Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Vol. 35, No. 1

January 1994, Pg. 25

By Feng Ming Xiu, Li Ying, Wang Zhong, Wang Sheng Xia

Edited by Cedar Learner

309 cases of acupuncture combined with Xiao Ke ointment applied at specific points in the treatment of diabetes.

In recent years we have adopted the use the Qi Hai point (Ren-6) with the addition of Chinese herbs applied to the point to treat 309 cases of non-insulin dependent diabetes, obtaining good results as the following report indicates.      

1. General Data

The basic group is 309 cases consisting of 138 men, and 171 women. The age ranged between 17 and 81 years, of which there were 65 cases under the age of 40, and 244 cases age 40 or above. There were 69 cases in which the disease course was 7-12 months, 68 cases of 1-2 years, 40 cases of 2-3 years, 28 cases of 3-4 years, and 104 cases of 4 years or more.

2. Treatment Method

            The treatment involved the selection Ren-6. After obtaining Qi using the lifting and thrusting method in order to supplement, we waited for the appearance of relatively strong needle sensation then retained the needle for 15 minutes, removed the needle and having already warmed the xiao ke ointment placed it on Ren-6 (avoiding any powder in the umbilicus). Ten days later we replaced the ointment and bandage and repeated the acupuncture with the course of treatment consisting of one month. .

            Xiao Ke ointment is composed of  A Wei,  (asafetida), Hai Long (pipefish), Hai Ma (sea horse),  Ren Shen, Lu Rong, Zhen Zhu, Yu Jin, Chen Xiang, Ru Xiang, Mo Yao, Bing Pian, Huang Qi, etc produced in the same method as that of Hei Gao plaster.

3. Results and analysis

3.1 Criteria of treatment efficacy: After one month of treatment, if symptoms essentially disappear, fasting blood sugar is less than 130 mg or declined by 50 mg or more, 24 hour urine glucose levels are less than 10 g, then this is assessed as clearly effective. After one month of treatment if symptoms improve, fasting blood sugar is more than 150 mg or decreased by more than 30 mg with 24 hour urine glucose levels between 10 and 35 mg, this is then assessed as having some effect. Treatment after one month with no effect on blood or urine glucose is assessed as having no results.

3.2 Treatment results:

 Of 309 patients having gone through treatment, there were clear effects among 220 cases (71.2%), improvement in 78 cases (25.2%), and no change in 11 cases (3.6%), with an overall efficacy rate of 96.5%.

3.3 Change in fasting blood sugar and urine glucose before and after treatment:

We looked at the sugar levels in the blood and in the urine for the group of 298 patients for whom the treatments were effective and did an analysis of these levels, before and after treatment.

            Analysis of 24 hour urine glucose content before and after treatment: In 298 effective cases, the patients’ blood sugar is 238.11 +/- 70.83mg (average values +/- the standard variation) after treatment the average was 157.57+/- 52.15. There was a notable decrease after treatment (P<0.01).  In 172 cases before treatment the 24 hour urine glucose level average was 60.45 +/- 29.32g, after treatment it was 21.94 +/- 14.11, indicating a marked decrease after treatment.

3.4 Pre and post treatment change in appetite, amount of water consumed urine volume: In order to distinguish which groups of diabetes patients would most likely be helped by this method, we divided the original group of patients into three groups as follows: Yin deficiency extreme heat, Qi and Yin both deficient, Yin and Yang both deficient. We differentiated the three items as indicators of change. Attached below is a graph which indicates that although the Yin and Yang both deficient pattern patients are too few in number, and therefore, not statistically significant, each of the others (appetite, water intake and urine volume) all have clearly marked nature of efficacy.

List of before and after treatment results divided by appetite, water consumption, and urine volume.

3.5. Transformation before and after treatment of other simultaneous diseases.

After undergoing the treatment, patients’ fatigue, five palm vexing heat, ringing in the ears and low back pain, physically cold limbs, unclear vision, abdominal distention and flank pain, limb and trunk numbness, lower limbs red and swollen etc, all had clearly improved, and treatment efficacy was notable.

4 Knowledge gained through experience

According to our clinical observations, non-insulin dependent type diabetes categorized as Qi and Yin both deficient constitute more or less 80%, frequently with concurrent

Blood stasis, therefore clinical treatment should be governed by boosting Qi and nourishing Yin, invigorating the blood and transforming stasis . The basic method is to first needle to supplement at Ren-6. Ren-6 is the place where preheaven Qi gathers, indicating that, “In all cases of Qi exhaustion, Ren-6 can be treated”.  Qi Hai (Ren-6) is a Ren Channel point, Ren Mai and Chong Mai both begin at the Uterus, toward the back relative to the Du Mai and the foot Shao Yang Channel, while the Ren Mai and the three Yin leg channels as well as the three Yin arm channels all link together therefore it is also known as the “the Yin Channel’s Sea”. Ren-6 is located in the lower jiao, therefore has a regulating Qi, governing Qi, and supplementing Qi action. Using needles in a reinforcing method is the method of treating the root and can benefit source qi.

            Xiao Ke ointment is mainly composed of A wei(Asafetida), Huang Qi, Ren Shen, Yu Jin, Ru Xiang, Mo Yao, Hai Long, Hai Ma, etc which possess the qualities of  boosting Qi and generate fluids, benefit the kidneys and invigorate yang, supporting the right and consolidating the root, with the ability to invigorate blood and transform stasis.  Applied at ren-6 they can regulate Yin and Yang, calm the Zang and Fu, free and benefit the Qi and blood, unblock and outthrust both above and below, therefore correct treatment of the disease should lead to very good results.