[Effect of medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion on functional activity of back-leg and plasma substance P level in patients with lumbar disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion combined with acupuncture on back-leg activities and plasma substance P (SP) levels in patients with lumbar disc herniation, so as to reveal its mechanism underlying pain relief. METHODS: A total of 114 patients with lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into control group (n=56) and treatment group (n=58) according to a random digits table. Patients of the control group were treated by manual acupuncture stimulation of main acupoints Jiaji (EX-B 2), Huantiao (GB 30, affected side), Chengshan (BL 57, affected side), Kunlun (BL 60, affected side), and supplemented acupoints Yanglingquan (GB 34), Weizhong (BL 40) and Zusanli (ST 36) in combination with wheat-flour-cake separated moxibustion at the main acupoints, and patients of the treatment group were treated by medicinal-cake [Chuanwu (Radix Aconiti), Caowu (Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii), Ruxiang (Olibanum), etc. ]-separated moxibustion in combination with manual acupuncture stimulation of the same acupoints mentioned above. Acupuncture treatment was conducted for 30 min, followed by moxibustion for 15 min. The treatment was given once daily for 10 days. The patients' back-leg functional activity ability was assessed using straight-leg raising test, and the pain state assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, respectively. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by using "Crite- ria for Diagnosis and Outcome Evaluation of Clinical Disorders or Syndromes of Chinese Medicine" issued in 1994 and plasma SP content was detected by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: After the therapy, the back-leg activity score and JOA score of both groups were significantly higher than those of pre-treatment in the same one group (P<0. 05, P<0. 01), and those of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The VAS score of the treatment group was re- markably lower than that of the control group (P<0. 01). After the treatment, the plasma SP content was markedly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (.P<0O. 05 ) . CONCLUSION: Medicinal-cake-separated moxibustion therapy can ame- liorate pain severity and functional activity of the back-leg pain patients with lumbar disc hernia, which may be related to its effect in reducing blood SP level.

[Treatment of herpes zoster with cotton sheet moxibustion: multicentral randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects and safety of herpes zoster treated by the cotton sheet moxibustion combined with the plum-blossom-needle tapping therapy to western medicine. METHODS: The multicentral random controlled method was adopted, 120 cases of herpes zoster were randomly divided into a comprehensive treatment group and a western medication group, 60 cases in each one. In the comprehensive treatment group, the tapping therapy of plum blossom needle was applied to the foci, corresponding Jiaji (EX-B 2), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3), etc. Afterward, the cotton sheet moxibustion was given. In western medication group, Acyclovir ointment for external application, Valaciclovir Hydrochloride tablets and Vitamin B1 for oral administration were prescribed. In 7 days of treatment, the clinical symptom score, effect time, efficacy and safety were observed before and after treatment between two groups. The recurrence of disease was followed up for 1 month. RESULTS: In the comprehensive treatment group, the cured rate and the total effective rate were 80.0% (48/60) and 98.3% (59/60) separately, which were significantly better than 45.0% (27/60) and 71.7% (43/60) in western medication group separately (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). After treatment, in either group, the scores of clinical symptoms such as pain rating index (PRI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), present pain intensity (PPI), skin lesion and sleeping score, etc. were all reduced significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The score reducing was much more obvious in the comprehensive treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In the comprehensive treatment group, the time of pain stopping, the time of blister stopping, the time of scarring and the time of healing were all shorter tha tn those in western medication group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In the follow-up observation, 1 case (1.6%) was recurred in the comprehensive treatment group and 8 cases (13.3%) were in western medication group. In western medication group, 6 cases presented mild adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: The cotton sheet moxibustion combined with the plum-blossom-needle tapping therapy is advantageous at good efficacy, quick effect and short-time treatment for herpes zoster, which is apparently superior to the treatment with Acyclovir ointment for external application, Valaciclovir Hydrochloride tablets and Vitamin B1 for oral administration. It is the safe and effective therapy.

[Spinal balancing intervention in the treatment of tinnitus: a randomized controlled study].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in the clinical efficacy on tinnitus between the spinal balancing intervention and the conventional acupuncture. METHODS: The randomized controlled trial were adopted. One hundred and twenty cases of tinnitus were randomized into a spinal balancing group and a conventional acupuncture group, 60 cases in each one. In the spinal balancing group, the comprehensive therapy of acu-puncture and Tuina was applied to the spine, the Back-shu points, Jiaji (EX-B 2), Tinggong (SI 19), Yifeng (TE 17), Fengchi (GB 20), Yuzhen (BL 9), Tianzhu (BL 10), etc. for the balancing intervention. In the conventional acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to the local points and the points along the affected meridians. In each group, after 3 sessions of treatment, the degree of tinnitus and the accompanied symptoms were scored and compared before and after treatment. The comprehensive efficacy was assessed. RESULTS: In the spinal balancing group, the clinical curative rate was 70.0% (42/60) and the total effective rate was 98.3% (59/60), which were significantly better than 45.0% (27/60) and 86.7% (52/60) in the conventional acupuncture group separately (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). After treatment, the degree of tinnitus and the accompanied symptom scores were all reduced in both groups (all P < 0.05), but the improvements in the spinal balancing group were better than those in the conventional acupuncture group (all P < 0.05). In 3-month follow-up visit after treatment, the recurrence rate in the spinal balancing group was lower than that in the conventional acupuncture group [5.1% (3/59) vs 13.5% (7/52)] (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The spinal balancing intervention therapy relieves the symptoms of the patients with tinnitus remarkably. Its clinical efficacy is superior significantly to that of the conventional acupuncture and the recurrence rate is lower.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of intradermal needle combined with Tuina on lumbar disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of intradermal needle therapy combined with Tuina on lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients of lumbar disc herniation were treated with intradermal needle combined with Tuina. Trundle, rub the lumbar region for relaxing the lumbar muscles; pull and extend the lumbar region with traction and vibration, and pull the loin afterward and obliquely pull the loin, followed by compulsory straight-leg raising test, stretching sciatic nerve and hamstring muscle. Finally, rubbing method was used for relaxing the muscles of the lumbar and back regions. After Tuina therapy, intradermal needle embedding at local Ashi points, and Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Zhibian (BL 54), Fengshi (GB 31), Yanglingquan (GB 34). The treatment was given once other day, 5 times constituting one course. After 2 courses therapeutic effects were assessed. RESULTS: One hundred and two cases were cured, 22 cases were markedly effective, 18 cases improved and 8 cases were ineffective, with a total effective rate of 94.7%. The symptom cumulative scores before and after treatment were (31.73 +/- 2.67) and (9.16 +/- 1.20), respectively, significantly decreasing (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Intradermal needle combined with Tuina has a better clinical therapeutic effect on lumbar disc herniation.