3. CLINICAL CASES OBSERVED AT VGH AND CMC
I attended 4 long clinics at VGH and two short clinics at CMC. I observed over 100 clinical cases presented for their first treatment. (Repeat treatments were being given in other clinics, but I wished to see each case, as presented, for the first time and to assess the response (if any) to AP at that treatment. The patients, nursing staff and doctors were most helpful and friendly. They discussed freely each case history, allowed me access to the medical records and discussed why a particular combination of points was chosen. I wish to thank these generous people most sincerely for helping me to learn more about AP and human nature.
Most cases involved pain syndromes (headache, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand pain + stiffness, back and lowback rain + stiffness, hip, thigh, knee, ankle or foot pain + stiffness, chest or abdominal pain). A few cases with constipation, asthma, numbness of extremities, muscle tremor, facial paralysis and post CVA paralysis were also seen.
The cases were scored from 0 to (+++) on the result obtained at the end of the first session: (0) = no improvement was noted or reported; (+) = slight improvement; (++) = good improvement; (+++) = excellent improvement; (?) = result unknown.
It should be noted that selection of points is not a routine, standardised procedure. It depends on the doctor, the patient and on the response obtained. Furthermore, most of these patients would require further treatment sessions before they could be said to be cured or stabilized. My notes are not complete and many other cases observed were not detailed in writing.
Table 1 shows a summary of the responses noted at the end of the treatment session (usually about 20 min) in 39 cases for which my notes had a result indicated (0 to +++). The notes did not record a result in 9 patients. Good or excellent relief occurred in 69.2% of the cases. Slight relief occurred in 23.1%. Only 7.7% reported no relief. In the 39 recorded responses, 13 (33.3%) had a marked response within two minutes (cases 11-14,16,17,24-26,34,40,43 and 45). These rapid responses are comparable to those reported in the Huneke Phenomenon.
These results are most impressive, especially when one realises that they were responses to the first session of AP. Most disorders require 1-6 or more sessions of AP to obtain maximum response. A good initial response is usually an excellent prognosis for a satisfactory outcome. Many patients with a poor response to the first session can be helped by further sessions.
TABLE 1
Summary of responses noted (0 to +++) and unknown (?) in 48
cases from my notes. (Case 4 was included twice).
Problem area Response Total and case No. 0 + ++ +++ (?) Total Recorded General and CVA 1,2,4,45-47 2 1 1 2 6 4 Head/neck 6,8-11 1 3 1 5 4 Upper limb 5,7,12-23 3 1 9 1 14 13 Thorax 24 1 1 1 Lowback 3,25-34 1 2 6 2 11 9 Lower limb 4,35-44 4 1 3 3 11 8 Total 3 9 4 23 9 48 39 % success in recorded cases 7.7 23.1 10.2 59.0 - - 100
Details recorded in my notes
1. Aches and pains "all over the body"
Some patients report "wandering pains" or static pains in head, neck, back, upper limbs, lower limbs or "all over the body." These cases would be difficult to treat (too many needles) if each area had to be treated separately. In such cases, the VGH clinic uses needles in LI04 and LV03 (bilateral) for 2-3 sessions, at which time the pain usually "localises" in 1-2 areas and is easier to treat then. In the early stages, many TP/AhShi areas may be found but the real TPs can be isolated after 2-3 sessions of LI04, LV03.
Female: "aches and pains all over": (GB area of head, legs, shoulders) with insomnia and malaise. LI04, LV03 (bilateral) needled. Doctor was very gentle and caring with this patient and the "Tender Loving Care" (TLC) had marked effect on her reaction to the staff. Response (?).
Tension, insomnia, neurasthenia: In VGH, I was told that AP can help these problems. Main points included LI04, HT07, ST36, LV03. However, many sessions may be required and other causes and therapies must be considered. I saw few such cases during my visits. None could be assessed as to the outcome.
2. Insomnia, tension for 10 years: LI04, LV03 (bilateral). Response (?)
AP in pain following local trauma: Many of the pain syndromes presented for AP therapy are caused by local trauma (falls, industrial accidents, car crashes, athletic injury etc). In acute cases, presented soon after the injury, AP is a highly efficient method of controlling the pain. It also has anti-inflammatory and restorative effects which speed up the resolution of the injury, especially where this involves soft tissue injury, bruising, oedema and swelling. Chung has done extensive clinical research in this area.
