Published by Ryodoraku Research Institute Ltd.2. Q: Why do you have four points different from the so-called source points as representative points for the Ryodoraku chart ?
The representative points of the Ryodoraku chart were determined by the following procedure :
- 12 REPP along a meridian (for example, the lung meridian) were determined and designated by round marks.
- After a certain number of minutes (at least 30) Iead plates with salt paste were fixed on these 12 REPP with strips of adhesive tape.
- An electric current of 12 microamperes was connected to these plates.
- Several acupuncture stimulations were given at random points and the electric current at each plate was recorded.
- A graph of the average of these currents was made.
- The graph which most nearly resembled the average graph was selected and the points of that selected graph were designated as the representative points of the Ryodoraku chart.
According to the above procedure, it is natural that we should have several representative points which are different from the source points.
3. Q: How did you arrive at 1.4 cm as the size of gradation of the physiological range in the Ryodoraku chart ?
4. Q: How does Ryodoraku change according to season, illness. Ying-Yan condition and time of day ?
The tension of the Ryodoraku increases from morning till noon and then decreases gradually until just before the patient sleeps when it shows a minimum. However this tendency is variable, but a low level is kept during his sleep.
Stimulation therapy such as the Ryodoraku has its greatest effectiveness in the morning for the following reasons :
- The patient can feel its effect during the whole day,
- The sympathetic nerves are more active in the morning, and
- The effect is revealed to be greater when the sympathetic nerves are at a high tension.
5. Q: When a rather marked difference in valuesis seen between the right side and the left side on the Ryodoraku chart, which is correct ? Is it necessary to take the average value ?
The illness of one part of an organ which has parts located on both the left and the right sides of the body seldom causes a one-side disturbance of the Ryodoraku. On the other hand, a small wound causes a higher value of that side, so a lower value often shows the illness of the body.
When noticeable differences are shown, the Ryodoraku which shows the greater abnormality or both sides may be treated according to their excitation or inhibition. There is no meaning in taking the average value of both sides of the Ryodoraku chart.
Superficial autonomic nerve disturbances usually indicate diseases of the eyes, ears (including trochlea), shoulder stiffness, frozen shoulders, etc.
When one leg has been lost by amputation, the other leg may be used to take the Ryodoraku measurement.
6. Q: What do you think when all Ryodoraku values are extremely high or extremely low, and how do you treat the patient ?
When you find an extremely low value in all meridians, you may consider it a case of hypofunction of the sympathetic nerves. The patient sometimes shows chronic and non-significant symptoms and may express a desire to stay in bed.
If all meridians are under 10 microamperes and they show no increase even when the measuring voltage is increased to 21 micro-amperes, this indicates a critical condition. It is reported that a patient who showed less than 5 microamperes in F6 (stomach meridian) died within several days.
7. Q: When you measure Ryodoraku and find an extremely low and high point on the same meridian, is it poor technique by the operator, or what does this signify ?
If you find differences between the right and the left sides in many meridians, you may expect to find wounds or abnormalities, such as pain, numbness, or pathological fissures (folds) on the skin.
Usually extreme differences between the left and the right sides re-veal abnormalities on the surface of the skin and seldom inside the body (viscera).
It is not necessary to take the average value of both sides. You may treat only the one side which shows extremely abnormal values or both sides using the excitation and inhibition treatment points.
In the case of a leg amputation, you may measure the Ryodoraku of the other leg.
8. Q: When ail points on the H Ryodoraku are in inhibition and all F Ryodoraku are in excitation, how does one arrive at the physiological line ?
9. Q: How do REPP change in the course of an illness ?
As for the Ryodoraku figures of the same patient, we cannot say whether the patient is becoming better or worse by the changes of the figures. We can only surmise the tension of his sympathetic nerve condition and predict how soon he may get well or become worse.
