Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2010. / "Graduate Program in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-99).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leave 72-91).

No description available.

Background: Lateral elbow pain (LEP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal pains of the upper limbs. There is no substantial evidence of efficacy, particularly in the long-term use, of current conservative treatment options, many of which also carry considerable side effects. Finding a safe and effective treatment for LEP is therefore of high significance. Acupuncture is a popular form of complementary and alternative medicine for treating pain and dysfunction associated with musculoskeletal conditions, including LEP. Multi-center acupuncture randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are still relatively novel. However, they have methodological advantages over single-center RCTs, which lead to an enhanced external validity and generalizability of their results. On the other hand, pattern diagnosis, which is the basis for individualized treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been used in the treatment of LEP clinically, but such practice has not been standardized and its basis not understood. Study of pattern diagnosis in LEP may provide a better understanding of the nature of LEP and lead to better treatment outcomes in future clinical trials.;Conclusion: Our findings suggest that acupuncture is effective and safe in the treatment of LEP. Further international multi-center RCTs are suggested to investigate the long-term (3-6 months post-treatment) efficacy as well as the effect of individualized, pattern-based acupuncture (and moxibustion) for LEP. The subtypes of LEP discovered by the combined use of TCM pattern diagnosis and thermal imaging may be important in the understanding of LEP and may also be used to improve individualized treatment approach for this and other musculoskeletal disorders.;Methods: (1) A systematic review of acupuncture for LEP that included Chinese language studies and that used revised STRICTA criteria to appraise acupuncture procedures would first be performed. Based on the findings of the first study we then would (2) conduct an international, collaborative multi-center RCT of acupuncture for LEP; (3) systematically review TCM patterns for LEP; (4) conduct a Delphi study to create a LEP pattern questionnaire; and (5) investigate if distinct temperature profiles were associated with LEP patterns, using the LEP pattern questionnaire developed prior.;Results: The main findings are as follows: (1) results from previous acupuncture RCTs for LEP were inconclusive due to low methodological quality; (2) compared to sham laser, acupuncture showed a medium effect size (d = 0.48) in improvement of functional impairment of the elbow; (3) four major LEP patterns, that had unique features with distinct bio- physiological correlations were identified; (4) an LEP pattern questionnaire to assist and standardize LEP pattern diagnosis was created; and (5) we found for the first time that different TCM patterns had distinct skin temperature profiles, and such profiles might reflect different pathophysiological processes amongst LEP sufferers.;We set out to (1) review the current evidence of efficacy for acupuncture treatment of LEP; (2) to obtain evidence of efficacy for acupuncture treatment of LEP; (3) to review the diagnostic methods of Chinese medicine in the treatment of LEP; (4) to improve the diagnostic methods of Chinese medicine for the treatment of LEP; and (5) to determine if different TCM patterns are each associated with distinct, objective physiological changes in LEP.

《鍼經指南》為元代竇默，字漢卿，所著。其所記載的鍼刺手法上承《黃帝內經》、《難經》，下啟《金鍼賦》、《玉龍歌》、《鍼灸大成》等，為鍼刺手法發展史上里程碑，亦是後世各種複式手法發展的啟蒙。 本文通過對《鍼經指南》相關鍼刺手法的篇章進行整理，從＂呼吸補瀉＂、＂燃轉補瀉＂、＂提插補瀉＂、＂迎隨補瀉＂、＂寒熱補瀉＂，及＂手指補瀉十四法＂等方面展開分析，分別探討《鍼經指南》的學術淵源和《鍼經指南》對元明時期鍼刺手法發展的影響。最後將相關醫家觀點與《鍼經指南》中鍼刺手法理論進行對比分析，討論其異同點。 通過資料整理，學術思想的對比分析，筆者總結《鍼經指南》對鍼刺手法理論主要貢獻是：1.提出調息治神法﹔ 2.熱補涼瀉復合補瀉手法﹔ 3.＂提鍼豆許＂手法技巧﹔ 4.＂瀉南補北＂迎隨補瀉理論。元代與明代主要鍼灸醫家的手法技巧和鍼刺理論均從《鍼經指南》的內容中發展與推衍出來。 根據研究結果顯示，鍼刺手法自《鍼經指南》后空前發展。鍼刺補瀉理論體系更加完善，手法操作更加繁複。符合由簡而繁的事物發展規律。此外，後世醫家在臨床實踐中將《鍼經指南》的鍼刺手法理論與當代文化思想結合并產生新的鍼刺手法及鍼刺理論，從另一方面體現了理論與實踐相結合的哲學思想。 關鍵詞：誠刺手法﹔《鍼經指南》﹔竇漢卿

