ABSTRACT
[Objective]To evaluate the effectiveness of moxibustion treatment for patients with nocturia in a randomized controlled trial.<BR>[Methods]Subjects were 36 patients with refractory nocturia, randomly allocated to a moxibustion group (n = 20) and a sham moxibustion group (n = 16). Moxibustion treatment to Chung-Chi (CV3) was performed three times/day for one week by the patients themselves. The average number of nocturia in the week before and the week during moxibustion treatment were compared between groups.<BR>[Results]The average number of nocturia during moxibustion was significantly decreased in the moxibustion group compared to that before treatment. No significant change was seen in the sham moxibustion group.<BR>[Conclusion]Moxibustion treatment appears to reduce the average number of nocturia. Moxibustion to Chung-Chi seems to represent an effective therapeutic option for nocturia.
ABSTRACT
[Objective]To evaluate the effects of acupuncture treatment for refractory urinary urgency and incontinence after radical prostatectomy.<BR>[Methods]Three patients who had urinary urgency and/or urinary incontinence four months after radical prostatectomy received acupuncture at the BL33(Zhongliao) point. Acupuncture was performed once per week for four weeks. Symptoms were assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score, IPSS QOL index for subjective evaluation and Frequency-Volume chart for objective evaluation.<BR>[Results]After acupuncture treatment, urinary urgency and urge incontinence were improved, however stress urinary incontinence persisted. The scores for IPSS and IPSS QOL index were improved. Frequency-Volume charts showed that voided volume was increased and frequency of urination decreased after acupuncture treatment.<BR>[Conclusions]Acupuncture at the BL33point might be a useful treatment option for urinary urgency and urge incontinence after radical prostatectomy.
ABSTRACT
[Purpose] Electrical acupuncture at the pudendal nerve was employed to treat perineal discomfort in two patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), and the effectiveness was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS).<BR>[Methods] The patients were 67 and 65 years of age, respectively, when they were referred to the Meiji College of Oriental Medicine because of ineffective medical management of CPPS. Acupuncture at the BL-33 (Zhongliao) point and electrical acupuncture at the pudendal nerve were applied to treat symptoms of CPPS. Pain, discomfort, lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life were evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, the International Prostate Symptom Score and a Visual Analogue Scale.<BR>[Results] Acupuncture at BL-33 was not effective in improving the perineal discomfort of CPPS. However, the symptom was improved dramatically after electrical acupuncture to the pudendal nerve, and the effectiveness was demonstrated by VAS.<BR>[Conclusions] Electrical acupuncture at the pudendal nerve may be effective in the treatment of pudendal discomfort due to CPPS. VAS was useful in evaluating improvements in pudendal discomfort.