A high imbalance of the Ryodoraku figures sometimes shows acute and extreme symptoms of a patient and yet we can expect that he will improve rather quickly by the treatment. On the contrary, a low imbalance reveals the chronic and mild symptoms of a patient and his illness very often shows resistance to all kinds of treatment.
The patient's Ryodoraku figure may be influenced by the season of the year when he is treated, by his familial history, and by the area where he lives.
10. Q: The electro-permeability differs according to diseases. What % Coincide with the original disease ?
The Ryodoraku has 12 meridians F1 - F6 and F1 - F6 and each has the name of a body organ; e.g. F1 is called the Lung meridian (Lung Ryodoraku), F3, the Heart Ryodoraku, and F4 the Small Intestine Ryodoraku. These names of the Ryodoraku according to organs were chosen to help the doctors who are familiar with the names of the classic meridians because the Ryodoraku are very similar to the classic meridians.
However, we cannot say that the figure of a patient who has some liver disease will show abnormalities of the Liver Ryodoraku. The excitation and inhibition of the named Ryodoraku do not always show the existence of the disease in that organ, and it may be better to call the various Ryodoraku by their number rather than by the name of an organ. However, it should be understood that the Ryodoraku is so named only because of its relation with the organ by which it is called.
11. Q: I understand that normal values of Japanese people on the Ryodoraku diagnostic chart are somewhat different from those of Chinese people in Hongkong. We would surmise there would be more differences between Orientals and Occidentals. Does Dr. Nakatani think we should work one up here ?
It is also thought that there may be special Ryodoraku figures among people of the same race and of the same climate.
12. Q: What happens if an inhibition point is stimulated instead of an excitation point ?
Even when an inhibition point is stimulated instead of an excitation point, an excitation effect will be revealed.
13. Q: Are there any special Ryodoraku figures to diagnose certain diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus or gastric cancer ?
EPP and some changes of the electric flow on the representative points may be caused by reflexes from the organs and from the tissues where some abnormal conditions exist.
We cannot determine the names of the diseases by using the Ryodoraku chart. REPP's of the stomach are caused by gastritis, gastric ulcer, hyperacidity, gastroptosis and even gastric cancer. However, the regulation of these points will be effective to some extent and the condition of the patient will be improved.
It is very important for our clinical doctors to try the treatment for the patients even when we cannot give an accurate diagnosis.
14. Q: How long are the effects revealed on the Ryodoraku chart after the Ryodoraku treatment is finished ?
15. Q: Are the ear lobe acupuncture points useful for Ryodoraku measuring points ?
16. Q: Are results different if moxibustion is used instead of the Ryodoraku treatment ?
People in olden days seemed to have known that there was a difference between the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Whereas acupuncture and moxibustion influence each other both as antagonists and synergists, it is thought that acupuncture affects mostly the sympathetic nerve system and moxibustion the parasympathetic nerve system.
Heat stimulation like moxibustion and the stimulation caused by the reddened skin due to the injection of Astremesin are effective in treating the diseases of such parasympathetic tonic conditions as internal organ disturbances.
Electric acupuncture not only has its own acupuncture effect but seems to have some moxibustion-like effect as well.
Electric heat and light stimulation may be considered by doctors who hesitate to use moxibustion.
The introduction of devices for protein coagulation of subcutaneous cells without scars on the surface skin also is expected in the future.
17. Q: What are the effects of the ion-corn treatment ?
It is said that during a fixed time the stronger stimulation results in more excitation and the weaker stimulation results in less excitation during the same time. This is called the Edrian law. The ion-corn which is left on the skin all day long provides an aggregate stimulation during the day. The ion-corn effect may be a long accumulative effect plus the chemical reaction on the skin. This may be used as general treatment for both excitation and inhibition.
Wherever the ion-corn is placed on the skin, a concavity, the size of the ion-corn, will be made, so it is necessary to change the loci of the ion-corn 1 - 2 mm from the original point every day or every two days.
