ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy of fire-needle acupuncture in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. Method Sixty subjects were randomized into two groups by using the sealed envelope method. The control group was intervened by conventional medications; after classified into four syndrome types, down diffusion of damp-heat, liver qi stagnation, turbid stagnation and kidney qi deficiency, the treatment group was majorly treated with fire-needle acupuncture in addition to filiform-needle acupuncture. Fire-needle acupuncture was performed at Guanyuan (CV4), Qugu (CV2) and bilateral Dahe (KI12), once a week, for continuous 6 months; the filiform-needle acupuncture was majorly at Baihui (GV20) and Qihai (CV6) with adjunctive points modified according to different syndromes, twice a week, 8 sessions as a treatment course, for 5 courses in total. Result The improved rate was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05);the residual urine volume was significantly changed after the intervention in both groups (P<0.01), and the decrease in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Fire-needle acupuncture can improve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower the residual urine volume.