ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of point Shixuan(Ex-UE11) bloodletting on blood viscosity, and pain and numbness in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Method One hundred patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomized to treatment and control groups. Both groups received conventional acupuncture at Huatuo jiaji(Ex-B2) points. The treatment group received bloodletting therapy in addition. Pain and numbness severity and blood viscosity were recorded before and after treatment. The data were analyzed statistically. Result The pain and numbness, and blood viscosity were improved in both groups of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, but there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion Bloodletting therapy can improve not only the pain and numbness but also blood viscosity in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. There is a certain correlation between the two.