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Acupuncture Soothes Cervical Spinal Nerves, Stops Pain

# 26 DECEMBER 2016

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Researchers nd acupuncture eective for the relief of cervical spinal syndrome. This
condition involves irritation of the spinal nerves located in the neck. Spinal nerves
transmit sensory, motor, and autonomic nervous system signals between the spinal
cord and the body. Inammation and impingement present in cervical spinal
syndrome results in head, neck, chest, shoulder, or arm pain and dysfunction. The
results of the research demonstrates that acupuncture plus moxibustion yields a high
total recovery rate. In addition, nearly every patient receiving acupuncture plus
moxibustion demonstrated signicant improvements.

Supp

Researchers from the Hubei Hongan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital examined
200 cervical syndrome patients in a controlled investigation. The research team
discovered that targeted acupuncture treatments produce an extremely high total
eective rate and a high complete recovery rate. Targeting involved the application of a
primary acupuncture point prescription for all patients plus an additional set of
secondary acupuncture points based upon diagnostic variations in clinical
presentations. Using this semi-protocolized targeted approach to patient care, the
research team achieved a 97% total eective rate across all tiers of improvement. The
breakdown into levels of ecaciousness produced surprising results. The total
recovery rate was 64%, the signicant improvement rate was 17%, the minimal
improvement rate was 16%, and 3% had no improvement.
Dr. Ruth Jackson, MD, notes, The nerve roots leave the spinal cord at an angle which
approximates a right angle, and they ll fairly snugly the foramina through which they
pass. This makes them very vulnerable to irritation from any mechanical derangement
of the cervical spine. Cervical syndrome is often triggered by a small event, such as

leaning over a sink while brushing teeth or turning the head. However, the initial cause
may have been prior, including whiplash injuries, mechanical deformities, or other
chronic irritations. The tight spacing of the intervertebral foramina (IVF) through which
the nerves pass is easily encroached by both chronic and acute conditions that
produce inammation and morphological changes.
A primary set of acupoints was administered to all patients in this acupuncture
continuing education study. A total of 3 4 acupoints from the primary set were
applied during each acupuncture session. Each acupoint, including customized
secondary acupoints, were needled with standard manual acupuncture protocols for
insertion and manipulation. Total needle retention time during each acupuncture
session was 20 minutes. One acupuncture session was applied daily for a total of 10
days, followed by a two day break and then another 10 days of acupuncture therapy.
For moxibustion, a moxa cigar was used to warm the cervical Jiaji acupoints for 30
minutes per day. One 30 minute moxibustion treatment was conducted daily for 10
consecutive days. The next treatment cycle of an additional 10 days of moxibustion
care commenced after a 2 day break from treatment. The primary acupoints were
selected from the following selection:
Fengchi (GB20)
Dazhui (GV14)
Jianjing (GB21)
Tianzong (SI11)
Lieque (LU7)
Zhongzhu (TB3)
Houxi (SI3)
Ashi (located beside spinous processes)
Secondary acupoints were selected based on the type of cervical syndrome
presentation for each patient. For nerve root compression cervical syndrome aecting
the shoulders and arms, the following points were applied:
Jianyu (LI15)
Tianzong (SI11)
Binao (LI14)
Yanglao (SI6)
For vertebral artery related cervical syndrome, the following acupoints were applied:
Taiyang (MHN9)
Touwei (ST8)

Baihui (GV20)
Sishencong (MHN1)
Neiguan (PC6)
Sanyinjiao (SP6)
Taichong (LV3)
Zusanli (ST36)
For sympathicus cervical syndrome involving excess stimulation of the sympathetic
division of the autonomic nervous system, the following acupoints were applied:
Taiyang (MHN9)
Jingming (BL1)
Qiuhou (MHN8)
Yifeng (TB17)
Neiguan (PC6)
Zusanli (ST36)
Sanyinjiao (SP6)
Jiaoxin (KD8)
Yinjiao (CV7)
Patients were evaluated before and after the treatment course of care. The treatment
ecacy for each patient was categorized into 1 of 4 tiers:
Recovery: Complete recovery of neck function. Complete absence of clinical
symptoms.
Signicantly eective: Alleviation of localized pain. Clinical symptoms largely
absent.
Eective: Localized pain present. Basic physiological function achieved. Main
clinical symptoms absent.
Not eective: No improvement.
The total treatment eective rate was derived as the percentage of patients who
achieved at least an eective tier. The data shows that acupuncture combined with
moxibustion benets nearly every cervical syndrome patient to some degree, with a
97% total eective rate across all tiers of improvement. The 64% complete recovery
rate is equally important.
The researchers gave a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) background to the
treatment of cervical syndrome, often manifesting as cervical spondylosis. According
to TCM, cervical syndrome is common starting in middle-aged individuals and older.
Often, cervical nerve impingement is due to osteoarthritis and cervical disc

protrusions or extrusions. Radiculitis is common in all cases. According to TCM

principles, left untreated, cervical syndrome is a degenerative disorder. Calcication of
related ligaments due to chronic strain and inammation may lead to oppression of
the cervical vertebrae, nerve roots, and blood vessels. There may also be pressure
onto the spinal cord in more serious cases. These conditions lead to cervical
dysfunction and pain.
In TCM, cervical syndrome is often categorized in the class of Bi Zheng. External
pernicious inuences giving rise to cervical syndrome include external injury,
exhaustion, wind, cold, and dampness. Zang-Fu and deciency related conditions
include deciency of the liver and kidneys or tendon and bone malnutrition. The
aforementioned conditions result in poor qi and blood circulation in the Taiyang
meridians and imbalances of the Ying and Wei. Symptoms such as severe neck pain,
shoulder pain, numbness, headache, dizziness, and nausea ensue as a result of the
condition. The results of the research demonstrates that acupuncture combined with
moxibustion is eective for the relief of cervical syndrome.

References:
Li HX & Zhao L. (2013). Ecacy observation on treating 200 cases of cervical syndrome
with acupuncture and moxibustion. Clinical Journal of Chinese Medicine. 5(3).
Jackson, Ruth. "The Classic: The Cervical Syndrome." Clinical Orthopaedics and Related
Research. 468, no. 7 (2010): 1739-1745.

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