Jason Jishun Hao, DOM, MTCM, MBA; Linda Lingzhi Hao, DOM, PhD; Thomas Hodge, DOM; John Scott, DOM, Golden Flower Chinese language Herbs
Chinese language scalp acupuncture is a contemporary method with solely 45 years of medical use in China and even much less right here within the West.1: It integrates conventional Chinese language acupuncture strategies with Western medical data of the cerebral cortex and has been confirmed to be the best method for treating dysphagia, dysarthria and different central nervous system issues.2:
Dysphagia is a progressive illness of the central nervous system that impacts half one million folks within the Americas and 1.3 million folks worldwide. At present, typical therapy doesn’t provide a remedy for dysphagia.
The accident
Kathleen (KS), a 58-year-old lady, introduced to the clinic two months after a automobile accident that left her unable to talk or swallow.
In response to his household, he had been taking an over-the-counter sleeping tablet for a number of days and had fallen asleep on the wheel. On June 28, 2015, whereas driving dwelling from a party (in her honor), she drove off the highway.
KS was not discovered till early the subsequent morning when her automobile was noticed overturned on its facet. He was unconscious and hanging the wrong way up from a seat belt. County EMS rushed him to the emergency division, the place medical doctors reported his situation as a “six” on the Glasgow Coma Scale.
Docs’ information
His notes element a teardrop fracture of the anterior phase of the decrease vertebral physique of C2 with no different proof of acute intracranial trauma. Nonetheless, there was a ligament damage within the again and an damage via the aspect joints.
Last twine contusion was dominated out. Surgical procedure was dominated out as a result of the fracture was secure and there have been no issues with cervical alignment of her backbone. He had 4 rib fractures bilaterally with liver harm.
Upon regaining consciousness greater than 24 hours later, KS had apparent indicators of dysphagia, dysphonia, and dysarthria, and a left brachial plexus damage leading to paralysis of the left higher extremity.
Throughout hospitalization, he underwent a bedside laryngoscopy (throat examination), which revealed partial weak point of the precise true vocal cords with inadequate compensation from the left true vocal cords.
Nonetheless, it was famous that there was no vital trauma to the pig. There was concern for a doable brainstem damage given the character of the cervical backbone damage, however additional analysis revealed no brainstem damage.
KS’s signs of dysphonia and dysphagia, nonetheless, prompted medical doctors on the hospital to debate doable harm to quite a few cranial nerve roots originating within the caudate brainstem accountable for swallowing and speech. These cranial nerves embody the glossopharyngeal (CN IX), vagus (X), and hypoglossal (CN XII) nerves.
Clinic evaluation
When KS introduced to our clinic on August 23, roughly two months after the accident, his speech was slurred and slurred. He nonetheless could not swallow, he wore a PEG tube for diet, and his left arm remained paralyzed.
Scientific analysis revealed that his extraocular actions have been intact. The left facet of his face confirmed left facial nerve (CN VII) weak point. As well as, KS had weak tongue protrusion (CN XII) and no hush reflex (CNX).
TCM differentiation of the patterns revealed a crimson tongue with a skinny white coat and a pulse that was skinny and winged. Though his sleep was good, he drained simply. His bowel and urinary habits have been unremarkable.
KS skilled no ache or different discomfort whereas the 5 needles have been inserted into her head. In the course of the first scalp acupuncture therapy, KS was in a position to increase his previously paralyzed left arm above his head. He tried to say a number of phrases that sounded extra comprehensible than earlier than.
Preliminary outcomes
When she returned to the clinic the next week, her left facial paralysis was considerably higher. His speech was now clearer, and he reported that he was respiratory extra deeply. He was sleeping higher and the pins and needles in his left higher arm have been getting higher.
The percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube had been eliminated the earlier Wednesday, the day after her first therapy. Then he demonstrated with a glass of water that he may now drink with out problem. He was consuming and consuming usually once more.
After the fifth therapy, KS was in a position to eat any sort of meals with out problem. His left arm turned stronger and he may choose up a number of mild objects together with his left hand. He may communicate virtually like a traditional individual, however his voice was considerably hoarse.
After the tenth scalp acupuncture therapy, she visited her second grade college students. Lots of the college students cried tears of pleasure after they heard their trainer communicate to them once more. Remedy with KS was continued as soon as weekly for 14 weeks.
Her paralysis in her left arm has improved with full vary of movement and power. He regained the flexibility to swallow and it was not regressing. Though his voice remained hoarse, his speech continued to enhance.
On February twenty fifth (8 months after the accident and 6 months after therapy), his tongue was barely crimson with a skinny white coating and his pulse was smooth. He started his return to instructing for the rest of the spring semester, working simply twice per week for 2 hours every day. He has since returned to work full-time.
Outcomes of the examine
This case report exhibits that scalp acupuncture seems to be a simpler modality for quicker enchancment in a affected person with dysphagia in comparison with different acupuncture modalities resembling ear, physique, and hand acupuncture.
Scalp acupuncture provides a strong rehabilitative software for dysphagia, aphasia, and paralysis. Most sufferers present some enchancment after three therapies and a few of them look higher in our clinic.
The scalp acupuncture formulation used to deal with the KS situation was primarily based on Jiao Shungfa’s scalp acupuncture method. Space I of speech and the “Zhiqiang (Cease Dysphagia)” level, a brand new further level for dysphagia, positioned one inch beneath GB-20 (Feng Chi), was embroidered to deal with dysphagia in addition to facial paralysis.
It Common 2/5 Engine Vary A needle was inserted on the precise facet of KS’s scalp on the other facet to deal with paralysis within the left arm. Needles have been stimulated manually by rotating the needles at 200 rpm for 2 minutes, then repeated each 10 minutes for 30–40 minutes.
Historically, acupuncture is used to manage the autonomic nervous system by affecting particular mind exercise.3: Within the case of KS, we stimulated areas of the mind related to facial motor capabilities and the muscle groups accountable for swallowing and speech.
By doing this, we have been in a position to encourage the central nervous system to encourage these peripheral motor pathways.4: This can be the mechanism by which head acupuncture is profitable in treating dysphagia.
Hyperlinks:
- Shun-fa Jiao. Head acupuncture. Beijing. Overseas Languages Publishing Home, 1993; pp. 17-22.
- Hao JJ, Hao LL. Chinese language Head Acupuncture. Boulder. Blue Poppy Press, 2011; 96.
- Qian-Qian Li, et al. “The Acupuncture Impact and Central Autonomic Regulation.” Proof-Based mostly Complementary and Alt Med; April 2013.
- Fleck H. “Acupuncture and Neurophysiology.” Bulletin of the New York Academy of MedicationSep 1975, 51 (8). 903-913.