Neurophysiology of Acupuncture
Dr HG Dong Dr M Petitpierre
22.01.2001
Acupuncture applied to the Clinic of
Infertility and Gynaecological
Endocrinology
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
s
n
o
i
t
a
t
l
u
s
n
o
C
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Year
Indications formulated by WHO
– Upper Respiratory
Tract
• Acute sinusitis
• Acute rhinitis
• Common cold
• Acute tonsillitis
– Respiratory System
• Acute Bronchitis
• Bronchial asthma
(cid:139) Disorders of the Eye
(cid:41) Acute conjunctivitis
(cid:41) Central retinitis
(cid:41) Myopia (in children)
(cid:41) Cataract (without
complications)
(cid:139) Disorders of the Mouth
(cid:41) Toothache
(cid:41) Post-extraction pain
(cid:41) Gingivitis
(cid:41) Acute and chronic pharyngitis
Journal of World Health Organisation Dec.1979
– Gastro-intestinal
(cid:139) Neurological and Musculoskeletal
Disorders
• Spasms of oesophagus and cardia
• Hiccough
• Gastroptosis
• Acute and chronic gastritis
• Gastric hyperacidity
• Chronic duodenal ulcer (pain
relief)
Disorders
(cid:41) Headache
(cid:41) Migraine
(cid:41) Trigeminal neuralgia
(cid:41) Facial palsy (early stage, i.e., within 3 to 6 months)
(cid:41) Pareses following a stroke
(cid:41) Peripheral neuropathies
(cid:41) Sequelae of poliomyelitis (early stage, i.e., within 6
• Acute duodenal ulcer (without
months)
complications)
• Acute and chronic colitis
• Acute bacillary dysentery
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Paralytic ileus
(cid:41) Meniere’s disease
(cid:41) Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
(cid:41) Nocturnal enuresis
(cid:41) Intercostal neuralgia
(cid:41) Cervicobrachial syndrome
(cid:41) “Frozen shoulder”
(cid:41) “Tennis elbow”
(cid:41) Sciatica
(cid:41) Low back pain
(cid:41) Osteoarthritis
Journal of World Health Organisation Dec.1979
Gynaecology and Obstetrics
• Menstrual Disorders
– Menorrhagia
– Metrorrhagia
– Dysmenorrhea
– Amenorrhea
– Pre-menstrual Syndrome
• Infertility
– Ovulation Induction
Hou JL. In Acupuncture and Moxibustion therapy in gynecology and obstetrics. Beijing Sc. & Techn. 1995
Maciocia G. in Obstetrics & Gynecology in Chinese Medicine. Churchill Livingstone 1998
Indications continued
• Hyperemesis
– gravida
– post chemotherapy
• Breech presentation of the
fetus (27-36 weeks)
• Relaxation during labor
• Postpartum
• Acute mastitis
• To promote lactation
• To inhibit lactation
• Menopausal symptoms
– Hot Flushes
– night sweats
– irritability
– insomnia
– depression
– urinary retention
– perineal pain
– hemorrhage
– retention of lochia
Hou JL. In Acupuncture and Moxibustion therapy in gynecology and obstetrics. Beijing Sc. & Techn. 1995
Maciocia G. in Obstetrics & Gynecology in Chinese Medicine. Churchill Livingstone 1998
Reviews: Acupuncture in infertility
Modification of semen quality
• Crimmel AS, J Androl. 2001 Mar-Apr;22(2):173-82. Review
• Siterman SAndrologia. 2000 Jan;
• Siterman Arch Androl. 1997 Sep-Oct;39(2):155-61.
• Urologe A. 1984 Nov;23(6):329-33.
• Crimmel AS et al: Withered Yang: a review of traditional Chinese
medical treatment of male infertility and erectile dysfunction
• J Androl 2001 Mar-Apr;22(2):173-82