ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy of quick meridian needling therapy plus scalp acupuncture on infantile cerebral palsy (CP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and forty-seven cases of CP were randomly divided into a quick meridian needling therapy plus scalp acupuncture group (group A), a conventional acupuncture group (group B) and a scalp acupuncture group (group C), 49 cases in each one. In group A, quick needling was applied to the Conception Vessel, Governor Vessel, Hand-Yangming, Hand-Jueyin, Foot-Yangming and Foot-Taiyin meridians distributed on four limbs and trunk. One pricking point was 10 mm far from the other one. In scalp acupuncture, motor area, equilibrium area, sensory area, tremor-control area, foot-motor-sensory area, speech No. 2 area, speech No. 3 area, Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), etc. were selected. The needles were stimulated with rotating manipulation and remained for 30-60 min. In group B, the conventional acupuncture was adopted mainly at Dazhui (GV 14), Shenzhu (GV 12), Fengfu (GV 16) and others. In group C, the scalp acupuncture was used and the points selected were same as those in group A for scalp acupuncture treatment. The scores of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) were observed before and after treatment for children. The clinical efficacy of each group was evaluated. By follow-up for 12 months, the condition of independent walking was observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate in group A was 79.6% (39/49), which was superior to that of group B [49.0% (24/49)] and group C [51.0% (25/ 49)] respectively (both P < 0.05). After treatment, GMFM scores of children were all improved significantly in 3 groups (P < 0.001, P < 0.05), of which, the improvement extent in group A was superior to that of other two groups (both P < 0.05). It was found after follow-up for 1 year that 31 cases could walk independently in group A, which was more than group B (17 cases) and group C (16 cases).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The quick meridian needling therapy plus scalp acupuncture can improve significantly limb motor function of children with cerebral palsy and its therapeutic effect is superior to conventional acupuncture and simple scalp acupuncture.</p>
Subject(s)
Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Cerebral Palsy , Therapeutics , Meridians , Scalp , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective therapy for prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-six cases were randomly divided into a combined electroacupuncture and Chinese herb group (n=49), an electroacupuncture group (n=42) and a Chinese herb group (n=35). The combined electroacupuncture and Chinese herb group was treated with electroacupuncture at Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Xiaochangshu (BL 27) and Yaoyangguan (GV 3) and oral administration of Chinese herbs for cold-removing and yang-invigorating. The electroacupuncture group was treated with the same electroacupuncture treatment alone and the Chinese herb group with the same self Chinese herbs alone. The therapeutic effects were observed after treatment for 20 days, and the recurrence rates were followed up at 180 days after the last treatment among the three groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured-markedly effective rate was 79.6% in the combined electroacupuncture and Chinese herb group, 54.8% in the electroacupuncture group and 51.4% in the Chinese herb group, the combined electroacupuncture and Chinese herb group being significantly better than both the electroacupuncture group and the Chinese herb group (both P<0.05) and the therapeutic effect of both the electroacupuncture group and the Chinese herb group being similar (P>0.05). The recurrence rate after 180 days was 15.4% in the combined electroacupuncture and Chinese herb group, 83.3% in the electroacupuncture group and 80.0% in the Chinese herb group, with more obvious decrease in the combined electroacupuncture and Chinese herb group (both P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture combined with Chinese herbs is a better therapy for prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc of yang deficiency and cold coagulation type.</p>