Acupuncture in Genitourinary & Related Conditions
1. Main Page & Contents

Introduction
This article lists >420 abstracts that document the use of acupuncture (AP) in four main areas of human & animal reproductive & genitourinary health and disease. Most abstracts were downloaded at the end of April 1999 from the online databases of Acupuncture Progress Database and PubMed Medline.

It also includes abstracts from section M1 to M3 of an earlier bibliography, Acupuncture & homeostasis of body adaptive systems: Acupuncture bibliography: AP & the Urogenital / Adrenal System.

For ease of use, the abstracts were shortened & the terminology & codes of the listed acupoints were standardised.

WARNINGS
1. AP success rates in reports from China, Japan & some eastern-block states were much higher than from similar Western trials. It is unknown at this time whether this anomaly is due to better Oriental protocols, cultural reluctance by Oriental therapists and patients to report poor results, or less critical diagnosis or follow-up assessment of patients.

2. AP had no significant benefits in some Western trials. In contrast to most trials in adults, AP failed to control of post-operative vomiting in children. Also, the degree of hypoalgesia attainable by electro-AP alone would be unacceptable in routine western surgery. However, combination of AP with reduced doses of local- or general- anaesthetics may be useful in high-risk cases, warfare & developing nations.

3. Oriental protocols in chronic, difficult cases often cite prolonged treatment, for example every 1-2 d for 5-10 times/course, for 1-3 courses. Assuming treatment costs of US$20-60/session, 5-30 sessions would cost US$ 100-1800. Apart from those costs, it would be difficult to apply time-intensive protocols in busy workers in western societies, where "time-is-money", & where clients demand & expect rapid results from a few pills. A pill for every ill is still what people will.

4. Western therapists and patients would question the use of long needles, sometimes inserted up to 3" deep into to the abdominal or pelvic cavities. Others would seriously question the routine use of perineal points CV01 & GV01 in general- as compared with specialist- clinics.

5. Many Eastern reports stress the importance of willing Deqi, & directing it with special needling methods, to the genitourinary targets, especially the groin, genitalia & perineum.

6. Western tolerance of strong needling, inducing strong Deqi, is questionable. Needle shock, & failure to return for repeat treatments would be likely.
   
7. However, laser-AP has given good results in some trials. Low-power lasers cause no pain & usually imperceptible Deqi except in very sensitive subjects. This suggests that strong Deqi may not be necessary for good clinical results.

Bibliography
Acupuncture in Genitourinary & Related Conditions 1. Main Page & Contents
Acupuncture in Genitourinary & Related Conditions 2a. Summary of Points & Protocols - Overview
Acupuncture in Genitourinary & Related Conditions 2b. Summary of Points & Protocols for Female Disorders
Acupuncture in Genitourinary & Related Conditions 2c. Summary of Points & Protocols for Male Disorders
Acupuncture in Genitourinary & Related Conditions 2d. Summary of Points & Protocols for Urinary & General Disorders

Phil Rogers MRCVS, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland​
Fax: 353-46-26154 Tel: 353-46-26740 (Lab)
[email protected]  |  [email protected]
THE NYCAVMA IS HONORED TO HOST & MANAGE THE PHIL ROGERS ARCHIVE