Therapeutic Observation of Electroacupuncture for Herpes Zoster / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating herpes zoster.Method Ninety patients with herpes zoster were randomized into treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Treatment group 1 was intervened by surround needling at Ashi points (deep needling, by 33 mm) plus electroacupuncture; treatment group 2 was by surround needling at Ashi points (superficial needling by 16 mm) plus electroacupuncture; the control group was by oral administration of Valacyclovir Hydrochloride tablets plus Vitamin B1. After 10-day treatment, the blister-breaking time, crust-forming time, and the time of falling-off of the crust, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result The recovery rate and total effective rate were respectively 73.3% and 93.3% in treatment group 1, versus 46.7% and 86.7% in treatment group 2, and 33.3% and 63.3% in the control group. The recovery rate of treatment group 1 was significantly different from that of treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The total effective rates of treatment group 1 and 2 were both significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The blister-breaking time, crust-forming time, and crust falling-off time of treatment group 1 were significantly different from that of treatment group 2 and the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The crust-forming time and falling-off time of treatment group 2 were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). The VAS scores were markedly changed after the intervention in the three groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the VAS scores of treatment group 1 and 2 were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01). The VAS score of treatment group 1 was markedly different from that of treatment group 2 after the treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture is an effective method in treating herpes zoster, while deep surround needling at Ashi points plus electroacupuncture can effectively inhibit the development of blisters, promote crust-forming, release the neural pain, and reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia.