OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical
therapeutic effect between deep
needling at Xiaguan (ST 7) with round sharp
needle combined with
plum -
blossom needle and conventional
acupuncture in
patients with
trigeminal neuralgia (TN) of
wind and
heat , and explore its mechanism.@*
METHODS @#A total of 60
patients with TN of
wind and
heat were randomized into an
observation group (30 cases) and a
control group (30 cases). In the
observation group, deep
needling with round sharp
needle was applied at Xiaguan (ST 7), and tapping with
plum -
blossom needle was applied at Yangbai (GB 14), Quanliao (SI 18), Dicang (ST 4), Sibai (ST 2), etc. of affected side. In the
control group , conventional
acupuncture was applied at the same
acupoints selected in the
observation group. The
treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks in the both groups. Before and
after treatment , the scores of short-form
McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), TCM
syndrome ,
patient global impression of change (PGIC) and comprehensive symptom were observed, the
serum levels of
interleukin-6 (
IL-6 ),
tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α),
vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and β-
endorphin (β-EP) were detected, and the adverse reaction was observed in the both groups.@*RESULTS@#
After treatment , the scores of PRI, PPI, VAS, TCM
syndrome , PGIC and comprehensive symptom and the
serum levels of
IL-6 , TNF-α and VIP were decreased compared before
treatment in the both groups (@*CONCLUSION@#Deep
needling at Xiaguan (ST 7) with round sharp
needle combined with
plum -
blossom needle can effectively treat the
trigeminal neuralgia of
wind and
heat and relieve
pain , its
therapeutic effect is superior to conventional
acupuncture . The mechanism may be related to the
regulation of
serum IL-6 , TNF-α, VIP and β-EP.