Acupuncture points for the treatment of human backpain

DATABASE OR COOKBOOK AP

AP points listed under various symptoms, body parts etc were stored on file. Data under sections on point functions were also stored. The data base was sorted and duplicate entries from specific sources were eliminated. Points were scored by a weighted citation frequency method. Prescriptions were generated for each part and symptom and were output with the highest-scoring points first and the lowest-scoring last.

The larger the database, the more points are filed under any given region, symptom or condition. However, the first 6-10 points listed (in order of descending citation score) are the most important for routine use. For example, in the most recent summary of the database, 401 points were listed from a base of 44 texts for the treatment of sequelae (hemiplegia, paralysis) of CVA or polio. The Top Ten points were:

Ranking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Point      LI04 LI11 ST36 GB34 ST06 GB30 ST04 LI15 TH05 GB39
Score       .86  .79  .77  .74  .73  .72  .68  .66  .62  .62

The Maximum score possible was .964. The bottom 10 points were:

Ranking 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401
Point      CV13 CV17 BL65 LI01 ST23 BL07 KI20 GB06 GB43 LV06
Score       .02  .02  .02  .02  .02  .02  .02  .02  .02  .02

The scores have been rounded up or down to the second decimal place. Clearly, the first list would be expected to give better therapeutic results than the second list above.

However, selection of the Top Ten points in the above list would not necessarily be the best selection for a CVA sequel which was primarily mutism or aphasia. For such cases, the top 10 points are:

Ranking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Point      CV23 GV15 HT05 LI04 Z 21 TH03 GB02 TH17 NZ32 SI19
Score       .82  .72  .44  .37  .27  .23  .23  .21  .20  .18

(From a total of 71 possible points listed by 27 texts, maximum possible score was .952)

The computer allows one to COMBINE data, to retrieve ALL points used for ALL conditions of (say) the "thoracic back" or "abdomen" etc. In this way, the entire database was summarised by amalgamation of data for major body areas, functions, subregions and combinations of similar conditions. Appendix 2 gives examples. Regional points, however, do not supplant the need to consider points for specific symptoms. For example, in the selection of points for FACIAL PARALYSIS (OPTIC NERVE), one could search under "Head", "Face", "Facial paralysis", "Facial paralysis, optic branch"(see below). Many of the points are common to all those headings, but the specific heading is probably the best source.

020000 HEAD, ITS ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS
LI04 GB20 ST06 ST07 ST36 LI20 TH17 LI11 TH05 LV03
.946 .927 .896 .896 .852 .787 .-779 -.7-77 -.7-77 .-758
(54 references, 458 possible points, max possible score .963)

020-500 FACE, CHEEK (GENERAL POINTS FOR)
LI04 ST06 ST04 ST07 ST02 LI20 BL02 GB14 TH-17 ST03
.860 .86-0 .780 -.780 .595 .581 .547 -.532 .513 .487
-(49 references, 198 possible points, max possible score .963)

020507 FACE: FACIAL N. PARALYSIS; BELL'S PALSY; FACIAL HEMIPLEGIA; NUMB
ST06 ST04 LI04 ST07 TH17 ST02 LI20 GB14 SI18 ST03
.886 .829 .803 -.717 .606 .586 .-529 .529 .4-43 .414-
(36 references, 111 possible points, max possible score .972)

020508 FACE: FACIAL N. PARALYSIS; BELL'S PALSY, UPPER (OPTIC) BRANCH 
LI04 LI20 ST04 ST07 ST06 TH17 GB14 SI18 BL02 Z 09
.664 .664 .588 .580 .504 .504 .504 -.420 .336 -.24-4
(12 references, 46 possible points, max possible score .992)

020509 FACE: FACIAL N.PARALYS-IS; BELL'S PALSY, MIDDLE (MAXILLARY) BRANCH 
ST04 ST06 CV24 ST07 ST03 GV26 SI18 LI04 LI20 Z 09
.645 .645 .526 .513 .395 .355 .263 .250 .250 .250
( 8 references, 24 possible points, max possible score .950)

020510 FACE: FACIAL N. PARALYSIS; BELL'S PALSY, LOWER (MANDIBULAR) BRANCH
ST06 CV24 LI04 ST04 ST07 ST03 ST05 TH17 ST18 LI02
.743 .527 .500 .365 .338 .257 .216 .203 .135 .122
( 8 references, 25 possible points, max possible score .925)

The CVA (aphasia) and Head (optic area paralysis) examples show the necessity of specific (as well as general) searches of the database. Where it is possible, one should search the database for general region (neck area, thoracic back, lumbar area etc), specific region (shoulder, hip, knee, etc), specific nerve (where applicable, e.g. radial, sciatic). Where specific symptoms are marked, they should be searched (e.g. insomnia, dysmenorrhoea, polyuria etc).

