A Case Report of Drug-Induced Parkinsonism Treated with Jodeung-san and Electro-acupuncture at GB34

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture is increasingly used as an additional treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: In this functional magnetic resonance imaging study, brain activation in response to acupuncture in a group of 12 patients with PD was compared with a group of 12 healthy participants. Acupuncture was conducted on a specific acupoint, the right GB 34 (Yanglingquan), which is a frequently used acupoint for motor function treatment in the oriental medical field.Results: Acupuncture stimulation on this acupoint activates the prefrontal cortex, precentral gyrus, and putamen in patients with PD; areas that are known to be impaired in patients with PD. Compared with healthy participants, patients with PD showed significantly higher brain activity in the prefrontal cortex and precentral gyrus, especially visible in the left hemisphere. Conclusions:The neuroimaging results of our study suggest that in future acupuncture research; the prefrontal cortex as well as the precentral gyrus should be treated for symptoms of Parkinson's disease and that GB 34 seems to be a suitable acupoint. Moreover, acupuncture evoked different brain activations in patients with Parkinson's disease than in healthy participants in our study, stressing the importance of conducting acupuncture studies on both healthy participants as well as patients within the same study, in order to detect acupuncture efficacy.Trial registration: KCT0001122 at cris.nih.go.kr (registration date: 20140530)

Acupuncture Treatment in Clinical Studies for Parkinson’s Disease : A Literature Review

“…Samgi-Halleak pharmacopuncture was used to protect brain cells, known for its antioxidant and immune enhancement effects. Kim et al [49] injected Hwangrynhaedoktang pharmacopuncture into both sides of Yanglingquan (GB34) and Zusanli (ST36) separately.…”

“…It was used for 1 on both Hoku (LI4), Waiguan (TE5), Zusanli (ST36), and Xiajuxu (ST39), and the other who had symptoms of inclining to the left when walking treated on the left Hoku (LI4), Waiguan (TE5), Shousanli (LI10), Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36), Xiajuxu (ST39), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Taichong (LR3). In 2017, Kim et al [49] used a 2 Hz current for both Yanglingquan (GB34) and Zusanli (ST36). They combined with the treatment of Yanglingquan (GB34), which has the effect of relaxing sinews and vessel on abnormal movement symptoms.…”

“…He systemized the distribution and location by observing the expression of the disease in the auricular acupoint, which is distributed to the ear when there is a physical disease [50]. It was the only study that was used in the Auricular acupuncture therapy that Kim et al [49] performed in 2017, where it was used on both Ershenmen and Neifenmi. Ershenmen, in particular, had the effect of opening the orifices, so it is commonly used for nervous system diseases such as insomnia and nervous breakdowns [51].…”