I have conducted clinical research concerning sciatica over the past thirty years. This research has been mainly concerned with the selection of appropriate treatment points, proof of the effectiveness of these points and operations performed at these points. In addition from the theoretical point of view I have studied the problem of determining prognosis and the question of why acupuncture-moxibustion treatment is effective in relieving pain.
The theme I have adopted for this report is a treatment method based on the pain mechanism I call Paraneural Acupuncture. Paraneural Acupuncture refers to the insertion of acupuncture needles directly into the area where pressure is being exerted on the nerve due to muscle tension in order to relieve this tension. For this purpose the proper treatment points inclued BL-24, (Fig. 2-3) EP, TENSHI, (Fig. 4-5) and GB-34 (Fig. 6). These points are added to formerly used treatment points.
Experiments with Paraneural Acupuncture were performed on 94 patients. Results were classified into four categories;
Excellent-referring to complete alleviation of symptoms
Good-referring to partial alleviation of symptoms
No Change-referring to no marked change in symptoms
Bad-referring to an impairment or worsening of symptoms
Of the 94 cases excellent results were observed in 73% of the cases, good results in 23% and no change in 3%. There were no cases in which bad results were observed. The average number of treatments was fourteen.
Comparing these results with the results obtained in 500 cases in which Paraneural Acupuncture was not used we find that the number of cases in which excellent results were observed increased by 10% using Paraneural Acupuncture, Sciatica was classified into five basic types. As is shown in (Fig. 8), Paraneural Acupuncture produced better results in each of the types. Also examining the cases in which excellent results were obtained we find that in all five types of sciatica the number of required treatments averaged three less than that required with regular acupuncture treatment. (Fig. 9)
As explained above, using the newly developed Paraneural Acupuncture more successful and quicker results in the treatment of sciatica were obtained. We can conclude that this was due to the use of this new treatment method.

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Many acupuncturists have experienced the effects of acupuncture for circulatory improvement, however experimental confirmation of their results is limited.
As we reported already the inhibiting effects on the cardiac beat when acupuncture is administered at the right supraorbital notch have been proven experimentally.
Since our last report, we have studied the changes of hemodynamics, using simultaneous recording of sphygmoplethysmography, electrocardiography and sphygmomanometry.
Acupuncture was administered at the left supraorbital notch. Measurements were taken six times; before treatment, during treatment, immediately after treatment, 30 seconds, 1 minute and 5 minutes after treatment. Experiments were performed on normal healthy adults. Subjects were divided at random into two groups; experimental group and control group.
Influences to peripheral vessels with supraorbital acupuncture included the acceleration of vascular contractions. The height of the pulse wave and the effect of cardiac beat action index dropped 40%, Arteriole volume elasticity increased 60%.
These changes began to occur during treatment and continued for 30 seconds after treatment. Five minutes after treatment the vascular contractions decreased.
It was observed that the cardiac cycle, RR time of ECG was prolonged when acupuncture was administered at the right supraorbital. On the other hand, acupuncture at the left side showed no effects.
QT time, phase of isovolumetric ventricular contractions, index of heart strength and ejection time did not change and influence to myocardial contractility was not observed.
Systolic blood pressure dropped 5mm Hg, however, diastolic blood pressure did not change.
It was formerly stated that stimulation to the right vagal nerve stimulated the cardiac cycle but on the left side had no influence. Our results did not contradict these statements.
In spite of unchanged myocardial contractility and accelerated peripheral vascular contractions, the blood pressure was depressed.
These results suggested that a decrease of left ventricular output was caused by the decrease of venous blood flow.
Therefore, the cardiac output will have to be studied precisely.

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Research Methods
The See-saw Method was one of the areas studied by Kobei Akabane. The point of most severe tenderness was located and marked in the afflicted area of contusions, sprains, arthritis, etc. The corresponding point of the healthy side of the body was also located and marked. The skin temperature at both points was checked. Strong stimulation(Quick insertion-quick withdrawal) was administered using a #10 needle at the point on the healthy side. Insertion depth was 5mm. Stimulation was repeated three times. The skin temperature was again measured at both points 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 minutes after stimulation.
Results: See attached chart.
Conclusion
Strong stimulation on the healthy side resulted in a drop in skin temperature at the area of inflammation on the afflicted side. A primary drop in temperature was also observed on the healthy side. This was followed by a rise in temperature.
These results serve as a prove that the See-saw Method can effect a change in skin temperature and other physiological reactions.

