The application of acupuncture in place of hormone therapy.

By: Cheng, Lihong

The author of this article recently spent two years in clinical practice in Germany using acupuncture to replace steroids in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. To summarise his research he chose five representative cases, four of whom were able to stop steroids after completing a course of acupuncture. i. Chronic colitis. A 65 year old male patient presented with abdominal pain and diarrhoea of 13 years duration, passing watery, bloody stools 2-12 times daily. His condition worsened with stress and was only relieved by cortisone, but recurred on cessation of the drug. lie was diagnosed with Liver fire, with the Spleen failing to transform and transport, and given Baihui DU-20, Zhongwan REN-12, Tianshu ST-25, Qihai REN-6, Guanyuan REN-4, Zusanli ST-36 and Yinlingquan SP-9 with even method, and Taichong LIV-3 with dispersing method. All needles were retained for 30 minutes. Ear seeds were applied at ear shenmen, liver, spleen, lower rectum and large intestine, and pressed 3 times daily. After five treatments given twice weekly the cortisone was halved and after 10 treatments the patient was cured and the medication stopped. There was no recurrence on follow-up one year later. ii. Chronic migraine. A 52 year old woman reported chronic right-sided migraine following menopause, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and photosensitivity. Painkillers and steroids controlled the symptoms only. She was diagnosed with stirring of Liver wind and given Taiyang M-HN-9, Sizhukong, Shuaigu GB-8, Hanyan GB-4 and Xuanlu GB-5 on the right side, and Fengchi GB-20, Hegu L.I.-4 and Taichong LIV-3 bilaterally. The needles were retained for 30 minutes with dispersing method and given twice weekly for 15 weeks. iii. Rheumatoid arthritis. A 59 year old woman suffered rheumatoid arthritis in the knee joints for nine years, in spite of taking cortisone. Her symptoms improved on movement and worsened on wet days. She was diagnosed with obstruction of the channels by wind, cold and damp and needled with even method on Xiyan MN-LE-16, Zusanli ST-36, Xuehai SP-10, Liangqiu ST-34 and Ashi points. The needles were retained for 30 minutes and given twice weekly for 10 treatments. On her fifth visit a change in the weather worsened her symptoms. She was then given blood-letting cupping which made a dramatic improvement. The cortisone was stopped and by the eighth treatment she was cured. She was given two further treatments for consolidation. iv. Allergic asthma. A 25 year old man presented with asthma since birth. He was diagnosed with deficiency of Lung qi and poor constitutional qi, and was needled with even method on Feishu BL-13, Gaohuangshu BL-43, Tiantu REN-22, Chize LU-5, Taiyuan LU-9, Lieque LU-7, Zusanli ST-36 and Taixi KID-3. The needles were retained for 30 minutes, after which cupping was performed on the first two points for 10 minutes. Treatment was given twice weekly for 10 sessions after which all symptoms were gone. He was then given five more weekly treatments for consolidation. v Phemigoid. A 29 year old woman contracted herpes when she was six months pregnant. It was controlled by 40mg per day of cortisone but one year later she was still suffering significant side-effects and was not cured. She was diagnosed with qi deficiency and wind-damp-heat invasion in the blood, and the following points were needled: Dazhui DU-14, Quchi L.I.-11 and Waiguan SJ-5 were dispersed, and Baihui DU-20, Hegu L.I.-4, Xuehai SP-10, Yinlingquan SP-9, Zusanli ST-36 and Sanyinjiao SP-6 were needled with even method. Treatment was given for 30 minutes twice weekly for 10 sessions. After a two week rest from treatment with no recurrence of symptoms she was given 10 further weekly treatments until the drug was reduced to 5mg per day. She remained symptom free. The author concludes that these cases show acupuncture's ability to regulate the psycho-neuro-immunology of the body, and that as it is without harmful side-effects, it is a good replacement for steroids.