Acute traumatic injury: Ipsilateral GB34 is the pain-point par excellence. On its own, it often controls the pain (and reduces swelling). Sometimes, ipsilateral BL62 or an AP point near the local area may improve the effect. Chung reports that pain relief is more efficient if AP is given on or after day 2 (rather than day 1) of the accident. About 70% of acute traumatic pain (including fracture pain) may be relieved following one 20-min session of AP. Treatment 1-2 times/day for 3 occasions gives pain control in > 95% of cases.
In contusions GB34
In abrasions GB34
In fractures GB34 (66% excellent results)
In costal trauma, especially lateral GB34
GB34 (ipsilateral) is the key point for traumatic pain anywhere in the body. Because of the marked analgesic effects it is most important to diagnose the cause of the pain and to give supplementary treatment (for example, plaster cast in simple fractures). It is possible to do severe damage in the region of a broken bone if one uses it following AP analgesia, unaware that the fracture was present.
To obtain complete relief from chronic pain, caused by trauma some weeks or months previously, AP may be required 1-2 times/week for 1-2 months. GB34 (ipsilateral) is also used in chronic cases, but other points are often added. These include AhShi points, when present.
Chronic traumatic pain of:
head and neck:GB34 + LU07 + BL62
lumbar area :GB34 + BL40 + SI06
elbow area :GB34
ankle area :GB34
GB34 is also useful for joint and muscle stiffness which often follows removal of a plaster cast. GB34 controls the muscles and sinews.
3. Left lowback pain following trauma: Needling ipsilateral GB34 caused radiating sensation to flank and costal area. SI06 (contra- lateral) needled. 20 min. Pain was greatly eased but not completely gone (+++).
4. Knee and shoulder pain (bilateral) following car accident some weeks previously. Scar on anterior thigh. Bilateral TP/AhShi were located in infraspinatus. Needled AhShi, GB34, BL40,57,62, TH05. Twenty minutes. Pain slightly improved. (+)
5. Elbow pain following local trauma: GB34, LI11 ipsilateral. Twenty minutes. Pain gone completely (+++).
6. Eye pain and swelling following local trauma: GB34 ipsilateral. Within minutes, patient opened eye, Pain gone when needle removed at 20 min. (+++). (One treatment is often sufficient in "black eyes": C.C. Chung).
7. Pain in left palm near HT07, due to local trauma (fall from bicycle) one month before. Left GB34 needled. Marked pain relief in 20 min.(+++)
Head and neck problems
Many patients are treated for headaches, neck pain and whiplash. (Facial paralysis and trigeminal neuralgia is also treated but few such cases were seen by me).
Headache: In VGH, LU07 is used often as the main point, often combined with GB20 + TaiYang (Z 09), YinTang (Z 03), GV20 (depending on location of headache).
Neck pain and stiffness: The Hand point "Neck" is very effective. The patient is asked to close the fist. The point is between the knuckles at the lower end of metacarpals 2-3. It is often combined with SI03.
8. Pain and stiffness in neck, with intermittent headaches (headache not present at presentation). Needled: "Neck" point (knuckles 2-3) plus LU07 (bilateral). Twenty minutes. Great improvement. (+++).
9. Throbbing pain and sensation of tightness in occiput and behind temples for 2 weeks. Worse at night. AhShi found (bilateral) near GB10. Needled. Points GB20, LU07, BL40 needled bilaterally for 20 min. Slight improvement was reported. (+).
10. Tinnitus (Side and duration and causes not recorded). Needled TH17, GB20, ST36, ipsilateral. Response (?). (Note: many authors report poor results with AP in tinnitus).
11. Acute neck pain and rigidity in an in-patient (developed overnight). Hardly any rotation or other movement of neck was possible. One needle was put in the point "Neck" between knuckles 2-3 and was strongly pecked and twirled for one minute. Patient was then asked to try to move his neck slowly. The consternation on his face when he found he had full movement and no pain after 1 minute was hilarious! Immediate result. (+++).
Shoulder pain, stiffness, "frozen" shoulder
Many patients had these symptoms for up to 5 years before AP treatment. Careful searching of the scapular muscles (especially infraspinatus) often shows up AhShi points. Sometimes AhShi also occur near GB21. The most important distant points for shoulder are SI03, GB34, ST38, plus AhShi points.
