Acupoint therapy
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2008-07-02T03:48:49Z
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'''Acupoint Therapy''' is an extension of Willy Penzel's modern APM system (Akupunkt Massage), and it involves the stimulation of [[acupuncture]] [[acupuncture point|points]] or [[Meridian (Chinese medicine)|meridians]] with a therapy stick. This differs from acupuncture which uses needles, [[acupressure]] or [[shiatsu]] which uses massage. Under the [[scientific]] standards of [[evidence-based medicine]], there is insufficient evidence as to whether acupoint therapy is effective.
[[Sweden]] is one of the foremost countries using and developing this therapy.
==Physiology==
The starting point is traditional Chinese Medicine, which teaches that along the body runs a series of meridians. Each meridian is said to have a specific function, and each of the points along that meridian is claimed to have a different effect on that meridian and indeed on other parts of the body and the energy system.
Half the meridians are said by Acupoint therapists to be [[Yin and yang|yin]], which they say seems to correspond to the [[parasympathetic nervous system]]. In this theory stimulating these meridians leads to relaxation, a slower heart, reduced blood pressure, muscular release, etc. The other half of the meridians are therefore [[Yin and yang|yang]], which is said to produce increased [[sympathetic nervous system]] activity - tension, a faster heart beat, higher blood pressure, and more contraction in the muscles.
Acupoint Therapy focuses on bringing the yin and yang (parasympathetic and sympathetic) back into balance.
==Treatment==
The therapy stick looks a bit like something a [[dentist]] would put into your mouth, but at the end it has a small ball with a diameter of just a couple of millimeters.
One form of treatment involves the stimulation with the therapy stick along a meridian. This causes [[vasodilation]], thereby stimulating the meridian. (You can see this on yourself by running a pointy blunt object (like a match stick) along your inner forearm. After a few minutes, you'll see a red line appearing where you traced the line. Sometimes you'll see a line - which is [[vasoconstriction]].)
Another treatment method involves stimulating individual points, rather than a length of the meridian.
==Science and acupoint therapy==
There is scientific agreement that health outcomes should be assessed via an [[evidence based medicine]] framework and that systematic reviews with strict protocols are needed.
Sixty-four patients in two trials have been studied to assess possible scientific support for acupoint therapy [http://www.neurodynamik.se/Scientific_basis_of_Acupoint_Therapy.pdf]. As of July 2006, acupoint therapy has not been the subject of any peer-reviewed EBM review. Under EBM, there is insufficient evidence as to whether acupoint therapy is effective.
==See also==
* [[Acupressure]]
* [[Tui na]]
* [[Gua Sha]]
==References==
* Clinical Journal of Pain, Vol. 12; (1996) 326-239; Felhendler
* "Relationship of Acupuncture Points and Meridians to Connective Tissue Planes"; The Anatomical Record (New Anat.) 2002 269:257-265; Langevin & Yandow
* "Akupunktmassage nach Penzel versus klassische Teilmassage und Einzel- versus Gruppenkrankengymnastik bei chronischen Rückenschmerzen -- eine randomisierte, kontrollierte klinische Studie in 2 × 2-faktoriellem Design" (rough translation:Acupuncture-massage after Penzel versus Classic Swedish massage in chronic low back pain. A randomized, controlled clinical study in a 2x2 factorial design) Research in Complementary Medicine 2000 7(6)286-293 Franke, A., Gebauer, S., Franke, K.,Brockow, T.
==External links==
* [http://www.neurodynamik.se/eng_akupunkturterapi.htm Acupoints]
* [http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/exam/specialties_cancer2acupoints.html Acupoints for cancer patients]
* [http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/treatment/acupuncture_points.html Body Points with Special Therapeutic Effects]
[[Category:Massage]]
[[Category:Acupuncture]]
[[Category:Manipulative therapy]]