Gold Seed Implants: An Alternative Acupuncture Treatment

A 43 year old female with multiple sclerosis was treated for approximately ten years, utilizing a specific type of acupuncture therapy. Noted incidentally on hospital admission for pneumonia and urinary tract infection, the gold-seed needle tips were permanently implanted, with the intent of long-term symptom relief. In this case, the patient attributed resolution of her right foot drop to the treatments. CASE REPORT A 43 year old female with multiple sclerosis was treated for approximately ten years, utilizing a specific type of acupuncture therapy. Noted incidentally on hospital admission for pneumonia and urinary tract infection, the gold-seed needle tips were permanently implanted, with the intent of long-term symptom relief. In this case, the patient attributed resolution of her right foot drop to the treatments. Little is written in Western medicine regarding efficacy and possible side effects of such implants. Some Eastern cultures use the technique to treat inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and lupus erythematosus. However, gold compounds are being explored as an alternative option in the management of various other conditions. References 1. Barratt, J., Steer, H., and Onyirioha, T. (2007). Pneumothorax Following Acupuncture. British Journal of Hospital Medicine. 68:667. 2. Qin, W., Tian, J., Pan, X., Yang, L., and Zhen, Z. (2006). The Correlated Network of Acupuncture Effect: A Functional connectivity study. Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. 28th Annual International Conference of the IEEE. 1:480-483. Gold Seed Implants: An Alternative Acupuncture Treatment 2 of 2 Author Information Breion Mailloux, D.O., MGH Internal Medicine Resident, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center Jeremy Feldman, MD Arizona Pulmonary Specialists, LTD, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Medical Director, Clinical Research