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Ways and Mechanisms of Action of Metal-Needle Applicators
Donetsk
Summary
In the given paper, described are positive effects connected with the use of Lyapko applicators which produce an articulated analgesic and anti-inflammation effect.
All patients carry their own doctor inside themselves.
They come to us, being unaware of this truth.
We achieve greatest results by allowing this doctor
to act on his own.
Albert Schweizer
Metal-needle applicators with needles made of various metals (zinc, copper, iron, nickel, silver) inserted into the elastic rubber base are developed by Doctor N.G. Lyapko, a reflex-therapist, and are meant for wide treatment; as a prophylaxis means they improve and maintain health, enhance working efficiency and vitality, normalize sleep, mood and metabolism.
Applicators can be used in medical institutions, sanatoria and, self-dependently, at home. The use of applicators contributes to efficient treatment (non-medicinal or with a small amount of medicines) of various diseases and pathological conditions of the body.
Oriental medicine considers vitality tone of the body to be dependent on two opposite powers “yang” and “yin”. The principle of opposition of the two powers is basic for interrelations of organs of the body and their links to the skin integuments. Biological balance of the body is maintained due to the energy counterpoising of “yang” and “yin”; breaking of the balance will consequently lead to diseases. Ju Lian, Director of Chinese Jen-Tsu Institute, explains the action mechanism of needle-reflex therapy in the following way: “Its essence lies in acting through certain active points of the body onto internal organs which correspond to the points”.
Moderate irritation of sensitive endings concentrated in certain points of the skin, muscles and other tissues brings to the norm strength, mobility and balanced processes of excitation and retardation. It doesn’t remain within a certain area of a point or nerve, but often beneficially influences organs that are remote from the action place and the human body on the whole.
The most important statement which makes the base of the method of surface multiple acupuncture is a theory on points and zones of acupuncture action – projection zones of the highest activity of the system of skin-organ interactions, existence of which was proved by many studies (Zakharyin-Ged zones, skin-segment-visceral reflexes, etc.). The point or zone of acupuncture covers not only a part of skin, but also the tissues which lie deeper – hypodermic tissue, muscles, nerves and vessels. It has been determined that acupuncture points and zones differ from the surrounding skin biophysically, manifesting:
- a higher level of electric potential and capacity;
- minimum electric skin resistance;
- a higher temperature, etc.
In counterpoising to the above mentioned zones, there exist “mute” zones with lower temperature, high skin electric resistance and disordered structures of tissues (degeneration zones).
Mechanisms of action
1. Reflex-mechanical action.
It involves multiple surface acupuncture (reflex reaction) and massage (mechanical action).
Reflex action of needles during the surface multiple acupuncture is directed onto active points of the channels (receptors) and causes local reaction, which manifests itself in the change in blood influx of a skin area, high temperature and sensitivity, alteration of values of electric potential and resistance. The local reaction is a source of continuous pulsing to nerve centres. Reflected reactions of the body, which arise after that, affect, in their turn, the condition of peripheral receptors and tissues in the action zone.
Participation of the vegetative nervous system in the process enables mobilization of the body resources for immediate action: performance of cardiovascular system is boosted, blood flow is redistributed. Into blood flow, there is injected a great number of additional vital substances (hormones, ferments, immune substances, etc.), which enhance resistance of the body to pathological factors of external and internal environment.
2. Galvanic-electrical action
The human body is a complex bio-colloid, saturated with electrolytes, which contains both positive (cations) and negative (anions) ions. Intensity of galvanic-electrical action is regulated by the body itself, depending on the extent of saturation of tissues (skin layers, hypodermic tissue, underlying structures). Painful and inflamed skin area is oedematic, it contains a lot of liquid; at the contact with the applicator, the reaction is intensive, accompanied by generation of big amounts of warmth and sweat. When contacting with the skin, the surface of the applicator needles undergo numerous physical and chemical reactions connected with the action of direct current. As a result, oxide films are formed on the needles and galvanization effect (bioelectrical action on tissues) emerges. At this, pinpoint galvanic currents of maximum value appear on the needle tips (because of difference in potentials between the main metal of the needle and peripheral metal of the coating which are short circuited between each other (pinpoint currents – 1, and inter-needle currents - 2); the value of the currents depends on conductivity of the skin and content of electrolytes in it.
3. Humoral action of the applicator.
It manifests itself in electrophoresis of metals in liquid medium of the body, therapeutic effect of which lasts for several hours after application.
During the treatment with the applicator, there appear local segmental and general reactions, intensity of which depends on the duration of action, dimensions of the zone treated with the roller, and on the size of the applicator.
Various skin areas react to the application indifferent ways, which is conditioned by degenerative processes in internal organs, spinal column, spinal-brain roots and nerve tissue. On the skin surface these processes manifest themselves by a high or low temperature, blood filling and either reddening or pallid colour, changes in electric skin resistance and other factors. Normal reaction of the skin to the use of applicator is even reddening; in case of pre-disease (acute process), there appear skin areas of bright-red tint and high temperature; in case of chronic processes with signs of degeneration, it is typical to have skin areas of articulated pale colour, low temperature and sensitivity. During the next applications the pathogenic zones are restored. At it, one can observe recuperation of internal organs, which is accompanied by normalization of the colour on the skin areas that correspond to innervated zones of these organs.
Ways of action:
- Static, which involves action with flat applicators on a certain zone fro 15 to 30 minutes. Applicator dimensions range from 10 cm2 to 1000cm2; number of needles varies from 60 to 2500; needle spacing - 3,5 to 6,8 mm.
- Dynamic – action with rollers. Needle spacing is 3,5 to 5 mm; number of needles varies from 200 to 600. Duration of action – 5 to 15 minutes.
- Static-dynamic – use of applicators fixed on the human body with the help of elastic ribbons, belts, corsets for free movement. Needle spacing – 3,5 to 5,8 mm; number of needles – 200 to 5000. Duration of action – 15 to 30 minutes.
Application therapy developed by N.G. Lyapko was tested in Kyiv National Medical University, Kyiv Medical Academy for Post-Graduate Education and positively reputed itself in Donetsk Regional Hospital for Veterans of Great Patriotic War (the town of Maryinka, Donetsk region), Donetsk Railway Hospital, in the reflex-therapy department of Maryinka Central District Hospital and in a number of other clinics, medical institutions, and Science-cum-Research Institutes of Reflex-Therapy of Ukraine and Russia.
© Lyapko N. G., 2005 |