12. Frozen shoulder: Very restricted right shoulder movement with pain and stiffness. Duration 5 years. Two AhShi points located in infraspinatus Strong deep needling for one minute. Patient lifted arm much higher immediately. AhShi had disappeared in one minute! Then ST38 was needled (right side) strongly for one minute. Further improvement in arm movement. Then SI03 (right) needled strongly. Needles left in SI03 and ST38 for 20 min. Great improvement in arm movement and pain was much less. However, patient could not put arm behind his head or behind his back and some pain and stiffness remained (++).
13. Shoulder-joint pain/limited movement, with pain in the hand, especially metacarpal-phalangeal joint of index finger for 3 months before AP. Left side. AhShi in infraspinatus (left) and AhShi in front of shoulder joint. Both AhShi needled strongly. All pain was gone and movement markedly improved in two minutes. A further AhShi near SI09 was needled. The amazement on the patient's face, on discovering the dramatic improvement within 3 minutes, was a joy to watch! (+++).
14. Pain in shoulder, elbow and wrist, with marked hand tremor which interfered with use of chopsticks and made writing impossible. (Tremor appeared only when pen or chopsticks were grasped). Little limitation of joint movement. Duration two years before treatment. AhShi located in right infraspinatus. Needled strongly for one minute. All pain had disappeared. Chung asked the patient to write his name. The tremor was gone! No further treatment at that session. (+++ immediate).
15. Shoulder area and neck pain: Needled at GB21, SI09,11, 20 min.
Slight relief only. (+).
16. Pain and pulled scapular muscles (right) with difficulty raising, arm for 7 months following golfing incident. (Pain in right temple had been present earlier, but was gone now). No AhShi points located. ST38 caused "sensation of electricity travelling from foot to side of face!" The pain was gone in 1 min. GB34 was added for added effect (2 needles only: ST38, GB34, right side). Patient "could not believe the effect"!
(+++, immediate).
17. Shoulder pain (anterior muscles) when arm brought behind body. Duration 1 month. Strong needling at SI03 gave total relief of pain in 1 min. Strong needling at GB34 and LI04 added for extra effect. All needles left in situ for 20 min. (GB34 referred sensations to the shoulder area!). Total pain relief. (+++, immediate).
18. Frozen shoulder: Pain and severe restriction of raising right arm. Needled: right ST38, BL40, GB34 plus left LI15. Twenty minutes. Some improvement in pain but little change in movement. (This case was long-standing and had muscle atrophy) (+).
19. Stiff shoulder: Left side, limitation of movement, with feeling of heaviness to the wrist and also some lowback pain. Duration unknown. AhShi point in infraspinatus needled plus left ST38 and TH03 (for the shoulder). "Loin and Leg" points added for lowback. Response (?).
20. Scapular area pain, left. Duration unrecorded. AhShi not found. Needles in GB34, TH03 , BL40, GB20 (left). Twenty min. Marked improvement (+++).
21. Scapular area pain, with degenerative lesions in cervical spine plus facial palsy. Duration unknown. Needled AhShi (infraspinatus) and TH03 (for shoulder) plus LI04,20 (for the face). Scapular pain greatly improved in 20 min. (+++).
Upper limb problems
22. Pain in forearm muscles below lateral epicondyle of humerus on both arms for 6 months. AhShi located in right infraspinatus, also below left GB20 and (bilateral) in forearm muscles near LI10. Needles in all AhShi plus GB34 (bi). Less pain after 20 min. (+).
23. Elbow pain and muscular stiffness: Duration and cause not noted. GB34 + local AhShi point needled, 20 minutes. Good response reported (++).
Respiratory difficulty
AP is used often to help patients with respiratory problems, such as asthma, dyspnoea, tight sensation in chest, shortage of breath. The main points include: PC06, LI11, BL13, SP04, ST40. Few such cases were seen during my visit. AP at PC06 was said to be very useful to help to control angina pectoris and improve cardiac microcirculation.
24. Difficult breathing and shortage of breath, with sensation of tightness in chest in patient with history of asthma. Needles put (bilateral) in PC06 and SP04 gave relief within 2 minutes. Left in situ for 20 min. Patient was delighted with response. (+++ immediate).
Lowback pain and stiffness + sciatica
Lowback pain is often caused by unaccustomed back exercise (lifting, twisting etc). Sometimes it is associated with degenerative disc disease, spondylitis, disc prolapse. The new points "Loin and Leg" (dorsum of hand between the upper heads of metacarpals 4-5 and 2-3) often give immediate or rapid pain relief. Other useful points include: BL23,40,57,60, GB30,31,34, AhShi, SI06, LV03, LI04.
