Warming acupuncture combined with conventional acupuncture for diabetic peripheral neuropathy with syndrome of deficiency and cold coagulation, obstruction of collaterals and blood stasis / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical efficacy differences between warming acupuncture and conventional acupuncture for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) with syndrome of deficiency and cold coagulation, obstruction of collaterals and blood stasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 64 patients were randomly divided into a warming acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, 32 cases in each one. Based on basic treatment of blood glucose regulation, warming acupuncture was applied at Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Zusanli (ST 36), Chongyang (ST 42), Quchi (LI 11) and Hegu (LI 4) in the warming acupuncture group, while acupuncture was applied at the identical acupoints in the conventional acupuncture group. Both the treatments were given once a day with an interval of one day every six days; totally the treatment was given for 4 weeks. The TCM symptom score, Toronto clinical scoring system (TCSS) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) before and after treatment were compared in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the TCM symptom scores in the two groups were significantly reduced (both <0.01); the improvement of TCM symptom in the warming acupuncture group was superior to that in the conventional acupuncture group (<0.05). After treatment, the TCSS scores in the two groups were significantly reduced (both <0.01); the TCSS score in the warming acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the conventional acupuncture group (<0.05). After treatment, the NCV of motor nerve of tibial nerve and nervus peroneus communis, as well as sensory nerve of tibial nerve and sural nerve was improved in the warming acupuncture group (all <0.05), while only the NCV of motor nerve and sensory nerve of tibial nerve was improved in the conventional acupuncture group (both <0.05); there were no significant difference between the two groups (all >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Warming acupuncture and conventional acupuncture could both increase TCM symptom score, improve NCV in patients of DPN with syndrome of deficiency and cold coagulation, obstruction of collaterals and blood stasis; warming acupuncture has advantage in symptom improvement.</p>