Acupuncture points for the treatment of human backpain

ABSTRACT

Backpain is only a sign or symptom. It may be primary, secondary, or as part of a generalised disorder. In practice, it may be difficult to make a specific diagnosis of the cause of human backpain, unless X-ray, myelography and other tests are carried out routinely. The practitioner may be satisfied with clinical remission.

In hospitalised patients, AP is successful in treating post-operative pain and complications. It can be successful also in backpain which has not responded to surgery.

AP therapy is by stimulation of relevant reflex points in the skin and muscles. Points of tenderness to palpation are important. They are the AhShi or TRIGGER points (TPs). Stimulation is given to the TPs, paravertebral (Shu) points, and points related to specific areas, organs or functions, e.g.local and distant points on Channels through affected area.

Data from over 66 textbooks and clinical articles were stored on a Hewlett Packard Minicomputer. Frequency-ranked prescriptions for >1100 clinical headings were generated from the database. Some of those, of relevance to backpain (primary and secondary), were analyzed. Pain of central origin is not included. The "Top Twenty" points for selected body regions/organs related to the neck and back are given. Points for certain common signs/symptoms (thoracalgia, lumbalgia, sciatica etc) are given.

Appendix 1 comments on the use of the point index and its structure. It lists the codes and names of all the points. The points for regions and signs are in Appendices 2 and 3. Examples of methods of point selection for simple and more complex conditions (syndromes) are given. Advantages and disadvantages of "Cookbook AP" are discussed in relation to traditional AP concepts.

The following combinations are useful guides to pain control:

Neck: TPs, GB20,21,39, GV14, LI04,11, BL10, SI03,15, ST38 (or GB34)

Thoracic back: TPs, GV09,12,13,14, X 35, BL40,60

Lowback/leg: TPs, GV04, BL23,25,31,37,40,60, GB30,34.

Other methods of point selection (Earpoints, Newpoints, Handpoints etc) must be regarded as experimental at this time.