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

APPENDIX 2

EXPERIMENTAL TRYPANOSOMIASIS: Mice were infected experimentally with Trypanosoma evasi. Some of the mice received water injections at GV14, ST36 + AiKen (a point behind the second metatarsophalyngeal joint, at the inner side of the plantar surface). Others remained as infected, untreated controls. AP significantly prolonged survival time of infected mice. All control mice died. Some of the treated mice lived (Lin et al 1976, Chinese Med. J. (Taiwan), 23, 152-157).

EXPERIMENTAL ERLICH ASCITES TUMOUR was induced in mice by inoculation with tumour cells. Some of the mice were needled at the same points as above. AP significantly prolonged the survival time of treated mice as compared with controls but all mice died eventually (Lee and Lin, 1975. Chinese Medical J. (Taiwan) 22, 167-171).

EXPERIMENTAL POLIOMYELITIS was induced by virus injection in rhesus monkeys. Ligation of certain points enhanced nerve fibre regeneration and the formation of neuromuscular plaques in paralysed muscle. It also increased cholinesterase in the large motor neurons in the ventral horn or the spinal cord, increased the number of dendrites and synapses in the segment, increased the conduction velocity in motor nerves and increased metatarsal perspiration (Anon 1979 a, p. 517).

CLINICAL HUMAN POLIOMYELITIS: AP or injection of the relevant points gave valuable therapeutic results in 360 cases. In patients treated in the acute (febrile) phase, improvement occurred in 88% and 52% recovered. In patients treated in the first month of illness, the response rate was 48%, as compared with 31% and 18% respectively in those treated within 6 months and after 6 months of onset respectively (Anon 1979a, p.76).

CLINICAL VIRAL HEPATITIS was treated in 280 cases by manual or electro-AP of relevant points. Treatment was effective in 90% of cases in eliminating the symptoms (fever, jaundice, gastrointestinal upset, pain etc) and in restoring health in less than 3 weeks. (Anon 1979a, p. 41 and 43).

CLINICAL BACTERIAL ENTERITIS IN PIGLETS: E. coli enteritis in piglets was treated by needling certain points or by spiramycin. Some scouring piglets were left as untreated controls. AP once daily gave a highly effective clinical response in 2-5 days, as good as, or better than, the response to spiramycin (Anon 1977a, p265-). The results are summarised below.

YuTang : 0.5 tsun on either side of midline of hard palate, 1 tsun behind incisors
ShanKen: midline, just above snout (GV25)
TiMen : just above bulb of heels

INFERTILITY IN COWS: AP at YungChi gave excellent results. YungChi is 5 finger-widths on either side of the spine, between lumbar vertebrae 5-6.