ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the difference of clinical effects of acupoints selected based on meridian differen-tiation and conventional method for cervical spondylosis radiculopathy(CSR) treated with acupuncture and moxibustion. METHODS: Sixty patients with CSR were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,30 cases in each one. Ashi points of the injured meridians in the neck,namely six-he points,were selected in the observation group,matched with luo-connecting points of the injured meridians on the same side and the interiorly-exteriorly correlated meridians on the opposite side. Conventional acupuncture was used on Fengchi(GB 20),Jiaji(EX-B 2) of the neck,Tianzhu(BL 10),Jianjing(GB 21),Houxi(SI 3),Hegu(LI 4) and Waiguan(TE 5) on the affected side in the control group. Treatment was given once every other day,three times a week and total 12 times in the two groups. Twenty subscales for CSR and visual analogue scale(VAS) were observed before and after treatment,and total effects were evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: The effective rate of the observation group was 93.3%(28/30),which was better than 66.7%(20/30) of the control group(P<0.05). The scores of 20 subscales and VAS after treatment were all improved compared with those before treatment in the two groups(all P<0.01),with more apparent change in the observation group(both P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of acupuncture and moxibustion based on meridian differentiation is obvious,and superior to that of conventional acupoints selection.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type treated with both acupuncture and mild moxibustion and investigate the mechanism of action. METHODS: Sixty cases were randomly divided into the combined therapy group of acupuncture and mild moxibustion (combined therapy group) and the acupuncture group, 30 cases for each group. In combined therapy group, Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20) and cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) were punctured, and Baihui(GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Mingmen (GV 4), Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were treated with mild moxibustion; in acupuncture group, acupuncture was simply applied, the acupoints selection and manipulation were the same as those in the combined therapy group. The average velocity meter and the resistive index of vertebral and basal arteries were observed before and after treatment by TCD examination, the therapeutic effects and clinical symptom-sign scores were observed too. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in combined therapy group, and 73.3% (22/30) in acupuncture group. The therapeutic effect in combined therapy group was superior to that in acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The improvements of symptom-sign scores in two groups after treatment were more significant than that before treatment, and the score in the combined therapy group was superior to that in acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The average velocity meter and the resistive index of vertebral and basal arteries after treatment were improved in both groups, in which, the improvement in combined therapy group was more apparent (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type treated with both acupuncture and mild moxibustion are preferable; by this therapy, the average velocity meter of vertebral and basal arteries are accelerated and the resistive index is decreased.