clinical practice, particular techniques and special issues

150 Pages·2011·12.87 MB·English

by  Intech Prepress

ACUPUNCTURE –
CLINICAL PRACTICE,
PARTICULAR TECHNIQUES
AND SPECIAL ISSUES

Edited by Marcelo Saad
Acupuncture – Clinical Practice, Particular Techniques and Special Issues
Edited by Marcelo Saad

Published by InTech
Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Copyright © 2011 InTech
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Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic
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Image Copyright Yanik Chauvin, 2010. Used under license from Shutterstock.com

First published August, 2011
Printed in Croatia

A free online edition of this book is available at www.intechopen.com
Additional hard copies can be obtained from [email protected]

Acupuncture – Clinical Practice, Particular Techniques and Special Issues,
Edited by Marcelo Saad
p. cm.
ISBN 978-953-307-630-0
free online editions of InTech
Books and Journals can be found at
www.intechopen.com

Contents

Preface IX
Part 1 Clinical Practice 1
Chapter 1 Acupuncture for Disorders of Consciousness -
A Case Series and Review 3
Wen-Long Hu, Yu-Chiang Hung and Chih-Hao Chang
Chapter 2 Use of Acupuncture for the Chronic Neck Pain:
Application to Adults as Part of Primary Health Care 29
Camila da Silva Gonçalo, Jorge Vas and Antonio Carlos Pereira
Chapter 3 Molecular Evidence:
EA May Inhibit the Muscle Atrophy 43
Yutaka Takaoka, Mika Ohta and Aki Sugano
Chapter 4 The Treatment of Vascular Dementia
in Acupuncture Based on Syndromes Differentiation 59
Liangdeng Zhang, Jie Wang, Kuiwu Yao and Ji Zhang
Chapter 5 An Evidence-Based Review of Acupuncture
in Osteoporosis and Fracture-Related Pain 69
Jenson Mak and Louise Mak
Part 2 Particular Techniques 81
Chapter 6 Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture (YNSA):
Development, Principles, Safety,
Effectiveness and Clinical Applications 83
Thomas Schockert
Chapter 7 Toyohari Meridian Therapy: A Form of Acupuncture
that Challenges our Assumptions while Opening
New Vistas for Explorations of Acupuncture 99
Kylie O’Brien and Stephen Birch
VI Contents

Part 3 Special Issues 113
Chapter 8 Acupuncture for Inpatients in General Hospitals –
Special Features of this Service 115
Marcelo Saad, Mario Sergio Rossi Vieira,
Liliana Lourenço Jorge and Roberta de Medeiros
Chapter 9 Acupuncture Transmitted Infections 123
Patrick CY Woo, Ada WC Lin and Susanna KP Lau

Preface

Acupuncture is growing in popularity world-wide. Since it started to be scientifically
studied in the 1970’s decade, acupuncture is conquering position as an efficient and
safe therapeutic method. The amount of cumulated scientific evidence is already
enough to guarantee a highly detached status for acupuncture among other
complementary therapies. In many countries, acupuncture is well integrated into the
conventional health system. Therefore, the value of acupuncture has been well
consolidated. However, there are several factors that affect the perception of
acupuncture.
The mechanisms of action of acupuncture are not entirely clear. Although we have
many pieces of this puzzle, it is not still complete neither entirely mounted. Another
debilitating element is the absence of a convincing model of sham acupuncture for a
control group in clinical trials. All this facts, allied to inappropriate prejudice and
unfamiliarity, reinforce the false notion that acupuncture works mainly due to placebo
effect. Therefore, there is still the issue of the absence of a universal consensus about
the degree in which acupuncture can be independent to the traditional chinese
medicine.
However, acupuncture can also be sustained by itself. Currently, it is practiced in
more than 160 countries and regions. The UNESCO (United Nations Education,
Scientific and Cultural Organization) inscribed acupuncture on its List of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. There cannot be larger acclamation
than these.
Acupuncture and related techniques are useful tools for treating a spectrum of
diseases. But there are still many areas of controversy. We hope this book can
contribute to guide the advance of this ancient medical art.
In this book, the reader will find texts wrote by authors from different parts of the
world. The chapters cover strategic areas to collaborate with the consolidation of the
knowledge in acupuncture. The book doesn’t intend to solve all the questions
involved in this issue. The main objective is to share elements to make acupuncture
more and better offered at health systems worldwide.
X Preface

The book contents information about Acupuncture Clinical Practice, Particular
Technics and Special Issues. I believe reading of this edition will be useful and
pleasant.
With Best Regards

Marcelo Saad, MD, PhD
Physiatrist and Acupuncturist at Rehabilitation Center,
Hospital Albert Einstein,
Brazil