The Theoretical And Clinical Research On Treatment For Cool Epigastralgia With Fireneedles

This study investigates the medical reasons for and nature of what traditional Chinese physicians term'epigastralgia', and, together with an analysis of the method of treatment for'cool' epigastralgia by traditional Chinese medicinal practices; finds a parallel between this disease, which has its nature in'coolness', and contemporary medical phenomena such as acute and chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastroptosis, gastric polyps, gastric neurosis, and duodenal infection.The causes of epigastralgia can be distinguished into internal and external ones, but the dominant cases are those caused by internal disharmony. There have been 5 major records of investigations concerning such disharmony:1. In the Nei Jing this disharmony is considered to be due to poor nutritional practices, erratic sleeping cycles, the infiltration of'coolness'into one's body, etc.2. Zhang Zhong Jing of the Han dynasty believed that it was due to wrong medication which causes serious diarrhoea.3. Physicians from the Song dynasty identified poor nutritional practices and discords between the emotions and the moods as the causes of such disharmony.4. Physicians from the Ming dynasty discovered that fatigue is an additional cause of such disharmony.5. Physicians from the Qing dynasty further discovered that damage to the lungs and stomach, which arises after'heaty'diseases, also leads to symptoms of epigastralgia.This study is based on Singaporean subjects in particular. Although Singapore is a tropical island with a virtual year-round summer, it has been noticed that precisely because of this are Singaporeans frequent victims of'cool'diseases:air-conditioned places and cold beverages are major parts of Singaporeans'lives, and these, together with the prevalence of use of'cooling' Chinese medication, as well as Western medication such as hormonal steroids, antibiotics and painkillers, are contributing factors to the expending of internal'yang'energy. The stress on individuals brought about by rapid modernization of the Singapore society, in the form of intense competition in the fields of work and education, for example, has also led to this expending of internal'yang'energy, which in turn leads to the weakening of the spleen and the stomach, disruption to the stability of the'zhong yang'and loss of harmony of the gastric gases, leading to the inception of pain. Clinical observations of Singaporean epigastralgia patients have identified 'cool'epigastralgia as being more prevalent, with common symptoms including pain in the stomach, intermittent gastric pains,'bloatedness'and nausea after meals, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weakening of the limbs, reddening of the tongue, with white thin layer on it surface and tooth mark on the side of the tongue.This study utilizes treatment results from the administering of'fire needles', which, via needles heated over a fire, transfers heat directly into the body through the acupoints. This heat, routed through the body by way of the acupoints and nerves, can directly stimulate the flow of energy in the body, thereby stimulating in turn blood circulation and an enhancement of the'yang'energy. The administering of'fire needles'combines the heat of the fire and the technique of acupuncture to bring about the'heating'of the nerves.The use of'fire needles', through the twin effects of reaching and clearing the acupoints and nerves, as well as the'heating'and dispelling of'coolness'in the body; have brought about shorter treatments, faster results and lower incidences of recurring ailments, translating to the technique being a sure means of a drastic and quick alleviation of pain in patients.Aim:1. Conceptual Analysis:(a) Investigation of the traditional Chinese medicinal understanding of the causes and nature of epigastralgia, as well as ascertaining of the bodily position in which epigastralgia occurs, so as to give a theoretical background on which to base the study of the treatment of'cool'epigastralgia by means of'fire needles'.(b) Investigation of the history and importance of the treatment of'cool' epigastralgia by means of'fire needles'by traditional Chinese physicians.(c) Analysis and summary of existing diagnoses and treatment methods for epigastralgia in the traditional Chinese medical field.(d) Investigation of the causes of'cool'epigastralgia.(e) Analysis and summary of existing diagnoses and treatment methods for chronic gastritis (epigastralgia) in the Western medical field.2. Empirical Analysis: (a) Ascertaining of the effectiveness of the use of'fire needles'in the treatment of 'cool'epigastralgia by clinical observation.(b) Analysis of the effects of the treatment of'cool'epigastralgia using'fire needles'by observation of the changes to the associated pain, feeling of 'bloatedness'and nausea after meals, changes to appetite and bowel movements, etc.(c) Comparison of the medical statuses of the patients of epigastralgia before and after treatment.(d) Comparison of the effectiveness of treatment of'cool'epigastralgia by'fire needles'and by medication.(e) Observation and comparison of the effectiveness of treatment of'cool' epigastralgia by'fire needles'and by moxibustion.(f) Utilization of the standard visual analog scale (VAS) as a means of assessing the effectiveness of treatment.Methodology:1. Conceptual Analysis:(a) Collection of ancient records of the treatment of epigastralgia using'fire needles'for reference and analysis, and detailing of the importance of'fire needles'in clinical observations.(b) Collection of records of the treatment of epigastralgia by traditional Chinese physicians for reference and analysis.(c) Collection of records of the treatment of chronic gastritis and the study of its causes and nature by Western physicians for reference.(d) Collection and analysis of ancient and contemporary records of Jiu Zhen treatment.2. Empirical Analysis:Taking a collection of typical patient suffering from'cool'epigastralgia, the subjects were divided into the "fire needles'group'and the'medication group', with each group numbering 43, and "mai li jiu'20,where each case extends over more than 3 months, where each case is a recurring one following conservative treatment, and where each case has stopped such treatment for 1 week. The "fire needles'group'focused on the Yang Ming Stomach Meridian, the Foot Tai Yin Spleen Meridian and the Rendu Two Main Veins Meridian. The main acupoints were divided into 2 interchangeable groups, and the secondary acupoints were used interchangeably to the left and to the right. Mold patterns in the oral cavity were removed using'chan zhen'. Treatment took place once a week, with 5 treatments being administered. The'medication group'used the traditional Chinese medication Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang Granules, manufactured by港香兰药厂股份有限公司(Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Ltd). Each dosage was 4gm, and 3 doses were taken daily. The subjects took the medication for 3 weeks.Findings:1. Conceptual Analysis:Records of the treatment of'cool'epigastralgia using'fire needles'indicate:(a) The causes of'cool'epigastralgia lie in Zhen Xu Xie Shi, and treatments are regulatory in nature.(b)'Coolness'and'wetness'constitute the nature of this disease.(c) The earliest relevant record is the Huang Di Nei Jing, and Wang Zhi Zhong from the Song dynasty, in the Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing, wrote of how "fire needles'therapy'was a revolutionary method used against visceral disorders, including epigastralgia.2. Empirical Analysis: Results from treatment of'cool epigastralgia'via administration of'fire needles':Treatment using'fire needles'proved to be more effective than medicinal administration, producing a 100% effective treatment rate over a 97% effective treatment rate for medicinal administration. A comparison of before and after treatment shows an obvious difference of P<0.05>. The mai4 li4 jiu2 group, on the other hand, was unable to produce a concise report for analysis due to insufficient number of patients and patients failing to be punctual for consecutive treatments.Conclusion:(1) Conceptual Analysis:'Fire needles'treatment on'cool'epigastralgia:Has the ability to effectively reduce and relieve patient's epigastralgia, successfully heightening the quality of the patient's life.(2) Empirical Analysis:'Fire needles'treatment on'cool'epigastralgia:The patient feels an obvious sensation of something releasing and piercing through, when coupled with the needle's sustained warmth, produces the best combination that no other forms of acupuncture can achieve, therefore bestowed upon the'fire needle'treatment as its'soul'. Compared to using the medicine Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang-even though both forms of treatments cure'cool'epigastralgia-the'fire needle' treatment proved to be more effective, relieving pain at a faster rate.