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8 Further Indications
8.3.3 Ventricular and Duodenal Ulcers
Description
■ Mostly recurrent inflammation and ulceration of the gastric or duodenal mucosa
■ Epigastric pain, especially postprandial or on an empty stomach (duodenal ulcer)
■ Causes: helicobacter pylori (nearly 100 % of duodenal ulcers, approximately 80 % of
ventricular ulcers), NSAIDs, acetylisalicylic acid (ASA), less frequently glucocorti-
coids, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
■ Exacerbating factors: nicotine, caffeine, stress
Point Prescription
French points
■ Local point:
Neural Stomach Point
(
›
6.9.2)
■ Psychological points:
Diazepam
(
›
6.7.3),
Anti-Aggression
(
›
6.8.5),
Frustration
(
›
6.8.3)
■ Stabilising point:
Point Zero
(
›
6.10.3)
Chinese points
■ Local points:
Stomach (87)
(
›
6.4.1),
Duodenum (88)
(
›
6.4.1),
Abdomen (43)
(
›
6.4.4)
■ Stabilising point:
Shen Men
(55)
(
›
6.7.2),
Diaphragm (82)
(
›
6.4.3)
• In cases of epigastric pain a gastroscopy should be carried out before starting treat-
ment with auricular acupuncture to eliminate the possibility of a carcinoma.
• For severe ulcers conservative treatment with proton inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole) is
the treatment of choice due to the risk of perforation.
Treatment Intervals
Severe ulcers should be treated by conventional medicine. In these cases auricular acupunc-
ture can provide support as an adjuvant therapy to accelerate the healing process. Only mild
cases should be treated with just auricular acupuncture.
■
Acute stage:
once daily or every other day
■
Chronic stage
(pain more than once monthly): 1–2 times weekly until the pain has
completely subsided
If ulcers are caused by NSAIDs or glucocorticoids, these drugs should be slowly reduced or
discontinued and, if possible, replaced by auricular acupuncture. The point prescription
depends on the relevant indication.
Treatment Course and Prognosis
■
Acute and chronic stage:
significant reduction of the complaint within 1–2 weeks
■ Start of treatment during the
acute stage:
symptoms generally disappear within up to 4
weeks
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