Electroacupuncture and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Abstract

As outlined in Chap. 2, stimulation of high threshold muscle sensory nerves (type II and III muscle afferents) is the basis of AA. Neural messages are then sent to the brain (or spinal cord) where neurochemicals and hormones are released. In ancient times in order to stimulate the nerves, the acupuncture needle was rotated (or jiggled or moved in and out) to create De Qi, a deep aching sensation, with fullness, tingling, and numbness. The failure to achieve De Qi usually meant poor results. As described in Chap. 2, the injection of procaine into the acupuncture point (prior to needle manipulation) abolished AA, proving the importance of activating the nerves. It is interesting to note that procaine injected just under the skin (subcutaneously) did not block acupuncture effects ; only deep injections into the muscle were able to do so, thus showing the involvement of deep muscle nerves rather than superficial skin nerves. Recently, microneurography in humans showed that De Qi was mediated by high threshold type II and III muscle nerves (see Chap. 2).