Clinical Observation of Electroencephalogram-guided Acupuncture in Treating Epilepsy / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroencephalogram (EEG)-guided scalp acupuncture plus body acupuncture in treating epilepsy.Method Sixty epilepsy patients in interictal stage were randomized into a guided acupuncture group, a body acupuncture group, and a Western medication group. The guided acupuncture group was given scalp plus body acupuncture under the guidance of EEG; the body acupuncture group was given ordinary body acupuncture treatment; the Western medication group didn't receive acupuncture treatment. The clinical efficacy was evaluated; before and after the treatment, the powers ofα,β,θ andδ bands and interictal epileptic activity (IEA) were observed by EEG and brain electrical activity mapping (BEAM).Result After the treatment, IEA declined significantly in all cases according to EEG (P<0.05), while the guided acupuncture group was insignificantly different from the other two groups in comparing IEA (P>0.05). In the guided acupuncture group and body acupuncture group, the absolute powers ofα1,α2 andβ2 bands were significantly improved, and the powers ofθ andδ bands were decreased significantly (P<0.05); the values of these two groups were significantly different from those of the Western medication group (P<0.05), but the guided acupuncture group showed a more significant effect in improving EEG power spectrum compared to the body acupuncture group (P<0.05).Conclusion EEG-guided scalp plus body acupuncture is effective in treating epilepsy, which is possibly related to the inhibition of IEA and improvement of EEG power spectrum.