ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of conventional western medication and joss stick moxibustion combined with pricking and cupping for herpes zoster in acute stage, and to explore its analgesic mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy patients with acute herpes zoster were randomized into an observation group (33 cases after 2 dropping) and a control group (34 cases after 1 dropping). Patients in the observation group were treated with joss stick moxibustion combined with pricking and cupping at localpoints for 7 times, once every other day. Oral acyclovir, vitamin Band mecobalamin tablets were applied in the control group for continuous 14 days, and interferon injection was used for continuous 6 days, etc. The herpes evaluation indexes of blister stopping time, scab time and decrustation time as well as pain intensity were observed before and after treatment. Peripheral serum substance P (SP) content of herpes local situation was detected. The comprehensive effects were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The blister stopping time, scab time and decrustation time in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group (all<0.05). There was no statistical significance for pain relief degree between the two groups (>0.05). The pain beginning to ease time and duration time in the observation group were better than those in the control group (both<0.05). The contents of SP in the two groups decreased after treatment (both<0.01), and it was better in the observation group (<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group after treatment was 87.9% (29/33), and that of the control group was 85.3% (29/34), which were not statistically significant (>0.05). The cured rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group [66.7% (22/33) vs 58.8% (20/34),<0.05].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Joss stick moxibustion combined with pricking and cupping are effective for herpes zoster, which have quicker and good analgesic effects than conventional western medication. Its mechanism may be related to reducing the content of SP more fast and to a larger degree.</p>