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1. Introduction
Recently a large number of patients come daily to the acupuncture clinic with complaints of shoulder-back and thoracic pain. These complaints in most cases stem from rear-end automobile collisions, too much golf, occupational fatigue, etc.
2. Cause and Prognosis
There are many various causes for shoulder-back and thoracic pain, however the most common is the occurrence of what is called the cervical syndrome. In most cases stationary insertion accompanied by electrical stimulation and moxibustion resulted in significant alleviation of symptoms, The number of treatments required ranged from one to several, with results observed most quickly in the treatment of younger patients.
3. Case Histories
Some cases of shoulder-back and thoracic pain do not respond easily to treatment, It is possible to spot and identify such adverse cases on the first examination.
Case 1: Y. I. 70 years Male Head of Farmers' Union
First examination-July 28, 1970
Complaints: Right shoulder-back and thoracic pain, cough, insomnia, loss of appetite.
Treatment: TH-16, BL-41, BL10, TH-15 Electrical stimulation was administered for seven minutes. This was accompanied by stationary insertion and moxibustion at SI-10, BL-43 and LI-11.
Progress: Relief of symptoms was reported immediately after treatment however regression to original state soon followed. After 11 treatments no improvement was observed. Patient was referred to a medical doctor.
Prognosis: Patient expired Nov. 8, 1973 of cancer of the right lung.
Case 2: F. S. 79 years Former major-general in military
First examination-Oct. 7, 1974
Complaints: Shoulder-back, thoracic pain, cough, motor restriction.
Treatment: Same as above.
Progress: Immediate relief of symptoms was reported after treatment however regression and impairment were reported the next day. Patient was referred to a medical doctor after 9 treatments.
Prognosis: Cancer of the esophagus, Patient expired Jan, 5, 1975.
(For Cases 3-9 see original report.)
4. Conclusion
Shoulder-back and thoracic pain usually result from the cervical syndrome and may be alleviated or cured through acupuncture-moxibustion therapy. In adverse cases not responding to acupuncture-moxibustion treatment the presence of a malignant tumor should be suspected.

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In my treatment of patients suffering from headache due to the common cold I discovered that in 8 out of 10 cases a single needle inserted at TH20 and left stationary for a period of from 15 to 30 minutes completely alleviated headache pain. Moreover, by adding BL10 and GB20 as treatment points in the remaining two cases it was possible to also relieve these headaches.
Since that time I have used TH20 as a general treatment point in my treatment of chronic headache. This point used alone is of course, not effective in all chronic cases, however, classifying headaches, regardless of cause (Headaches considered in these classifications are of course limited to those not due to serious causes.) according to the area of pain I was able to assign treatment points for various types of pain. Frontal
Headache: TH20, EP Taiyang
Vertex Pain: TH20, GV20
Occipital Pain: TH20, KAMITENCHU
(Upper BL10)
Temporal Pain: TH20, GB6
General Pain: TH20, GV20, GB20,
BL 10
Stationary insertion was used at these points preponderantly. Results showed that such treatment provided, immediately after treatment, relief of headache pain in 54 out of 57 cases, Repeated treatments resulted in complete cure of chronic headache in 32 cases, and slight alleviation of symptoms in 18 cases. Treatment proved ineffective in 7 cases.

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The Japanese word ZENSOKU refers to the appearance of symptoms of panting or gasping and dyspnea. It is mentioned in both SOMON and REISU, the oldest of the classical Chinese medical texts and has been used to describe this condition since long ago.
Symptoms include asthma, dyspnea, cough, phlegm, sneezing, and watery nasal discharge. Preliminary or pre-onset symptoms may or may not occur, but if they do they usually include nasal symptoms, throat irritation or tickle, feelings of pressure and or heaviness ness in the chest. Such symptoms usually continue to worsen and eventually lead to asthma and dyspnea.
Bronchial asthma attacks usually occur in the late night or early morning hours thus most cases display no obvious symptoms at the time of clinical observation. For this reason, I usually ask the patient to complete a questionnaire concerning the history and conditions of his illness. Then, based on the frequency and severity of the attacks, I classify his case as severe, moderate, or mild. One to three affirmative answers on the questionnaire rate a “mild” rating, 4-7 affirmative answers, a “moderate” rating, and 8 or more affirmative answers, a “serious” rating.
Treatment methods include both general or essential treatment aimed at a general cure, as well as specific or symptomatic treatment directed at easing the attacks. Treatment results were evaluated in the following way. When after 5-100 treatments three or more major symptoms (asthma, dyspnea, cough, sneezing, nasal discharge) disappeared or were significantly alleviated these were considered good results. If symptoms did not recur within three years the patient was considered cured. When no significant change was observed this was called “no change”. When symptoms became more severe following treatment this was called “impairment”.
Following is a report of results of treatment administered to 57 patients (18 male including 9 infants and 39 female including 11 infants) between 1962 and 1970. Patients who discontinued treatments after one or two treatments were not included in these statistics.
Cure: 27 (Mild-23; Moderate-3: Severe-1)
Good: 18 (Mild-15; Moderate-2; Severe-1)
No change: 8 (Mild-2; Moderate-5; Severe-1)
Impairment: 4 (Mild-1; Moderate-2; Severe-1)
Ages of the patients ranged from O to 72 years.

