ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture at "cervical three points" combined with cake-separated moxibustion and routine acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on cervical hyperosteogeny.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Single blind, randomized and controlled methods were used and 91 cases were divided into an observation group of 46 cases and a control group of 45 cases. The observation group was treated by acupuncture at "cervical three points" combined with cake-separated moxibustion, i.e. acupuncture at Chonggu (EX), Dazhui (GV 14), Taodao (GV 13) and moxibustion at pain points with cake made by Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and Radix Paeoniae Alba; the control group was treated with acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2). Changes of sourness and pain of the neck, the shoulder and back, pressure pain and cervical activity scores were used for assessment of therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The markedly cured rate of 76.1% in the observation group was better than 42.2% in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of all the items were significantly improved in the two groups (all P<0.05), and the observation group in sourness and pain of the neck, the shoulder and back, and cervical activity were better than the control group (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic effect of acupuncture at "cervical three points" combined with cake-separated moxibustion on cervical hyperosteogeny is superior to routine acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2).</p>