Is acupuncture effective for treating cervical spondylosis?

Cervical spondylosis is a disease with a relatively high incidence rate in today's life. In the treatment of cervical spondylosis, massage or acupuncture is generally used. Many patients are relatively receptive to massage treatment for cervical spondylosis, but sometimes they are skeptical about acupuncture treatment for cervical spondylosis. This is mainly because many people feel nervous and afraid of acupuncture. In fact, acupuncture plays a unique role in the treatment of many diseases.

According to the basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine, cervical spondylosis is mostly caused by the invasion of wind and cold, disharmony of Qi and blood, and blockage of meridians. Therefore, the main function of acupuncture treatment for cervical spondylosis is to relax the meridians and promote blood circulation. According to the principle of selecting acupoints along the meridians, Juegu and Houxi points are often used. Because the back of the neck is passed by the Du meridian, the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian, and the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder meridian; the side of the neck is passed by the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine meridian and the Hand-Shaoyang Triple Burner meridian. Juegu point belongs to the foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, is the three yang collaterals of the foot, and is the meeting point of the marrow; Houxi point belongs to the hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, is one of the eight meridian meeting points, and passes through the Du meridian. Therefore, acupuncture at the Juegu and Houxi points in the neck has the effect of dredging meridians, regulating qi and blood, relaxing muscles and relieving pain. According to the principles of local acupoint selection and adjacent acupoint selection, with the assistance of the cervical vertebra Tianji, Fengfu, Dazhui, Dazhui, Pohu, Tianmu and Tianzhu acupoints, it can treat stiff neck, immobility, neck, shoulder and back pain, etc. During treatment, the needles are usually left in for 12-20 minutes, with acupuncture performed once a day. The course of treatment depends on the patient's response, and generally, it will be effective after 8 to 12 sessions.

Some acupuncture treatments for cervical spondylosis

(1) Moxibustion therapy:

Moxibustion therapy is the main component of acupuncture treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. Mugwort is generally used as a material for moxibustion. Like acupuncture, it stimulates the meridians and achieves the purpose of regulating the functions of various organs and tissues of the body. The principle of treating cervical spondylosis is to strengthen the tendons and activate the collaterals. Generally, Tianzhu, Dazhui, Fengchi, Dazhui, Jianyu, Jianjing and Houxi are used for moxibustion. Moxibustion is applied twice a day, 3-5 times each time. Suspended moxibustion can be used with moxa sticks. The Tianzhu and Dazhui points are mainly used to dredge local meridian qi and activate blood circulation. Fengchi and Dazhui points are used to dispel wind, promote blood circulation and relieve pain. The Jianyu and Jianjing points are mainly used to dredge the meridians and activate the collaterals. The Houxi acupoint is used to regulate the Du meridian, promote blood circulation and relieve pain.

(2) Acupoint injection:

Use 50 mg of vitamin B1, or 2 ml of Gu Ning injection and compound Danshen injection, add 5 ml to 10 ml of 10% glucose solution, and inject at 1.5 inches behind the hairline below the Fengchi point (referring to the same body inches, the same below), the cervical Jiaji point, 0.5 inches on both sides of the Dazhui point, and the Ashi point. The injection time and treatment course should be arranged according to different conditions and different medications.

(3) Warm needle therapy:

Take the skin 0.5 inches away from the affected cervical vertebra, alternately take the skin on the left and right sides, match it with the Jianyu, Yangchi, Tianzong, and Quchi points, twist the needle into place, and use the method of equal tonification and equal drainage. Put the moxa segment on the needle handle about 20 mm away from the skin, light it from its lower end, and wait for it to extinguish itself. The main acupoints should be pressed 2-3 times each time, and the auxiliary acupoints should be pressed 1-2 times each time. Take once a day, 7 times as a course of treatment, with 3 days off between courses.

(4) Electroacupuncture therapy.

According to the pain in the neck, shoulders and upper limbs, the cervical paravertebral points, Ashi points, Tianzhu, Fengchi, Dazhui, Dazhui, Quchi, Waiguan and Hegu points are selected accordingly. 5-6 acupoints can be selected each time. After acupuncture, the electrotherapy device is turned on, with the negative pole connected to the main acupoint and the positive pole to the auxiliary acupoint. Pulse current is used for stimulation with a frequency of about 200-250 times/minute. The current size should be appropriate to the patient's comfort. Once a day, 30 minutes each time, 15 times as a course of treatment, with 4-5 days between courses. Although acupuncture therapy is simple and effective and does not require the assistance of other equipment or drugs, it still requires a certain level of proficiency in operation to be truly implemented.