25. Right lumbar and posterior thigh pain associated with X-ray evidence of degenerative disc disease. Had been treated unsuccessfully for 5 months in the Orthopaedic Dept. of the same hospital. Needles in: "Loin and Leg" points (right), SI06 (left). Pain improved within 2 min but extension of leg still caused some pain. After 20 min pain was "95% gone". (+++, immediate).
26. Pain radiating from left thigh to lower leg: Intermittent over 1 year. Left face pain. Worse at night. Slight degeneration of lumbar spine on X-ray. Pain in both shoulders for 3 months. Needled (for lowback/leg): "Loin and Leg" (left). Pain relief was immediate (but not complete) in one minute! AhShi found in left gluteal muscle. Massaged, then needled, plus BL62. For the shoulder pain, SI06 (bilateral) needled. AhShi near GB20 (bilateral) also needled. 20 minutes. Pain in shoulder and lower limb "greatly improved!" (+++ immediate).
27. Lowback and sciatica pain (right thigh, radiating to lower leg) for one month. X-ray indicated degenerative disc disease of low lumbar spine. Straight leg raising test (SLRT) 90 degrees left, 45 degrees right. Disc disease diagnosed in lumbar area. Needled: "Loin and Leg" and GB34 (right side) 20 min. No improvement in pain or SLRT at this session (0).
28. Severe lumbar pain and stiffness following back strain about 1 week previously. Needled: "Loin and Leg", LV03, LI04 bilateral). Greatly improved back movement and pain almost gone in 20 min. (+++).
29. Acute lumbago for past few days. No history of back strain. "Loin and Leg", GB34 (bilateral) needled. 20 min. Stiffness and pain greatly improved. (+++).
30. Acute sciatic-area pain (right). Duration unknown. Suspected lumbar disc on SLRT. Needled: BL23,40,60, GB30,34 (all on right). Response (?).
31. Acute lumbar sprain: Duration unknown. Needles placed in BL23,26,30,34,40 bilateral. The lumbosacral area was cupped (bilateral) over the needles. Good pain relief after 20 min. (CMC). (++).
32. Sciatic area pain (left). Duration unknown. SLRT unknown. Needles in left BL40,60 plus AhShi below wing of left ilium. 20 min. Pain relief reported. (++).
33. Sciatic area pain (right) in patient who earlier complained of numbness and ache in lower leg for one year. Lumbar vertebrae showed bridging on X-ray. AhShi (very sensitive) at GB31 (control point of the tensor fascia lata - Chung). Needles in AhShi plus GB30, BL40,60. Response (?).
34. Lowback stiffness, pain and inability to bend forward: Duration about 3 days. Needles (bilateral) in "Loin and Leg" points, strong stimulation for about 30 seconds each. Patient was then asked to try to bend forward. There was marked improvement in movement and less pain. BL40 and GB34 added (bilateral) 20 min. Marked improvement (+++, immediate).
Lower limb problems
35. Ache and tenderness over right lateral ankle following a fall (ballet dancer) 8 months previously. Needled: right SI06 plus left GB34. 20 min. Slight improvement reported (+).
36. Weakness in both legs for 13 years following cystectomy. "Loin and Leg", BL40, GB34, LU07 needled bilaterally. Response (?).
37. Ache in anterior aspect both thighs for one week. AhShi points in muscles of medial and anterior thigh. Needles in AhShi points for 20 min. Marked improvement in pain (+++).
38. Pain in and under left heel for 10 years. Earlier X-ray (some years previously) showed soft tissue calcification behind ankle joint. AhShi located above BL57. Needling sent sensation to gastrocnemius tendon area. Slight improvement in pain after 10 min. (+).
39. Pain in sole of the foot: Duration not recorded. Needled ipsilateral GB34, BL57. Response (?).
40. Pain, spasm in both knees in 74 year old woman. Duration > one month. Also tightness in right gluteal muscles. Needles were placed in LI11 to relax knee muscles. The response was immediate and dramatic (knee movement improved markedly). Then GB34, SP09 (bilateral) added. Marked improvement in movement and pain in 20 min. (+++, immediate).
41. "Cold knees": For some months patient had cold sensations in both knees and used knee warmers in an attempt to "warm" them. Needles in GB31 and ST36 (bilateral) for 20 min. Patient reported "warm sensations" in knees during needling (+).
42. Multiple joint pain in lower limbs, worst in knees, with some lumbar pain. Needles in the hand point "Sciatic area" (between distal heads of metacarpals 3 and 4 on dorsum of hand) plus GB34, SP09, SI06 (all bilateral). Response (?).
