Acupuncture effects on the body's defence systems and conditions responsive to AP

e. PARALYSIS, PARESIS

These conditions may arise in humans and animals from nerve damage at central, spinal or peripheral level. For example, human cerebral haemorrhage, thrombosis, encephalitis, spinal injury or peripheral nerve injury may cause paralysis of one or more regions or functions. We are taught that if the nuclei of motor neurons are damaged, the neurons cannot regenerate and that paralysis due to neural necrosis is irreversible. However, we also know (1) that many cases of paralysis occur from axon damage, (2) that functional damage to the nervous system (poor micro-circulation) may cause paralysis, and (3) that considerable plasticity exists in the nervous system, i.e. that some neural circuits can be re- programmed to adopt new functions. These facts explain a reasonably high success rate of AP in treating conditions such as central, spinal and peripheral- nerve paralysis in humans. I would strongly recommend that any of you who have friends or relatives who suffer from recent paralysis should consult with a competent medical acupuncturist. AP combined with conventional therapy can be very helpful in many of these cases.

Animals usually suffer paralysis from trauma or arthritis, involving the vertebral column or trauma to peripheral nerves. AP is very effective therapy for many of these cases but many sessions may be required and physical manipulation may also be required. (Paralysis from central causes, metabolic upsets or poisoning is not in discussion here). Paralysis associated with prolapsed intervertebral disc may also respond to AP. As in the treatment of pain, AP does not alter the physical lesion (dislocation, arthritis, spondylitis, disc prolapse etc) but function is often restored despite the persistence of the lesion. This indicates that these cases of paralysis may be functional or due to oedema or poor blood supply to the nerve tracts. The antiinflammatory, antioedematous and pro-circulatory effects of AP may explain the clinical recovery in these cases.

f. MISCELLANEOUS CONDITIONS

The list of conditions which can be helped by AP runs to hundreds. Some respond very well, others have less satisfactory results, or require many sessions. In general, AP has therapeutic effects on all the major systems of the body in humans (nervous system, the 5 senses; endocrine system; respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, reproductive, urinary, musculoskeletal systems and skin). It also influences all the main body regions (and their parts) and organs, including the head, neck, upper limb, thorax, abdomen, spine and lower limb. Recent reports from Hospitals in Sweden and Taipei suggest that AP has powerful effects in treating spastic paralysis and cerebral palsy in children.

No one textbook of AP lists all the conditions amenable to therapy, but a study of many text-books and journals will demonstrate the wide range of clinical uses (for details, see references 1 to 7 at end).

Veterinary AP therapy is not as well developed as human AP, but a wide range of clinical conditions (involving all the main physiological systems and all the body regions, their parts and organs) may be helped. The main limiting factor is often the economic one. AP therapy generally requires more time per session and more sessions to be effective, especially in chronic cases. Time is money to a busy veterinarian and to the client. It is often decided that the cost of treatment would not be justified on economic grounds because of the relatively small cash value of the animal. However, in the case of family pets, racing animals (dogs, horses) and valuable breeding stock, the economic considerations are less important.

Appendix 1 lists miscellaneous conditions in animals which can be helped by AP. For further details on AP in the activation of the defence systems, see References 6, 10, 11, 12 at the end of this paper.

CONCLUSIONS

AP at specific points activates the defence system of humans and animals via reflex neural effects, autonomic effects, neuroendocrine, endocrine and humoral effects. Sensory input to the hypothalamus is most important in these effects. Other mechanisms, such as the Primitive Nervous System of Becker, may be involved in the slow healing processes.

In general, if activation of the defence systems of the body can affect the clinical condition or if tissue regeneration is possible, AP is indicated as a possible therapy alone or in combination with other therapies.

AP has wide therapeutic effects in infection, inflammation, fever, allergy, endocrine disorders and many other clinical conditions. AP is not a panacea; it should be seen as an aid to conventional therapy and not as a complete alternative to it.

AP may be the treatment of choice in some cases (for instance anaesthetic apnoea, muscular lameness). In other cases, AP combines well with other therapies (i.e. with antibiotics in mastitis, with glucose infusion + corticosteroids in bovine ketosis). AP is useless, or of very little use in cases in which the adaptive response is disabled (for instance in terminal malignant cancer, severe spinal damage, the later stages of liver or renal fibrosis). In these cases other therapies are required but these may be of little use also.