RAYNAUD'S SYNDROME
In the treatment of Raynaud's Syndrome , acupuncture has been found to bring improvement in the frequency, duration and severity of vasospastic attacks. Kaada (1982) found that, in case of Raynaud’s phenomenon and diabetic polyneuropathy, acupuncture can produce marked vasodilation. Several Chinese studies have also shown acupuncture
For chronic ulcers of various causes, acupuncture can bring about complete healing or marked improvement (Kaada 1983). Suggested mechanisms include sympathetic inhibition and the release of vasodilator substance, possibly vasointestinal active peptide.
Appiah R, Hiller S, Caspary L, Alexander K, Creutzig A. Treatment of primary Raynaud's syndrome with traditional Chinese acupuncture. J Intern Med. 1997 Feb;241(2):119-24. "OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the effects of a standardized acupuncture treatment in primary Raynaud's syndrome. DESIGN: A controlled randomized prospective study. SETTING: A winter period of 23 weeks, angiological clinic of Hannover Medical School. SUBJECTS: Thirty-three patients with primary Raynaud's syndrome (16 control, 17 treatment). INTERVENTIONS: The patients of the treatment group were given seven acupuncture treatments during the weeks 10 and 11 of the observation period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All patients kept a diary throughout the entire observation period noting daily frequency, duration and severity of their vasospastic attacks. A local cooling test combined with nailfold capillaroscopy was performed for all patients at baseline (week 1) and in weeks 12 and 23, recording flowstop reactions of the nailfold capillaries. RESULTS: The treated patients showed a significant decrease in the frequency of attacks from 1.4 day-1 to 0.6 day-1, P < 0.01 (control 1.6 to 1.2, P = 0.08). The overall reduction of attacks was 63% (control 27%, P = 0.03). The mean duration of the capillary flowstop reaction decreased from 71 to 24 s (week 1 vs. week 12, P = 0.001) and 38 s (week 1 vs. week 23, P = 0.02) respectively. In the control group the changes were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that traditional Chinese acupuncture is a reasonable alternative in treating patients with primary Raynaud's syndrome."
Kaada B 1982. Vasodilatation induced by transcutaneous nerve stimulation in peripheral ischaemia (Raynaud's phenomenon and diabetic polyneuropathy). European Heart Journal 3:303-314. RESULTS: Electrical stimualtion at acupoints at 2 Hz produced marked vasodilation in six patients.
Kaada B 1983 Promoted healing of chronic ulceration by transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS). VASA 12:262-269. CONCLUSIONS: “For chronic ulcers of various causes, acupuncture can bring about complete healing or marked improvement.”
Lundeberg T 1993. Peripheral effects of sensory nerve stimulation (acupuncture) in inflammation and ischemia. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 29(suppl): 61-86. RESULTS: For chronic diabetic ulcers, 40-60 minutes of daily treatment 5-7 days weekly for 12 weeks may be the minimum needed to produce a clinical response
Moehrle M, Blum A, Lorenz F, Roesch G, Steins A, Juenger M, Halun M 1995 Proceedings of the 2nd Asian Congress for Microcirculation, Beijing, p 10. RESULTS: Subjects with primary Raynaud’s syndrome who received acupuncture treatment recorded significant reduction in the attack rate and increase in blood flow
Bao JZ, Acupuncture treatment of Raynaud's disease--a report of 43 cases. J Tradit Chin Med. 1988 Dec;8(4):257-9
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