Therapeutic Observation of Three Tongue Needles plus Plum-blossom Needle for Aphasia after Ischemic Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of needling the three tongue points plus plum-blossom needle in treating aphasia after ischemic stroke. Method Sixty patients with aphasia after ischemic stroke were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by needling the three tongue points plus treating the Jiao’s Language Zone 1 with plum-blossom needle, while the control group was by regular body acupuncture. After 2 treatment courses, the language function score (spontaneous speech fluency, repeating, and reading scores) were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result After intervention, the spontaneous speech fluency, repeating, and reading scores were significantly changed in both groups (P<0.01). After intervention, there were significant differences in comparing the speech fluency, repeating, and reading scores between the two groups (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 86.7% in the treatment group versus 76.7% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Needling the three tongue points plus plum- blossom needle is an effective method in treating aphasia after ischemic stroke.