Stimulation

Ancient
• Heat
• Needle
• Hand
• Self

Modern
• Electro
• Magnetic
• Radiation
• High frequency vibration
 Ancient Methods

Heat stimulation:
• Moxibustion
• Hot water bag- Simple heat application
• Cupping- Creating the vacuume by forming the
cup of hand.
 MOXIBUSTION

The burning of moxa, small cones of wormwood

(Artemisia vulgaris), on the acupuncture points
 Moxa is a good deal simpler to apply than
acupuncture needles.
The cone is placed on the chosen point and ignited,
usually by touching it with the burning end of an
incense stick.
There are three major types of moxa, each with a
specialized application.
 Large moxas are about the size of a medium
cherry
 small moxas about the size of a rice grain
 minute moxas about the size of the ball of a
ballpoint pen.
.
If they have been correctly applied (that is, if the
diagnosis and treatment chosen are correct), the
burning will actually cause a pleasant sensation.
When the patient complains of pain or discomfort
from this kind of moxa application, the treatment
has reached the point of maximum effect and the
session is ended.
Types of moxibustion:
1. Direct moxibustion
2. Indirect moxibustion
 Needle Stimulation

Law of Bu-xie
Bu method:
 Reinforcing method
 Tonification method
 Chronic diseases
Xie method:
 Reducing method
 Sedation method
 Acute diseases
 Needle Stimulation

Tonification Sedation
Gold needle Silver needle
Insert on inhalation Insert on exhalation
Along direction of energy flow Against direction of energy flow
Rotate anti-clockwise Rotate clockwise
With little force, mild stimulation Forceful, deep stimulation
Retain needle for long time Retain needle for short time
Remove needle slowly Remove needle quickly
After removing, close point with finger After removing, leave point open /
tip bleeding
 Needle Stimulation

Types of needle insertion

Superficial needling
Deep needling
Along direction of energy flow
Against direction of energy flow
On inhalation
On exhalation
Slow
Fast
 Needle Stimulation

Manual stimulation
1. Tapping:20-30 times/min
2. Lifting and Thrusting (up & down): 1cm, 5-20
times/min
3. Rotation: 15-20 times/min
4. Flicking: 2cm, 50-60 times/min
5. Snapping: 40-60 times/min
6. Scraping the handle
7. Vibration: 30-40 times/min
8. Heat stimulation to needle
 Hand Stimulation

1. Acu pressure
2. Acu massage
1. Tui
2. Na
3. Ning

3. Micro massage
1. Light pressure: increased blood circulation
2. Deep pressure: reduces muscle spasm
Self stimulation:
 Acu yoga
 Meridian exercises. Eg : liver
meridian exercise.
 Modern method
ELECTRO STIMULATION:
Application of a pulsating electrical current to
acupuncture needles to stimulate acupoints
1966
Insert the acupuncture needle as would normally
be done, attain the deqi by hand manipulation, and
then attach an electrode to the needle to provide
continued stimulation
Power of stimulation α density of current
The benefits of using electrical stimulation
are:
It substitutes for prolonged hand maneuvering.
During electro-acupuncture, the practitioner can
attend to other patients.
It can produce a stronger stimulation, if desired,
without causing tissue damage.
Strong stimulation may be needed for difficult
cases of neuralgia or paralysis.
It is easier to control the frequency of the stimulus
and the amount of stimulus than with hand
manipulation of the needles.
 Acuscope

Measure electrical resistance of skin

Acu points have reduced impedance (resistance of
skin to electrical current)
 Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a

noninvasive method to cause
depolarization or hyperpolarization in the neurons of
the brain. TMS uses electromagnetic induction to induce
weak electric currents using a rapidly changing magnetic
field; this can cause activity in specific or general parts of the
brain with minimal discomfort, allowing the functioning and
interconnections of the brain to be studied.
Tofication: 2 magnets:
 South pole on point
 North pole pointed in direction of energy flow
Immunity enhancing: north pole
 Stimulation by Rays

Infra-Red Rays: analgesic

Ultraviolet Rays: Immunity improving &
tonification.
 High Frequency Vibrations

Radiofrequency Acupuncture
Trancutaneous Acupuncture
Ultrasonic Stimulation
 Electroacupuncture

The Cochrane Collaboration, a group of evidence-

based medicine (EBM) reviewers, reviewed
eleven randomized controlled trials on the use of
electroacupuncture at the P6 acupuncture point to
control chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting.
The reviewers found that electroacupuncture applied
along with anti-vomiting drugs reduced first-day
vomiting after chemotherapy more effective than
anti-vomiting drugs alone.
 Clinical research evidence of
cupping therapy in China:
a systematic literature review

(Huijuan Cao, Mei Han, Xun Li, Shangjuan Dong,

Yongmei Shang, Qian Wang, Shu Xu, Jianping Liu)
Conclusions: Quality and quantity of RCTs on
cupping therapy appears to be improved during the
past 50 years in China, and majority of studies show
potential benefit on pain conditions, herpes zoster
and other diseases. However, further rigorous
designed trials in relevant conditions are warranted
to support their use in practice.
 Cupping for Treating Pain: A Systematic Review

(Jong-In Kim, Myeong Soo Lee,Dong-Hyo Lee,Kate

Boddy, and Edzard Ernst)
In conclusion, the results of systematic review
provide some suggestive evidence for the effectiveness
of cupping in the management of pain conditions.
However,the total number of RCTs included in the
analysis and themethodological quality were too low to
draw firm conclusions.
 Infrared therapy for chronic low back pain:
A randomized, controlled trial

George D Gale MBBS FRCA FRCPC DAAPM, Peter J

Rothbart MD FRCPC, Ye Li
21 patients received IR therapy and
18 recieved placebo therapy.
CONCLUSION: The IR therapy unit used was
demonstrated to be effective in reducing chronic low
back pain, and no adverse effects were observed.
 Low-magnitude high-frequency Vibration
--- improves human musculoskeletal system

Poey Li
Fall prevention team
Department of Othopaedics & Traumatology
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Findings by Dept. of Ortho. & Trauma., CUHK

►LMHFV can effectively enhance fracture
healing, balance ability and bone
mineral density
►Tested in animals, postmenopausal women

and elderly in community