The data base covers >1100 headings. Only a few are given here, mainly relating to neck, back, associated parts and common symptoms. Appendix 2 covers the parts and Appendix 3 the symptoms.

The data base has 452 headings under abdomen/functions/organs/symptoms. The major headings are listed below.

06---- ABDOMEN AND BACK, ITS ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS
0601-- ABDOMEN GENERAL
060101 ABDOMEN:  GENERAL POINTS FOR ABDOMEN AREA AND ORGANS
060102 ABDOMEN:  APA FOR SURGERY OF ABDOMEN AREA AND ORGANS

0602-- THORACOLUMBAR SPINE AND AREA
060201 BACK, POSTERIOR TRUNK:  GENERAL POINTS
060202 THORACOLUMBAR:  (AREA, SPINE AND SPINAL CORD) GENERAL POINTS

0603-- LIVER (INFLAMMATION, CALCULI, JAUNDICE, ACETONAEMIA ETC)
060301 LIVER:  GENERAL POINTS
060302 LIVER:  HEPATITIS;  PAIN

0604-- SPLEEN
060401 SPLEEN:  GENERAL POINTS
060402 SPLEEN:  (AREA) APA FOR SURGERY OF

0605-- GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT:  GENERAL SYMPTOMS
060501 STOMACH, INTESTINE AND GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTION:  GENERAL POINTS
060502 MALABSORPTION:  WEIGHT LOSS**XS;  EMACIATION etc

0606-- STOMACH AND DUODENUM
060601 STOMACH:  GENERAL POINTS
060602 STOMACH:  (AREA) APA FOR SURGERY OF

0607-- SMALL INTESTINE, APPENDIX, CAECUM, COLON, RECTUM
060701 INTESTINE:  GENERAL POINTS
060702 INTESTINE:  OBSTRUCTION;  P-AIN;  VOLVULUS;  PAIN##ADHESIONS

0608-- UROGENITAL (GENERAL CONDITI-ONS)
060801 URINARY-GENITAL FUNCTION:  GENERAL POINTS
060802 URINARY-GENITAL FUNCTION:  PAIN OR PAIN REFERRED FROM

0609-- URINARY TRACT AND FUNCTIONS
060901 URINARY TRACT:  GENERAL POINTS FOR URINARY TRACT FUNCTION
060902 URINARY TRACT:  (AREA) APA FOR SURGERY OF

0610-- GENITALIA FEMALE AND REPRODUCTION
061001 GENITAL-IA, FEMALE:  GENERAL POINTS
061002 GENITALIA, FEMALE & MALE:  PAIN;  NEUR-ALGIA;  SENSATION**BURNING etc

0611-- PREGNANCY
061101 PREGNANCY:  FORBIDDEN POINTS;  MAY INDUCE MISCARRIAGE
061102 PREGNANCY:  MORNING SICKNESS;  NAUSEA;  VOMITING;  FAINT

0612-- MAMMARY FEMALE
061201 BREAST, MAMMARY GLAND, NIPPLE:  GENERAL POINTS
061202 MAMMARY GLAND, NIPPLE:  APA FOR MASTECTOMY OR COSMETIC SURGERY

0613-- MENSTRUAL CYCLE, CONTRACEPTION
061301 REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION & GENITALIA (FEMALE):  MENSTRUAL DISORDE-RS e-tc
061302 MENSTRUATION:  PSYCHOGENIC UPSETS DUE TO;  PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME

0614-- REPRODUCTION MALE (IMPOTENCE, SPERMATORRHOEA ETC )
061401 REPRODUCT-IVE FUNCTION & GENITALIA (MALE):  GENITAL PROBLEMS etc
061402 ERECTION:  POOR OR ABSENT;  IMPOTENCE;  PREMATURE EJACULATION etc

0615-- GENITALIA MALE
061501 GENITALIA, MALE:  (REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION) GENERAL POINTS
061502 GENITALIA:  (AREA) APA FOR SURGERY OF