Choice of Acupuncture points for particular conditions
3.GENERALISED CONDITIONS AND COMPLEX SYNDROMES: Generalised conditions include metabolic, hormonal, toxic, general autonomic upsets, etc (such as gout, diabetes, food poisoning, shock, neurasthenia, etc). Although one symptom may be dominant, it is usual to have a number of symptoms and abnormalities occurring together.
For example, in gout, the presenting symptom may be pain in the big toe (or other joint), but other symptoms could include liver enlargement + pain; headaches; irritability; blurred vision; tiredness, etc. The comprehensive treatment would entail dietary advice (possibly involving food allergy/intolerance testing) and increased fluid intake. AP would be aimed at the more severe symptom (say toe pain) but other points (especially LV and GB) would be aimed at the other symptoms. The liver is central in gout and many allergies. Treat the liver.
In diabetes mellitus, polyuria, neuropathy and other signs can arise. Dietary advice, together with points for diabetes (see Appendix 2) the local regions affected by neuropathy and the kidney (Appendices 1 and 2) would be indicated.
In food poisoning, vomiting and diarrhoea would be tackled by points such as CV12, PC06, ST25,36,37 but other symptoms (dehydration, prostration etc) would best be tackled by fluid replacement. Medication (kaolin, chlorodyne) can assist the gastrointestinal symptoms.
In shock, points like GV26, KI01, ST36, PC06 can be of immediate help but accurate diagnosis of the pathology is essential and would indicate other interventions (surgery, if severe internal bleeding; fluids, stimulants, warmth, etc where indicated).
In neurasthenia, insomnia, excitement etc, the HT and PC Channels control these functions in traditional belief. Consider HT, PC points.
DISCUSSION
1.IN MOST LOCAL PROBLEMS (joint, muscle, superficial organ etc) the best prescription combines AhShi points and local points + distant points on the affected or related Channel. It is important to check the location as regards the nerve supply and the Channel. For example, the best combination for pain in the medial epicondyle of the humerus will not be identical to the best combination for the lateral epicondyle. However, in traditional AP, it is not enough to pick any local point. (Some local points are better than others, or, at least, are more frequently recommended than others).
Modern neurophysiological concepts of AP stress that adequate stimulation of the affected or related NERVES will produce results as good as the traditional method but adequate clinical or research testing of the traditional versus modern (nerve theory) methods has not been done. For the moment, I give the benefit of the doubt to the traditional system, which has stood the test of time.
2. IN DISEASE OF INTERNAL ORGANS, the most important points lie near the organ in the thoracoabdominal area or in the paravertebral area (the Mu, Shu and Huatochiachi (X 35) points, CV and GV points). Where the organ has a named Channel (LU, LI, ST, SP, HT, SI, BL, KI, PC, GB, LV) it is common to include one or more points on that Channel (distant as well as local points). Also, the course of the Channel is important. For example, the liver, kidney and spleen Channels traverse the inner thighs and groin area. Distant points on these Channels are important in genital and lower abdominal conditions.
In general, if a symptom or abnormal function can be traced to a specific COS, treat that COS. If more than one symptom/organ system is involved, choose a combination of points which will influence all the major symptoms or upset organs.
3.IN ACUTE SERIOUS CONDITIONS, WITH MULTIPLE SYMPTOMS AND PATHOLOGY, it is unwise to rely solely on AP. AP can often give considerable help (using points as indicated by the main symptoms and pathology) but conventional or unconventional (complementary) therapies may need to be used as well.
4. IN CHRONIC COMPLICATED CASES, where immediate life-threatening symptoms or pathology are absent, one can rely more on AP as the main therapy (in cases amenable to treatment). At all times, however, the aim of good medicine is to help the patient to the greatest extent, with the minimum of side effects. Therefore, it is good practice to use whatever complementary therapies seem best indicated.
Analysis of the database indicates that points from the list: LI04,11;
ST25,36; SP06; HT07; BL23,40; PC06; TH05; GB20,34; LV03; CV06,12; GV04,12,14,20,26 arise in a high proportion of cases. In complex cases, if one has difficulty in deciding on a prescription, it is advisable to include a few points from that list.
LIMITATIONS OF COOKBOOK AP: How would one treat the following syndrome? The patient had the following symptoms (at different times) during a period of 6 years, beginning two years after radical right lung surgery: recurrent haemorrhagic nephritis; cystitis; right-sided sciatica; right- sided paravertebral pain (C6 - T4 area); right-sided headache and bouts of acute conjunctivitis (right); right ear tinnitus; waking at night with severe pain along the SI Channel of the arm to the little finger, with the arm in spasm.
To try cookbook prescriptions in such a case would be second-rate AP. There was obviously a connection between all these symptoms (all relate to SI, BL, KI) and most were right sided symptoms. On examination, the patient's thoracotomy scar was badly twisted, with adhesions on the right BL line. This was the clue. Blockage of the Qi flow (traditional concept) or reflex irritation effects (Western concept) could cause all of these symptoms via the Chinese SI-BL-KI energy cycle. Treatment was physiotherapy + injection of the scar plus a few AP sessions using BL points. All symptoms were successfully cleared. Cookbooks have their limitations and Chefs do not need them.