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8 Further Indications
8.3.2 Gastritis
Description
■ Inflammation of the mucosa of the stomach, often accompanied by recurrent epigastric
pain; acute and chronic forms
■ Causes include: infection with helicobacter pylori, alcohol, NSAIDs, biliary reflux, ex-
cess stomach acid, autoimmune processes
■ Triggered/exacerbated by: nicotine, caffeine, stress
■ Complications: ulcer (
›
8.3.3)
Point Prescription
French points
■ Local point:
Neural Stomach Point
(
›
6.9.2)
■ Defense against infection:
Thymus
(
›
6.6.1),
Interferon
(
›
6.7.3),
Infection Axis
(
›
6.12.4)
■ Psychological points:
Haldol
(
›
6.8.6),
Barbiturate
(
›
6.7.1),
Diazepam
(
›
6.7.3)
■ Stabilising point:
Point Zero
(
›
6.10.3)
Chinese points
■ Local points:
Stomach (87)
,
Cardia (86)
(
›
6.4.1),
Abdomen (43)
(
›
6.4.4)
■ Stabilising point:
Shen Men
(55)
(
›
6.7.2)
• For epigastric complaints a gastroscopy should be carried out before starting auricular
acupuncture to eliminate the possibility of an ulcer or carcinoma.
• For helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is necessary (combination of antibiotics
and gastric acid secretion inhibitors)
Treatment Intervals
■
Acute gastritis:
every other day until symptoms have disappeared
■
Chronic gastritis:
initially twice weekly; once symptoms start to subside or there are
pain-free intervals of more than a week (after approximately 4 weeks): once weekly un-
til there is a sustained relief from symptoms
Treatment Course and Prognosis
■
Acute gastritis:
approximately 2 weeks until symptoms disappear
■
Chronic gastritis:
approximately 6 months until symptoms disappear
• Chronic nicotine or caffeine abuse, or continued stress will prevent a complete recov-
ery; residual symptoms will remain. Regular acupuncture (approximately once
monthly) will be necessary for sustained therapeutic results.
• While chronic atrophic gastritis (a form of gastritis affecting elderly patients with atro-
phied gastric mucosa) generally responds to treatment, therapeutic results tend to be
limited.
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