A total of 192 children with mental retardation were recruited from two intelligence promoting central schools of the west and east districts of Beijing. They were randomly divided into a therapeutic group 128 patients for the composite treatment with acupuncture, otopoint pellet pressure and herbal plasters on acupoints, bringing out improved mental developments in intelligence quotient (IQ) and social adaptation behavior (SAB); and a control group for no treatment at all. The standards for diagnosis were in accordance with the criteria for diagnosis of mental retardation proposed by WHO.
Treatment method:
1. Acupuncture
Three groups of acupoints were selected. Group one comprised Taichong (LR3) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source Point, Shenmen (HT7) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Primary Point, Baihui (GV20), and ÂSi Shen Cong; group two comprised Kunlun (BL60) Jing-River Point, Daling (PC7) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Source Point, Fengfu (GV16), Tongtian (BL7) and Shangxing (GV23); and group three comprised Zhaohai (KI6) The Eihgt Confluent Point, Neiguan (PC6) Luo-Connecting Point the Eight Confluent Point, psycho-emotive area and choreatic tremor area on head. The acupoints of group one were punctured once every other day with the method of even reduction and even reinforcement for 1 month, and the needles retained for 20 minutes each time. The other groups of acupoints were used for the ensuing 2 months to constitute one course of treatment. Two weeks break was given between treatment courses.
2. Herbal plasters on acupoints
Each time after acupuncture, the Brain-Invigorating and Wisdom-Promoting ointment putting on a piece of Musk and Tiger Bone Plaster was applied on the some of punctured acupoints which are located at the wrist and ankle, and removed after 24 hours. The ointment was composed of Shi Chang Pu, Yuan Zhi, Fu Shen, Yi Zhi Ren, Zhen Zhu Fen, Chuan Xiong, and Hong Hua finely pulverized and mixed with bee's wax, vaseline and Bing Pian.
3. Auriculo-acupoint pellet pressure therapy
Three groups of otopoints were selected. Group one comprised Kidney, Spleen, Brain, Occiput, Shenmen (HT7) Shu-Stream, Yuan-Primary Point, and Auriculo-temporal Nerve; Group two comprised Kidney, Spleen, Heart, Subcortex, Occiput, and Brain Stem; and Group three comprised Kidney, Spleen, Liver, Lesser Occipital Nerve Point, Brain, and Forehead. Each of the above otopoints with a tape has been put on ear twice a week on alternate ears. The pellets were given pressure 3 times daily 2-3 minutes for each one, and 3 months considered to one course. Starting with the first group, each group of the otopoints was used for 1 month followed by another group. Two weeks break was given between the courses.
Results: Among the 128 cases of therapeutic group, 9 cases were markedly effective, 88 cases effective and 31 cases ineffective; the total effective rate was 75.8%. Among the 64 cases of control group, 18 cases were effective and 46 cases ineffective; the total effective rate was 28.1%. The therapeutic effects in the therapeutic group were significantly better than those of the control group (P<0.01).
Key Words: Children mental retardation, composite acupuncture treatment
Writer: Lingdi Tian, Shijuan Yuan
Institute of Acupuncture, China Academy of Traditional Chinese medicine, Beijing 100700
Writer: Enrong Ba
Institute of Books Information, China Academy of Traditional Chinese medicine,Beijing 100700
Writer: Hui Chen
Pei Zhi Central School of Beijing West District
Writer: Zhilan Zhou
Pei Zhi Central School of Beijing East District
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