Effects of acupoint specificity on claustrophobia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effectiveness of acupuncture on claustrophobia, and to explore the effects of acupoint specificity on claustrophobia.@*METHODS@#This was an evaluator-blinded randomized controlled trial. One hundred and sixty patients who presented with claustrophobia during magnetic resonance imaging examination were randomized into an acupoint group, a non-acupoint group, a sham-acupoint group and a blank group, 40 cases in each one. The patients in the acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at Zhaohai (KI 6), Taichong (LR 3), Lingdao (HT 4), Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7), Danzhong (CV 17), Baihui (GV 20) and Fengchi (GB 20). The patients in the non-acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at points 0.5 next to the acupoints above. The patients in the sham-acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at acupoints not closely correlated to claustrophobia in corresponding segment. All the acupuncture was given once. No treatment was used in the blank group. The state anxiety questionnaire (S-AI) was observed in all the patients at the end of MRI examination before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among four groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the S-AI score was reduced in the acupoint group, non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group after treatment (0.05). After treatment, the S-AI scores in the acupoint group, non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group was lower than that in the blank group (<0.05, <0.01), and the differences of S-AI score were higher than that in the blank group (<0.01). The S-AI score in the acupoint group was lower than that in the non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group (<0.05), and the difference of S-AI score was higher than those in the non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group (<0.05). The difference of S-AI score in the non-acupoint group was higher than that in sham-acupoint group (<0.05). The total effective rate was 92.5% (37/40) in the acupoint group, which was significantly superior to 25.0% (10/40) in the non- acupoint group, 17.5% (7/40) in the sham-acupoint group and 5.0% (2/40) in the blank group (<0.05, <0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture showes superior effect on claustrophobia, and its tranquilizing effect may be related with acupoint specificity.

Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy of Heart and Spleen Deficiency Type Insomnia Treated by Acupuncture for Regulating Governor Vessel and Tranquilizing Spirit / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with estazolam for the treatment of primary insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency type. Methods Seventy qualified patients were randomized into treatment group and control group, 35 in each group. Both groups received oral use of estazolam before bed time for 6 continuous weeks, and acupuncture group was additionally given acupuncture for regulating governor vessel and tranquilizing spirit on acupoints of Baihui(GV20), Yintang(GV29), Shenting(GV25), Anmian (EX-HN22), Shenmen(H7), Sanyinjiao(SP6), 3 times a week and lasting for 6 continuous weeks. The sleep state of the patients was estimated according to Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS) before treatment, on the third and the sixth week of treatment, and one month after the completion of treatment. Results (1) Five cases in the treatment group and 3 cases in the control group were dropped out for not completing the treatment timely. In the end , 30 cases in the treatment group and 32 cases in the control group finished the trial. (2) The total effective rate in the treatment group was up to 90.0%, and was 71.9% in control group, the difference being significant(P<0.01).(3) Compared to the control group, the scores of PSQI, ESS and AIS were much decreased in treatment group on the third and the sixth week of treatment , and one month after treatment(P<0 . 05 or P<0 . 01). Conclusion Acupuncture for regulating governor vessel and tranquilizing mind combined with oral use of estazolam exerts certain therapeutic effect for the treatment of heart and spleen deficiency type insomnia, and the effect was superior to that of estazolam alone.