ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the efficacy of needling the Xi-Cleft points of yang meridians plus topical surrounding needling and pregabalin in treating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) affecting the head and face and its influence on quality of life (QOL). Methods: Eighty patients with PHN affecting the head and face were randomized into an acupuncture-medication group and a Western medication group by their visiting sequence, with 40 cases in each group. The Western medication group took pregabalin capsules orally, 75 mg each time, twice a day. The dosage could increase to 150 mg each time and twice a day within 1 week based on the efficacy and tolerance. The treatment lasted for 5 weeks. The acupuncture-medication group was given additional surrounding needling at the herpes zoster on the head and face, and Xi-Cleft points of yang meridians were chosen according to the affected area for acupuncture, once every other day, for 5 weeks in total. Results: Prior to treatment, there were no significant differences in the visual analog scale (VAS) and QOL scores between the two groups (both P>0.05). After treatment, VAS and QOL scores dropped significantly in both groups (all P<0.01), and were significantly lower in the acupuncture-medication group than in the Western medication group (both P<0.01). The total effective rate was 67.5％ in the Western medication group, versus 92.5％ in the acupuncture-medication group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on oral administration of pregabalin, needling the Xi-Cleft points of yang meridians and topical surrounding needling can reduce PHN, notably improve patients' QOL, and produce more significant efficacy than oral administration of pregabalin alone.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of dragon-tiger contending needling at Xi-cleft points plus electroacupuncture in treating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Method Seventy PHN patients were randomized into a treatment group of 36 cases and a control group of 34 cases. The treatment group was intervened by dragon-tiger contending needling at Xi-cleft points plus electroacupuncture, while the control group was treated with electroacupuncture alone. In the 4-week treatment, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores right before and after the 1st, 2nd, 6th, 9th and 12th treatment sessions were recorded, “the maximum pain intensity since the last treatment session” and “real-time analgesic effect” were observed, and the total therapeutic efficacy was also evaluated.Result The real-time analgesic effects right after the 1st, 2nd and 6th treatments in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05). The “maximum pain intensities since the last treatment session” prior to the 2nd, 6th, 9th, and 12th treatment sessions were significantly different from the pain intensity before the intervention in the two groups (P<0.05). The “maximum pain intensities since the last treatment session” prior to the 6th, 9th, and 12th treatment sessions were significantly different from those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate and recovery plus markedly-effective rate were respectively 97.2% and 77.8% in the treatment group, versus 91.2% and 59.2% in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in the recovery plus markedly-effective rate between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Dragon-tiger contending needling at Xi-cleft points plus electro- acupuncture is an effective approach in treating PHN; it acts efficiently and can produce a satisfactory real-time analgesic effect.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Xi-Cleft point acupuncture plus surrounding electro- acupuncture in treating occipital neuralgia.Methods Forty-eight patients with occipital neuralgia were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 24 cases each. The treatment group received Xi-Cleft point acupuncture plus surrounding electroacupuncture and the control group, surrounding electroacupuncture alone. The VAS score was recorded in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the VAS score in the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the VAS score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 95.8% in the treatment group and 83.3% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Xi-Cleft point acupuncture plus surrounding electroacupuncture is an effective way to treat occipital neuralgia.
