적외선 체열진단을 이용한 안면마비와 안면과 상지에 분포한 경혈위와의 관계에 대한 임상고찰

A clinical study on the relation between facial paralysis and acupoints on the face and the upper limbs by the use of DITI diagnosis

Objectives : this study is to see if there is a significance in thermal differences of acupoints in diagnosis and treatment period of facial paralysis and to substantiate the validity of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for it. Methods : 1. By using DITI, thermal differences of acupoints on the face and the upper limbs of 13 Bell's palsy patients were measured around 3 days after an attack of the disease. These 13 patients, whose treatment progress was monitored up to 6 months after attack, were among the inpatients and outpatients of oriental internal medicine of National Medical Center from July 1 to August 31. 2. The patients were divided into 1month, 2-3months, 4months, 6months groups according to the occasion of improvement and thermal averages of each treatment period measured. Results : When it takes within 1 month for the condition of facial paralysis to change for the better, DITI image shows the temperature of the affected face parts and arms is higher than that of the non-affected parts. However, when it takes more than 4 months, the temperature of the affected face parts and arms on DITI image is lower than that of the non-affected parts. Conclusions : Hereby, prognosis of the disease and necessary time for the treatment can be presumed through DITI screening after an occurrence of facial paralysis. Also, condition of the disease is reflected by thermal differences of acupoints for Bell's palsy treatment that are in accordance with the theory of meridian on the face. This supports the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for this disease.