Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to communicate, resulting in physical, mental, and psychiatric problems. In several cases, acupuncture has managed to heal the symptoms of Multiple sclerosis sometimes even permanent cure by tonifying the liver and spleen, nourishing the blood to improve the acuity of vision, and strengthening the muscle and bones. A study was conducted in China to observe its effectiveness.
A sample of 69 cases was considered, 57 belonged to confirmed cases and 12 belonged to almost confirmed cases. Twenty five were male and 44 female. The age of the patients ranged from 11-64 years old, mostly in their twenties, the average age of onset was 31.
The primary symptoms in the nervous system include visual disturbance (20 cases), pain of the limbs and sensory disturbance (15 cases), weakness of the limbs (11 cases), pain of the limbs, sensory disturbance, and weakness (7 cases), facial paralysis (2 cases), double vision (2 cases), lallation (2 cases), urinary incontinence plus headache (2 cases), and one case respectively for tremor, walking disturbance, tinnitus, dizziness, dysphagia, and disorder of consciousness.
It can be observed that among the total 69 cases of multiple sclerosis, there are 21 cases (30.43%) mainly with symptoms in the spinal cord and 48 cases (69.57%) with symptoms both in the spinal cord and in the optic nerve. The primary onset cases were 39 (56.53%) and those with more than two onsets were 30 (43.47%).
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, this disease is caused by insufficient kidney-yin. As per TCM, the kidney refers to either of the two viscera located on the small of the back, one either side of the spine. A famous Chinese doctor named Zhang Jie Bin wrote “there are two kidneys, (kidney yin and yang), with the Gate of Vitality between them. The kidney is the organ of water and fire, the abode of yin and yang, the sea of essence, and it determines life and death.” Deficiency of qi and blood and lack of nutrition to the eyes leads to blurred vision or even blindness. The kidney is concerned with the bone and produces bone marrow; also the brain is the sea of medulla. When there is an insufficient supply of nutrition to the brain due to emptiness of the medulla sea, or when there is hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency, it will result in dizziness. For long-standing cases, the patient will experience insufficient kidney-yang and this is the reason of cold limbs and urinary incontinence.
The needling treatment was given once every day and 14 treatments constitute a therapeutic course. Each case had a follow-up of therapeutic courses.
There was remarkable improvement in the condition of the patients.
It should be noted that the therapeutic effect is based on the clinical symptoms and signs, which may not be identical with the actual anatomical changes. The patient may have wider pathogenic changes which cannot be found by the clinical examinations.
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