To re-examine the effectiveness of spa bathing for chronic pain. The comparison study was between spa bathing and usual hot baths, with 41 patients, 7 with rheumatoid arthritis, 11 with cerebrovascular hemiplegia, and 23 with vibration syndrome.
The patients bathed once a day for 10min, at 40°C and then once a day for six consecutive days for 10min. at 40°C
There was not much correlation between blood circulation and chronic pain: but spa bathing showed a significant longterm improvement in lessening pain than did hot bathing. The spa bathing in lessening was most efficacious 120min. and 180min. after bathing.

抄録全体を表示

The therapeutic effect of low-energy He-Ne laser irradiation on rat adjuvant arthritis was evaluated by observing the changes in foot volume and in histology of ankle joints. Five mg/ml of emulsion of Freund's complete adjuvant and tubercle bacilli was given to nine Lewis rats and He-Ne laser irradiation (632.5nm, 8.5mw) was started 4 weeks later. Ten-minute irradiation was given three times a week for 8 weeks on either the right or left foot. A significant decrease in foot volume in the irradiated feet was observed in the first week. The foot volume continuously decreased for 5 weeks, but a significant decrease in the non-irradiated feet was shown only after 6 weeks. The rats were killed at the end of the eighth week and histological changes were compared between the irradiated and the non-irradiated feet. No difference was observed in the bone or cartilage. However, a tendency that the irradiated feet had fewer blood vessels, less cellular infiltrates and stronger fibrosis was found in the synovium.
He-Ne laser irradiation seemed to reduce foot swelling faster and accelerate histological changes. Laser irradiation on a joint may be more effective at an early stage of inflammation.

抄録全体を表示

Object: There is a saying in the classics as follows; “The key to acupuncture is to control Shén (the spirit)” (Emperor's Canon of Medicine). This saying emphasizes that control of the spirit is the fundamental principle of clinical application of acupuncture and moxibustion. The term “spirit” here implies function of the central nervous system in a broad sense. For the purpose of examining the effect of needle stimulation on the function of the central nervous system, research was conducted applying electroencephalographic (EEG) topography and positron CT.
Methods: The research was conducted on 30 subjects consisting of healthy adult volunteers and patients with various diseases. Two types of stimulation, electric needle stimulation and TEAS, were adopted. Sites of stimulation were IC₁₀ Shousanli-IC₄ Hoku, bilateral VF₁₂ Head-Wanku, and G₃₆ Tsusanli-LP₆ Shanyinchiao. Stimulation at a frequency of 2Hz was administered at such an intensity that a light muscular twitching was induced at the sites of stimulation. Electrization was conducted for 10-20 minutes. EEG topography was performed according to the ten-twenty electrode system. EEG was recorded by unipolar leads from 12 sites on the scalp, and was analyzed mainly on EEG topograms obtained before, during, and after the stimulation, using an EEG topography system (Nihon Denki Sanei Sokki Co.). Concerning positron CT, qualitative measurement (¹¹C-CO₂ and ¹¹C-glucose) and quantitative measurement (¹⁵O₂ and C¹⁵O₂) were conducted. Data was collected using HEADTOM (Shimazu Seisakujo Co.). The region of interest was identified in the brain using image processing apparatus for medical acupuncture use, and pictures obtained by positron CT before, during and after stimulation was analyzed.
Results:
1) Changes in EEG power of the EEG topogram were observed in all cortical regions, especially in the area from the frontal lobe to the occipital lobe. The subjects could be divided into two types, the type in which the power increased only in the α zone, and the type in which the power both increased in θ and α zones.
2) Positron CT revealed that “dé-qi” (the acupuncture feeling) transiently invigorates the paleocortex and the neocortex, and exerts influences on a wide range of cranial nervous cells via the A₁₀ nerve.
3) Variation in regional cerebral blood flow induced by the electric needle stimulation was 15-20ml/100g brain tissue/min on average.
Conclusion: Comfortable stimulation by the needle method is effective in eliminating disharmony between the neocortex and the paleocortex, regulating the function of the autonomic nerves, and stabilizing the spirit.

抄録全体を表示

Two patients with spondylosis deformans and three patients with psychosomatic disease were treated by partial bathing with artificial spring of sodium sulfate. Fifteen minutes a day of bathing in artificial spring water prepared by dissolving 1000mg of sodium sulfate into 1 liter of 38°C-tap water was continued for one month.
Based on the findings on thermography, temperature changes were classified into four types. Correlation was found in three types as follows: p<0.01 in the crossing type, p<0.01 in the converging type, p<0.001 and p<0.05 in the ascending type. No correlation was found in the diffusing type. Plethysmography revealed a significant difference in the converging type and also a difference of p<0.01 in the diffusing type. MCV disclosed a slower change in temperature on the affected side than on the normal side. Blood gas analysis revealed a slight increase in PO₂, SATO₂ after one month of bathing. Subjective symptoms were improved from point 9 to point 3 to 4 on the VAS scale. Numbness changed from the trembling stage to the slightly smarting sensation stage. Psychroesthesia disappeared from all patients.
A combination of nerve block therapy and warm bath cure with sodium sulfate brought good therapeutic results in patients with chronic pain including psychosomatic disease.

抄録全体を表示

To check the thermal insulation effects of blankets and aluminum film, changes in temperature at the tympanic membrane and at the deep body of the dorsum manus and pedis were measured on healthy adult male subjects. No marked change in temperature was found at the tympanic membrane, implying no influence on the brain temperature. In both the blanket and aluminum film groups, the temperature at the deep body of the dorsum manus and pedis increased significantly, but the temperature increase rate was larger in the aluminum film group than in the blanket group. A particularly significant difference between the two groups was recognized in the temperature at the deep body of the dorsum pedis.
The above results revealed that aluminum film had a larger thermal insulation effect and weighed less than a blanket, so aluminum films is more useful than blankets as insulation material.

抄録全体を表示

According to the Peruvian National Tourist Board there are 139 spas with 301 sources in Peru. Most abundant are the Na-Cl springs and Mg-SO₄, HCO₃ springs.
90% of the hot springs have a water temperature above 40°C and 75% are situated over 2000m above sea level.
Machu-Picchu Hot Springs and Banos del Inca in Cajamarca were visited. Both springs belong to Na-Cl type and to promote tourism and spa treatment further improvements in traffic conditions, accomodation and cure facilities are expected to develop.

抄録全体を表示