Clinical cases not responding to orthodox Western medicine treatment but achieving good results using acupuncture have been described by me from my experience of incorporating acupuncture into my general practice in Auckland, New Zealand. These cases include musculoskeletal disorder, anxiety and depression, growth problem, weight reduction, asthmatic bronchitis etc. A study by Dr Andrew Tseung from New Zealand reveals:
Left Shoulder Sprain: A 16-year-old boy was unable to raise his left shoulder after helping his friend to lift a heavy crate. He came with his mother, and was given acupuncture treatment. It included manual needle stimulation. Almost immediately, the boy was able to raise the left shoulder from 90° to 160°. After a couple of days, he was better and needed no further treatment.
Lower Back Sprain: A 40-year-old man sprained his lower back after lifting a heavy weight. X-ray of the lumbosacral spine showed bony lipping and slight reduction of the intervertebral discs. He felt better in just three acupuncture sessions.
Depression: A 36-year-old man had been suffering from acute reactive depression as a result of his deteriorating business and family misfortune. He was restless, and had a pulse rate of 120/minute and BP of 150/90. Acupuncture treatment was given to him, and half-an-hour later his pulse came down to 84/min and his BP fell to 120/80.
Height Problem: A 15-year-old boy was only four feet and six inches tall. A pulse diagnosis revealed a weak ‘lung pulse’. Acupuncture stimulation of needle was given to him at specific points fortnightly. Four weeks later, his height was measured to be four feet and seven inches.
Weight Reduction: Over decades, acupuncture has been used to help obese patients lose weight. Treatment includes electrical stimulation of the ear-stomach point for 30 minutes and a press stud left at the same point for a week or two. The patient was advised a diet and repeat electro acupuncture once a week or fortnight. The average weight loss in the first month was five to seven kg.
Chronic Asthmatic Bronchitis: A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 35. He gave up smoking when he turned 45. Though he used bronchodilators and aerosol regularly, he got wheezy attacks daily. However, he suffered no such attack after an intensive course of acupuncture.
Acupuncture is an effective, convenient and safe method to treat a variety of clinical conditions. However, the patient must be treated by a well-trained acupuncturist. Integration of acupuncture into modern medical practice will enhance the doctor’s ability as well.
The author is Head of the Department of Acupuncture, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi