Acupuncture points for the treatment of human backpain
2. CONDITIONS OF SPECIFIC ORGANS OR THEIR FUNCTIONS (Examples from Appendix 2).
PLEURA: 7/10 points (BL13,42,43,47, KI22,23, GB32) are on the thorax or dorsal/paravertebral area (e.g. are LOCAL points). Two of the other 3 (ST12, BL11) are at the thoracic inlet and one (GB44) obeys Law (c).
HEART, PERICARDIUM: Only 3 of the top 10 (BL14,15, CV17) are over or near the organs. They obey Laws (b, d, e, f). Six more (PC04,05,06,07, HT05,07) are on the PC or HT Channel (Laws c, i, j). The 10th point (ST36) is a master point, with many functions, including effects on PC and HT.
COUGH, GENERAL: 5 of the top 10 points (BL12,13, CV17,22, GV12) are over the thorax, trachea or dorsal paravertebral area. They obey Laws b, d, e, f, j. Three points (LU05,07,10) are on the LU (lung) Channel (Laws c, i). The last two points (ST40, GV14) obey Laws c, i.
LIVER PROBLEMS: 6/10 points (BL18,19,20,48, GV09 LV13) are over or near the liver. They obey Laws b, d, e, f, j. The other four (LV03, ST36, GB34, SP06) are master points. They obey Laws c, g, i, j.
FEMALE GENITALIA/REPRODUCTION: 6/10 points (CV03,04,06, GV04, GB26, BL32) are in the lumbosacral innervation area (low abdominal or lumbosacral paravertebral area). They obey Laws b, d, e, j. The other 4 points (SP06,10, LV03, ST36) are master points, with major effects on the low abdomen and its functions. They obey Laws c, i, j.
In disease of internal organs, the most important points lie near the organ. The paravertebral points (Shu and X 35), local GV points, the abdominal Mu points and local CV points are the most important. If the organ has a named Channel (LU, LI, ST, SP, HT, SI, BL, KI, PC, GB, LV), one or more local and distant points on that Channel are included. In genital and lower abdominal conditions, distant points on LV, KI, SP Channels can be added, as these Channels pass the inner thighs and the groin area.
If the organ or function has no named Channel, points can be chosen from combinations relating to the nearest Organs/Channels. For example, if there were no data for Thymus, Appendix, Oesophagus, Adrenal etc, one could construct combinations of points:
Thymus, oesophagus: points for heart, lungs, stomach (nearest organs) and immunity (a thymus-related function).
Appendix: points for lower right abdomen, large intestine, immunity.
Ovary, tubes, uterus: points for kidney, bladder, low abdomen, large intestine etc.
Vagina, vulva, scrotum, testicles, penis: points for low belly. Also, the 3 YIN Channels of the feet (SP, KI, LV) pass near the groin- use distant points on them.
3. GENERALISED CONDITIONS AND COMPLEX SYNDROMES
Generalised conditions include metabolic, hormonal, toxic, autonomic upsets (as in gout, diabetes, food poisoning, shock, neurasthenia etc). Although one symptom may be dominant, it is usual for a number of signs or symptoms to occur together. For example, in gout, the presenting symptom may by PAIN IN THE BIG TOE, but on examination, liver enlargement, headaches, irritability, blurred vision, tiredness etc may be present also. The comprehensive treatment would entail advice on diet (possibly involving food allergy/intolerance tests), alcohol and fluid intake. AP would be aimed at the more severe symptom (say toe pain) but the prescription should also help the other symptoms.The LIVER is central in gout and many allergies. Treating LV and GB points (LV03,14, GB34, BL18,19, GB14,20) would help ALL the symptoms.
Neurasthenic patients often complain of backache. Their symptoms may include depression, headache, generalised aches and pains, insomnia, weakness etc. The PC and HT Channels control the spirit, in Chinese belief. Symptoms of neurasthenia can be helped by LOCAL points plus PC/HT points (HT07, PC06, BL14,15) and general points like ST36, LV03, LI04.
In treating complex cases, choose point combinations which influence all the major symptoms and the affected organs. If symptoms or signs can be traced to a Channel function, treat that Organ/Channel. In complex cases other methods (conventional medicine, homoeopathy etc) may be needed also.
Analysis of the entire database for all parts and functions shows that certain points are very commonly cited. They are:
LI04,11, ST25,36, SP06, HT07, BL23,40, PC06, TH05, GB20,34, LV03, CV06,12, GV04,12,14,26. These are Master Points in traditional AP. In complex cases, if one has difficulty in selecting points, it may help to include a few points from the master list.
Example of syndrome related to scar tissue/Channel block
Beginning 2 years after right pulmonectomy, the following symptoms occurred intermittently, or in combinations, over a 6-year period:
recurrent haemorrhagic nephritis and cystitis (BL, KI)
right-sided sciatica (BL)
right-sided paravertebral pain (C6-T4) (BL)
right-sided headache (BL)
right-sided bouts of acute conjunctivitis (BL)
right-ear tinnitus (SI)
waking up at night with right arm in spasm and severe pain along SI Channel to the 5th finger (SI)
Cookbook prescriptions would have been as futile as western medicine in that case. All symptoms related to BL Channel or the Channels upstream (SI) or downstream (KI) from BL in the Channel circuit. All were right-sided, except (possibly) the nephritis/cystitis. There was an obvious connection. The thoracotomy scar was badly twisted, with adhesions on the right BL line. Blockage of "Channel energy" flow in the BL channel could be related to the signs. In western terms, reflex irritation effects could be involved. Treatment was procaine injection of the adhesed part of the scar plus a few sessions of AP on BL points, plus physiotherapy. All symptoms were successfully cleared and did not recur. Cookbooks have their limitations! But cookbook recipes must include TP- (and scar-) therapy.
POSTOPERATIVE PAIN
Janssens (see Rogers 1987) reported that AP has controlled pain in dogs which did not respond to surgery for disc disease. He has also used AP successfully to control pain and other complications arising after abdominal and other surgery. Papers by Russian workers, in press to Scandinavian J. Acup., confirm that AP has similar effects in humans.
Points used in post-operative pain/complications are chosen by the same principles as any other AP point combinations. In addition, one may run long needles subcutaneously, parallel to the wound.