Experiences on Pointing Therapy for Paralysis

Paralysis is one of the important indications for pointing therapy in the clinic. In addition, it is implicated in the pathological changes in the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves, as well as in the reaction of dropping and lack of contraction power of the related voluntary muscles.

Those facing common paralysis diseases, including senile wind stroke, infantile cerebral paralysis and poliomyelitis, peripheral facial paralysis, polyneuritis, spondylitis, traumatic paraplegia and other nervous injuries, many patients must undergo a life-long disability along with physical and mental agony after many defeats in treatment, becoming a heavy burden to families and society as a result.

Concerning paralysis, doctors must initially form a precise and timely judgment on whether it is the upper motor neuron or the lower motor neuron, to then analyze the causes and characteristics of it, to make a definitive diagnosis, and finally, to pursue a comprehensive treatment in which a Chinese—Western medical plan, such as pointing therapy, physical exercises, pharmacotherapy, acupuncture and surgery, are properly included. Despite the difficulties with which paralysis patients present, medical efforts should continue to be regarded as a possibility through which one may be healed or come out of their paralysis. With further research into this disease, progress in treatment innovations and promotion in recovery, it is certain that more and more patients will be restored to health and lead a new life in their communities.

This article is based on my experiences and comprehension from my 30-year practice in pointing clinic: some successful cases are introduced.

1. To achieve a better effect with pointing therapy, a heavier manipulation, stronger stimulation and faster "Qi arrival" is necessary.

As a technique of hand-to-acupoint stimulation, pointing therapy proves to have a good effect only through heavy and strong manipulation in order to have the strength to penetrate right into the diseased site, and energize the sleepy nerve’s activity, hence restore the obstructed sick limbs.

To take pointing-marking method as an example, a commonly used method in clinic for paralysis treatment, which needs the doctor to hold the patient’s wrist and ankle with one hand, and nail-mark with another hand on the small joints or nail root of the fingers (toes), where nerve terminals are abundant and certainly sensitive. This method usually reacts to the contraction of the stimulated section, and is taken as a powerful method to rebuild initial movement of the problemed limbs.

In addition, strong striking on paralytic groups of muscles is an alternative to produce the contracting reaction. Striking along the prominence area (named stimulating line) while the muscles are contracting, accompanied by plucking on a collection of sensitive points rich in aching and numbness, such as SuoAo, ZhiMa, GangZhong on the arms, and TunWai, WeiShang, MaJin on the legs, is my favorite option in inducing a warm and numb sensation through the limbs.

2. In paralysis treatment, the selection of adjacent points around the lesions is by no means negligible.

Paralysis usually occurs on limbs. Besides the emphasis on nail—marking and striking on limbs, local selections of points around the problem site should be taken into account, namely focusing on the root of the disease. If the problem is attributed to cerebral injury or disease, points on head or face like Bai Hui and RenYing are a must for treatment. Five—finger tapping along big bone-fissure in faster frequency, or pressing-trembling method on scalp acupoints is often used to inspire warmth and numbness or sometimes a spasm-like feeling to transmit to the end of the limbs.

When it comes to spinal paralysis, Jia Ji points, points beside the spinal cord, are essential. Generally, the cervicothoracic section is related to the upper part’s problems, while the thoracolumbosacral corresponds to the lower. Repeated pointing—plucking on the group of one or two points above or below the related area is adopted to send the hot and numb sensation downwards, which will be presented by hectic heat throughout body as a positive sign of the manipulation.

3. General body-adjustment should be combined with emphasized local regulation in paralysis treatment. It takes only several minutes in a whole treatment with no more than 30 points all over the body, while on the other hand it arouses a dramatic reaction within the body. This therapy is a technique such that it builds up immunity to expel evil and moves blood to disperse stasis. As we can see, a routine treatment centers mainly on the general adjustment of the organs’ function, Yin and Yang’s balance, as well as the Qi and blood’s circulation, so as to strengthen health, enforce healing and the ability to resist disease, thus constructing an important foundation for recovery. When local regulation and special treatments for complications are included, among which are calming and vitalizing technique on head and five sense organs, tongue-stimulating for aphasia, head-down hanging for calming down, heel—pinching for walk disability, Du meridian dredging and lumbar enforcing, and correction / reduction for dislocation and deformity, recovery effectiveness will be faster and better.

4. Cooperation of doctor and patients is integral. To achieve a better result, doctors need to educate and mobilize the patients and the relevant families to use simple pointing technique in self-treating and persist in functional exercise. For everyone who has inertia, especially patients paralyzed in bed, it is particularly necessary that the doctor and family work hand in hand to help the patient overcome the fear for movement, and have them move with their own will. As for functional exercises, gradual advancing and a combination of initial and passive movement in which upper, healthy sides lead the way are paid attention to all along. What’s more important, initial movement is worth encouraging as much as possible.

Success of treatment is owing to 30 % of effort in treatment and 70 % by functional exercise. In cases of Zhu and Wang, who used to be incontinent and forced in bed in the beginning, and gradually could crawl and stand, walking with a walking stick, and eventually engaging again in work, it would not have been successful without their painstaking exercises. Similarly the same fast effectiveness of paralyzed children is owed to their parents’ coordination and the great efforts in improving initial movements. Without that, how much could they pull through only by doctor’s therapy?

5. Early treatment has better result.

Even though certain examinations and medical treatments are essential, pointing therapy, massage and acupuncture should not be excluded from the early treatment for paralysis. If they are, the best opportunities for recovery will pass by and healing will be prolonged. If possible, therefore, pointing therapy should certainly begin in the early stages of paralysis treatment. Unexpected consequences are miraculous.