Influence of Acupuncture Anesthesia on Thermal Sensibility

• Published in: The Journal of The Japan Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 6 - 9,82
• Main Authors: KITADE, Toshikatsu, TOYODA, Sumie, MINAMIKAWA, Masazumi, NAWATA, Takao, SHINOHARA, Shoji, HYODO, Masayoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion 15.02.1979
• ISSN: 0546-1367; 2185-9434
• DOI: 10.11525/jjsam1955.28.6

One of the most important merits of acupuncture anesthesia lies in the fact that a patient undergoing this technique does not feel any pain resulting from the surgery and still preserves all other faculties. The appearance of analgesia can be explained by a rise in the pain threshold. In fact, as a result of acupuncture anesthesia and after a latent period, the pain threshold gradually rises. The rise in the pain threshold varies according to the choice of acupuncture points and also according to the so-called difference between individuals. To observe more precisely the relationship between acupuncture analgesia and thermo-hypoesthesia, we used a pain meter of the NYT-5 Typ ein a second precise investigation. It was decided to use the HO-KU (GO-KOKU) point bilateraly on ten adult volunteers. Needless were inserted. Then we sent a low frequency current alternating from a 3Hz to a 15Hz range for a 50 minutes period. The pain meter makes use of radiant heat for the purpose of thermal sensation's measure. With a stop-watch we recorded the times when a thermal sensation was felt. We also recorded the times when pain, that means an upper pain threshold, occured. The rise in the pain threshold was usually similar to the one of the thermal sensation. Still the rise in thermal sensation threshold and the one in pain threshold did not always run parallel.