Acupuncture An Anatomical Approach, Second Edition

Practiced for more than 2,000 years, acupuncture was once restricted to the realm of alternative medicine. It was thought to be based on mythical elements and not easily understood by those in the scientific community. Acupuncture: An Anatomical Approach, Second Edition dispels these notions and brings this once backroom therapy into the forefront—explaining it in terms that can be easily comprehended by all medical professionals. Presenting a scientific, anatomical approach to acupuncture, this volume discusses: The basics of the nervous system Acupuncture points located in the head and face, formed by the cranial nerves The cervical plexus, which forms acupuncture points in the neck region Acupuncture points formed by the brachial plexus in the upper limbs, spinal nerves in the body trunk, and the lumbar–sacral plexuses in the lower limbs The anesthesia effect of biochemical substances in the nervous system The measurement and quantification of pain Applications of acupuncture in clinical practice, from cases easy to treat to those more challenging Theories on the future of acupuncture The treatment of pain, in general, is controversial, as many therapies have unintended consequences and side effects. Acupuncture provides a therapy that is quick, easy to perform, and requires no medications. This volume enables physicians, osteopaths, pain specialists, chiropractors, and other health professionals to perform this effective treatment for their patients who experience both chronic and acute pain.

IntroductionAnatomy in AcupunctureGeneral ConsiderationIdentity of AcupointsAll in the Sensory NervesEfferent FibersAfferent FibersMuscular Nerve BranchesCutaneous Nerve BranchesAnatomical Features Contributing to the Formation of AcupointsAcupoints of the Cranial NervesCranial Nerves Without AcupointsCranial Nerves with AcupointsTrigeminal NerveFacial NerveGlossopharyngeal NerveVagus NerveSpinal Accessory NerveAcupoints in the Neck RegionBoundaries of the NeckFormation of the Cervical PlexusAcupoints of the Cutaneous BranchesAcupoints of Muscular BranchesAcupoints in the Upper LimbTopography of the Upper LimbOrganization of the Brachial PlexusAcupoints on the Pectoral RegionAcupoints Over the Scapular RegionArm and ForearmWrist and HandAcupoints in the Body TrunkDefining a Typical Spinal NerveComposition of Fibers in the Typical Spinal NervesDistributions of AcupointsAcupoints On Back Of The NeckAcupoints on the Dorsal Surface of the ChestAcupoints on the Lumbar and SacrumAcupoints in the FrontLateral Side of the Chest CageAcupoints in the Lower LimbRegional AnatomyLumbar PlexusSacral PlexusAcupoints of the Lumbar PlexusAcupoints of the Sacral PlexusDistributions to the ThighDistributions in the Popliteal FossaAcupoints on the Posterior Compartment of the Leg and AnkleAcupoints on the Lateral Compartment of the LegAcupoints on the Anterior Compartment of the LegAcupoints on the FootPhysiology in AcupunctureElectrical Phenomena of the BodyElectrical Activity in AcupointsDynamic Nature of AcupointsThree Phases of AcupointsPhysical Properties of AcupointsBiochemistry in AcupunctureBiochemistry in Relation to AcupunctureTerminologies in NeurotransmittersRelevance of NeurotransmittersImportance of EndorphinOther NeurotransmittersImmediate Acupuncture ReactionsReactions After AcupuncturePathology in AcupunctureConventional Wisdom in PathologyPathological OriginsEndogenous OriginsExogenous OriginsModes for Trigger Points to AppearCombination of Systemic and Regional AppearancesA Special CasePsychology in AcupuncturePsychology of PainTrue or FalseHistorical Prospect of Pain PerceptionMental Attitude Toward PainThe Vicious Cycle of PainRebutting Acupuncture as PlaceboPain and MeasurementA Challenge and A PuzzleMeasurements of PainSubjective Pain Versus Objective PainRanking the Trigger PointsTrigger Points in Four GroupsTrigger Points on the Spinous ProcessesResults of Pain MeasurementAcute Versus Chronic PainGood to Excellent ApplicationsGeneral GuidelinesSamples of Pain for DemonstrationDefining Good to Excellent ResultsPain in the Face and HeadPain in the Neck and ShouldersPain in the Upper LimbsPain in the Body TrunkPain in the Lower LimbsApplications with Mixed and Limited ResultsDefining Mixed and LimitedIrrelevant to PainSubjective Pain PerceivedPain in the Face and HeadPain in the Neck and ShoulderPain in the Upper LimbPain in the Body TrunkPain in the Lower LimbDiffuse PainDifficult Patients with Poor ResultsConnecting Difficult and PoorProfiles of Difficult PatientsPain in the Face and HeadDifficult Pain from the Neck to the FingersPain After SurgeryPhantom Limb PainSpondylitic AbnormalitiesReflex Sympathetic DystrophyTailbone FractureDifficult Patients with Different ResultsIndex

Houchi Dung earned a Ph.D. in anatomy from the University of Louisville in 1970. Soon after, he accepted a faculty position in the Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which he held until his retirement in 2002. His main responsibilities were teaching gross human anatomy to medical and dental students and conducting research on a number of neurological mutations in mice. During his 31-year academic career, he published 24 papers on the field of acupuncture from his clinical experience. He has published several books on acupuncture and pain—three in English and three in Chinese.

The Chinese are known to have practiced acupuncture for approximately 2,000 years. Designed specifically for health care practitioners, this book demystifies acupuncture and explains it in anatomical terms. New emphasis is made to differentiate traditional acupuncture in Oriental medicine from scientific acupuncture, which is based entirely on medical sciences. This edition is completely updated and presents the most current research. New material includes information on how to quantify pain and a new way to define acute and chronic pain.