To clarify the effect of acupuncture on the skeletal muscle blood flow, measurements of muscle blood flow by hydrogen gas clealance method were taken on the left anterior tibial muscles of thirty rabbits (weighing about 2.5 to 3.3 kg) anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (35mg/kg, i.v.). Arterial blood pressure in the common carotid artery and body temperature were also measured.
Blood flow was measured 6 times every 10 min. In the stimulation group, acupuncture needles were inserted into the center of the anterior tibial muscle before the third measurement and “sparrow pecking” was performed, then the needles were removed. In the denervation group, the sciatic nerve was cut to observe the influence of denervation on the effect of acupuncture.
In the stimulation group (n=12), a significant increase in blood flow to the muscles occurred after acupuncture stimulation, compared with the control group (n=12). The increase in blood flow in the stimulation group was maintained until the final measurement. Arterial blood pressure and body temperature did not change.
The blood flow values in the second and third measurements were 18.1 ± 2.2, and 17.6 ± 2.4, respectively, in the control group, and 17.8 ± 1.8 and 25.9 ± 2.2 ml/min/ 100g (mean ± S.E.) in the stimulation group. The changes in blood flow values from the second to the third measurement were -0.5 ± 0.3 ml/min/100g in the control group, and +8.2 ± 2.0 ml/min/100g in the stimulation group. An increase in blood flow after acupuncture stimulation also occurred in the denervation group (n=3).
Despite there being no change in arterial blood pressure. blood flow was increased after acupuncture stimulation, and the increment of blood flow after acupuncture stimulus was also observed in the denervation group. Therefore, the increment of blood flow seems to have been caused by vasodilation of the blood vessels induced by axon reflex.

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A patient with uterine cervical cancer underwent radical operation and radiotherapy in 1956 and subsequently began to suffer from impaired bowel movements. For the next 40 years, a large amount of cathartics was used to induce defecation, a urination was induced by applying abdominal pressure, but a large volume of urine remained. In this patient, the effects of acupuncture treatment were evaluated using the vesical residual urine volume as measured by abdominal ultrasonography. After acupuncture treatment, defecation became easily, and the amount of cathartics could be reduced. Simultaneously, spontaneous urination became possible, and residual urine disappeared.

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Over a fairly long period, we have been observing the recovery progress of a patient who, complaining of stress induced headaches stemmins from whiplashinjury, chose to abandon conventional medicine in favor of acupuncture and moxibustion.
This patient had been experiencing head-aches as a result of rehabilitation, TENS treatment and psychological stress, and other causes. However, immediately after acupuncture and moxibustiontreatment, the headaches would either disappear entirely, or their severity would be greatly reduced. As a result, the patient was able to easily resume ordinary daily activities which had previously been severely restricted. We cannot help but conclude that there is astrong connection between the acupuncture treatment and the patient's return to a normal life.

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