TONGUE ACUPUNCTURE (TAC) IN CHILD NEUROLOGY PRACTICE – A
NEW NEUROHABILITATION MODEL?
Wong VCN1, Sun JG2, Ma QY2, Yang E2,
1 Department of Paediatrics, The University of
Hong Kong
2 The Jockey Club MRI Engineering Centre, The
University of Hong Kong
Objective: To study the
efficacy and tolerability of Tongue Acupuncture (TAC) in patients with
neurological disorders.
Methods: Disability had nearly plateaued
with conventional interdisciplinary Neuro-Habilitation programme. More than 300 patients were
enrolled into during an 18 months period (2/1999 – 10/2000) with written
consent. TAC was given to
specific tongue acupoints daily (5 days a week) for 4 - 8 weeks (Total =
20-40 sessions). Acupoints
chosen were determined by the functional disability of the neurological
disorder. Objective outcome
measures were used to document efficacy (Pre- and Post-TAC). Double Blind Randomized Placebo
Control trials were conducted for Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy and stroke.
Results: (1) The majority showed functional
improvement of various degrees. Some improvement was noticeable within a
few TAC sessions, especially for drooling, spasticity (scissoring or
tiptoeing), gait pattern and attention span. (2) Functional improvement was noted with a short course
of TAC. The intermediate
effect was sustained with repeated courses. (3) Occasional pain and minor bleeding occurred in some
patients.
Conclusion: (1) There is a need for Integration
of TCM & Western Medicine in NeuroHabilitation. There are limitations
in both disciplines as the basic philosophy and theories are different.
Both are complementary to each other (TCM with > 2000 years of clinical
human experience and Western medicine with 100 years of scientific research
basis). (2) We are now investigating the
underlying mechanism of TAC in neurological plasticity with functional
Neuroimaging modalities [Functional MRI, PET scan of the brain]. We hope to document brain
regeneration with TAC and create a Tongue Acu-Map for linking 14 meridians
and “Zung-Fu” or organ systems.