Effect of warming needle moxibustion on pain threshold in the patient of sciatica / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe effect of warming needle moxibustion on pain threshold in the patient of sciatica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety cases were randomly divided into 3 groups, 30 cases in each group. The warming needle moxibustion group were treated with warming needle moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Huantiao (GB 30), etc; the western medicine group with oral administration of Nimeisulide; and the acupoint-injection group with injection of 654-2 into the same acupoints as those in the warming needle moxibustion group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rates were 56.67%, 26.67% and 20.00% in the 3 groups, and the total effective rate were 90.00%, 73.33% and 63.33%, respectively, the therapeutic effect of the warming needle moxibustion group being better than those of other two groups (both P < 0.01). The amplitude of pain threshold increase in the warming needle moxibustion group was higher than those of other two groups (both P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Warming needle moxibustion can increase pain threshold, improve symptoms and raise quality of life for the patient of sciatica.</p>