On the possible specific role of acupuncture loci in therapeutics

The case history of a patient with thoracic vertebra fracture and following pain syndrome of the inferior limbs is reported. As a result of acupuncture treatment the pain was significantly reduced, but it could be reinduced by stimulation of the B1-31-33 loci during treatment. On needling the connecting locus of the related meridian of the bladder (Ki-6) the pain disappeared; otherwise stimulation of other loci showed a failure to stop the pain induced by the stimulation of B1-31-33 loci. It is remarkable that both the bladder's and the Ki-6 loci belong to the lumbal 4 spinal segment. The problem of the specific role of the acupuncture loci also is discussed.