Résumé
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of combined acupuncture and medicine for external hemorrhoids. Method Included 68 patients with external hemorrhoids were allocated, in order of visits, to acupuncture, external application and acupuncture-medicine groups. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at points Chengshan (BL57) and Dachangshu (BL25); the external application group, external application of Divine Pain-Relief Decoction; the acupuncture-medicine group, comprehensive intervention. Result The pain was markedly relieved (P<0.01) but the severity of swelling and the size of hemorrhoids were less reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the acupuncture group compared with the external application group. The therapeutic effect was better in acupuncturemedicine group than in the acupuncture and external application groups with more reduced size of hemorrhoids (P<0.01, P<0.05), lower VAS score (P<0.05, P<0.01) and lower swelling severity score (P<0.01, P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture is more effective in relieving the pain, while external application of herbal medicine is more effective in reducing the severity of swelling and the size of hemorrhoids. The combined use of acupuncture and medicine can synergically enhance the clinical therapeutic effect.