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Introduction: Myofascial pain syndrome is often seen in clinical practice as a cause for pain. It is characterized as a dull ache to a burning pain that can cause referral of pain to other areas of the body (Travell and Simons, 1999). One method used to treat this, is by dry-needling therapy (DNT). DNT has proved to be effective in the treatment of myofascial pain, but it has shown to cause post needling soreness. This soreness discourages many patients from receiving further dry-needling or treatment (Kamanli et al. 2005). Ways to help alleviate post-soreness are heat, stretching, ultrasound and application of pressure (Fleckenstein et al. 2010). All these modalities are done after the needle has been removed. This then adds an extra modality to the treatment as well as increased treatment time; therefore these modalities are often skipped by practitioners (Hong, 1994). Another factor to look at is that many of these modalities have not been researched objectively for effectiveness on relieving the post-needling soreness (Kamanli et al. 2005). Using a moxi cigar, placed on top of the acupuncture needle whilst inserted into the active trigger point is a way in which heat as a modality to treat post-needling soreness can be combined into the needling time. Aim of study: The aim was to investigate if heat conduction using a moxi cigar is an effective modality in alleviating post-needling soreness when treating myofascial pain syndrome with DNT. Methodology: The trial comprised of 90 participants divided randomly into three equal groups. Group 1 received DNT of active trigger point 1 of the trapezius muscle only. Group 2 received DNT of active trigger point 1 of the trapezius muscle, with the addition of the burning moxi cigar to conduct heat through the acupuncture needle to the trigger point. Group 3 received DNT of active trigger point 1 of the trapezius muscle, followed by 5 minutes of ultrasound therapy over the acupoint. Each participant was treated once with readings being recorded pre-treatment, post-treatment and then final readings were taken 24 hours post-treatment. Subjective data was in the form of a numerical pain scale questionnaire and a pain diary. Objective data was CROM and algometer readings. Data analysis: data collected by the researcher was analyzed with the help of a statistician at STATKON at the University of Johannesburg. After consultation, it was concluded that results would be analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk test for normality and Levene’s test for equal variances. For all objective data collected, parametric testing would be used on objective data. The parametric tests used were: One way Anova and Post Hoc test. For subjective data, non-parametric testing was used on subjective data namely: Kruskal Wallis, Wilcoxon-signed rank and Mann-Whitney U test. Conclusion: Based on the results, clinically, the study showed that dry needling with the addition of ultrasound or moxibustion, as a treatment for post-needling soreness did appear to have better results. The use of these two added modalities did ease post-needling soreness which for many patients is the reason they don’t wish to receive further dry-needling treatment. When using moxibustion the post-needling soreness is eased. This added treatment can be used during the dry needling and does not require additional treatment time for the practitioner or for the patient. To conclude, the efficacy of using a moxibustion to alleviate post-needling soreness has been seen clinically. This treatment can be used with minimal addition treatment time and could be used in clinical practice.

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of homoeopathic hetero-isotherapeutic treatment to auricular acupuncture in smoking cessation. The study was a clinical trial, in which the two different treatment forms were compared. The study required sixty participants. The participants were paired and randomly divided into two groups. The first group received homoeopathic treatment, whilst the second group received auricular acupuncture treatment. The study took place over a six-week period, in which each participant completed a one-week screening period before and after the four-week treatment period began. During the initial consultation, participants were required to complete a questionnaire under the researcher's supervision. The questionnaire included the Fagerstrom tolerance test to determine the participant's dependence on nicotine. Each participant recorded a daily cigarette consumption log before, during and after treatment. Median values of the daily cigarette consumption were calculated and then statistically analysed. Prior to treatment, no significant different in daily cigarette consumption was found between the two groups. Consequent to treatment, both the auricular acupuncture group and the homoeopathic hetero-isotherapeutic group were found to show a significant decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked. At 6 weeks the cessation rate for the homoeopathic hetero-isotherapeutic group was 20%, and that of the auricular acupuncture group was 16.7%. Although there was no statistical difference between the two groups after treatment, the homoeopathic hetero-isotherapeutic treatment group showed a 3.3% improvement over the auricular acupuncture group. From the results, it was apparent that both the auricular acupunture treatment and the homoeopathic hetero-isotherapeutic treatment were effective in smoking cessation.

