Clinical Observations on Acupoint Selection at Distant Places and Local Tenderness Points for Treatment of Migraine Without Aura / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy of acupoint selection at distant places and local tenderness points in treating migraine without aura.Method Sixty patients were randomly allocated, using a random number table, to two groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received acupuncture at distant points selected along meridians and local tenderness points and the control group, acupuncture at conventionally selected points. The therapeutic effects were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ).Result After treatment, the VAS pain score was lower in the treatment group than in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 93.3% in the treatment group and 73.3% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Both acupuncture at distant points selected along meridians and local tenderness points and acupuncture at conventionally selected points have a certain therapeutic effect on migraine, but the former produces a better effect than the later and can markedly relieve the pain and improve the quality of life in the patients. The outcome of this study provides a certain reference value for clinical treatment of this disease.

Observations on the Efficacy of Acupuncture plus Ashi Point Pricking Bloodletting in Treating Acute Gouty Arthritis / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus ashi point pricking bloodletting in treating acute gouty arthritis.Methods Seventy patients with acute gouty arthritis were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 38 cases and a control group of 32 cases. The treatment group received acupuncture plus ashi point pricking bloodletting and the control group, routine medication. Blood uric acid and C reaction protein contents were measured in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results There were statistically significant differences in blood uric acid and C reaction protein contents after one and two courses of treatment compared with before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01). After two courses of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in comparing C reaction protein contents between the two groups (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 84.2% in the treatment group and 81.3% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture plus ashi point pricking bloodletting is an effective way to treat acute gouty arthritis.

Therapeutic Observation of Electroacupuncture for Herpes Zoster / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating herpes zoster.Method Ninety patients with herpes zoster were randomized into treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Treatment group 1 was intervened by surround needling at Ashi points (deep needling, by 33 mm) plus electroacupuncture; treatment group 2 was by surround needling at Ashi points (superficial needling by 16 mm) plus electroacupuncture; the control group was by oral administration of Valacyclovir Hydrochloride tablets plus Vitamin B1. After 10-day treatment, the blister-breaking time, crust-forming time, and the time of falling-off of the crust, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The recovery rate and total effective rate were respectively 73.3% and 93.3% in treatment group 1, versus 46.7% and 86.7% in treatment group 2, and 33.3% and 63.3% in the control group. The recovery rate of treatment group 1 was significantly different from that of treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The total effective rates of treatment group 1 and 2 were both significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The blister-breaking time, crust-forming time, and crust falling-off time of treatment group 1 were significantly different from that of treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The crust-forming time and falling-off time of treatment group 2 were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). The VAS scores were markedly changed after the intervention in the three groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the VAS scores of treatment group 1 and 2 were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01). The VAS score of treatment group 1 was markedly different from that of treatment group 2 after the treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture is an effective method in treating herpes zoster, while deep surround needling at Ashi points plus electroacupuncture can effectively inhibit the development of blisters, promote crust-forming, release the neural pain, and reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia.

ClinicalStudy of Nape Eight Needles plus Cephalic Ashi Point Needle Retention for Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache / 上海针灸杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of nape eight needles plus cephalic ashi point acupuncture in treating cervicogenic headache.MethodA randomized controlled trial was carried out. Eighty-nine patients with cervicogenic headache were randomly allocated to two groups, the treatment group of 45 cases and the control group of 44 cases. Nape eight points [bilateral Fengchi(GB20), Fengfu(GV16), Dazhui(GV14) and “nape Sihuaxue”] and cephalic ashi points were selected inthe treatment group and Huatuo jiaji(Ex-B2) points at the affected cervical vertebrae and points Tianzhu(BL10), Fengchi, Yuzhen(BL9), Lieque(LU7), Taichong(LR3)and Zulinqi(GB41), in the control group. Every group was treated three times a week for two weeks. A follow-up was performed at one month after the completion of treatment. Headache was scored using the VAS, and continuous headache time, headache frequency and range of motion (ROM) of cervical spine were scored before treatment, at the end ofone week’s treatment, at the completion of treatment and at one month after the completion of treatment. The therapeutic effect at the completion of treatment and the follow-up was evaluated according to criteria for assessing the therapeutic effect.ResultAt the completion of treatment and the follow-up, the headache score and the range of motion of cervical spine score were lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). In the treatment group, the total efficacy rate was 91.1% at the completion of treatment and 86.7% at the follow-up; the short-term and the long-term therapeutic effects were superior to those in the control group (P<0.05). After one week of treatment, the total efficacy rate was 57.8%, which was higher than 11.4% in thecontrol group (P<0.05).ConclusionTreatment with nape eight needles plus cephalic ashi point needle retention has a marked improving effect on headache symptoms and range of motion of cervical spine in cervicogenic headache. Its short-term and long-termtherapeutic effects are superior to those of conventional acupuncture. It has a higher efficacy rate and effect-producing speed.

Therapeutic Observation of Triple Needling plus Centro-square Needling for Hemifacial Spasm / 上海针灸杂志

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.

Therapeutic observation of superficial needling for hemifacial spasm / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the therapeutic efficacy of superficial needling in treating hemifacial spasm. Methods:Eighty patients with facial spasm were randomized into two groups by the random number table, 40 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by superficial needling at local Ashi points and wrist-ankle acupuncture at the Upper 1, Upper 2 and Upper 3 points; while the control group was by ordinary acupuncture. For both groups, the treatment was given once a day, 7 times as a treatment course, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 3 courses. Results:The total effective rate and recovery rate were respectively 97.5% and 57.5% in the observation group versus 85.0% and 37.5% in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P Conclusion:Superficial needling can produce a more significant efficacy in treating hemifacial spasm than ordinary acupuncture.

Observation on Therapeutic Effect of Clapping Acupoint for Treatment of Hyperosteoyeny of Lumbar Vertebra / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective To observe the effect of clapping acupoint on hyperosteogeny of lumbar vertebra. Methods Ninety-eight cases were randomly divided into 65 cases treated by clapping Ashi point in treatment group and 33cases treated by simple acupuncture in control group.Results Among 65 cases in treatment group, 52 cases were cured and 13 cases were not cured; of 33 cases in control group, 19 cases were cured and 14 cases were not cured, and there had significant difference in cure rate between the two groups, x2 =5.51, P ＜0.05. Conclusion Treatment of hyperosteogeny by clapping acupoint was better than simple acupuncture therapy.