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OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of dysphagia in apoplexy patients. METHODS: A total of 104 patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomized into a control (conventional swallowing rehabilitation training) group and an acupuncture group (n＝ 52 cases in each one). In the control group, the conventional swallowing rehabilitation training was conducted, twice daily, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. In the acupuncture group, deep needling of main acupoints Lianquan (CV23) and Yifeng (TE17), and conventional acupuncture of adjuvant acupoints as Fengchi (GB20) and Fengfu (GV16), Wangu (GB12), Lieque (LU7), Jinjin (EX-HN12), Yuye (EX-HN13), etc. as well as electroacupuncture stimulation (15－20 Hz, 5 mA, and duration of 30 min) of ipsilateral CV23-GV16, TE17-GB20, and bilateral Neidaying acupoints were conducted. The acupuncture treatment was given once daily, 6 times a week for consecutive 4 weeks. In addition, patients of the two groups also received routine symptomatic treatment with drugs for anti-platelet aggregation, nourishing cranial nerve, lowering blood pressure, controlling blood glucose, improving cerebral circulation, etc. Before and after the treatment, the standard swallowing assessment (SSA, 18－46 points) and Kubota water swallowing test (WST, 1－5 grades) were conducted to evaluate the patient's swallowing function. The comprehensive therapeutic effect was assessed in accordance with the SSA and Kubota WST, and adverse reactions were recorded. RESULTS: After the treatment, the SSA score was considerably reduced in the two groups relevant to their own pre-treatment (both P<0.05), and was significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the control group (P<0.05). The Kubota WST grade was evidently increased in the number of patients with grade Ⅰ (P<0.05) and reduced in the numbers of patients with grade Ⅲ－Ⅴ in both groups relevant to their own pre-treatment, and was more patients with grade Ⅰ in the acupuncture group than in the control group (P<0.05). Outcomes of the comprehensive therapeutic effect indicated that of the two 52 cases in the control and acupuncture groups, 8 (15.38%) and 19 (36.53%) were cured, 7 (13.46%) and 15 (28.45%) had marked improvement, 17 (32.69%) and 12 (23.08%) were effective, and 20 (38.46%) and 6 (11.54%) failed in the treatment, with the effective rate being 61.54% and 88.46%, respectively. The total effective rate of the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The adverse reactions such as regional hematoma (in 3 cases) and pain (in 2 cases) in the acupuncture group, and choking-coughing in the control group were seen, being 9.62% and 11.54% in the incidence rate, respectively. CONCLUSION: Deep needling of main acupoints Lianquan (CV23) and Yifeng (TE 17) in combination with conventional acupuncture of other acupoints is effective in improving local glossopharyngeal function in apoplexy patients with dysphagia, which is obviously superior to conventional swallowing rehabilitation training in the therapeutic effect and is applicable in clinical practice.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of stage-based treatment of peripheral facial paralysis with Yifeng (TE 17) selected as the major point treated by different acupuncture methods.Method A total of 102 patients with peripheral facial paralysis were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 51 cases each. The treatment group was intervened by selecting Yifeng (TE 17) as the major point, treated with centro-square needling in the acute stage, triple needling in the resting stage, and proximal needling in the remission stage; the control group was intervened by ordinary acupuncture. The two groups were treated once a day, 5 d as a course of treatment. Before and after 3 treatment courses, the House Brackmann (HB) facial nerve grading scale and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in those patients complicated with pain were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The total effective rate and recovery rate were respectively 100.0％ and 82.3％ in the treatment group versus 86.3％ and 60.8％ in the control group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The HB scores were significantly changed respectively after 1, 2 and 3 treatment courses in the two groups compared with the pre-treatment scores (P<0.05). The HB scores in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group respectively after 1, 2 and 3 treatment courses (P<0.05). The patients complicated with facial pain or headache presented significant differences in VAS score respectively after 1, 2 and 3 treatment courses in the two groups (P<0.05). In comparing the VAS score in the patients complicated with facial pain or headache, there were significant differences between the two groups respectively after 1, 2 and 3 treatment courses (P<0.05).Conclusion Stage- based treatment with Yifeng (TE 17) selected as the major point treated with different acupuncture methods can produce valid efficacy in treating peripheral facial paralysis.
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<p>The treatment of tinnitus is difficult with modern medicine. We encountered three cases of tinnitus for which press tack needle was effective.<br>The first case was a 65-year-old woman. She suffered from sudden deafness, and bilateral tinnitus continued for 5 years, at which point she consulted us. Her Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score was 66 points. We administered press tack needle on the bilateral Yifeng (TE 17) points. Her THI score fell to 14 points after 1 month and zero points after 2 months, at which time treatment was completed. The second case was a 69-year-old man. Forty years before his initial visit, a gun was fired near his left ear, and tinnitus developed. The tinnitus repeatedly improved and aggravated. The tinnitus continued for 8 years before his initial visit. His THI score was 18. Press tack needle was administered to his Yifeng points. The THI score lowered to 2 points after 3 months. The third case was a 31-year-old woman. Her bilateral tinnitus started 15 days before her initial visit. Her THI score was 34 points. Press tack needle was administered to the bilateral Yifeng points. Her THI score dropped to 8 points after 4 months.<br>Press tack needle to the Yifeng points is simple and straightforward. This suggested that it is a valuable method to consider.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of triple needling and centro-square needling in treating hemifacial spasm. Method Sixty-eight patients with facial spasm were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 34 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by centro-square needling at topical Ashi points and triple needling at Yifeng (TE 17) on the affected side; the control group was intervened by regular acupuncture. The two groups were treated once a day, 10 times as a treatment course, for 3 courses in total. Cohen Albert grading scale was adopted to evaluate the spasm intensity before and after the intervention, and the clinical efficacies were then compared.Result After intervention, there was a significant difference in comparing the spasm intensity between the two groups (P<0.05). The significant improvement rate was 88.2% in the treatment group versus 50.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Triple needling plus centro-square needling is an effective method in treating hemifacial spasm. This method uses less points, but it produces a high efficacy, strong pertinence, and is easy-to-operate.