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目的：主要通過對激痛點相關文獻的收集與分析，初步探究激痛點治療慢性頭痛的針刺取穴方案，同時與傳統針灸的取穴和治療方案進行對比，以總結出兩者的區別和聯繫，為進一步提高治療頭痛的臨床水準提供依據，並為治療慢性頭痛拓寬臨床思路。方法：本文通過對國內外期刊文獻資料庫（ Pubmed 、CNKI 等）進行檢索，搜集激痛點及傳統針灸治療頭痛的有關內容，從頭頂痛、頭後部疼痛、最頁部頭痛及額部頭痛四個部位進行歸納總結。激痛點將從不同肌肉引起相關部位頭痛著手，而傳統針灸將從陽明經頭痛、太陽經頭痛、厥陰經頭痛及少陽經頭痛的取穴方案進行分類。結果： 1 、激痛點治療頭頂痛主要針刺胸鎖乳突肌胸骨部、頭夾肌、枕額肌的激痛點。傳統針灸療法治療頭頂痛局部選穴為百會、後頂、前頂﹔遠端選穴為合穀、中院、足三裡、公孫、太沖、內關。在治療頭頂痛時，巔頂為厥陰經走行之處，但與激痛點相近的穴位中無歸厥陰經的穴位。但頭夾肌的激痛點（與風池相近）為常見治療各部位頭痛的選穴之一。2 、激痛點治療頭後部疼痛主要針刺斜方肌TrPl 、胸鎖乳突肌胸骨部、胸鎖乳突肌鎖骨部、頭半棘肌、頸半棘肌、頸夾肌、枕部下肌肉群、枕肌、二腹肌及舌骨上肌群、顳肌TrP4 的激痛點。傳統針灸療法治療頭後部疼痛局部選穴為天柱、風池、風門、風府、大椎、百會﹔遠端取穴為申脈、後溪、昆侖。激痛點療法與傳統針灸在天柱、風池穴有位置的相近或重合。3 、激痛點治療顳部頭痛主要針刺斜方肌TrPl 、胸鎖乳突肌胸骨部、顳肌（ TrP1、2 、3 ）、頸夾肌、枕部下肌肉群、頭半棘肌的激痛點。傳統針灸療法治療顛部疼痛局部選穴為太陽、絲竹空、角孫、率谷﹔遠端選穴為風池、合穀、足臨泣、外關。在治療顳部頭痛中，量頁肌的激痛點與太陽穴相近。4 、激痛點治療額部頭痛主要針刺胸鎖乳突肌鎖骨部、胸鎖乳突肌胸骨部、頭半棘肌、額肌、顴大肌的激痛點。傳統針灸療法治療額部頭痛局部選穴為印堂、上星、陽白、頭維﹔遠端選穴為內庭、解溪、合谷、曲池、足三裡。兩者在陽白穴有位置的相近或重合，其中額大肌的激痛點與地倉相近，同屬陽明經。結論：激痛點和傳統針灸療法治療慢性頭痛既有相似之處，又存在差異。1 、兩者在理論基礎、治療方式、針刺後效應及治療病種方面皆存在不同。2 、同時，兩者在位置及取穴手段上又有一定的相似和重合。其中激痛點的選穴，與傳統針灸的局部選穴比較類似。但激痛點取穴不限於疼痛局部，還會在疼痛稍遠但與疼痛部位有直接或稍間接的聯繫處選穴針刺。而傳統針刺，常會配合四肢遠端取穴。關鍵字：激痛點取穴﹔頭痛﹔文獻綜述