ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at specific points plus kidney-reinforcing Chinese herbal medicine in treating cervical spondylotic vertebral arteriopathy (liver-kidney deficiency type).MethodNinety patients with cervical spondylotic vertebral arteriopathy (liver-kidney deficiency type) were allocated, using a random number table, to a treatment group of 45 cases and a control group of 45 cases. One case dropped out in the control group. The treatment group received acupuncture at Baihui(GV20), Dazhui(GV14), Houxi(SI3), Sanyinjiao(SP6), Taixi(KI3) and Xuanzhong(GB39) plus oral administration of six ingredients with rehmanniaplus radix puerariae formula and the control group, oral administration of six ingredients with rehmannia plus radix puerariae formula alone. The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated after eight consecutive weeks of treatment.ResultThe total efficacy rate and the cure rate were 91.1% and 62.2%, respectively, in the treatment group and 77.3% and 34.1%, respectively, in the control group; there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). The therapeutic effect was better in the treatment group than in the control group. After treatment, the difference values ofthe vertigo severity, frequency and duration, headache, neck and shoulder pain, and life and work scores on the scale werehigher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture at specific points plus Chinese herbal medicine is more effective than Chinese herbal medicine alone in treating cervical spondylotic vertebral arteriopathy (liver-kidney deficiency type).
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine has a certain effect in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism and effect of acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: The animal models of knee osteoarthritis were established to detect the expression levels of related factors, including matrix metal oproteinase 3, transforming growth factor β, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. The knee osteoarthritis patients treated with acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine were fol owed-up, and the patients received acupuncture in the main points and the adjunct points, as wel as the Chinese medicine administration and the external application and fumigation. Then, the active function recovery of the knee joint was observed to identify the effect of acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine. RESUTLS AND CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can delay the destruction of knee joint articular cartilage and improve the knee function through decreasing the contents of matrix metal oproteinase 3, transforming growth factor β, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, thus playing the treatment effect on knee osteoarthritis. The knee osteoarthritis patients treated with acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine can obtain better effect, and the treatment efficiency is more than 90%. Compared with the single application of sodium hyaluronate or acupuncture treatment, acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine has higher treatment efficiency and better treatment effect.