Acupuncture effects on the body's defence systems and conditions responsive to AP
OTHER CONDITIONS RESPONSIVE TO AP THERAPY
Earlier sections discussed many therapeutic effects of AP. These include leucocytosis, increased activity of the phagocytic, lymphoid and reticulo-endothelial systems, release of a leucocytotic factor and a bactericidal factor into plasma, enhanced antibody production, antifebrile, anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious effects. These effects help to explain the therapeutic value of AP in fighting infection, resolving inflammation and reducing fever in humans and animals. Increased haematological stimulation and immunostimulation also help to explain the effect of AP in damage caused by exposure to nuclear radiation. These effects are stimulated only by certain points.
Other points have immunosuppressant effects and help patients during the allergic reaction. Still others act by releasing various hormones in mild endocrine disorders.
Other applications of AP in humans and animals include: pain, poor circulation, smooth muscle dysfunction, tissue damage and bleeding, paralysis, paresis and miscellaneous.
a. PAIN
Pain due to trauma, inflammation, ischaemia, muscle spasm, arthritis and other peripheral causes, can be helped, if not fully controlled, by AP.
Pain conditions in humans which respond in varying degrees to AP are: headache, toothache, eye pain, earache, neck pain; colic; pain in gastric, duodenal or colonic ulcer; backache, sciatica; pain in the muscles and joints, phantom limb pain, angina pectoris, narcotic withdrawal pain. One of the main uses of AP in human patients is in the control of chronic peripheral pain. However, pain of central origin does not respond well.
AP is also of astonishing value in treating acute traumatic pain (fractures, dislocations, pulled muscles, contusions, abrasions, etc). For this purpose, the most important point is YangLingChuan (GB34). GB34 is usually combined with a local point for the region involved.
AP is also of great value in treating post-operative pain (and other complications, such as inappetance, nausea, ileus and urine retention) in humans. For this purpose the main points used are the same as in AP analgesia for the region (see paper on AP analgesia). Points to assist the function of the stomach, large intestine, kidney and bladder are added, as needed.
Pain conditions in animals which respond to AP include: Lameness due to muscular rheumatism, muscle spasm, myositis; arthritis; spinal trauma and mild cases of intervertebral disc protrusion; laminitis, tendinitis, periostitis and trauma; abdominal colic (gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, cystic, uterine, etc).
Post-operative pain in animals: Although AP is seldom used specifically for this purpose in animals, those which have been operated upon under AP analgesia have far fewer complications and heal faster than those operated upon under conventional anaesthetics.
Post-operative complications in animals: after surgery, AP can be used to obtain pain relief and to help restore normal physiological function, as in humans.
b. POOR BLOOD CIRCULATION
Many human clinical conditions are caused by poor blood circulation. Coronary heart disease (CHD) and angina pectoris are greatly helped by frequent needling of PC06. Experimental reduction of coronary blood supply in dogs was used as a model of human CHD. AP at PC06 improved coronary/myocardial circulation, reduced the size of the subsequent infarct and assisted the healing of the damaged muscle.
Muscular aches and pains, "pins and needles" (peripheral paraesthesia) or ulcers, etc in humans are frequently caused by poor blood circulation. AP is effective in many of these conditions.
Human indigestion and hyperacidity may be associated with poor circulation in the gastrointestinal tract. AP is very effective in these conditions. Two important points are ST36 and PC06; others include CV12 and BL21. Under experimental conditions in laboratory animals, stimulation of ST36 and PC06 improves mesenteric and gastrointestinal circulation and delays or prevents the onset of experimental ulcers, or assists in their resolution. Similarly, gastrointestinal hyper- or hypo-motility is corrected by needling these points.
Poor circulation in the brain, such as in senile human arteriosclerosis, may cause many problems. AP of points which act on brain function helps to alleviate these problems. Under experimental conditions in animals, AP at JenChung (GV26) greatly improves brain micro-circulation. GV26 is the emergency point par excellence in shock, collapse, coma, heatstroke, convulsions and anaesthetic apnoea in humans and animals. Similarly, nausea and fainting in humans are quickly corrected by needling or massaging GV26. However, other points also help nausea + dizziness. These include PC06; ST36; GB20; CV12.
By its effect on the autonomic nervous system (see below) AP has powerful effects on blood circulation in most vascular areas. The points for specific regions are similar to those for pain or other problems of those regions.