Efficacy evaluation of external application of late silkworm sand on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the elderly / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effects of external application of late silkworm sand on peripheral neuropathy in diabetic (DPN) patients with cold coagulation blood stasis(CCBS).Methods:Sixty DPN patients with CCBS were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group(n=30, each group). Both groups were given routine treatment with mecobalamin, while the experimental group was treated with external application of silkworm sand additionally for 4 weeks.Improvements in brachial-ankle index(ABI)and foot vibration perception threshold(VPT)were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Results:The left and right ABI values were increased and the VPT value was decreased in the two groups after treatment compared with before treatment values.The left and right ABI values were higher( t=6.690 and 8.355, both P=0.000)and the VPT values were lower( t=6.447 and 6.734, both P=0.000)in the experimental group than in the control group after treatment. Conclusions:External application of late silkworm sand can improve ABI and VPT with good safety in treating DPN patients with CCBS and should be promoted in clinical practice.