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1. Introduction
The epipharyugeal syndrome was earlier named by ex-Prof. Shunzo Yamasaki of Osaka Medical College, Dept. of Otorhinology. This syndrome is characterized chiefly by throat irritation or the feeling that some foreign object has lodged itself in the throat as well as accompanying symptoms of neck and shoulder stiffness, headache, eye fatigue, upset stomach, dizziness, etc, I would like at this time to continue the re port of my study of this syndrome which I began at last year's conference, this time approaching it from a clinical point of view.
2. Treatment Methods
For the most part treatment involved electrical acupuncture therapy (neurometer, 200 mA) but in some cases other supplementary treatment methods such as low frequency stationary insertion, regular stationary insertion, moxibustion and intracutaneous needle therapy were added. Major treatment points included SI-16, LI-18, GB-20 and BL-10. In addition general element points were used in the face of various specific symptoms.
3. Results, Discussion and Conclusion
As this syndrome which is in effect a slight inflammation of the nose and throat area, through the autonomic nerves may become a difficult disease we can not ignore the autonomic nervous system, In Western medical therapy protargol is usually applied over the affected area however, often the application of protargol in the early stages proves very painful and may lead to severe headaches.
Such side effects do not appear when acupuncture therapy is administered; moreover symptoms are often relieved within 3-4 treatments (1-2 weeks). Also, as acupuncture therapy is directed at the adjustment and balance of the entire body, it is very effective in relieving accompanying symptoms.
As far as treatment methods are concerned, using regular acupuncture therapy alone it is possible to produce satisfactory results, however, for stiff shoulders and other difficult accompanying symptoms the addition of low frequency stationary insertion may be advisable. Such measures were found to relieve shoulder stiffness as well as the “foreign object sensation” in the throat.
This syndrome is still not completely understood however, it is not incorrect to say that one of the strong points of acupuncture is in this field, that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of this syndrome.
It is my hope that in the future supplementary work and study will be conducted in various fields. I at the same time have resolved that I will continue my own study for methods of treatment producing sounder, more reliable treatment results and shorter treatment periods.

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Pain is the most unbearable form of human suffering and one of the most prevalent of the complaints encountered in the acupuncture clinic, It is well known that acupuncture-moxibustion treatment is effective in relieving pain, however to what degree is it effective? Is it strong enough to alleviate pain which even narcotics sometimes fail to relieve, such as that of cancer patients in the terminal stages?
I administered acupuncture treatment to our patients at SHIOHIRA Hospital in Okinawa City including two lung cancer patients, one stomach cancer patient and one breast cancer patient.
Treatment methods and analysis of results Treatment points included reactive points in the most tender area as well as element points on the four extremities. Needles were rotated after insertion then left stationary for thirty minutes and rotated again before withdrawal. Results were considered successful when pain was relieved to the point that it was possible to discontinue the administration of narcotics.
Results of treatment
For both lung cancer patients treatment proved successful. The breast cancer patient reported a general improvement however the pain was not completely alleviated and it was not possible to discontinue medication. Therefore treatment was called ineffective. The use of narcotics in the stomach cancer case was not verified, therefore, although the acupuncture treatment successfully relieved pain we can not reach any conclusion from these results.
From the above results we can assume that it is possible to produce an analgesic effect using acupuncture as strong as that produced by narcotics howerer, as the examples in this experiment were few we must refrain from making any definite assertion at this time. However, we can say that as unlike narcotics acupuncture is not addictive and has no ill side effects, it is perhaps the safer of the two forms of analgesia.

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