Treatment of cervical spondylosis with acupuncture
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Cervical spondylosis is common and progressive degenerative disease which occurs with the aging process2.. Cervical spondylosis affects 95% of patients over 65 years. The disease can be asymptomatic and symptomatic (in patients over 40 years).3 Acupuncture is well accepted and widely used as a treatment to treat symptoms caused by cervical spondylosis.1 The goal of acupuncture treatment is to improve the flow of Qi energy, so as to regulate its flow, to complement it where there is a deficit and if it has accumulated an excessive amount of energy to be reduced. In this way is restored the balance of the flow of Qi, the energy and health.4
Purpose: The main purpose of this work is to show the results and efficacy of the research and analysis done for the patients diagnosed with cervical spondylosis treated with acupuncture.
Material and methods: In the research were included 30 male and female patients diagnosed with cervical spondylosis in the past year. The treatments were done in the clinic for Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture 'Tong Da Tang' in Skopje by Spec. Dr. Zhu Jihe. All the patients were effectively cured with the treatment, with certain number of treatments. The treatments were done in a closed room on temperature of 250 with duration of 35-40 minutes. All the acupoints that were treated for cervical spondylosis are located on the neck and head: Du16 (Fengfu), Du20 (Baihui), Du21 (Qianding), SJ16 (Tiannyou), Bl10 (Tianzhu), SI15 (Jianzhongshu), SI14 ( Jianwaishu).
Results: From the analysis, although there is no big difference, we can see that women are more likely to suffer from cervical spondylosis than men. The most common age group is of 50-60 years, with average age for men – 55 and for women 64. Men are affected earlier, by the age of 50 and women by the age of 60. The number of the treatments is different for all the patients, but on average for the efficiency 8 treatments were needed. The most common symptom is neck pain and dizziness and headache may appear as first symptoms of cervical spondylosis.
Conclusion: Acupuncture, as a part of the 5000 years old Traditional Chinese Medicine, gives satisfying results in the treatment of cervical spondylosis and this evidence-based research is a proof that it is generally safe and effective treatment.
Key words – acupoints, acupuncture, cervical spondylosis, effect, treatment
References
Liang et al., The optimized acupuncture treatment for neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis: a study protocol of a multicentre randomized controlled trial; Trials 2012, 13:107
M. McDonnell and P. Lucas, “Cervical spondylosis, stenosis, and rheumatoid arthritis,” Medicine and Health, Rhode Island, vol. 95, no. 4, pp. 105–109, 2012.
Mullin J., Shedid D., Benzel E.; Overview of Cervical Spondylosis Pathophysiology and Biomechanics; World Spinal Column Journal, Volume 2, No.3, September 2011;
Zhu J, Arsovska B, Vasileva D, Petkovska S, Kozovska K; Acupoints for cervical spondylosis; Official Jounral of the Bulgarian Society of Neurosonology and Cerebral Hemodynamics; volume 11, 2015, number 2; ISSN 1312-6431
