Effect of shallow needling combined with acupoint application on the acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective therapy for the acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of facial paralysis patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with routine medication, and the observation group was treated with shallow needling combined with acupoint application using self-made "acupoint application formula for facial paralysis" on the basis of the routine medication. The acupoints of Yifeng (TE 17), Wangu (GB 12), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Qianzheng (EX-HN 17), Cuanzhu (BL 2) in affected side and Hegu (LI 4) in healthy side were selected as main acupoints for shallow needling, and Qianzheng (EX-HN 17), Dicang (ST 4), Yangbai (GB 14) and Wangu (GB 12), or Jiache (ST 6), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Quanliao (SI 18) and Yifeng (TE 17) were selected for acupoint application. The cure rate and the course of cured patients in both groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cure rate of 88.3% (53/60) in observation group was superior to that of 66.7% (40/60) in control group (P < 0.01). The course of cured patients in observation group was obviously shorter than that of control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>On the basis of routine medication, shallow needling combined with acupoint application can improve the therapeutic effect and shorten the course for acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture of different frequencies for treatment of patients with refractory tennis elbow syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the different effects of electroacupuncture of different frequencies for treatment of patients with refractory tennis elbow syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty five patients with refractory tennis elbow syndrome were randomly devided into continuous wave group (n=41) and rarefaction wave group (n= 44). The same acupoints were selected in both groups, and the major acupoints were the tenderness point around affected area in both groups. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the tenderness score of each patient in both groups. The effectiveness was evaluated by the tenderness score.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate was 82. 9% in continuous wave group, and 84. 1% in rarefaction wave group, with no significant difference in statistical analysis (P>0.05). The healing rate was 56. 8% in rarefaction wave group, better than 31. 7% in continuous wave group (P<0.05). The VAS scores were significantly reduced after electroacupuncture treatment in both groups (both P<0.001). There was significant difference in decreasing the VAS score between two groups after treatment (P<0.05), and the rarefaction wave group was better than the continuous wave group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The electroacupuncture of rarefaction wave is better than the electroacupuncture of continuous wave, therefore, it is a better treatment for refractory tennis elbow syndrome.</p>

Auricular point sticking plus moxibustion for treatment of recurrent herpes simplex / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for the best therapy for recurrent herpes simplex.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-six cases were randomly divided into an auricular point sticking plus moxibustion group (treatment group, n = 54), a medication group (control group, n = 42). The treatment group were treated with auricular sticking at points Spleen, Lung, Kidney, and others, and moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), and local blister; the control group were treated by oral administration and external application of aciclovir.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate and the total effective rate were 55.5% and 100.0% in the treatment group, and 9.5% and 61.9% in the control group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The auricular point sticking plus moxibustion is a better therapy for recurrent herpes simplex, with a significantly better therapeutic effect than that of the medication.</p>