RADIAL NERVE PALSY

Composition: Jiquan (HT 1), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4), Houxi (SI 3), and
Zhong-zhu (KI 15).
Source: Shi Xuemin's Clinical Experience of Acumox compiled by Shi Xuemin.
Action: Promoting the flow of qi to activate blood circulation and dredging meridians.
Elucidation: The occurrence of the disease is mainly due to the injury of the upper extremity
involving the radial nerve. The disease mainly falls into the category of flaccidity-syndrome
of TCM according to its manifestations. The acupoints selected are chiefly located on the
large intestine meridian, supplemented by the acupoints located on other meridians.
Jiquan(HT 1), an acupoint of the heart meridian located in the axilla near which the radial
nerve flows, can be needled to dredge meridians, to promote blood circulation, to relax
tendons. The Yangruing meridian is full of qi and blood, so is one of the mainly selected
meridians in the process of treating flaccidity-syndrome. The acupoints located on the
Yangming meridian can be needled to promote the flow of qi to activate blood circulation, to
nourish qi as well as blood. Quchi (LI 4), located on the elbow joint which the main part of
the radial nerve flows deep into the internal side of it, can be needled to quicken the recovery
of the nerve function, to regulate and supplement qi as well as blood, to strengthen tendons to
treat flaccidity-syndrome. Waiguan (TE 5), an acupoint of the Sanjiao meridian located on
the forearm, is effective in treating flaccidity-bi syndrome of upper extremities. Hence
Waiguan (TE 5) is selected to activate blood circulation to dredge meridians, to recover joint
function. Hegu (LI 4) can be needled to regulate meridional qi and blood of the local region,
to make the fingers flexion and extension recover, producing the coordinated effect of
quickening the recovery of the wrist function with Waiguan (TE 5). Houxi (SI 3) and Zhong-
zhu (KI 15), which are an acupoint of the small intestine meridian and the Sanjiao meridian
respectively, can be needled to quicken the fingers flexion and extension recover in
cooperation with Hegu (LI 4).
Indication: Paralysis of the radial nerve. The main clinic manifestations are weakness of the
affected wrist, wristdrop, inability of extending fingers and abducting the thumb. Inability of
extending the elbow, wrist, and metacarpophalangeal articulation completely, and difficulty
in moving the upper extremity as well as numbness of fingers appears if the condition is
severe. Muscular atrophy, nails desiccation, and flaccidity of the upper extremity will occur if
the disease is prolonged.
Performance: Jiquan (HT 1 ) is selected when the patient extends the affected upper limb
abduction. Jiquan (HT 1) is needled vertically 1 cun. The technique of reduction achieved by
inserting-lifting is manipulated till the fingers feel numb.
Quchi (LI 11) is selected when the patient flexes the elbow. Quchi (LI 11) is needled
vertically 1.5 cun. The technique of reduction achieved by inserting-lifting and swirling-
rotating is manipulated till the fingers feel numb.
Waiguan (TE 5) is needled vertically 1 - 1.5 cun. The technique of reduction achieved by
inserting-lifting and swirling-rotating is manipulated till the obvious acuesthesia is felt and is
transmitted to the lower part.
Hegu (LI 4) is needled vertically 1 - 1:5 cun. The technique of reduction achieved by
inserting-lifting and swirling-rotating is manipulated till the obvious acu-esthesia is felt and is
transmitted to the upper as well as lower part respectively.
Houxi (SI 3) is needled vertically about 1 cun. The mild reinforcing-reducing method is
manipulated till the acu-esthesia is induced in the local region.
Zhongzhu (KI 15) is needled vertically about 1 cun. The mild reinforcing-reducing method is
manipulated with the same acu-esthesia as that of Houxi (SI 3) is induced.
Clinical material: Wang Dongyan reported the treatment of 13 cases of paralysis of the
radial nerve with Hegu (LI 4) puncture. Therapeutic method. Mainly select the acupoints
located on the large intestine meridian. The acupoints selected: Quchi (LI 11 ), Shousanli
(LI10), Hegu (LI 4), Yangxi (LI 5), Sanjian (LI 3). Puncture vertically with the 1.5 - 2 cun
long needle of No. 28. After the acu-esthesia was felt, lift the needles to the shallow layer.
Puncture bilaterally and obliquely with triple directional needling with the acu-esthesia being
transmitted to the fingers. Then put through the electropuncture instrument of G6805 with the
needles, stimulate with the interrupted wave for 30 minutes. When lifting the needles,
manipulate the technique of Hegu (LI 4) puncture again, withdraw the needles with pressing.
The treatment was given once a day. Ten days made up one course of treatment. The criteria
of efficacy: Full recovery: The extending function of the elbow, wrist, fingers and the feeling
of the skin normalized, and the patient could do daily work. Significantly effective: The
extending function of the elbow, wrist, fingers and the feeling of the skin mainly normalized,
and the patient could do ordinary work. Ineffective: The symptoms had not been improved
after 1 - 2 courses of treatment. Consequently, 8 were cured, 4 were significantly effective
and 1 ineffective. [Journal ofClinicaIAcumox, 1997, (8): 29]
Zheng Xianghua reported the cure of 16 cases of wristdrop with acumox therapy. The
acupoints of the large intestine meridian. Jianyu (LI 15), Binao (LI 14), Quchi (LI 11),
Shousanli (LI 10), Yangxi (LI 5), Hegu (LI 4) etc. of the Sanjiao meridian: Zhigou (TE 6),
Waiguan (TE 5), Yangchi (TE 4) etc. and of the small intestine meridian: Jianzhen (SI 9),
Yanglao (SI 6) etc. were the commonly used acupoints. Select two of the above points.
Manipulate the reinforcing techniques. Besides, apply suspending moxibustion with moxa
roll. Before puncturing, tap the cutaneous regions of the hand triple-yang meridian on the ex




