Observations on the Therapeutic Effect of Acupuncture at Point Houxi (SI3) on Cervical Spondylotic Vertebral Arteriopathy / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at point Houxi (SI3) in treating cervical spondylotic vertebral arteriopathy. Method Three hundred and fourteen patients with cervical spondylotic vertebral arteriopathy were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 158 cases and a control group of 156 cases. The treatment group received acupuncture at points Houxi, Fengchi (GB20), Wangu (GB12), Tianzhu (BL10) and cervical Huatuo jiaji (Ex-B2) points and the control group, no acupuncture at point Houxi. The therapeutic effects were evaluated in the two groups after treatment. The recurrence rates were compared at the one-year follow-up. Result The total efficacy rate was 94.9% in the treatment group and 87.2% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The recurrence rate was 5.1% in the treatment group and 13.6% in the control group at the one-year follow-up. There was a statistically significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture at point Houxi and other combined points has a better therapeutic effect on cervical spondylotic vertebral arteriopathy. It can markedly reduce the recurrence rate in the patients.