Rinaldo Rinaldi^1-2, Filomena Petti^1-2, Bangrazi Sergio^1-2, Liguori Stefano¹, Laura Silli¹

1Istituto Paracelso, Rome, Italy;  2Post-Graduate Acupuncture Master, “Sapienza” State University, School of Medicine, Rome, Italy;

Objective. The spermatozoid abnormality is the main cause of male infertility, mostly due to oligospermia often associated with dymorphysm and hypomotility of spermatozoa. In recent years, the authors adopted a particular therapeutic approach combining tuina with acupuncture-moxibustion to treat male infertility, with encouraging results.

Materials and methods. Since May, 2013 till December, 2016, 10 cases ranging in age between 32 and 44 years, married since 1-7 years and suffering from male infertility, were treated combining tuina (stable pressing technique - anfa) continuously applied for 30 minutes on Huiyin (CV1) - alternated with direct moxibustion with 5 moxa cones on the same acupoint - with acupuncture on Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongji (CV3), Zusanli (ST36), etc. performed with the warming-needle technique.The above combined procedure was applied once every other day, 3 times a week; 21 sessions were a therapeutic course.

Results. After 1 course of treatment, the number and activity of spermatozoa increased to a certain extent (30%-40%) in 7 cases (70%); a little bit (around 20%) in 1 patient, who decided to proceed with the treatment; no change in 2 cases, who withdrew from the trial. After the 2nd-3rd course, out of the above 8 treated patients 7 (87,5%) had a child. Besides the outcomes obtained in 2 representative cases, demonstrated by the relevant tests, a short film of a peculiar phenomenon occurring during the tuina treatment in several patients, will be showed.  

Conclusions. In spite of the very limited series of cases treated, the results achieved have proved very satisfactory. Therefore the authors consider the above combined approach - simple, absolutely safe and effective - worthy of the widest spreading in clinic.

Key words: male infertility, tuina, moxibustion with moxa cones, warm needle acupuncture.