TITLE:
The effects of application of an ancient type of acupuncture needle on increase in urination of hospitalized oldest-old people
AUTHORS:
Mayumi Watanabe, Osamu Takano, Chikako Tomiyama, Jianjun Guan, Guanhui Hou, Hidetoshi Mori, Kazushi Nishijo, Toru Abo, Kohei Akazawa
KEYWORDS:
Di-Zhen (DZ); Acupuncture; Oldest-Old; Autonomic Nervous System (ANS); Leukocyte; Urination; Terminal Care
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.7,
July
16,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The di-zhen (DZ) is
an ancient type of acupuncture needle with a history dating back to more than
2000 years. Unlike modern acupuncture needles, the DZ is not inserted
subcutaneously and is considered to be safe for common use, even at the bedside
of terminally ill patients. In this case study, DZ application was selected and
applied 14 times on a 92-year-old patient who had suffered severe oliguria
along with administration of diuretics. Urine volume increased 12 out of 14
times following DZ treatment; however, the other two times it was ineffective.
To investigate the reason and the differences in effective/ineffective DZ
application, two internal conditions (effective vs ineffective) were compared
by analyzing daily nursing reports (vital signs such as blood pressure, urine
volume and body temperature) and weekly clinical data (including renal, liver
and immune function, urea nitrogen, creatinine, ALT, AST, the ratio and number
of leukocytes, erythrocytes). DZ application increased urine volume via a
transient modification of the autonomic nervous system when internal
homeostasis was maintained. Aging populations, who often have several
diseases and medications, are rapidly increasing in developed countries.
Therefore, the study and application of DZ may contribute to a reduction in
medical costs, which have been rapidly and heavily expanding recently.