Revista Internacional de Acupuntura最新文献

Spondylolisthesis is an anterior and posterior lateral displacement of a vertebral segment in relation to the adjacent segment, its signs and symptoms are often confused with a herniated disc. Acupuncture and neuromuscular bandage are techniques that have shown favourable effects on pain reduction, both applied independently. In the present case, both techniques were applied to a 51-year-old female patient to treat mechanopostural low back pain caused by spondylolisthesis grade 1, according to the Mayerding scale, vertebral body L5 over S1. Using the PainDetect scales and Oswestry's disability index demonstrates efficacy in reducing pain, improvement in disability and increased mobility arcs.

One of the most important terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is 正气 Zheng qi, its translation into Western languages takes on different nuances and throughout history, since its appearance in the Neijing, it has been explained in various ways. The most prominent TCM theorists have expressed their points of view that allow us to understand Zheng qi as a macro-functional complex that on the one hand, is the result of the power and interaction of the blood and energy of the organs and viscera and on the other, is the balancer of all functional activity. It is the key element to avoid diseases of both internal and external origin, which is why it is also translated as “antipathogenic energy”, its fundamental basis is the essential Jing energy, often used as a synonym. Studied in the current context, in addition to being key to maintaining homeostasis, it is also considered an essential part of allostasis. Points such as Zusanli (ST 36), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), medicinal products such as astragalus, ginseng, formulas such as the Tonifying Centre and Replenishing Qi Formula (补中益气 汤 bu zhong yi qi tang), can strengthen this macro-function. Understanding this concept helps more complete practice, medical activity based on a root treatment and not just a symptomatic treatment.

Introduction

Migraine is a common disorder that affects a large part of the world's population. Therefore, various treatments and therapies to combat it have been sought, including acupuncture as an alternative or complement to pharmacological treatment.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the management of migraine.

Material and methods

A search of the current medical literature was carried out, only clinical trials and cohort studies were included, through PubMed. Simultaneously, 18 databases of the World Health Organization were searched for records of future clinical trials evaluating acupuncture in the management of migraine.

Results

This search included documents (n = 21); retrospective cohort studies (n = 2) and clinical trials (n = 19), all written in English. Additionally, eleven clinical trials registered in: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (n = 7), U.S. National Library of Medicine (n = 3) and Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (n = 1).

Conclusion

Acupuncture is an effective and safe technique as reported in all the clinical trials and observational studies included in this search. However, more studies with a greater time of observation and a higher population of patients are required, to generate greater validity than the current evidence.

Objective

To evaluate moxibustion therapy in the treatment of dyslipidaemia through a review of the literature.

Design

Systematic integrative review based on PRISMA.

Data sources

The search was undertaken in the following databases: PubMed, Springer, Europe PMC, and Elsevier using as keywords’dyslipidaemia’,’moxibustion’,’hyperlipidaemia’,’hypercholesterolaemia’, and a combination of these. We searched for studies in murine models and human clinical trials, published between 2005 and 2020.

Selection of studies

We selected 40 publications written in English and Chinese. Publications without a unique and permanent registration number for electronic publications (DOI), and literature reviews, dissertations, theses, and clinical guidelines were eliminated. Twelve publications were included, eight were clinical trials, and four were studies in murine models.

Results

Analysis of the studies indicated that moxibustion has positive effects in this disorder. This was demonstrated by significant changes in biochemical parameters after treatment. Total cholesterol decreased in all studies in murine models and in 75% of human trials, LDL-C decreased by 75% and 62.5%, and triglycerides by 50% and 62.5%, in murine models and human trials, respectively. The most used sites were Fenglong (E 40), Zusanli (E 36), Shenque (RM 8) and Tianshu (E 25). Therapies were applied for between 10 and 30 minutes for 2 to 12 weeks, modulation of parameters was detected from week 2.

Conclusions

Moxibustion benefits patients with dyslipidaemia by decreasing total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C, and increasing HDL-C.

Background and objectives

Temporomandibular disorders have a multifactorial etiology and involve the masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joint and associated structures. Therefore, different treatments are proposed and used. The aim of this paper is the use of acupuncture to treat temporomandibular disorders and associated symptoms.

This article presents a clinical case study of a 39-year-old patient who presented temporomandibular disorders and headache of muscular origin.

Results

After 10 acupuncture sessions, the results were highly satisfactory, with complete relief of headache pain and absence of joint disorders. These results suggest the efficacy of acupuncture in the symptomatic relief of temporomandibular disorders.

Conclusions

It is concluded that acupuncture is an alternative method to conventional stomatognathic treatment for individuals with craniomandibular disorders of muscular origin.

