Acupuncture

Areas of application / ENT and external ones

• Pain treatment
  e.g., migraine, headaches, sciatica, other pains.
• Organ illnesses
  e.g., stomach / duodenal ulcers, chron. gastritis, indigestion, nervous heart, heart trouble and circulation discomfort (e.g., high blood pressure)
• Nerve diseases
  like nervousness, Neuralgia (e.g., Trigeminus-Neuralgia), paralyses, neuro-vegetative dystonia (e.g., cold hands / feet)
• Respiratory way-illnesses
  e.g., asthma, chron. bronchitis, hay fever, chron. Sinusitis
• Illnesses in backbone and locomotor system
  e.g., arthrosis, arthritis, HVL / lumbar spine discomfort, shoulder arm syndrome, all chron. pains.
• Other applications
  Stop smoking, weight decrease, blood circulation disorder, ear ringing, sleeping disorder, postal menopause-syndrome, hormonal disorder, Psoriasis, Neurodermatitis, allergies.

Medical clarification on-line:

Dr. HILKA and Prof. Dr. KLIMEK; ENT Clinic Wiesbaden

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE, CONTRARY OR COMPLEMENTARY PROCEDURES OF TREATMENT?

Some thousand years ago, the Chinese discovered that the stimulation of certain points on the surface of the body could remove or relieve disorders on the functional system. Acupuncture is, therefore the oldest and most wide spread course of treatment method in the world. In many scientific investigations it has been proven that acupuncture points on the skin have nothing to do with imagination, they obviously differ from their surroundings. In the present work the most important indications for acupuncture treatment in the ENT-area are introduced (under special consideration of the illnesses of the upper respiratory tract). We show you the relationships between traditional Medicine findings and diagnoses and acupuncture, but also set limits for what can be reached with acupuncture with certain diseases. There are a few conditions, for good therapeutic success. On the one hand, the diagnosis must be certain, on the other hand it should be thought whether this case is generally suitable for acupuncture before you decide which points are going to be stung.

Illnesses of the nose and nasal sinuses:
Today in the therapy of infectious illnesses, especially Sinusitis, a trend is to be registered towards conservative methods. In spite of modern endoscopic operation methods, certain forms of the chronic nasal sinus inflammations, lead to relapse over and over again, which pull a chain of revisions after themselves.
It is only in the last few years that knowledge has been attained about the immunological importance of the mucous membranes of the nose and nasal sinus.
With acupuncture one can influence many illnesses of the organs of respiration very positively. One often manages to achieve long-term improvement with chronic course forms, partly resistant to classic therapy.

Influenza infection and virus Rhinitis
According to Traditional-Chinese medicine, external pathogenic climate factors are responsible for influenza, colds and flu. A weak resistance increases illness.
In the case of virus Rhinitis acupuncture has proved to relief and to ease swelling of the nose. Whether bacterial superinfections and participation of the nasal sinuses are able to be avoided through acupuncture has not yet been clarified. The illness course of virus Rhinitis is not obviously shortened.

Acute Sinusitis
In the case of acute Sinusitis acupuncture is suitable to ease the swelling of the nasal mucous membranes and therefore improvement of secretion drainage. Secondarily one reaches an improvement of the nasal respiration, a better ventilating of the nasal sinuses and a reduction of the inflammation parameters. Also a good Analgesia is possible. Acupuncture can also, very well be combined with antibiotics.

Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic Sinusitis has a complicated clinical picture. An allergic, pseudoallergic or fungous-induced genesis often forms the basis of this course form. By distinctive inflammatory changes with scarring and adenoids in the area of the sieve leg cells a sufficient acupuncture therapy is often not possible. Acupuncture is, in this respect, suitable for the post surgical aftercare as you can often do without analgesics and the healing course is influenced positively.

Allergic Rhinitis
Acupuncture treatment of allergic respiratory way illnesses can be divided into an acute therapy which relieves the discomfort of an allergic Rhinitis and a therapy for the lowering of the sensitization.

For the complaint relief under allergen exposition for the purposes of a symptomatic therapy acupuncture has proved itself. Here nasal Obstruction, sneezing and itch works better than the rhinorrhoea. In this sense acupuncture can be begun with seasonal forms about 2-3 months before the beginning of the pollen season.

If a lowering of the sensitivity is aimed through acupuncture, so given point-patterns are not effective enough. Regarding this question enough findings still do not exist, apart from the fact that acupuncture could be seen as being academically secured. Further controlled studies statements will be necessary here.
Pharyngitis, Tonsillitis akuta, Tonsillitis chronica, Laryngitis

Acupuncture is suited in case of Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis, independent of genesis and stage, for pain relief and immune modulation. With an acute clinical picture the therapy should begin as early as possible. Tumours of the Oropharynx, as well as systemic illnesses should be excluded like AIDS, tuberculosis, lues as well as diphtheria. With the acute therapy it leads to a fast pain relief - complications can therefore, be overlooked. Regular investigations must occur for the exclusion of a peritonsillar abscess.

In the case of distinctive structural changes of the tonsillectomy with intratonsillar cicatrisation acupuncture cannot substitute tonsillectomy. However, in the post surgical phase it is very well useable for pain relief.

Summary
The ear-nose-throat medicine summarizes the different organs and body areas of it`s field not only from anatomical but also from functional connections. Therefore one can see the connecting element between acupuncture and the functional view. New immunological and functional findings have initiated a change in thinking.
Many controlled studies can prove the effectiveness of acupuncture to different illnesses in this field. However, neither in the traditional medicine nor within the scope of modern therapy, acupuncture is understood as a mono therapy, but should be used as a complementary to other therapy forms.

It is certainly still necessary for some indications to carry out studies, but already today acupuncture shows a set up and valuable procedure in ENT medicine.