Traditional Medicine in Asia

Traditional Medicine in Asia
should be diagnosed and treated on the
basis of the overall analysis of symptoms
and signs, the cause, nature, location of
the illness and the patient’s physical
condition. Acupuncture–moxibustion,
tuina and massage usually have a
beneficial effect. In clinical practice, the
penetrating method is mainly applied at the
nearby facial points, such as Jia Che (ST6)
penetrating to Di Cang (ST4), Yang Bai
(GB14) penetrating to Yu Yao (EX.), and Si
Bai (ST2) penetrating to Ying Xiang (LI20).
The treatment of facial paralysis (14) with
acupuncture is brief and satisfactory.
Basically, there are no sequelae. In China,
most patients who suffer from this disease
prefer acupuncture treatment, the
superiority of which is widely recognized.
Management of weight-loss and
prevention of effects of stopping
drugs, AIDS and tumour
Clinical observation shows that needling
at Tian Mei (EX.) is effective in stopping
smoking, yet owing to psychological
factors, there are differing views on the
effect of the treatment. Some Chinese
medical doctors have also tried acupuncture
for drug de-addiction or for treating
physical and psychological disorders
caused by drug addiction, 15 such as
irregular menstruation and menopause.
This research is still in progress. The
practice of acupuncture for weight loss
continues, with some treatment effects.
However, a stricter comparative analysis is
required because weight loss is affected by
various factors.
Treatment of AIDS16 with acupuncture–moxibustion
is a subject which is
worth serious research. Research on
malignant tumour17 shows that acupuncture–moxibustion,
as a supplementary
treatment method, could improve clinical
symptoms of patients, minimize side-effects
80
of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and
prolong life. However, this function of
acupuncture and moxibustion cannot be
separated from its capability of improving
the efficiency of the immune system.
Development of treating
methods
Traditional acupuncture–moxibustion
therapy warrants a good foundation for its
development. Based on the Nine-needles,
Nine-needling methods and Twelveneedling
methods in the Internal Classic,
various needling instruments were
developed, such as cutaneous needle,
intradermal needle, three-edged needle,
point catgut embedding therapy,
elongated needle, fire needle, and knife
needling. Different methods have been
applied in clinical treatment with effective
results, for example, superficial puncture,
tapping method, penetrating method,
multiple oblique needling, the three easing
methods, and many more.
Non-invasive treatment methods in
combination with modern physical
techniques include point electric conduction
therapy, drug ion-introduction therapy,
point electrothermal moxibustion therapy,
point microwave radiation, laser radiation
therapy, point ultrasonic input, point lowfrequency
input, infrared radiation,
ultraviolet radiation, cryotherapy, drug
application on point, etc.
Traditional acupuncture therapy, in
combination with modern physical therapy,
developed into electric acupuncture
therapy, electrothermal acupuncture
therapy and magnetic acupuncture
therapy. In combination with drug injection
technique, point injection with small
dosage and point block therapy have been
developed. The knife needling method has
been developed in combination with