Effect of elongated-needle by Hui-puncture method on piriformis syndrome / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of elongated needle by Hui-puncture method in the treatment of piriformis syndrome. METHODS: A total of 100 piriformis syndrome patients were randomly divided into routine acupuncture group (n＝50) and elongated needle by Hui-puncture method (Hui-puncture) group (n＝50). For patients of the routine acupuncture group, Huantiao (GB30), Juliao (GB29), Zhibian (BL54), Weizhong (BL40), Yanglingquan (GB34), Juegu (GB39) and Ashi-point on the affected side of the body were punctured with filiform needles for 30 min. And for those of the Hui-puncture group, elongated needles were respectively inserted into GB30 and Ashi-point. The treatment was conducted once every other day for 10 times. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and the severity scores of symptoms (hip pain, lower limb pain, walking ability, straight leg elevation test, piriformis muscle tension test, piriformis muscle tenderness, 0-15 points) were measured before and after the treatment. The therapeutic effect was assessed by Criteria for Diagnosis and Assessment of Therapeutic Effect of Syndromes or Illnesses of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1994). RESULTS: After the treatment, the scores of symptoms and VAS scores of both routine acupuncture and Hui-puncture groups were significantly decreased in comparison with their own pre-treatment (P<0.05), and the scores of the two indexes of the Hui-puncture group were evidently lower than those of the routine acupuncture group (P<0.05). Of the two 50 cases in the routine acupuncture and Hui-puncture groups, 39 and 47 were effective, with the effective rate being 78.00% and 94.00%, respectively. The comprehensive therapeutic effect of the Hui-puncture group was significantly superior to that of the routine acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Elongated-needle by Hui-puncture method has significant effect in treating piriformis syndrome patients and is worthy of promotion.

Effects on urinary retention after spinal cord injury treated with acupuncture at Zhibian (BL 54) and Shuidao (ST 28) with elongated needle / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical effects of acupuncture with elongated needle on urinary retention after spinal cord injury.@*METHODS@#A total of 66 patients with urinary retention after spinal cord injury were randomized into an elongated needle group (34 cases) and a filiform needle group (32 cases). In both of the groups, the routine orthopedic treatment and the bladder function training were adopted. Additionally, in the elongated needle group, the acupuncture at Zhibian (BL 54) and Shuidao (ST 28) was used with the elongated needle. In the filiform needle group, the acupuncture with filiform needle was used at Zhibian (BL 54) and Shuidao (ST 28). In both of the groups, acupuncture treatment was provided once every two days, for 2 months consecutively. Separately, before treatment and after 1, 2 month treatment, the residual urine volume, urodynamic parameters (bladder capacity, peak urinary flow rate and bladder pressure) and safety indicators were observed in the patients of the two groups. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#As compared with the results before treatment, the residual urine volume was reduced obviously (all <0.01), bladder capacity, peak urinary flow rate and bladder pressure were improved obviously (all <0.01) after 1, 2 month treatment in the two groups. After 1, 2 month treatment, the residual urine volume in the elongated needle group was lower than the filiform needle group (both <0.01). The improvements in bladder capacity, peak urinary flow rate and bladder pressure in the elongated needle group were superior to the filiform needle (all <0.01). The total effective rate was 94.1% (32/34) in the elongated needle group, higher than 71.9% (23/32) in the filiform needle group (<0.01). During treatment, there was no damage of kidney function, no fainting or broken needle happened in the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture with elongated needle achieves the significant effects on urinary retention after spinal cord injury. This therapy is better than acupuncture with filiform needle and safe in operation.

Elongated needle for post-stroke indigestion / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy difference among elongated needle, filiform needle and medication for post-stroke indigestion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of post-stroke indigestion were randomly assigned into an elongated needle group, a filiform needle group and a medication group, 20 cases in each one. Acupuncture of restoring consciousness and inducing resuscitation and conventional medical treatment were applied in the three groups. 125 mm elongated needles were perpendicularly inserted at Zhongwan (CV 12), Liangmen (ST 21) and Tianshu (ST 25) in the elongated needle group; 20 to 30 mm perpendicular filiform at the same points in the filiform needle group. All the treatment was given for 4 weeks, 6 times a week, 1 time a day. Domperidone was prescribed orally in the medication group for 4 weeks, 3 times a day and once 10 mg. The indexes were dyspepsia TCM symptom score, Liz dyspepsia questionnaire (LDQ), Nepean Dyspepsia Index of quality of life (NDLQI), Safety Data Sheet (SDS) self rating scale and side effect scale (TESS). The effects were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The scores of TCM symptom, LDQ, SDS scores in the three groups decreased and NDLQI increased after 7-day, 14-day, and 28-day treatment as compared with those before treatment (<0.05,<0.01). The TCM symptom score and LDQ score in the elongated needle group after 28-day treatment were lower than those in the filiform needle and medication groups (<0.05,<0.01). The SDS score in the medication group was lower than that in the elongated needle and filiform needle group (both<0.05). There were no significant statistical difference for NDLQI score in the three groups (>0.05). The total effective rate was 90% (18/20) in the elongated needle group; those in the filiform needle group and medication group were 70% (14/20) and 75% (15/20) respectively, indicating statistical significance (<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture with elongated needle can obviously improve symptoms in the patients with post-stroke indigestion, which is better than filiform needle and medication.</p>

Treatment of 41 Cases of Prostate Hyperplasia by Elongated Needle / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus medicament in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia, Zhibian (BL 54) and Zhongji (CV 3) were deeply punctured with elongated needles and enema was applied with self-prepared medicinal herbs. Then Qugu (CV2),Zhongliao(BL 33) and Xialiao(BL 34) were selected and connected with a herbal Ion Introduction Apparatus. The total effective rate was 92.4% in 41 cases. Elongated needle and herbal ion introduction can relieve the clinical symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia and improve the patients' life quality.