Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on blood vessels and the blood flow rate in patients with takayasu arteritis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on takayasu arteritis of brachiocephalic artery type and the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-one cases were treated by acupuncture and moxibustion at main acupoint Renying (ST 9) and adjuvant acupoints selected according to the symptoms. The therapeutic effect and changes of color Doppler's ultrasonic flow image (CDFI) of relevant arteries in patients before and after treatment were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical total effective rate was 90.3%. Of the 31 cases, 5 cases were clinically cured, 16 cases were markedly effective, 7 cases improved and 3 cases were ineffective; and it was showed that acupuncture and moxibustion could enlarge the inner diameter of the injured blood vessel, increase the volume of blood flow and the elastic index of the injured blood vessel, and improve the abnormal velocity and the abnormal crest form of blood flow.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion has a good therapeutic effect on takayasu arteritis of brachiocephalic artery type; acupuncture and moxibustion can improve the stenotic degree of the injured blood vessel and abnormal hemodynamics of blood flow in the limb and brain.</p>

Clinical observation on acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of aorto-arteritis of arterial type in the head and arm / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective therapy for aorto-arteritis of arterial type in the head and arm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture and moxibustion group and a medication group, 40 cases in each group. Renying (ST 9), Taiyuan (LU 9), Jiquan (HT 1) and other acupoints were selected in the acupuncture group, and the medication group were treated with intravenous dripping of Fufang Danshen Liquid. Their therapeutic effects were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical cured rate and the total effective rate were 15.0% and 95.0% in the acupuncture group, and 0 and 75.0% in the medication group, respectively, with a very significant difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion has a definite therapeutic effect, which is significantly superior to that of the routine medication for aorto-arteritis of arterial type in the head and arm.</p>