A Clinical Study On The Treatment Of Crohn's Disease Using Jin's 3-Needle Technique And A Clearing Meal Plan

Background: Crohn's Disease is a chronic, destructive, inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract of unknown cause. The incident of the disease is high in the U.S.A. and Europe. Report of the disease is on the rise in the P.R. China.Though many patients suffer badly from the disease in many Western nations, contemporary medicine has few effective forms of treatment, so some of these suffers have begun to seek alternative methods of treatment.In this paper, Jin's 3-Needle Technique an acupuncture therapy devised by Professor Jin Rui, was the main technique applied. Patients under the auspices of the Midwest College for the Study of Oriental Medicine were treated with Jin's 3-Needle Technique and a Clearing Meal Plan.Aim: To clinically study the curative effect of Jin's 3-Needle Technique in conjunction with a Clearing Meal Plan on Crohn's Disease. The fourty-nine patients studied in this paper were diagnosed as having Crohn's Disease by conventional Western medical methods.Methods: The Acupuncture points used were: The 3 Gastric Points (Zhongwan, Zusanli, Neiguan) and The 3 Intestinal Points (Tianshu, Guanyuan, Shangjuxu). The main aim of the Clearing Meal Plan was to help each patient identify which foods are problematic for him or her and through the elimination of these foods reduce digestive symptoms.Results: After the trials were completed, the CDAI was significantly decreased (66.64?3.99%). Twenty-two (49%) of the total patients who completed the trials had a CDAI of 150 or below, indicating quiescent disease by CDAI standards. General well being, abdominal pain, abdominal masses, hematocrit levels and body weight were markedly ameliorated. The number of liquid or very soft stools was significantly decreased and the vast majority of patients lowered their intake of lomotil (opiates) for diarrhea. The general condition of Spleen QI Deficiency in all four divisions of Differential Diagnosis for these patients was comparatively improved. Each of the four divisions all had a different degree of improvement. The clinical treatment of Liver Invading the Spleen showed the most improvement while the Cold-Damp Encumbering the Spleen showed the least. There was asignificant difference between the two.- 2 -Conclusion: Jin's 3-Needle Technique and a Clearing Meal Plan had an obvious clinical effect on Crohn's Disease. After treatment, main symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain were ameliorated to various degrees. Those patients Differentially Diagnosed as Liver Invading the Spleen achieved better results than the patients Differentially Diagnosed as Cold-Damp Encumbering the Spleen.