In the previous report of case studies, it was concluded that traditional techniques of oriental medicine could be utilized toward promotion of the level of health.
Among many sorts of traditional techniques of oriental medicine, moxibustion is thought to be one of the most practical methods of self-care. In this report, we wish to mention some of the roles and problems of the care system of oriental medicine utilizing moxibustion for patients with chronic health problems in present-day medicine.
The clinical records of the patients which consist of 149 males and 246 females over 40 years old were investigated. Of these patients, during the first course (for about 40 to 90 days), 67% (263) had been under both of our care and other hospitals' treatment, and 81% (321) had practiced moxibustion in the limbs or the back at home at least 3 times a week and 56% (139) of female patients had practiced in the back.
The patient of the demonstrated case, who was a 72 year old female, complained of a decrease in left vision, asthenopia, tinnitus and other chronic health problems involved in several life events. After she pacticed moxibustion with us, she was finally relieved of her health problems. We believe that she consistently accepted the oculist's treatment and our care, because the oculist treated her from a viewpoint of specialty while we cared for her holisticly.
From the above results and case, the following can be concluded;
1. The care system of oriental medicine utilizing moxibustion can play a complemental role in present-day medicine from a holistic, inclusive point of view.
2. As a social factor which interfares with practical uses of moxibustion, there is a difficulty in securing manpower that practices moxibustion in the back, particularly for middle or advanced aged females.

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To study the efficacies of acupuncture (tapping technique) to the scalenus muscle (SC) used with acupuncture to the minor pectoralis muscle (MP) in patients with SC and MP syndromes, the plethysmograms (PTG) of the second finger during the Allen's and Wright's tests were measured with photo plethysmograph.
The neck was rotated 40 degrees to opposite direction, and then the acupuncture needle was inserted into the strained SC and tapping technque was perfomed.
As a result, this technique reduced markedly the decrease of PTG during two tests associated with improvements of symptoms such as dullnesses (numbness).
It was suggested thut this technique may releaf the muscle tension.

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[in Japanese]

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We compared the results of heating the joint and of applying the Hot-spike and electric stimulus to the YUSEN and SANINKO points to disperse the fluid at the Knee.
The tests with the points resulted in little change in the fluid level at the Knee.
This time we measured the circumference of the Knee. A therapist established the standard measuring method, and tried to make the error decrease.
While they were observing the circumference of the Knee, they would not allow anyother medical treatments or any movement by the patient.

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The effects of electro-acupuncture on the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and regional cerebral glucose utilization (rCMRglc) are unknown.
We examined the rCBF and rCMRglc in five normal adult volunteers and ten patients with cerebrovascular accident and brain tumor using positron emission tomography (PET) in order to investigate the effects of acupuncture on functions of central nerve system.
The stimulation by electro-acupuncture was performed on HOKU and SHOU-SANLI on one side. Electro-acupuncture was done for 10 minutes, at the frequency of 2Hz to cause a slight muscle twich. The rCBF and rCMRglc in volunteers were mearsured before and after electro-acupuncture stimulation.
The results are as follows;
1) On the OM45mm slice image, stimulation to HOKU and SHOU-SANLI on one side increased the rCBF and rCMRglc of frontal and temporal lobe on the opposite side of stimulation.
2) On the OM80mm slice image, electro-acupuncture incrased the rCBF and rCBFglc of frontal and temporal lobe on both the right and left side.
These results suggest that stimulation of electro-acupuncture may influences the rCBF and rCMRglc.

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We examined electric characteristics of the acupoints as compared with non-acupoints, and studied the changes of capillary blood flow due to electro-acupuncture in order to examine the relation between the direction of electric current and the meridian Qi flow direction which was described traditionally. Electrophysiological characteristics of the meridian & acupoint were as follows.
(1) From the analysis of electric current waveform between the acupoints (LI4 and LI10) in comparison with non-acupoints, the impedance of acupoints was smaller than non-acupoints. And this difference between the acupoints and non-acupoints was also verified by vector impedance meter.
(2) Electro acupuncture at LI4 and LI10 induced a significant increase in capillary blood flow when the direction of negative ionic flow corresponded with classical meridian Qi flow direction. On the other hand when the negative ionic flow was regarded as opposite direction to classical meridian Qi flow, capillary blood flow was not increased. Therefore the relationship between the direction of bioionic flow (negative ionic flow) and meridian Qi flow direction was postulated.

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