UCI acupuncture study

[Guest guest]

I wanted to summarize the preliminary results of an ongoing

hypertension study at UC irvine in CA. Unfotunately there is no link

for this latest update. You had to be there or get the notes. An

earlier press release from back in may can be found at

http://cmbi.bjmu.edu.cn/news/0402/28.htm

 

The researchers used fMRI and other studies to identify points that

had the greatest effect on blood pressure. Hypertension was

artifically induced in cats, who were then treated in various ways to

map out their responses. Based upon the findings, humans were then

studied. They discovered that the points that had the most dramatic

effects on BP and other physiological parameters were all located over

major nerve roots. The desired effects were only found when deep

needling with e-stim at 2 hz, low intensity. The most active points

corresponded to the most commonly used points in TCM (st36, p6, sp6,

etc.).

 

Shallow needling, needling points not corresonding to nerve roots,

absence of repateed stimulation, high frequency stimulation all led to

failure to measure any significant change through imaging and blood

tests. Just a reminder that just as most herb research has

demonstrated the effectiveness of high dose decoctions, most

acupuncture research has documented the effectiveness of strong

needling techniques. Aside from a few unreproduced and difficult to

understand studies by Manaka, there is little or no clinical evidence

that light needling techniques result in the type of sustained changes

demonstrated with deep needling.

 

I personally prefer to give and receive lighter needling. However I

am not sick. The most ardent proponent of japanese acupuncture here

at PCOM says he is such an advocate because most of his patients do

NOT have organic illness or zang fu conditions. If our patient load

were like it is in China, he says he would probably have stuck to

herbs and western medicine. I think he has a point. It says

something in the nei jing about how to needle those who wear silk (the

rich) as opposed to those who wear hemp (the peasants). I don't think

this means that the rich do not get organic illness. But it does mean

that they begin to complain at an earlier stage than the more stoic

laborers, thus lighter needling achieves the goal at the outset of an

illness. But once an illness is rooted, deeper needling is called

for. This is an interesting idea, not one I would carry out myself,

however. I would also say conversely that deep needling is incorrect

in those who " wear silk " and can easily worsen their condition.

 

So back to the study. They found that deep needling p6 with estim as

described led to a drop in BP 24-48 after tx. This was sustained for

several days. Then it was reinforced at longer and longer intervals

as it lasted longer each time. Patients could finally be maintained

on weekly acupuncture or less with no meds. No other points worked as

well, nor any other technique. Apparently the traditionalists in the

audience were horrified. When asked about the importance of pattern

differentiation, the lead researcher just replied, " prove it " . Unless

we do prove it, they will, their way, and then they own it.