43. Pain and swelling in knee and ankle (left), intermittently over 6 months. AhShi found near left SP10. Strong needling of AhShi for one minute gave marked relief of pain. A second AhShi found 2.5 inches below and behind left GB34, bilateral. Needled 1 min. Patient could hardly believe the result! (+++, immediate).
44. Left knee pain (no details). Needles GB34, SP09 (left). Twenty minutes. Good relief of pain (++).
Post CVA cases: Note: If there is sensory paralysis, there is little value in needling that side. In such cases, the "good" side would be used plus the Motor points on the scalp.
45. Right facial paralysis, slurred speech and poor control of tongue in elderly woman. Minor stroke 3 months before. GV15 was needled 2" deep. Within one minute, she had marked improvement in speech and tongue control! CV23 was then added, plus LI04, HT07, GB34 (bilateral). All needles were left in situ. After 10 minutes, patient went pale, developed cold sweat on face/forehead, yawned a lot and complained of severe headache behind right eye. On attempting to get up, she nearly collapsed. She had to be helped to lie down. She felt very tired and weak. (When I saw her one hour later, she was still complaining of leg weakness and a headache) (+++ immediate).
46. Right hemiparesis arm-leg after stroke (hospitalised in CMC). Simple needling on right LI04,11, TH05, GB34, SP06, plus left LI04, GB34. No improvement noted (0).
47. Hemiplegia (left side) (CMC hospital): left LI04, TH05, BL40, GB34, GB20,21, GV16. No improvement noted (0).
4. AP RESEARCH IN TAIWAN, R.0.C.
During my visit, I received reprints of their research in AP from medical and vet colleagues. Abstracts of the 1982 International AP Symposium (1982), the Vet AP Seminar (1982) and the National AP Symposium (1979) were also given to me. From these sources, the addresses of the main centres of AP research in Taiwan were compiled. They are:
1. Taipei
Chinese AP Research Foundation (Box 84-223). This group attempts to integrate and disseminate the medical and vet AP research in Taiwan. This group produces "AP Research Quarterly", in which some of the current AP research is published.
National Taiwan University, College of Medicine (Depts. Physiology and Neurology).
National Taiwan University Hospital (Depts. Medicine a Physiology).
National Taiwan University, Depts. Animal Husbandry & Zoology.
Yang Ming Medical College (Depts. Anatomy & Microbiology and Institute of Neuroscience).
National Defence Medical Centre (Depts. Physiology, Biophysics and Biomorphics).
National Institute of Preventive Medicine (Dept. Serology).
Academia Sinica (Institute of Physics)
Taipei Medical College (Pain Clinic)
Taipei City Hoping Hospital (Pain Clinic)
Taipei Municipal Drug Addiction Centre
Airforce General Hospital (Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory)
Tri-Service General Hospital (Depts. AP Research & Pathology) VGH (Depts. AP, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology).
2. Taichung
China Medical College (AP Research Centre; Institute of Chinese Medical Science and Dept. Physiology)
Chung Shin Hospital (Dept. Urological Surgery)
Veterinary College (Dept. Vet Medicine, and Vet Teaching Hospital)
3. Lungtan Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
4. Hsinchu National Tsing Hua University (Institute of Radiation Biology)
5. Changhua Success Clinic of Chinese Medicine.
I visited the research facilities of Yang Ming Medical College (Taipei), VGH (Taipei) and CMC (Taichung). The equipment in these centres was impressive and modern. It included: electron microscopy; automated scintillation and isotope counters; modern histological processing and microscopy; automated spectroscopy; HPLC apparatus; microcomputer-controlled integrators.
Yang Ming Medical College also had sophisticated multichannel electronic recorders for physiological monitoring; stereotactic surgical equipment and primate/rodent handling facilities for experimentation in pain research.
I was told that Government funding for AP research had been somewhat limited until recently but that increased funding was expected in future, due to (a) positive research results from Taiwanese projects, and (b) a growing awareness of international advances in the field of AP, neurophysiology and neuroendocrinology.
Since 1976, or so, the main areas of AP research in Taiwan can be divided into experimental and clinical research.
Experimental studies:
Experimental AP research in Taiwan is based largely on researching the physiological effects of stimulating some of the Master Points, especially LU07, LI04,11, ST25,36, SP06, HT07, BL23,52,40, PC06, GB20,34, LV03, GV14,26.
