Acupuncture

“ Their science principally partakes of the nature of sorcery. Where hot baths fail to produce the desired effect, they have recourse to acupuncture and cauterisation. Acupuncture consists in pricking with a needle the part affected, a mode of healing which has been practiced from time immemorial in the east. After the skin has been stretched sufficiently tight, the needle is thrust in perpendicularly either by rolling between the fingers or by a direct gentle pressure, or else by striking it lightly with a small hammer made for the purpose. ”

“ Acupuncture, or the practice of sticking long pins into any part of the patient's body that may happen to be paining him, pretty much irrespective of anatomical position, is the nearest approach to surgery of which they are guilty, and proclaims of itself the in corpore vili character of the thing operated upon. ”

“ Techniques that temporarily and quickly raise the vital force include homeopathy, chiropractic, vitamin therapy, massage, acupuncture and acupressure and many more spiritually oriented practices. Healers who use these approaches and have a good bedside manner can have a very good business, they can have an especially-profitable practice if they do nothing to lower the level of toxemia being currently generated. Their patients do experience prompt relief but must repeatedly take the remedy. ”

“ It is doubtful if they are today in a very much more advanced condition than were the Egyptians at the time when the Ebers Papyrus was written. From one point of view it is an interesting experiment, as illustrating the state in which a people may remain who have no knowledge of anatomy, physiology or pathology.
Early Japanese medicine has not much to distinguish it from the Chinese. At first purely theurgic, the practice was later characterized by acupuncture and a refined study of the pulse. ”

“ Specific acupuncture points can be tested in conjunction with muscle strength to indicate the condition of specific organs or glands. The strength of the arm's resistance to downward pressure could be calibrated with a spring scale and precisely gauged, but experienced practitioners have no need for this bother, because they are able to pick up subtle changes in the arms resistance that are not apparent to the testée. Thus muscle testing becomes an art form, and becomes as effective as the person using it is sensitive and aware. ”

“ These exercises, which may be preceded by massage, are carried out night and morning, and should be practised systematically by those who are liable to sciatica.
Benefit has followed the injection into the nerve itself, or into the tissues surrounding it, of normal saline solution; from 70-100 c.c. are injected at one time. If the pain recurs, the injection may require to be repeated on many occasions at different points up and down the nerve. Needling or acupuncture consists in piercing the nerve at intervals in the buttock and thigh with long steel needles. ”

“ Finally, two powders are also prescribed for whitening the teeth. One of these is compounded of seven ingredients, among which is musk; the other has only three substances in its composition: salt (gram 25) , musk (gram 1.8) , tsang-eul-tsee (gram 36) .
A therapeutic method much in vogue among the Chinese is acupuncture, which is used in the treatment of the greatest variety of affections, including those of the dental system. ”

“ Potassium Bromide.
Potassium Iodide: in syphilitic testicle.
Pulsatilla: in very small doses along with aconite.
Suspension: in orchitis and epididymitis.
Traumaticin.
Tetanus.—See also, Spasmodic Affections.
Acetanilid.
Aconite: in large doses to control muscular spasm.
Acupuncture: on each side of the spines of the vertebræ.
Alcohol: will relax muscular action, also support strength.
Anesthetics: to relax muscular spasm.
Antimonium Tartaratum: in large doses, along with chlorate of potassium. ”

“ His administration of drugs, and his use of acupuncture and counter-irritants are always followed by the speedy recovery of the patient. If the sick man is suffering from some internal complaint and medicines produce no satisfactory result, then Dr. Hua will administer a dose of hashish, under the influence of which the patient becomes as it were intoxicated with wine. He now takes a sharp knife and opens the abdomen, proceeding to wash the patient’s viscera with medicinal liquids, but without causing him the slightest pain. ”

