Observations on the Efficacy of Electroacupuncture plus Indirect Moxibustion Treating Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture plus indirect moxibustion treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation of blood stasis type. Method Sixty patients diagnosed with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (blood stasis type) were randomized to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received electroacupuncture plus medicine separated moxibustion and the control group, electroacupuncture alone. treatment was given once daily, 10times as a course. Pre- and post-treatment JOA lumbar scores were compared in the patients after two courses of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated in the patients using the TCM Criteria of the Diagnosis of and Therapeutic Effect on Diseases. Result Lumbar function was improved significantly in both treatment and control groups of patients (P<0.01) but improved more significantly in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 96.7% in the treatment group and 83.3% in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in the total efficacy rate between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture plus indirect moxibustion is a better way to treat lumbar intervertebral disc herniation of blood stasis type. Its therapeutic effect is better than that of electroacupuncture alone.