Atlas of Acupuncture

9.3 Summary

(but not laser acupuncture) at yintangmonitored by EEG had a
sedating effect. Clinical application of this point, for example for
sleeping disorders, requires further investigation. Litscher et al,
Eur J Anaesthesiol 2004
Ex-HN-4
S.I.-18; L.I.-4
Ex-HN-5
G.B.-5; LIV-3
Ex-HN-6
HE-7; Du-20

Ex-UE-10A case study describes the successful treatment of

hiccupswith acupuncture at Ex-UE-10. Qi, J Tradit Chin Med

1993

Ex-UE(JIANNEILING) 
L.I.-15

Ex-UE(JIANQIAN) 
L.I.-4

Ex-LE-4
ST-35

Ex-UE(ZHONGPING)

A Chinese retrospective case study (n
115) reports the suc-

cessful treatment of shoulder and back painwith acupuncture

at zhongping. The point zhongpingis located midway between

ST-36 and ST-37. Wang et al, J Tradit Chin Med 1995

9.3 Summary

The data presented clearly demonstrates that several actions of a

number of acupuncture points are undoubtedly effective. These

points (for example P-6) were tested according to the highest

scientific standards, comparing standard acupuncture to deep

acupuncture at non-acupuncture points (a methodology consid-

ered the most superior acupuncture placebo).

This proof is even more important since the results of the two

largest acupuncture trials to date, ART (Acupuncture Random-

ized Trials) and GERAC (German Acupuncture Trial), may have

led to the impression that, while acupuncture is indeed effective,

its effect is independent of the location of the acupuncture points.

The hitherto unsurpassed size of the trials and the undoubtedly

intelligent and biomathematically impeccable design (especially

of the GERAC trial) further contribute to this impression. Due to

their flexible point prescriptions and their complexity, these stud-

ies have not been included in section 9.2.

But what are the basic results of these trials? (up to May 2006:

Witt et al, Lancet 2005; Linde et al, JAMA 2005; Melchart

et al, Br Med J 2005; Brinkhaus, Arch Intern Med 2006;

Diener et al, Lancet Neurol 2006)

For both gonarthrosisand lower back pain,acupuncture had

significantly better results than the untreated waitlist (ART) or

conventional therapy (GERAC). For migraine, acupuncture is

significantly better than the untreated waitlist (ART), and treat-

ments with acupuncture for only six weeks had the same results

as treatments with conventional medicine for six months

(GERAC). For tension headaches, acupuncture provided sig-

nificantly better results than the waitlist (ART). A comparison

between acupuncture and conventional therapy in the treatment

of tension headaches within the framework of GERAC was not

possible, since all but two patients refused the stigmatised con-

ventional treatment with amitriptyline due to the high incidence

Spinous process C7

Base of the

scapular spine

0.5 cun

Ex-B-1

Ex-B-1A Chinese prospective, randomised, controlled trial
(n
84) investigated the effect of a herbal plaster at Ex-B-1,
BL-11, BL-12, BL-13and BL-15on chronic bronchitiscom-
pared to intramuscular injection therapy. In the plaster group the
clinical total effective rate was 93.2% immediately after the
treatment course and 91.5% after 18 months (control group:
80% and 80%). X-rays of the thorax showed the effectiveness of
the plaster as 40.7% and 89.8% after 18 months (control group:
20% and 76%). Huo et al, Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He za
Zhi 2001

Spinous process L3

Spinous process L2

Spinous process L1

Ex-B-2

(parts)

Ex-B-2A Chinese case study (n
43) reports the positive
effects of treating ulcerative colitiswith acupuncture at Ex-B-2
as well as stimulation with a plum-blossom needle at BL-22and
BL-25. Yue and Zhenhui, J Tradit Chin Med 2005
A Chinese retrospective case study (n
168) reports the suc-
cessful treatment of sciaticawith acupuncture at the Ex-B-2
points. Pei et al, J Tradit Chin Med 1994

Ex-B-3

1,5cun

inferior

1,5cun

Spinous process T8

Ex-B-3An experiment in diabetic rabbits demonstrated that
electro-acupuncture at Ex-B-3decreased plasma glucose levels
and inhibited the release of pancreatic glucagon. The effect was
increased by adding ST-36. This latter point led to no significant
changes when needled alone. Zeng et al, J Tradit Chin Med
2002
Ex-UE-9
L.I.-4

Ex-UE-10