Patients who are easily poisoned by the plaster of the ion-corn, may use a special protective plaster. However, the poisoning itself, it is said, has some stimulative effect on the skin. Moxibustion is done on the ion-corn plasters themselves.
18. Q: What causes pain to shift to another site after a treatment ? The example given was constant pain in the tissues around bursitis in the knees (but not in the joints). It was treated by traditional Chinese acupuncture. The pain shifted to the femur.
- After treatment on the lower parts of a meridian, the excitation is suppressed and the upper parts of the same meridian are excited.
- These changes are shown between the left and the right sides and between the front and back of the body.
- Acupuncture on the front oft he chest for neuralgia causes the pain to shift to the back. Treatment at F6 9 (Ashi-san-ri ST 36) which is a very important point along the stomach meridian improves this kind of pain.
19. Q: Is there any change in pulse after acupuncture among cardiac patients ?
In the classic acupuncture books it is said, however, that the Heart Constrictor channel is very useful to estimate the change of the heart function, so changes in the ECG may be expected when stimulating the Heart Constrictor rather than the Heart meridian.
F2 6 (Geki-mon HC 4) is said to be the most effective treatment point for heart diseases.
F3 3 (Shin-mon HT 7) is also useful but it is sometimes even more useful for constipation and frozen shoulders.
In conclusion, it seems that some changes appear in the ECG when EAP is given to cardiac patients.
20. Q: Is there any difference in the Ryodoraku treatment used for chronic diseases and for acute diseases ?
For chronic illnesses, we first take measurements of the general Ryodoraku figure and detect the excitation points and regulate these. The basic treatment points (F4 34, F4 40 and F4 44, BL 23, BL 20, BL 18) and other supplementary points are also used. Usually 10 - 15 peckings with rather strong stimulation for the important points, and 5 - 10 peckings with rather weak stimulation may be given for other points.
Instead of needle insertion, the ion-corns may be used on the ex-citation or inhibition points. The placement of these ion-corns should be changed slightly 1 - 3 times a week.
Fewer treatment points with stronger stimulation for acute diseases and more treatment points with weaker stimulation for chronic diseases is the rule.
21. Q: Can we use electrodes instead of needles for the treatment of pain on the hands or legs ?
As for acupuncture, the electric current caused by wounds such as acupuncture may induce a long-lasting effect by giving continuous stimulation to the small nerves surrounding the acupunctured area until the wound is completely healed.
Weak stimulation like electric waves cannot give a long-lasting effect, and the effect disappears immediately after the stimulation stops.
22. Q: How do you use the cluster needle (needles for children) ?
Generally speaking, the stimulation is weak; that is, the cluster needles only touch the skin. Pecking of 50 times or so is also effective. These weak stimulations are especially suitable for thin and nervous children.
For robust children, a stronger and longer stimulation may be used. The points of the needles may be either sharp or blunt be-cause it is not necessary for them to penetrate the skin.
HM 17 (Shin-chi: GV 12) and HM 6 (Mei-mon GV 4) are the most useful treatment points, and cluster needles may be applied to the temple, the back of the neck, the back and the lumbar region together with treatment along the F6 (LI) and F4 (BL) meridians.
As Ryodoraku in children are not as clearly related, the effectiveness of acupuncture is more noticeable than in adults.
Cluster needles can be prepared as follows:
- Bind about 10 needles together like a plum flower, or
- Put some needles into a glass tube and press these needles onto the skin using only their gravity weight.
23. Q: How may severe hip pain be treated in a 5-year old ?
24. Q: How do you treat a patient who is hysterical and also has severe chest pain ? Which is the appropriate method, general treatment or REPP ?
Insert the needles obliquely or horizontally into the skin and give peckings at the points of the main roots of the spinal nerves along the bladder line or at medial points near the bladder line.
There is always the danger of causing pneumothorax, so great care must be taken that needles are not inserted too deeply, especially for the thinner patients.
