Observations on the Efficacy of Electroacupuncture at Huatuo Jiaji Points plus Acupuncture Point Injection in Treating Postherpetic Neuralgia / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at Huatuo jiaji points plus acupuncture point injection in treating postherpetic neuralgia.Methods Sixty-two patients with postherpetic neuralgia were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 32 cases and a control group of 30 cases. The treatment group received electroacupuncture at Huatuo jiaji points plus acupuncture point injection and the control group, oral administration of carbamazepine tablets, vitamin B1 and vitamin B12. The pre-treatment and post-treatment clinical symptom score and VAS score were recorded in the two groups and the clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results The total efficacy rate was 93.8% in the treatment group and 66.7% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in clinical symptom item scores (pain, pruritus, burning sensation and sleep) in the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the VAS score in the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in pre-/post-treatment VAS score difference value between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Huatuo jiaji points plus acupuncture point injection is an effective way to treat postherpetic neuralgia.