THE SLEEPING DISORDERS OF THE NEWBORN :
ELECTROACUPUNCTURAL TREATMENT
by Jean-Marc STEPHAN
" The insomnia comes from what the Wei defensive energy
can not go into the Yin like it should do it during the night,
it follows that the Yang is in fullness and that his meridian
Yang Chiao Mai is in very great fullness.
The Yin, which does not receive the energy, becomes empty,
so the eyes can not be closed, this is the insomnia " (Ling
Chou).
The insomnia, dysharmonia Ying Yang, will have for
etiology an unbalance in the states of empty or fullness of
differents meridians expressing by wonderfull vessels Yin and
Yang Chiao Mai. So, it could notice a state of insomnia in
presence fullness from meridians of : liver, heart, master of
heart, triple heater, stomach, lung, bladder ; or an
insufficiency about Ying from meridians of : heart, master of
heart, spleen-pancreas, kidney, liver.
Six clinical observations concerning newborns aged from 8
to 22 months old have allowed to elaborate a standard
protocol of treatment about the sleeping disorders. This six
newborns will suffer since about one month, except one only
who presented a broken sleep since the birth.
In general, the sleeping disorders are clearly improved
by one or two sessions.
This study concerns two categories of children. The
children from second semester and those from the second year.
In accordance with the international classification, the
treated insomnias are the insomnias by multiple awakenings
during the night.
The recommended acupunctural treatment consists to apply
the active electrode during some seconds on the point of
acupuncture, the mass being puted at buttocks or abdomen
level.
The used system is a detector-stimulator of acupuncture.
The frequency of the transcutaneoused stimulation
is composed between 40 and 60 Hz ; the intensity will be
fonction of the reaction about the child : cries, myoclonies
or recession attempt.
The points used are :
MH 6 (Neiguan) LU 9 (Taiyuan) EP 1 (Yintang)
MH 7 (Daling) K 6 (Zhaohai) GV 20 (Baihui)
HT 7 (Shenmen) BL 62 (Shenmai)
All these points are stimulated electrically, excepted
the GV 20 which will be pricked with a needle whose the
diameter is composed between 0,20 and 0,26 mm maximum. The
electric stimulation will be here relieved through the needle
(percutaneous stimulation).
The choice of used points follows from the education
taken from texts.
So, the celestial Master QI BO answers to the emperor
Huang Di in the Su Wen : " in girl aged 7 years old, the
kidney Qi abounds, the teeth changes, the hair gets longer...
In boy aged 8 years old, the kidney Qi is asserting itself.
By the girl aged 7 yeard old or the boy aged 8 years old,
it talks about the child during the first period from 7 or 8
years old in the course of which it notices a pressure of the
energy from kidney. The energy which resides in the kidneys is
the energy that it says essential (Jing Qi). It permits the
growth and it is mobilized by request in the circuit from
wonderfull vessels, although those interpenatre themselves
with 12 mains meridians.
In accordance with the Ling Chou : "the Wei energy is
circulating the day in the Yang, the night in the Yin. At Yin
corresponds the night, the still during which it is sleeping.
The Yang energy has a tendency to go up. It corresponds at
high and at the outside from the body, the Yin energy, on the
contrary, makes for the low and the inside from the body... In
general, the Yang energy is weak during the night, the Yin
energy is strong. During the day, the Yang energy is at
maximun, the Yin energy is weak. The day, the man (human) is
awaked, the night, he is sleeping..."
The essential energy follows the route of wonderfull
vessels Yang Chiao Mai and Yin Chiao Mai, like the Wei
defensive energy. These stranges vessels meet at the intern
angle from the eye at Jingming (V1). So, it will use the K6
and the BL62, "keys points" in permitting the opening. It will
stimulate the Yintang (EP1) instead of Jingming, condidering
the ocular risk at very nervous children.
The meridian of lung propels the circulation of Rong Qi,
that it says, the nourishing energy. Therefore, the use of
Taiyuan (LU9) is privileged. The lung is considered like a
great crossroads between the circulation Rong and Wei from
mains meridians and the circulation Jing from stranges
meridians Ren Mai and Du Mai. the Taiyuan point is too the
point of tonification and regulation of lung. So the meridian
lung will be toned up because it gives the impulse permitting
a good circulation of energies Wei, Rong and Jing.
The Baihui (GV20) " hundred meetings" is the only point
to be pricked. It is the convergence point of all yang
meridians from body.
At the time of the insufficiency about blood or essential
energy Jing Qi of liver, it will observe (see) a Jue, that is
to say a backward surge of Yang which surges for the high
body, in particular for the head and the Baihui (GV20).
The deficiency about Yin with consecutive elevation about
Yang can correspond to a void of Yin liver or a deficiency
about yin kidneys. Where the interest do prick the GV20.
The Shen, mental energy and the Jing Qi, the essential
energy are intimately binded. By the intermediary of heart
and of master of heart, the blood has a witty office : the Shen.
Now the shen will be released in case of some troubles of Xue
by empty, stagnation or plenitude. It will use so the three
points belonging to the lodge fire : HC7, HT7, HC6. These
differents points will be used in the intention to regulate,
to harmonize the mental activity conscious and inconscious :
the Shen.
Eventually, it can consider that the newborn is a person
whose the Jing Qi, essential energy acquired and stocked in
kidneys, should be at his optimum. But for a reason or an
other, bad digestion, throat infection with repetition, bad
environment, pressure dental, diurnal excitability.... A
insufficiency about Jing Qi settles progressively. So, the
Jing Qi of kidney constitued from Yin and Yang of kidney will
entail a weakening about it. It will follow a block about Qi
which could express by a Jue, that is to say : elevation about
Yang by deficiency of Yin (excess of Yang for the high of
body).
Otherwise, the insufficiency about Yin of kidney will
entail a disturbance about shen by insufficiency blood or
stagnation blood, or insufficiency Yin of heart. Where the
newborn insomnia.
In conclusion, at the newborn, it is very likely that the
electroacupunctural stimulation from certains points can
entail a liberation of neurotransmetors, responsible for the
regulating effect about sleep and the mood.