THE TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS BY ELECTRIC ACUPUNCTURE
INVESTIGATION OF 332 CASES

Mitsuharu TSUCHIYA
Associa ao Portugueas de Acupunctura Electrica. Cascais 2750, Portugal.

Aim: Over the last sixteen years a number of patients with multiple sclerosis have come to this center for help. This disease usually presents in the form of recurrent attacks of focal or multi-focal neurologic disfunctions, reflecting lesions within the CNS. Attacks occur, remit, and reoccur seemingly over many years. Multiple sclerosis is pleomorphic in its presentation and the clinical picture is determined by the location of lool demyelination. The most common symptoms in these patients were: impaired vision; nystagmus; dysarthria; decreased peroeption of vibrations and sense of position; ataxia and intense tremor; weakness or paralysis of one or more limbs; spasticity and bladder problems. Corticotherapy had been introduced to these patients in accordance with western medical practice. In acute flare-ups of the disease, glucocorticoid treatment may diminish the severity of symptoms and speed recovery. However, ultimate recovery is not achieved by this drug; nor is the extent of permanent disability altered.
Methods: The author proposes to present the therapeutics employed.
Results: During 1978¡­1994, a total of 332 patients suffering form multiple sclerosis attended our center for electroacupuncture treatments. The treatment led to considerably positive improvements on 5 patients (1.5%) (they were capable of leading a normal life), mentionable improvement on 132 patients (39.8%), no symbolic difference on 118 patients (35.5%), unfortunately some deteriorated in their state (8.4%), and some quit treatment (14.8%). It is important to refer that during the course of the treatment, patients with glucocorticoid were not administered.
Discussion: The author proposes to present the statistical data accomplished through the treatment and also offer a theoretical explanation of how acupuncture operates to obtain the results mentioned above.
Conclusion: The treatment for this condition by electroacupuncture undertaken at the Centro de Medicina Freventiva da Estefanta proved to be very effective.