Acupuncture combined with western medicine on rheumatoid arthritis and effects on blood stasis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with western medicine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its effect on blood stasis, and to explore ways to improve the clinical curative effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 56 patients of RA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 28 cases in each one. ① ibuprofen sustained-release tablets, 2 times a day, each time 0.3 g; ② methotrexate tablets (MTX), once a week, each time 10 mg ③ folic acid tablets, once a week, each time 5 mg were given in the control group, 30 days as one course, a total of 3 courses were required. In the observation group, acupuncture was adopted on the basis of the treatment as the control group. The main acupoints were Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36) combined with local points. The treatment was given once every day for continuous 6 days a week, the treatment for 30 days as one course, a total of 3 courses were required. The serological indexs were evaluated before and after treatment, including the rheumatoid factor (RF), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedirnentation rate (ESR), platelet (PLT), fibrinogen (FBG) and D-dimer (D-D), the changes of disease activity score (DAS-28), symptom grade quantitative score, blood stasis syndrome symptom (the joint tingling, lip color, tongue, pulse, subcutaneous ecchymosis, squamous and dry skin) score were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>① The scores of RF, hs-CRP, ESR, PLT, D-D, FBG, DAS-28 and symptom grade quantitative were significantly improved in the two groups compared with those before treatment (all <0.05), and the scores of hs-CRP, ESR, DAS-28 and symptom grading in the observation group were more better than those in the control group (all <0.05). ② The total score of joint tingling, lip color, tongue, pulse, subcutaneous ecchymosis, squamous and dry skin and blood stasis syndrome in both groups were decreased after treatment (all <0.05), the joint tingling, tongue, lip color and subcutaneous ecchymosis were improved obviously in the observation group than those in the control group (all <0.05). ③ The total effective rate in the observation group was 85.7% (24/28), which was better than 75.0% (21/28) in the control group (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture combined with western medicine can not only improve the clinical efficacy of RA patients but also improve the blood stasis.</p>

Clinical observation of pricking blood combined with moxibustion for acute gouty arthritis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical effective differences between pricking blood combined with moxibustion and west medication for acute gouty arthritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients with acute gouty arthritis were randomly divided into a pricking blood combined with moxibustion group (a combination group) and a western medication group, 20 cases in each one. In the combination group, pricking blood was used at the most painful points of the red turgid and painful joint once three days, total 3 times; moxibustion was applied at the same joint for 15-20 min, once a day. The moxibustion was adopted for 10 days. In the western medication group, 0. 3 g ibuprofen was prescribed orally twice a day for 10 days. The changes of uric acid (UA), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the joint syndrome and symptom score before and after: treatment were observed. Results In the two groups, the UA, the hs-CRP, the ESR and the joint syndrome and symptom scores were lower than those before treatment (all P<0. 05). After treatment, the UA, the ESR and the joint syndrome and symptom scores in the combination group were declined more apparently than those in the western medication group (all P<0. 05). The total effective rate in the combination group was 85. 0% (17/20) which was better than 75. 0% (15/20) in the western medication group (P<0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pricking blood combined with moxibustion could improve the joint symptoms more effectively and the effect is better than ibuprofen orally.</p>