Auricular acupuncture combined with iodine salt for treatment of juvenile endemic goitre / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe clinical therapeutic effect of auricular acupuncture combined with iodine salt on juvenile endemic goitre, and regulative action on thyroid hormones.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-five cases of juvenile endemic goitre were randomly divided into a treatment group treated with auricular acupuncture combined with iodine salt, and a control group treated with iodine salt alone. The changes of T3, T4 and TSH contents were observed in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, serum T3 increased and TSH decreased in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Auricular acupuncture combined with iodine salt can promote reduction of endemic goitre or elimination, and effectively regulate synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormones.</p>