“ She had a colonic every day, plus body work including reflexology, holding and massage of neurolymphatic and neurovascular points, and stimulation of acupuncture points related to weak organ systems and general massage to stimulate overall circulation and lymphatic drainage. She took protomorphogens to help rebuild her weakened organs; she took ten grams of vitamin C every day and a half-dose of life extension vitamin mix in assimilable powdered form; she drank herbal teas of echinacea and fenugreek seeds and several ounces of freshly squeezed wheat grass juice every day. ”

“ It is soft and yielding retaining the indentation of the finger. If manipulation produces signs of pain it is all the more significant.
Treatment. As a rule this is the treatment of the fever which determines the hyperæmia. Apart from this, laxatives, quinia other alkaloids of cinchona bark, eucalyptus, a current of cold water directed to the region of the spleen, or induction currents of electricity to the same region are also decided stimulants to contraction. Ergot has been used with alleged advantage. In cattle acupuncture of the spleen has been put in practice in anthrax. ”

“ The Indians, however, do not confine their practice of Acupuncturation (or Zin-king, as they call it) to diseases of this kind. They puncture the head in all cases of Cephalalgia, in Comatose affections, Ophthalmia, &c. They puncture the chest, back, and abdomen, not only to relieve pain of those parts, but as a cure for Dysentery, Anorexia, Hysteria, Cholera Morbus, Iliac Passion, &c. Local diseases of the muscular and fibrous structures of the body, also often afford them occasions for its performance ”

“ The eulogia given to acupuncturation by Kœmpfer and Ten-Rhyne, are just and merited. We have reason to feel surprized, that although an age or more has elapsed, since this curative measure has been known in Europe, no physician has made trial of its efficacy. The practice of the operation is attended with but little pain, and the success of it is so prompt, that the disease is alleviated or entirely ceases, as soon as the needle has been introduced the depth of a few lines ”

“ The method of performing the operation of acupuncturation is simple and easy, requiring neither practice to give dexterity, nor adroitness that it may be done with propriety. Anatomical knowledge of the human body is, however, necessary; as an imprudent application of it, by an operator ignorant of the structure of the part into which he introduces his needle, might be productive of bad consequences. ”

“ It is but rare that I introduce more than one needle at the same time, as a greater number does not appear to be more efficacious than a single one. I, however, depart from this rule (as will be seen from some of the cases) when the pain becomes fugitive from the effects of the instrument; which is a most encouraging symptom. In such circumstances, following the disease by introducing the82 needles where the pain has removed to, has always proved ultimately successful. ”

“ I have not, in my own practice, ventured to use needles of greater length than one inch, and one inch and a half; and the instrument which I use is an ingenious adaptation of a common sewing needle to an ivory handle, constructed by Mr. Edward Jukes, Surgeon Accoucheur to the Westminster Medical Institution (see plate, fig. 1 and 2.)
Dr. Haime, and I believe the French surgeons who practice acupuncturation, use this long needle (three inches) and Mr. Demours, who appears to be a man of considerable mechanical genius, has lately invented a new apparatus for this purpose. ”

“ Berlioz in speaking of the diseases to which this remedy is applicable, says, “vague and wandering Rheumatism sometimes attacks the external muscles subser29vient to respiration; the patient is obliged to remain motionless; every motion of the trunk compels him to cry out; a deep inspiration is very difficult, and coughing occasions such cruel pains, that expectoration is impossible. Acupuncturation dissipates instantly this state of distress, and renders to the muscles their full liberty of action. ”

“ The treatment of the case was thus continued, selecting the part for the introduction of the needle, according to the situation of the symptoms which each operation was intended to alleviate; and Dr. Haime asserts, it never once failed of success; for the convulsive motions of the head, the instrument was passed into the muscles of the neck; into the masseter muscle, to relieve constant gaping; and into the fore arm when these muscles were affected; and thus, by pursuing the disease as it were, the convulsive disposition was entirely removed, and the patient restored to health. ”