25. Q: How effective is the Ryodoraku treatment for systemic diseases such as tumors, atrophy, abcesses, etc. ?
26. Q: Please discuss treatment points for paralysis and spastic facial nerve syndrome ?
REPP in the area of paralysis or spasm are the treatment points. At F5 20 (Ei-fu, TH 17) two needles as deep as 3 - 5 cm may be inserted into the stilo-mastoideal hole from where the facial nerve emerges. We try to "hold" the facial nerve and give electrical treatment for 20 minutes, using positive and negative electrodes or both negative electrodes. After 20 minutes of treatment, the patient sometimes has stronger spasms than before, but spasms become weaker or disappear after 10 or 20 minutes of stimulation.
The simple method of leaving in the needle usually requires a 40 - 60 minute treatment, or for the continuous electro-stimulating method, 40 minutes. (EAP therapy) For paralytic patients, the weaker and longer stimulation is more effective, and 39 minutes of stimulation is usually necessary when using EAP therapy.
27. Q: How do you treat the spastic or atonic paralysis of the extremities caused by brain diseases ?
As for the treatment of motoric diseases, an intermittent electric current which causes a twitch in the affected muscle in light cases is effective.
The intermittent electric current is effective for motoric nerves; but pecking is even more effective in some cases.
It is very interesting to note that an electric current converted from the rhythm of famous classical music is sometimes effective for the treatment of paralyzed extremities.
28. Q: How do you take the Ryodoraku measurement of patients who have an amputated leg or arm ?
Phantom pain is caused by a projection phenomenon from the brain center which has a high excitation caused by the continuous stimulation from the pain of the amputated arm or leg, and the pain shows up when the surrounding conditions change (climate, temerature season etc.).
In this case, REPP on the contra-lateral side which correspond to the painful area or meridians of the amputated extremities, may be acupunctured for the treatment of that pain.
REPP on the head which are related to the painful amputated extremities are also stimulated by horizontally inserted needles.
The scalp and the brain center are separated by the skull; however, from the clinical viewpoint concerning nerve function, these two areas are closely related.
29. Q: What treatment is given for menstruation cramping, or for pain of thy endometrium at menstrual time ?
Menstruation cramping or pain is usually treated only at menstruation time. However, it may be treated beforehand, twice a week, to alleviate some of the pain of the next menstrual period.
The treatment points are as follows :
VM 1 (Kyok-kotsu, CV 2) , F3 14 (Ki-ketsu, KI 13)
F4 23 (Ji-ryo, BL 32) , F1 6 (San-in-ko, SP 6)
For severe cases which are not sufficiently helped by Ryodoraku, we may use an injection of Nippon-Zoki which usually has a moxibustion-like effect.
30. Q: How would you treat idiopathic degenerative retinitis (eye) ?
31. Q: What are REPP from the viewpoint of physiology and anatomy ?
When some pathological phenomenon is revealed inside the body, some acceptors which are very sensitive to stimulation and easily permeable by electricity begin to regulate the abnormality in the body.
This phenomenon is caused by homeostasis and the autonomic nerve system. This can be described as a cycle: 'abnormality of the body or internal organs' qG 'sending the impulse through afferent nerves' qG 'transformation in the spinal or cerebral area' qG 'generating some substances or transmitters in the skin tissue from the ends of the efferent nerves' qG 'appearing as electro-permeable points in that area (REPP)'.
It is said that electro-permeability suddenly increases at the basement membrane when a micro-electrode is inserted through the skin very slowly.
By using sample points in dogs, cats, rabbits, mice and rats, Dr. Kurabayashi showed that 100 % of the REPP have some nerve endings microscopically, whereas 31.4 %of non-electro-permeable points reveal nerve endings in the subcutaneous or muscle tissue. This fact proves that the acupuncture stimulation of REPP easily produces the so-called 'Tokki' sensation.
32. Q: How do you use auricular acupuncture and cerebral acupuncture in Ryodoraku therapy ?
33. Q: How do you evaluate Chinese acupuncture analgesia ?