Introduction

Jobs and/or occupations that involve standing for long periods of time, being overweight and obese, genetic predisposition, pregnancy, age, poor postural hygiene and even exposure to extreme heat can be important risk factors for the development of chronic venous insufficiency, which in turn is primarily characterised by symptoms such as pain, a feeling of heaviness, burning and even malformation (varicose veins and/or telangiectasias), cramps and oedema, most often in the lower limbs.

Objective

The aim of this project is to demonstrate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in conjunction with circulatory massage in reducing the symptoms of venous insufficiency and improving the quality of life of patients with venous insufficiency.

Material and methods

A patient with chronic venous insufficiency with a rating of C2 on the CEAP scale underwent clinical follow-up of 10 sessions using 0.35x50 mm filiform acupuncture needles and mineral oil. Acupuncture points Sanyinjiao (B6), Zusanli (E36), Yanglingquan (VB34), and Zhongwan (RM12) were treated for 15 minutes with manual stimulation in a toning technique. In addition, circulatory massage was performed for 20 minutes.

Results

Favourable results were obtained in terms of symptom reduction and skin appearance.

Conclusions

The use of acupuncture and the application of circulatory massage managed to reduce the symptoms of venous insufficiency and improve the patient's quality of life.

The ideal treatment for type III acromioclavicular dislocation is controversial, since there is insufficient evidence to support the best option. In this context, the electroacupuncture technique can be good auxiliary therapy for pain, as well as kinesitherapy techniques that improve mobility arches. The case of a 25-year-old male patient with sequelae of type III acromioclavicular dislocation is presented. After one month of treatment with electroacupuncture and kinesitherapy, results were obtained such as a decrease in pain, and increased range of motion and muscular strength of the right upper limb.

Introduction

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the synovial joints characterized by the loss of cartilage due to mechanical and biological factors. Epidemiological studies show that the joints most affected in osteoarthritis are the hips and knees, affecting 9.6% of men and 18% of women > 60 years with clinically symptomatic osteoarthritis. For this reason, the objective of this article was to determine the effectiveness of a combined therapeutic exercise and acupuncture intervention in women > 50 years with osteoarthrosis of the knee.

Materials and methods

Randomized clinical trial, on a sample of 30 participants divided into 2 groups: real acupuncture + therapeutic exercise (A + TE group) and therapeutic exercise + sham acupuncture (TE group). SEBT (Star Excursion Balance Test), ROM (range of motion) were measured by goniometry and pain was measured using the visual analogue (VAS)scale and the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) questionnaire.

Results

The evaluated groups were statistically equal, the pain measured with VAS and WOMAC showed statistically significant changes (p < .001) between the groups, showing better results for the A + TE group. However, this improvement was not permanent since there was no additional benefit between the treatments at one month of follow-up.

Conclusions

The therapeutic strategies between acupuncture and therapeutic exercise applied in women > 50 years with osteoarthritis of the knee did not show clinically significant changes in the categories studied when comparing the interventions; however, in both treatment groups the participants experienced an improvement in the course of the intervention.

Introduction

This study aims to determine the effects of acupuncture at the Weiguanxiashu extra point, in the control of blood glucose levels in fasting adults, in the Lisbon region.

Place of study

The study was carried out at the Community Clinic of the Lisbon School of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Methods

The sample consisted of 15 individuals who underwent two interventions at different times with the same regimen (drinking 200 ml of juice). One intervention consisted of acupuncture at the Weiguanxiashu extra point and the other of only the simulation of puncture at the same acupoint. Blood glucose levels were measured three times (at 0, 15 and 30 minutes) during each treatment. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS 21 analysis software. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the means of the initial and final blood glucose values.

Results

The initial mean of blood glucose values in the control group was 95.13 ± 10.88 mg/dL and in the experimental group it was 93.93 ± 13.33 mg/dL. In the last measurement, in the control group the mean was 116.13 ± 18.91 mg/dL and in the experimental group it was 106.67 ± 23.86 mg/dL.

Conclusion

This study showed that the use of a single point (Weiguanxiashu) was effective in controlling blood glucose levels.

Pancreatitis consists of either acute or chronic inflammation of the pancreas, clinically characterized by abdominal pain. Its aetiologies are diverse, including gallstones, alcoholism, infections, poisoning, metabolic diseases, and abdominal trauma, the latter being the most common in the paediatric population. The case is presented of a 17-year-old patient presenting posttraumatic acute pancreatitis sequelae that subsided with the application of acupuncture treatment in the Weishu (BL21) and Pishu (BL20) acupoints.