ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of surround needling at articular six meridians plus finger (toe) tip bloodletting therapy on sciatic nerve conduction velocity and lower limb microcirculatory flow in diabetic rats. Method The model was made with streptozotocin. The rats were allocated to model, methycobal, acupuncture and normal groups. The methycobal group received a muscular injection of 50 ?g/kg in the left and right lower limbs alternately, every other day. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at points Taixi(KI3), Kunlun(BL60) and Jiexi(ST41), once daily plus toe tip bloodletting. The normal and model groups were bound 30 min once every other day. Every group was treated for eight weeks. General condition was observed, and sciatic nerve conduction velocity and lower limb microcirculatory flow were measured in the rats before and after treatment. Result Compared with the normal group, sciatic nerve conduction velocity decreased in the other groups of rats (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, sciatic nerve conduction velocity was higher in every treatment group of rats (P<0.05). Conclusion Surround needling at articular six meridians plus finger (toe) tip bloodletting therapy can increase sciatic nerve conduction velocity and improve lower limb microcirculation.