5 Practical application of Western medical acupuncture in neurological conditions
• Dividing symptoms into broad categories of sensory, motor, visceral and generalized dysfunction simplifies the clinical reasoning process.
• The lack of large randomized controlled trials does not mean that acupuncture may not be beneficial.
Clinical reasoning framework
A clinical reasoning framework can be based around the major problems that people with neurological conditions may complain of, namely sensory, motor, visceral and generalized disorders (Table 5.1). The literature regarding these presentations has been explored in Chapter 4.
Table 5.1 Clinical reasoning framework in neurological conditions
| Key issue | Examples | Acupuncture options |
|---|---|---|
| Sensory problems | Consider use of EA for strong stimulation, e.g. to influence impaired sensation or chronic pain presentations | |
| Motor problems | Consider EA to gain muscle contraction as a prelude to muscle relaxation where excess muscle activity is present | |
| Visceral problems | Bladder or bowel dysfunction | |
| Generalized problems | Use important points, particularly those on the front of the body or those in the back over the sympathetic outflow between T1 and L2 |
EA, electroacupuncture.
