ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into a better therapy for primary trigeminal neuralgia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-six cases were randomly divided into an observation group (n = 46) and a control group (n = 40). The observation group were treated with the three-combination needling method, i. e. acupuncture, acupoint-injection and fire-needle therapy, and the control group with acupuncture and acupoint-injection. After treatment of 2 courses, their therapeutic effects were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of 93.5% and the cured rate of 60.9% in the observation group were better than 65.0% and 22.5% in the control group, with significant differences (both P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The three-combination needling method has obvious clinical therapeutic effect on primary trigeminal neuralgia.</p>