ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the efficacy difference of electroacupuncture at lower -sea point and -sea matching front- points for the treatment of gastroparesis.@*METHODS@#A total of 63 patients with gastroparesis were randomly divided into a lower point group (group A, 32 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a matching points group (group B, 31 cases, 1 case dropped off). The group A was treated with electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), and the group B was treated with electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhongwan (CV 12). Both groups were treated with continuous wave (2 Hz in frequency) for 30 min, once a day, 5 times a week for 3 weeks. The gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) score, gastric half-emptying time (T) and the 180 min gastric residual rate of the two groups before and after treatment were observed, and the clinical effective rate was compared.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the total GCSI scores, T and the 180 min gastric residual rates in both groups were lower than those before treatment (<0.01), and the 180 min gastric residual rate and T in the group A were lower than those in the group B (<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the group A, which was superior to 70.0% (21/30) in the group B (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Electroacupuncture at lower -sea point and -sea matching front- points can both be used to treat gastroparesis, but electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) has a better effect. The acupoints of Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhongwan (CV 12) may have antagonistic effects.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of preconditioning acupuncture (PA) on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty patients suffered from primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned on the ratio of 1:1:2 into three groups, 20 in Group A, 20 in Group B, and 40 in Group C. Group A and B were treated with PA and immediate acupuncture (IA), respectively, while Group C received no acupuncture treatment and be taken as a blank control. The treatment was lasted for three menstrual cycles. The therapeutic effects were observed and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Comparing the scores of the symptoms in the different groups, the therapeutic effect in different groups showed that the symptom scores in Group A at the second and third cycle of treatment, as well as at the first and third cycle of follow-up, were significantly lower than the scores in Group B, respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the duration of symptoms was shorter in Group A than in Group B at the third cycle of treatment and the first and third cycle of follow-up (P<0.05). Symptom scores in Groups A and B in the treatment and follow-up periods were all lowered as compared to those before treatment (P<0.01), and the scores were also lower than those in Group C measured at corresponding times (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic effect of PA, either the short-term or the long-term effect, was superior to that of IA in treating dysmenorrhea.</p>