Various pain conditions, numbness, flaccidity, dysfunction of organs such as the heart, stomach, intestines, gallbladder, bladder, uterus, etc., madness, and traumatic diseases of muscles, ligaments, and joints can be treated with electroacupuncture.
① Paralysis
Electroacupuncture is most suitable for the treatment of paralysis, such as hemiplegia, sequelae of poliomyelitis in children, sequelae of encephalitis, facial paralysis, and other neurological paralysis. Electroacupuncture can help muscle contraction, prevent atrophy, and promote nerve function recovery. The accuracy of acupoint selection during treatment is not too rigid. It mainly depends on the location of paralysis, stimulating acupoints with muscle spindles and points near nerve trunks. Acupoints on tendons and fascia have poor therapeutic effects. The output intensity should be determined by the obvious muscle contraction. The stimulation time should be around 15 minutes. Excessive strong contractions can easily lead to fatigue and have a certain impact on the therapeutic effect. The ideal frequency is 3-20 times per second. Frequencies above 50 times per second can cause muscle fatigue and adaptation, thereby reducing muscle contraction ability.
② Pain
Electroacupuncture has a good analgesic effect, and needle anesthesia is mostly achieved through electroacupuncture stimulation. When treating pain conditions, both acupoints near the lesion and distant acupoints have good analgesic effects. For example, acupuncture at Hegu, Xiaguan, and Chongyang acupoints has the same effect in relieving toothache. The ideal frequency is 100-200 times per second, and the output power should be limited to obvious muscle contractions or a notable numbness sensation in patients. The stimulation time required for analgesia is generally more than 30 minutes.
③ Dull Needle Sensation
For those who have a sensitive sensation after needle insertion, electroacupuncture stimulation is not necessary, and manual techniques are sufficient to achieve therapeutic effects. However, for those with a dull needle sensation, the needle sensation disappears when the operation stops. In order to maintain a longer-lasting needle stimulation effect, electroacupuncture can be used. This type of electroacupuncture stimulation does not require muscle contraction. The purpose is to enhance the needle sensation, resulting in a numb or swollen sensation under the needle. If only muscle contraction occurs without strengthening the needle sensation, adjust the needle insertion position to enhance the sensation. Alternatively, both enhanced needle sensation and muscle contraction can be achieved simultaneously. This type of stimulation requires a higher frequency, usually 200-500 times per second. The ideal option is an alternating current electric motor, and increasing the wavelength can meet the requirements of needle sensation.
