ABSTRACT
Objective To study the curative effect and mechanism of moxibustion on heat-sensitive acupoints combined with Erwei Badu Powder in the treatment of elderly herpes zoster (HZ) with type of stagnant heat of liver channel. Methods Sixty-five patients with HZ were randomly divided into treatment group (35 cases) and control group (30 cases). Two groups were orally given Longdan Xiegan Decoction and aciclovir conventionally, the treatment group was given moxibustion additionally on heat-sensitive acupoints combined with Erwei Badu Powder, and the control group was only given external application of Erwei Badu Powder for 10 days. The symptom scores, levels of T lymphocyte subsets and serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) were observed before and after treatment, the curative effect was evaluated, and PHN was followed up. Results The effective rate was 85.71%(30/35) in the treatment group and 66.67%(20/30) in the control group. The curative effect of treatment group surpassed the control group (P<0.05). Incidence of PHN was lower (P<0.01). The levels of CD4, CD4/CD8, and IL-2 increased and the level of CD8 decreased significantly in two groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). All indexes were better in the treatment group than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The curative effect of moxibustion on heat-sensitive acupoints combined with Erwei Badu Powder in treatment of elderly HZ is better than that of Erwei Badu Powder only, particularly in reducing the occurrence of PHN, improving neuralgia and insomnia. The mechanism may be related to increasing levels of CD4, CD4/CD8 and IL-2, and improvement of body’s cell-mediated immunity.