Clinical observation on pricking blood along meridians combined with electroacupuncture for treatment of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effects on pricking blood along meridians combined with electroacupuncture for treatment of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred cases were randomly divided into an observation group (50 cases) and a control group (50 cases). The observation group was treated with pricking blood along meridians combined with electroacupuncture. The main points for pricking blood were collaterals with blood stasis around Weizhong (BL 40) on the affected side, and collaterals with blood stasis on corresponding meridians such as Foot Shaoyang Meridian, Foot Taiyang Meridian and Foot Yangming Meridian according to body parts syndrome differentiation could also be used. The points for electroacupuncture included Ashi point (1 cun away from the spinal space of segmental lesions), Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Zhibian (BL 54), Huantiao (GB 30) and so on. The control group was only treated with electroacupuncture and treatment was same as the observation group. The therapeutic effects and scores of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of two groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate of observation group (68.0%, 34/50) was higher than that of control group (46.0%, 23/50, P < 0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate of observation group (92.0%, 46/50) was also higher than that of control group (74.0%, 37/50, P < 0.05). The scores of VAS after treatment in both groups decreased obviously (both P < 0.01), and the decreasing degree of VAS in observation group was more obvious than that in control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pricking blood along meridians combined with electroacupuncture has outstanding effect for treatment of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.</p>

Point-through-point acupuncture for treatment of peripheral facial paralysis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for a more effective penetration needling method for peripheral facial paralysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients were divided into a treatment group and a control group according to visiting sequence. The treatment group of 50 cases were treated with Yangbai (GB 14)-through-Touwei (ST 8), Yangbai (a little above the original point)-through-Shangxing (GV 23), Sizhukong (TE 23)-through-Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Qianzheng-through-Yingxiang (LI 20), Dicang (ST 4)-through-Jiache (ST 6) and Jiache-through-Yingxiang, at an angle about 45 degrees between the penetration needling direction and local paralysis muscle bundle, and the control group (n=45) with Yangbai-through-Yuyao, Zanzhu (BL 2)-through-Yuyao, Dicang-through-Jiache, Jiache-through-Dicang, Qianzheng-through-Dicang, Sibai (ST 2)-through-Yingxiang.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate and the cured and markedly effective rate were 76.0% and 92.0% in the treatment group, and 55.6% and 75.6% in the control group respectively, with significant differences between the two groups in the cured rate, the cured and markedly effective rate and the therapeutic times for cure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The penetration needling method at an angle about 45 degrees between the penetration needling and paralysis muscle bundle is more beneficial to recovery of facial paralysis.</p>