Electro-Acupuncture for Treatment of Dysequilibrium Due to Cerebellum or Brain Stem Infarction

Electro-Acupuncture for Treatment of Dysequilibrium Due to Cerebellum or Brain Stem Infarction by Zhao Hong

26 patients with either brain stem infarction (19 cases), or cerebellum infarction (7 cases) were treated. Ages ranged from 42-68 (mean 52 years), with a disease duration from 30 days to 2 years. All the patients had unstable gait/sitting posture and dizziness as the main symptoms. Other symptoms included choking during eating, hoarseness, ataxia etc. Acupuncture using Baihui DU-20, Fengfu DU-16, Fengchi GB-20, Shangyintang (upper Yintang) and Taiyang (M-HN-9) was employed. When Fengfu DU-16 was punctured obliquely with a 1.5 cun filiform needle to a depth of 0.5 cun, lifting and thrusting was performed several times and the needle withdrawn when a heavy and distending sensation was felt. When Baihui DU- 20, Shangyintang [located at midpoint between the anterior hairline and Yintang (M-HN-3)] and Taiyang (M-HN-9) were needled, needles of 1.5 cun in length were inserted to a depth of 1.0 cun until a sensation of heaviness was felt. For Fengchi GB-20, the 1.5 cun needle was inserted obliquely toward the apex of the nose to a depth of 0.8 cun until a heavy, distending sensation was felt. Electrical stimulus (80 Hz, intermittent wave, with an intensity that the patient could tolerate) was applied at the points Fengchi GB-20, Baihui DU-20 and bilateral Taiyang (M-HN-9) during needle retention of 30 minutes. The treatment was given once a day for 5 sessions a week, over a 4 week period. A statistically significant improvement in scores on the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients was achieved. Of the 26 patients, 6 cases were basically cured, 12 cases improved, and 8 cases ineffective. The total effective rate was 69.2%.

JTCM December 2003