Drug interactions and the pathways activated in the nervous system are also being studied. The approach is pragmatic. There is great awareness of the need for properly controlled observations.
The ancient concepts of Five Phases, Pulse Diagnosis, the Perverse External Insults, etc receive little (if any) credence from medical or veterinary scientists trained in the "Western" method. These concepts are still held by those doctors whose training is solely in traditional Chinese medicine. However, since few of the Traditionalists are active in AP research, I conclude that current research in Taiwan largely ignores the esoteric aspects of traditional AP and concentrates on the physiological effects and the mechanisms involved from a "Western Scientific" viewpoint. Research areas include:
a. AP analgesia: In experimental pain in animals (rats, monkeys), using tail flick test, Jaw opening reflex, Naloxone effects on AP analgesia in animals, Long-term abolition of AP analgesia by severing the dorsolateral funiculus in the cervical 2-3 area in monkeys, AP effects on stimulation evoked potentials in the human cortex - the importance of DeQi (needle feeling), The role of Dorsal Root Antidromic Activity in AP analgesia, AP effects on pain threshold in normal and paraplegic humans.
b. Brain sites activated by AP: Sensory projection of AP sites in the cortex of monkeys, AP effects on brain membrane changes, AP effects on the feeding and chewing centres in rabbits.
c. Cord sites activated by AP: AP effects on Dorsal Root Antidromic Activity in animals, Horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport to label cord sites activated by AP.
d. Brain stimulation effects: Effects of raphe nucleus stimulation on cardiovascular function during painful stimulation, Stimulation-produced analgesia in periaqueductal grey area - effects of naloxone.
e. AP effects on cardiovascular function, metabolic rate and thermoregulation:
AP effects in cardiac function,
AP effects on experimental cardiac abnormalities in animals,
AP effects on skin temperature/vasomotor responses in normal/paraplegic humans;
AP effects on metabolic rate and human body temperature;
ST36 implants on thyroxine levels and pulmonary function in rabbits;
AP at GV14 on thermoregulation in experimental fever in rabbits.
f. The DeQi Phenomenon:
The role in DeQi of reflex muscle contraction around the needle;
The role in DeQi of mechanical twining of connective tissue around the needle tip;
The induction of DeQi in "non-points."
g. Miscellaneous physiological effects of AP:
at GB20 on bile flow in rabbits and on high density lipoproteins in blood;
on levels of cholesterol and lipoproteins in normal and hyperlipoproteinaemic humans;
at GB34 on cholesterol levels in rabbits fed high cholesterol diets;
on blood sugar in alloxan-induced diabetes in mice;
on experimental alcoholism in pigs & mice;
on Kirlian auras in man;
on pupil width in cats;
on phagocytosis, leucocytosis and lymphoid cells in animals;
in recovery from experimental x-irradiation sickness in animals (red cells, white cells; spleen, thymus and bone marrow metabolism);
on antibody production to various antigens including cobra toxin in animals.
Clinical studies include: Many studies on effects of AP in clinical pain syndromes in man; Comparison of simple needling with low-frequency electro AP in pain control in man; Comparison of TP/AhShi therapy and AP therapy using distant points in control of clinical pain syndromes; Earpoint AP in control of clinical pain in man; AP analgesia for human surgery; Studies of AP in withdrawal symptoms from narcotics and tobacco; AP effects on blood pressure of normal and hypertensive patients; AP and moxibustion effects in asthmatic patients; Earpoint AP in the treatment of refractive disorders of the eye; EA at SP04 in the prevention of threatened abortion or premature labour in women; Earpoint AP in disorders of the G/I tract; reproductive disorders and psycho-neurological disorders; Effects of AP on T4, LH and IgE levels in blood of human patients; AP in piglet diarrhoea - comparison with antibiotic therapy; AP in bovine infertility (repeat breeders, anoestrus, cystic ovaries).
Vet AP research projects planned for the future:
Pig production is most important to the agricultural economy of Taiwan. Clinical AP research will be aimed at control of three major problems in pigs:
1. Delayed puberty in gilts;
2. Postpartum anoestrus and infertility in sows;
3. Postpartum agalactia.
Milk and beef are less important to the Taiwan economy. However, because of very positive results in preliminary trials, further work will be conducted on AP effects on bovine fertility.
These projects will be carried out under the direction of Jen-Hsou Lin from the Dept. Animal Husbandry, National Taiwan University (Taipei) and H.P. Fung, of the Vet School (Taichung), in co-operation with other vets and commercial stockmen.