9 Scientific Research
In an earlier prospective, controlled, group-comparison trial in
piglets (n44) with induced enteropathogenic Escherichia
colidiarrhoea, traditional acupuncture at Du-1, ST-36, BL-20,
Ren-12and ST-25produced the best results in comparison to
the groups treated with electro-acupuncture or antibiotics. There
were too many groups given the number of cases. Hwang et al,
Am J Vet Res 1988
Several animal experiments investigated the effect of acupunc-
ture on signalling and modulating pain. Acupuncture at Du-1
and Du-2inhibited the reaction on experimental pain stimuli.
Bing et al, Neuroscience 1991, Xu et al, Zhen Ci Yan Jiu
1989, Xu et al, Zhen Ci Yan Jiu 1989
DU-2Du-1Spinous process L5Level of theiliac crests Spinous process L4 Du-3DU-3Rats treated with electro-acupuncture at Du-3, BL-54and
BL-6015 minutes after a standardised spinal cord injuryat T8,
showed a marked improvement (regarding both morphology and
functioning) three days post-operatively compared to rats not
treated with acupuncture. However, none of the beneficial
effects occurred in rats given acupuncture treatment 24 hours
after spinal cord injury. Politis et al, Acupunct Electrother Res
1990Spinous process L3Spinous process L4Spinous process L2Du-6 Du-4
Level of the iliac crestsSpinous process L4
(dependent onpatient position)DU-4A Turkish prospective, randomised, non-blinded, con-
trolled group-comparison trial (n24) investigated the efficacy
of acupressure at Du-4, Du-15, Du-20, BL-23, BL-28, BL-32,
HE-7, HE-9, ST-36, SP-4, SP-6, SP-12, Ren-2, Ren-3, Ren-6,
KID-3and KID-5on enuresiscompared to oxybutynin given to
the control group. Acupressure was administered to 12 patients
by the parents. While treatments in both groups were successful,
complete recovery was significantly higher in the acupressure
group (83.3%) compared to the control group (58.3%). Yuksek
et al, J Int Med Res 2003Spinous process T10Spinous process T9
Du-18DU-8An experiment in rats supports the effect of Du-8on
seizures(by releasing melatonin) and on cerebral infarction
(reduction of the cerebral infarction volume due to release of
taurine and decrease of aspartame). Chao et al, Acupunct
Electrother Res 2001, Zhao et al, Acupunct Electrother Res
1997, Yin et al, Zhen Ci Yan Jiu 1994Du-9DU-9The effect of electro-acupuncture at Du-9was investi-
gated in 23 patients suffering from coronary heart disease. The
results showed a slight dilation of the coronary arteries and a
slight decrease of the heart rate frequency (monitored by coro-
nary arteriography). Yan et al, Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He
Za Zhi 1998
Two earlier Chinese case studies report decreased symptoms in
patients with coronary heart disease after acupuncture or tuina at
Du-9. Wang et al, Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 1988, Wang et al,
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 1987
A Chinese case study reports the successful treatment of angina
pectorisby implanting a micro-depressor at Du-9. Wang et al,
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 1988Inferior
angleSpinous process T3Spinous process C7 Du-11DU-11Electro-acupuncture at Du-11and Du-16prior to, during
and after an experimentally induced transient ischaemiain ger-
bils suggests the protective influence of these points. They seem
to suppress both glutamate release and reperfusion injury follow-
ing the ischaemic insult. Pang et al, Am J Chin Med 2003Spinous process T12Spinous process T11 Du-6DU-6An earlier Chinese case study reports the application of
Du-6for acupuncture anaesthesia for hysterectomies. Authors’
Collective, Chin Med J (Engl) 1978Spinous process T3Spinous process C7Du-12DU-12A Chinese case study reports that classic acupuncture at
Du-12, L.I.-10, BL-11and S.I.-3with deqisensation in the
direction of the disorder in 55 patients with cervical vertebra