Xu Ruizheng, Hou Xide (Nanjing Medical College)
The history of auricular acupuncture in China may date back to ancient ages. We can find the record in the silk slips unearthed from Mawangtui Mound (a 2100-year-old Tomb) and in "Canon of Medicine". There are abundant materials of auricular acupuncture in the old Chinese medical classics. On the basis of these data, Dr. P. Nogier, a French physician, assumed that the auricle points could be considered as an upside-down fetus in the uterus. Thus, such a simple sketch has served as a rudimentary localization for auricular acupuncture points. In the recent 20 years or more of clinical experiences and scientific research in China, auricular acupuncture has developed into a special branch of traditional Chinese medicine.
Auricular acupuncture not only acts as one of the effective sedatives but also plays the role of physical regulation. In recent years these effects have been improved definitely, by some new methods of stimulation (stimulation by laser, radio isotope and pressing pill). According to a series of analyses of therapeutic results of 14,886 cases, ear needling is found effective in 90.1%. Anaesthesia by auricular acupuncture has been widely employed in surgery and it appeared to have been effective for about 150 types of operation, including those of the head and cardiac direct vision through extracorporeal circulation. The efficacy rate in 3,181 cases of our hospital is 88.5%. The diagnostic function of auricular needling has gradually attracted the attention of many acupuncturists. Comparative observation of morphological changes (chondroplasia) on the auricular zones between tumor-patients and controlled group has shown that the amount of chondroplasic pathologic reactions in the former is obviously greater than the latter (P<0.01).
In addition to n. auricularis magnus and n. occipitalis minor, the auricle is innervated also by cranial nerves V, VII, IX, X. The auricular points of internal organs are distributed mainly in agreement with the course of the auricular branch of vagus nerve. In compliance with the individual variation of the distribution of vagus nerve to the auricle, the location of the auricular points has also their relative specificities.
Many experiments have elucidated that certain manifestations and changes in the conduction of electric current could be detected at certain auricular points under different internal diseases, and therapeutic effects are produced by ear needling. They are closely related to the regulatory function of the vegetative nerves. The impulses induced by the needling sensation are first conducted to the nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini, then to the reticular formation. The latter, being a higher regulatory center affected by ear needling, exerts a great influence on the regulating function and sensibility threshold of internal organs.
The authors have come to the conclusion that all the present auricular points should be further studied, detected and selected by modern scientifical technology.
The history of auricular acupuncture in China may date back to ancient ages. We can find the record in the silk slips unearthed from Mawangtui Mound (a 2100-year-old Tomb) and in "Canon of Medicine". There are abundant materials of auricular acupuncture in the old Chinese medical classics. On the basis of these data, Dr. P. Nogier, a French physician, assumed that the auricle points could be considered as an upside-down fetus in the uterus. Thus, such a simple sketch has served as a rudimentary localization for auricular acupuncture points. In the recent 20 years or more of clinical experiences and scientific research in China, auricular acupuncture has developed into a special branch of traditional Chinese medicine.
Auricular acupuncture not only acts as one of the effective sedatives but also plays the role of physical regulation. In recent years these effects have been improved definitely, by some new methods of stimulation (stimulation by laser, radio isotope and pressing pill). According to a series of analyses of therapeutic results of 14,886 cases, ear needling is found effective in 90.1%. Anaesthesia by auricular acupuncture has been widely employed in surgery and it appeared to have been effective for about 150 types of operation, including those of the head and cardiac direct vision through extracorporeal circulation. The efficacy rate in 3,181 cases of our hospital is 88.5%. The diagnostic function of auricular needling has gradually attracted the attention of many acupuncturists. Comparative observation of morphological changes (chondroplasia) on the auricular zones between tumor-patients and controlled group has shown that the amount of chondroplasic pathologic reactions in the former is obviously greater than the latter (P<0.01).
In addition to n. auricularis magnus and n. occipitalis minor, the auricle is innervated also by cranial nerves V, VII, IX, X. The auricular points of internal organs are distributed mainly in agreement with the course of the auricular branch of vagus nerve. In compliance with the individual variation of the distribution of vagus nerve to the auricle, the location of the auricular points has also their relative specificities.
Many experiments have elucidated that certain manifestations and changes in the conduction of electric current could be detected at certain auricular points under different internal diseases, and therapeutic effects are produced by ear needling. They are closely related to the regulatory function of the vegetative nerves. The impulses induced by the needling sensation are first conducted to the nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini, then to the reticular formation. The latter, being a higher regulatory center affected by ear needling, exerts a great influence on the regulating function and sensibility threshold of internal organs.
The authors have come to the conclusion that all the present auricular points should be further studied, detected and selected by modern scientifical technology.
No comments:
Post a Comment