“ This needle is introduced to such a depth as the operator thinks proper, depending on the part in which it is used, as well as the nature of the disease which it is intended to remedy. If it be intended to puncture any of the viscera, such a needle will indeed be wanted; but it will be seen by the practice of the French physicians, that though they have sometimes thought it right to penetrate the visceral cavities to the whole depth of this needle, yet it is but seldom that more than one inch of76 it has been sunk into the part. ”

“ Aconite and Chamomilla should be used in alternation, every one or two hours, according to [Pg 89] the violence of the fever, and if convulsions occur, or are threatened, as will be known by twitching, starting, and screaming, use Nux and Bell. These may be given in rotation with the others, following the remedies, one after the other, every hour. I have relieved the most alarming cases in a day by this method of procedure, that had not yielded to either of the single remedies for several days, given as directed in the books; the patient growing worse continually. ”

“ For a rough list of the medicaments in common use in China one has only to study the ordinary Customs returns, which will be quite sufficient to show the very extraordinary character of the articles which go to make up the Chinese pharmacopoeia. Some of these medicines are, no doubt, useful enough. The Chinese are known to have a wide knowledge of herbs and simples, and their primitive ideas of surgery are in many instances founded upon true principles. A case in point is the practice of pinching and scraping the skin with a view to drawing out internal inflammation. ”

“ A pint of fluid may be got rid of in that way in two or three hours; and, although the disease may not be radically cured, it will occupy several months before a reaccumulation of the fluid takes place. In recent cases, this treatment oftentimes proves permanently successful. Many nervous persons will not submit to anything approaching an operation, not even to the simple one of acupuncturation. ”

“ It is to be known once for all, that in wounds of the nerves the medicine which cures punctures being of a bitter nature, it is not possible to cure with it the division of the nerve, as the parts cannot endure pungency and inflammation. And neither does the medicine which cures incisions answer with punctures. For its strength does not reach the bottom of it, the incision of the skin being narrow. A spare diet is to be allowed, and a soft couch ”

“ To a surgeon, however, properly qualified, (and no other ought to perform this or14 any operation) no danger can arise; as the cautions are but few, and no risk is incurred, if they are attended to. It is only necessary that the operator, in introducing the needle, should avoid the course of large vessels, of nervous trunks, and of the tendons of muscles. It is not, however, proved, that the latter sustain injury from the puncture of the needle ”

“ If several muscle layers interpose themselves between the searching finger and the nerve, it is proper to push aside the intervening layers, using a twisting and rolling movement until the finger feels underneath the muscles. This done, and a tender nerve found underneath several muscle layers, the same amount of overlying tissue must be pushed aside each time the finger searches for the nerve. Only exhaustive study of the anatomy of the typical nervous system will enable the examiner to know exactly at what point a nerve will become more or less superficial. ”

“ Of these forty volumes, seven are devoted to nosology, eight to pharmacy, five to pathology, six to surgery, and the remainder to children’s and women’s diseases.
Anatomy, it appears, has never played other than a very insignificant part in the Chinese system of medicine. This is not to be wondered at when we remember that their religion makes the dissection of a human body a sin worthy of punishment. ”

“ The operator should now and then stop to ask if the patient be relieved; and the needle should always be allowed to remain five or six minutes before it is withdrawn. This mode of introducing the needle, neither produces pain (or at least very little) to the81 patient; nor is productive of Hœmorrhiage, which Dr. Haime says arises from the fibres being separated, rather than divided by the passing of the needle; the former of which (the absence of pain) is a point in its favor, which few surgical operations possess. ”

“ In obscure cases or diseases not mentioned it is suggested that the practitioner carefully diagnose the case with reference to the location of the morbid process and then refer to Special Nerve Connections to find the nerve pathway between the spine and the organ indicated as the seat of the disease. Standard works on anatomy and physiology will explain more fully the paths and functions of the nerves but information gleaned from them must be sought out and pieced together from scattered statements and discussions. ”