Clinical Observation of Grain-sized Moxibustion at Back-Shu Points of Zang-organs for Vascular Cognitive Impairment-no Dementia / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and action mechanism of grain-sized moxibustion at Back-Shu points of Zang-organs in treating vascular cognitive impairment-no dementia (VCIND) due to marrow insufficiency. Method Ninety-two patients with VCIND due to marrow insufficiency were randomized into a grain-sized moxibustion group, an electroacupuncture group and a Western medication group. Since the grain-sized moxibustion group and electroacupuncture group each had 1 dropout case, there were 90 valid recruited cases, 30 in each group. Xinshu (BL15) and Shenshu (BL23) were selected as the major points, with Middle Line of Vertex (MS5), Middle Line of Forehead (MS1), Lateral Line 1 of Vertex (MS8), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Xuanzhong (GB39) and Taixi (KI3) as the adjunct points. The grain-sized moxibustion group and electroacupuncture group respectively received grain-sized moxibustion and electroacupuncture at Xinshu and Shenshu, and the adjunct points were treated with ordinary acupuncture. The intervention was given once a day, successive 5 d a week, and 4 weeks as a course of treatment, for 2 courses in total. The Western medication group was prescribed with oral administration of Piracetam tablet, 0.4 g per dose, 3 times a day, for successive 8 weeks. The clinical efficacies, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores, homocysteine (Hcy) and folic acid contents in serum were compared among the three groups after 8 weeks. Result The total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) in the grain-sized moxibustion group, superior to 63.3% (19/30) in the electroacupuncture group and 36.7% (11/30) in the Western medication group (P<0.05,P<0.01). The MoCA and ADL scores and serum contents of Hcy and folic acid were significantly improved after the treatment in the three groups (P<0.01), and the grain-sized moxibustion group was significantly better than the electroacupuncture group and Western medication group (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the electroacupuncture group and superior to the Western medication group (P<0.05). Conclusion Grain-sized moxibustion at Back-Shu points of Zang-organs can produce significant efficacy in treating VCIND due to marrow insufficiency, and the effect is possibly realized by declining Hcy and increasing folic acid levels in blood.