Observations on the Efficacy of Medicated Thread Moxibustion plus Needle Picking Therapy for Sciatica / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the efficacies of medicated thread moxibustion plus needle picking therapy versus medication for sciatica.Method Seventy sciatica patients were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 35 cases and a control group of 35 cases. The treatment group received medicated thread moxibustion on Zusanli (ST36), three cones once daily and needle picking at Yanglingquan (GB34) and Huantiao (GB30), once daily. The control group took quick-acting sciatica pills, two pills twice daily. One course of treatment consisted of 10 days in both groups. The therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups of patients after two consecutive courses of treatment.Result Posttreatment pain score decreased more markedly in the treatment group (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 88.6% in the treatment group and 57.1% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Medicated thread moxibustion plus needle picking therapy for sciatica is more effective in relieving pain and raising the total efficacy rate.