in chest in patient with history of asthma. Needles put (bilateral) in PC06 and SP04 gave relief within 2 minutes. Left in situ for 20 min. Patient was delighted with response. (+++ immediate).

Lowback pain and stiffness + sciatica

Lowback pain is often caused by unaccustomed back exercise (lifting, twisting etc). Sometimes it is associated with degenerative disc disease, spondylitis, disc prolapse. The new points "Loin and Leg" (dorsum of hand between the upper heads of metacarpals 4-5 and 2-3) often give immediate or rapid pain relief. Other useful points include: BL23,40,57,60,GB30,31,34, AhShi, SI06, LV03, LI04.

25. Right lumbar and posterior thigh pain associated with X-ray evidence of degenerative disc disease. Had been treated unsuccessfully for 5 months in the Orthopaedic Dept. of the same hospital. Needles in: "Loin and Leg" points (right), SI06 (left). Pain improved within 2 min but extension of leg still caused some pain. After 20 min pain was "95% gone". (+++, immediate).

26. Pain radiating from left thigh to lower leg: Intermittent over 1 year. Left face pain. Worse at night. Slight degeneration of lumbar spine on X-ray. Pain in both shouldersfor 3 months. Needled (for lowback/leg): "Loin and Leg" (left). Pain relief was immediate (but not complete) in one minute! AhShi found in left gluteal muscle. Massaged, then needled, plus BL62. For the shoulder pain, SI06 (bilateral) needled. AhShi near GB20 (bilateral) also needled. 20 minutes. Pain in shoulder and lower limb "greatly improved!" (+++ immediate).

27. Lowback and sciatica pain (right thigh, radiating to lower leg) for one month. X-ray indicated degenerative disc disease of low lumbar spine. Straight leg raising test (SLRT) 90 degrees left, 45 degrees right. Disc disease diagnosed in lumbar area. Needled: "Loin and Leg" and GB34 (right side) 20 min. No improvement in pain or SLRT at this session (0).

28. Severe lumbar pain and stiffness following back strain about 1 week previously. Needled: "Loin and Leg", LV03, LI04 bilateral). Greatly improved back movement and pain almost gone in 20 min. (+++).

29. Acute lumbago for past few days. No history of back strain. "Loin and Leg", GB34 (bilateral) needled. 20 min. Stiffness and pain greatly improved. (+++).

30. Acute sciatic-area pain (right). Duration unknown. Suspected lumbar disc on SLRT. Needled: BL23,40,60, GB30,34 (all on right). Response (?).

31. Acute lumbar sprain: Duration unknown. Needles placed in BL23,26,30,34,40 bilateral. The lumbosacral area was cupped (bilateral) over the needles. Good pain relief after 20 min. (CMC). (++).

32. Sciatic area pain (left). Duration unknown. SLRT unknown. Needles in left BL40,60 plus AhShi below wing of left ilium. 20 min. Pain relief reported. (++).

33. Sciatic area pain (right) in patient who earlier complained of numbness and ache in lower leg for one year. Lumbar vertebrae showed bridging on X-ray. AhShi (very sensitive) atGB31 (control point of the tensor fascia lata - Chung). Needles in AhShi plus GB30,BL40,60. Response (?).

34. Lowback stiffness, pain and inability to bend forward: Duration about 3 days. Needles (bilateral) in "Loin and Leg" points, strong stimulation for about 30 seconds each. Patient was then asked to try to bend forward. There was marked improvement in movement and less pain. BL40 and GB34 added (bilateral) 20 min. Marked improvement (+++, immediate).