Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, Feb. 2003, Vol.1, No.1
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Acupuncture Treatment of 32 Cases of Lumbar lntervertebral Disc Protrusion CHEN Feng(g~ ~s'4-) The First Hospital of Jiaxing City, Ztlejiang 314000, China [ Abstract ] Yaoyangguan ( GV 3 ), Shiqizhui ( Ex-B 8) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) were selected as main points and a three-part needle insertion technique was used to treat 32 cases of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion. The curative rate was 96.9%. Deep puncture is the key to the treatment. [ Key Words ] Acupuncture Therapy; Intervertebral Disk Displacement, Lumbar Vertebrae; Lumbago
During working in Marglar hospital in the Republic of Mall, the author used acupuncture techniques to treat lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion in Mali people. It is reported as follows. Clinical D a t a
Of the 32 cases, 25 were male and 7 female; the ages were between 20 and 51; the longest course of disease was 3 years and the shortest was 3 days; 25 had L 4_ 5 intervertebral disc protrusion and 7 L 5 - $1 intervertebral disc protrusion. Therapeutic Methods
Points: Yaoyangguan(GV 3), Shiqizhui(Ex-B 8, Fig. 1 ), Yanglingquan (GB 34 ), Shenshu (BL 23 ), Dachangshu(BL 25), Huantiao(GB 20), Zhibian(BL 54), Weizhong(BL 40), Chengshan(BL 57) and Kunlun(BL 60).
(Ex-B 8 ), Shenshu (BL 23 ), Dachangshu (BL 25 ), Weizhong(BL 40),Yanglingquan(GB 34), Chengshan (BL 57) and Kunlun (BL 60).Filiform needles of 0.35 mm in diameter and 75 mm in length were perpendicularly inserted into points Huantiao and Zhfblan (BL 54). A reinforcing technique was applied to points Yaoyangguan(GV 3 ), Shiqizhui(Ex-B 8) and Yanglingquan(GB 34) and a reducing technique to the other points. Manipulation for reinforcement: After a needle was inserted, it was first put into the heaven part, next into the human part after the needling sensation was produced by a twirling technique, then into the earth part after the needling sensation was produced again by a twirling technique and finally retained after the needling sensation was produced once more. Manipulation for reduction: After a needle was inserted, it was first put into the earth part, next back into the human part after the needling sensation was produced by a twirling technique and the needle retained for a moment, then back into the heaven part after the needling sensation was produced again by a twirling technique and the needle retained for a moment and finally retained after the needling sensation was produced once more by a twirling technique. The needle was retained 30 min for one treatment, which was given once every other day, and 10 treatments constituted one course. T h e r a p e u t i c Results
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After 3 courses of treatment, 21 cases were cured, 10 cases improved and 1 case got no effect. The curative rate was 96.9%. Case Report
Fig.l
Shiqizhui(Ex-B8)
Manipulation: Filiform needles of 0.35 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length were perpendicularly inserted into points Yaoyangguan (GV 3 ), Shiqizhui
The patient is a male and aged 37, paid his first visit on May 31 ~t, 1999. Lumbago involving the lower limbs lasted 3 years. Three years ago, lumbago occurred because of lumbar sprain due to carelessness during working. The pain went down to the right leg and was not cured after several treatments. Later, pains also occurred in the left leg that the pa-
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, Feb. 2003, Vol.1, No.1 tient only relied on crutches during walking, suffered greatly and almost lost his working ability. An examination showed marked tenderness on the right side of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebral transverse processes, the right lateral curvature of the spine, limitation of lumbar activities in all directions, inability to extend and raise the lower limbs and a straight leg raising test with 30 ~ L4 5 intervertebral disc protrusion was diagnosed. Points selected were Yaoyangguan (GV 3 ), bilateral Shenshu (BL 23 ), Dachangshu(BL 25), Huantlao(GB 20), Zhiblan(BL 54), Weizhong (BE 40 ), Yanglingquan (GB 34 ), Chengshan(BL 57) and Kunlun(BL 60). Treatment was administered according to the above techniques. After the first course of treatment, the symptoms were markedly relieved without the need of crutches. After the second course of treatment, lumbago disappeared and a straight leg raising test showed a negative result. Then acupuncture were given for the maintenance of the curative effect. Discussion
Traditional Chinese medicine considers that lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion results from exogenous factors invading, leading to local stagnation of qi and blood and obstruction of meridional qi and blood, which mainly occur in the Govemor Vessel, Bladder and Gallbladder Meridians. Therefore, when
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L4-5 intervertebral disc protruded, points Yaoyangguan (GB 34) and Yanglingquan(GV 3) are selected as main ones and when L5 - Sj intervertebral disc protruded, points Shiqizhui (Ex-B 8 ) and Yanglingquan are selected as main ones. Other points Shenshu(BL 23), Dachangshu(BL 25), Huantiao(GB 20), Zhibian(BL 54), Weizhong(BL 40), Chengshan (BE 57) and Kunlun(BL 60) are selected as subsidiary ones. A reducing technique for the main points and a reinforcing technique for the subsidiary points, it will activate blood to remove stasis and unblock meridians to eliminate a mass. The cause of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion lies in tendons and bones and the lesion in muscles. So bones, tendons and muscles should be all involved in the treatment and deep puncture is the key to the treatment. On the treatment of muscular diseases, Lingshu ( ( ( ~ ) ) ) states "intermuscular needling means needling the boundary between muscles." When limb pains occur in a patient with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion, therefore, the heaven, earth and human parts are separately stimulated with acupuncture so as to regulate qi in the patient's tendons, bones, skin and muscles, which is an important link in acupuncture producing an marked effect. Author:
CHEN Feng(1962-), male, junior consultant doctor Translator: WANG Si-you(~Y-~ ~ )