Observations on the Efficacy of Modified Electrical Superficial Surround Acupuncture in Treating Postherpetic Neuralgia / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the efficacy of modified electrical superficial surround acupuncture in treating postherpetic neuralgia. Method One hundred and eighty-six patients with postherpetic neuralgia were randomly allocated to electrical acupuncture, superficial acupuncture and electrical superficial acupuncture groups, 62 cases each. All the three groups were given acupuncture at ashi points around the painful region. The electrical acupuncture group received electroacupuncture alone. The superficial acupuncture group received sweeping-dispersing manipulation and following 24-hour retention of the soft tube. The electrical superficial acupuncture group received sweeping-dispersing manipulation based on modified superficial acupuncture and following electroacupuncture, without retention of the soft tube after the completion of treatment. The therapeutic effects were evaluated and compared after one course of treatment. Result There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the VAS score in the three groups (P0.05). The evaluation of the therapeutic effects according to WHO pain rating showed that the marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate were 45.2% and 82.3%, respectively, in the electrical acupuncture group, 52.3% and 88.7%, respectively, in the superficial acupuncture group and 62.9% and 91.9%, respectively, in the electrical superficial acupuncture group. There was no statistically significant difference in the total efficacy rate between the three groups (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the marked efficacy rate between the electrical acupuncture and electrical superficial acupuncture groups (P0.05) and between the superficial acupuncture and electrical superficial acupuncture groups(P>0.05). Conclusion The therapeutic effect of electrical superficial acupuncture is better than that of superficial acupuncture and electrical acupuncture. Electrical superficial acupuncture is characterized by selection of few points, small number of treatments and meanwhile, avoidance of potential medical risks.