Bloodletting Acupuncture of the Engorged Vein around Bl-40 (Wei-Chung) for Acute Lumbar Sprain

Chung Jen Chen, Wen Chan Tsai, Jeng Hsien Yen, Jih Jin Tsai, Tsan Teng Ou, Lin Chun Ching, Hong Wen Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bloodletting acupuncture is one of the most classic methods of acupuncture therapy, and is still popularly used to treat acute lumbar sprain in the oriental world. However, most physicians in the western world are not familiar with bloodletting acupuncture, though they may know ordinary acupuncture well. Furthermore based on the literature reviewed, there have been few studies which have investigated the effect of bloodletting acupuncture upon acute lumbar sprain. In this study, we tried to determine if bloodletting acupuncture is effective for acute lumbar sprain. In total, twelve patients were enrolled for analysis. Five patients were treated with ordinary acupuncture upon the contralateral SI-3 (Hou-Hsi) point alone. Seven patients were first treated with bloodletting acupuncture to the engorged vein around the ipisilateral Bl-40 (Wei-Chung), and then followed by ordinary acupuncture upon the contralateral SI-3. It was demonstrated that bloodletting acupuncture to the engorged vein around the ipisilateral Bl-40 followed by ordinary acupuncture upon the contralateral SI-3 had more pain relief than ordinary acupuncture upon the contracterai SI-3 alone (83 ±23% vs. 44 ±28%) (P < 0.01). And bloodletting acupuncture to the engorged vein around the ipisilateral Bl-40 decreased pain by 56 ±23%, similar to that of ordinary acupuncture upon the contralateral SI-3 alone (44 ±28%). These findings suggest that bloodletting acupuncture to the engorged vein around the ipisilateral Bl-40 (Wei-Chung) has a substantial contribution for treatment of acute lumbar sprain.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)387-391
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Chinese Medicine
Volume29
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Bloodletting Acupuncture of the Engorged Vein around Bl-40 (Wei-Chung) for Acute Lumbar Sprain'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this