The paralysis of radial nerve acupuncture prescription
Update Time: 2013-06-04 16:39:45

terior of the affected limb till the skin was with slight hyperemia. Consequently, 16 cases
were all cured. The course of disease ranged from 12 days to 4 months. [Journal of Modern
TCM, 1981, (10): 40]
Typical ease: Sun, a female farmer of 23. When the house collapsed in the earthquake of the
July 28th 1976, the patient was in coma, whose right arm was pressed by heavy objects.
Three hours later, the patient was aware of redness, swelling as well as dysfunction of the
right arm. The symptoms had lasted for one month. When the patient came to receive
treatment in the department of internal medicine, the main manifestations were as follows:
disappearance of swelling of the right elbow, only the right wristdrop left, inability of flexion
and extension of the wrist, and loss of the fingers function. No significant effect was achieved
after treating in the department of internal medicine, then the patient was shifted into our
department. Examination. no swelling, muscular atrophy of the right arm, normal movement
of the elbow joint, wristdrop, inability of wrist dorsiflexion, inability of holding objects of the
fingers, and torpor feeling. Primal diagnosis: Injury of the radial nerve. The principles of
treatment were activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis and dredging meridians.
The acupoints selected were Jiquan (HT 1), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4),
Houxi (SI 3), and Zhong-zhu (KI 15). The course of treatment: The above points were
needled twice a day. After 7 days of treatment, the right wrist could slightly flex, extend.
After 10 days, the right wristdrop was evidently improved, the patient could dorsiflex quite
powerfully and the finger-to-finger test was slightly positive. After 1 month of treatment, the
right wrist could move quite freely, could clench fist but not firmly. [ Shi Xuemin's Clinical
Experience of Acumooc published by Tianjin Science & Technology Publishing House, Nov.
1990]

[PDF]Prescription for the paralysis of radial nerve
In the treatment of 34 cases of radial nerve paralysis by puncturing the acupoints in Yang-ming
meridians of the hand and foot, plus TDP radiation in the local areas after acupuncture, the total
effective rate is 97.1%.