Bloodletting acupuncture of the engorged vein around Bl-40 for acute lumbar sprain - Wei-Chung

Abstract: Bloodletting acupuncture is single of the most classic [i]modus operandi[/i]s of acupuncture therapy, and is still popularly used to treat acute lumbar sprain in the oriental world. However, greatest in quantity physicians in the western world are not familiar with bloodletting acupuncture, notwithstanding that they may know ordinary acupuncture well. Furthermore based upon the literature reviewed, there have been scarcely any studies which have investigated the consequence of bloodletting acupuncture upon acute lumbar sprain. In this investigation we tried to determine if bloodletting acupuncture is effective for acute lumbar sprain. In total, twelve patients were registered for analysis. Five patients were treated with ordinary acupuncture on the contralateral SI-3 (Hou-Hsi) point alone. Seven patients were first treated with bloodletting acupuncture to the engorged vein around the ipisilateral Bl-40 (Wei-Chung), and then followed by means of ordinary acupuncture upon the contralateral SI-3. It was demonstrated that bloodletting acupuncture to the engorged vein around the ipisilateral Bl-40 followed by dint of ordinary acupuncture upon the contralateral SI-3 had more pain relief than ordinary acupuncture on the contralateral SI-3 alone (83 [+ or -] 23% v 44 [+ or -] 28%) (P < 001) And bloodletting acupuncture to the engorged vein around the ipisilateral Bl-40 decreased pain by the agency of 56 [+ or -] 23% similar to that of ordinary acupuncture on the contralateral SI-3 alone (44 [+ or -] 28%) These findings prompt that bloodletting acupuncture to the engorged vein around the ipisilateral Bl-40 (Wei-Chung) has a substantial contribution for treatment of acute lumbar sprain.

**********

Acute lumbar sprain is individual of the most common riddles in primary care. It is usually caused through injury to the low back from lifting excessive loads or lifting in a mechanically disadvantaged position (Damkot et al., 1984) Analgesics or non-steroid anti-inflammatory medicines are popularly prescribed for patients with these point to be solved [i]or[/i] settleds However, side effects from medication are public such as gastric ulcer, hepatotoxicity, renal function impairment and hypersensitivity reaction (Langman, 1988) Therefore finding a safe alternative therapy is powerfully indicated.

Acupuncture has drawn out been applied for treatment of acute lumbar sprain (Chen and Zhou 1984; Cui, 1992; Hu 1993; Zhang et al., 1993; Yin, 1997) In practice, there are at least sum of two units acupuncture methods popularly used for acute lumbar sprain in the oriental world. However, alone one of these is popularly practiced in the western world, which involves using a filiform carburet of iron needle to puncture certain acupuncture points (named as ordinary acupuncture in this paper, also known as needle acupuncture) (Stux 1988) However another rule known as bloodletting acupuncture, which involves the bleeding of an engorged vein through a tri-edged needle, is not well known in the western world (Shanghai community of Traditional Medicine, 1987).

Bloodletting acupuncture is single of the most classic acupuncture meanss described in the famous bible of traditional Chinese medicine, The fulvid Emperor's Inner Classic (Huang Di Nei Jing). According to this time-honored true copy bloodletting acupuncture has long been believed to be effective for various kinds of depressed back pain (Yang, 1994). It is still true popular in the oriental world for treatment of depressed back pain, especially for acute lumbar sprain, on the contrary only a few studies have been guidanceed to prove its effectiveness.

In this paper, we engrossed a retrospective study to determine whether bloodletting acupuncture was effective for acute lumbar sprain.

Patients and Methods

From 1990 to 1999 all of the patients in our clinic with acute lumbar sprain who received ordinary acupuncture alone or bloodletting acupuncture followed by means of ordinary acupuncture were recruited. Those with abnormal straight leg raising experiment were excluded. Patients older than 50 or younger than 20 were exclud Those with pain duration of more than single week were also excluded.

During the process of bloodletting acupuncture, a 21 gauge needle was used to ble the engorged vein around ipisilateral Bl-40 (Wei-Chung) within a pair of seconds to let about 2-3 ml of vital fluid flowing out naturally (Zhang et al., 1993) (Figure 1a, 1b) During the manner of proceeding of ordinary acupuncture, a filiform carburet of iron acupuncture needle was inserted into the contralateral acupuncture point SI-3 (Hou-Hsi) and retained in situ for about 15 minutes (Chen and Zhou 1984) (Figure 1c 1d) The resting period between bloodletting acupuncture and ordinary acupuncture was about 10 minutes. After each process every patient was asked a simple question upon how many ten percents (pronounced as "Siang" in Fukein-Taiwanese dialect, or as "Cheng" in Mandarin) improvement was achieved for the treatment. Student's trial and Mann-Whitney U-test were made to evaluate the statistical significance.

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

Results

In total, twelve patients were enlisted for study. Seven patients received bloodletting acupuncture to the vein around ipisilateral Bl-40 followed through ordinary acupuncture upon contralateral SI-3. Five patients received ordinary acupuncture on contralateral SI-3 alone. The sum of two units groups of patients were similar in age and sex (Table 1) It was place that there was significantly more pain relief when patients were treated with bloodletting acupuncture to the vein around ipisilateral Bl-40 followed by dint of ordinary acupuncture upon contralateral SI-3, compared with those treated with ordinary acupuncture on contralateral SI-3 alone (83 [+ or -] 11% v 44 [+ or -] 28%) (p < 001) (Figure 2) Bloodletting acupuncture to the vein around ipisilateral BL-40 itself decreased pain through 56 [+ or -] 23% similar to ordinary acupuncture on the contralateral SI-3 alone (44 [+ or -] 28%) (Table 1)