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Questionnaire with Acupuncturists to Investigate the Relationship Between the Governor Vessel and Dementia
1Chisense Clinic, London, United Kingdom.
Insights
Practicing acupuncturists widely believe the Governor Vessel (GV) meridian influences brain function, potentially linking early-life musculoskeletal issues to later dementia. Further research is needed to confirm this connection.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- High prevalence of dementia and work-related musculoskeletal pain, particularly back and neck pain.
- Dementia develops over decades, raising questions about potential links to earlier life musculoskeletal problems.
- Classic Chinese Medicine Governor Vessel (GV) theory suggests a correlation, but literature contains inconsistencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the usage and perceived impact of the Governor Vessel (GV) on brain function among practicing acupuncturists.
- To explore acupuncturists' experiences, perceptions, and concerns regarding GV needling and its relation to brain function.
Main Methods:
- Nationwide online questionnaire distributed to 381 practicing acupuncturists.
- Survey focused on acupuncturist experience, GV usage perception, related symptoms, needling concerns, and brain function correlations.
- Analysis of 39 returned questionnaires, with 38 indicating GV usage.
Main Results:
- Nearly three-quarters of respondents accepted that GV influences brain function.
- GV associations were predominantly linked to the spine, kidney, and brain.
- Practitioners indicated diverse clinical uses of GV, mainly for spinal, cognitive, and qi-blood movement issues.
Conclusions:
- Most acupuncturists perceive GV as influencing brain function.
- GV's role in conditions affecting the spine, cognition, and qi-blood movement is recognized in clinical practice.
- Further large-scale, in-depth international studies are required to validate these findings.
Abstract:
The prevalence of elderly dementia and work-related back neck pain is high, and so is the associated cost. Is dementia, which can take 20-30 years to develop, linked to musculoskeletal problems earlier in life? Classic Chinese Medicine Governor Vessel (GV) theory has in fact detailed a correlation, but its acceptance appears to be influenced and even limited by some inconsistences in the literature. This study involved a nationwide online questionnaire of 381 practicing acupuncturists to investigate GV's usage and impact on brain function. The survey covers areas of the acupuncturist's experience, perception of GV usage, related symptoms, needling concerns and correlations with brain function. 39 completed questionnaires were returned, of which 38 were GV users, and nearly three quarters of respondents accepted that GV influences brain function. Only two respondents rejected this influence, but here several inconsistencies were found. The associations with GV were predominately found to be with the spine, kidney, and brain. Indications from practitioners suggested numerous forms of clinical usage of GV, predominately on spinal, cognitive and qi-blood movement issues. GV influence on the brain was accepted by most respondents with only a few expressing uncertainty. Further worldwide, larger population, in-depth studies and trials are needed to fully establish and expand upon these findings.