Acupuncture therapies for relieving pain in pelvic inflammatory disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies investigating the effectiveness of acupuncture therapies in alleviating pain in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) have gained increasing attention. However, to date, there have been no systematic reviews and meta-analyses providing high-quality evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapies in this context. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapies as complementary or alternative treatments for pain relief in patients with PID. METHOD: A comprehensive search was conducted in eight databases from inception to February 20, 2023: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating acupuncture therapies as complementary or additional treatments to routine care were identified. Primary outcomes were pain intensity scores for abdominal or lumbosacral pain. The Cochrane risk of bias criteria was applied to assess the methodological quality of the included trials. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) system was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. Data processing was performed using RevMan 5.4. RESULT: This systematic review included twelve trials comprising a total of 1,165 patients. Among these, nine trials examined acupuncture therapies as adjunctive therapy, while the remaining three did not. Meta-analyses demonstrated that acupuncture therapies, whether used alone or in combination with routine treatment, exhibited greater efficacy in relieving abdominal pain compared to routine treatment alone immediately after the intervention (MD: -1.32; 95% CI: -1.60 to -1.05; P < 0.00001). The advantage of acupuncture therapies alone persisted for up to one month after the treatment (MD: -1.44; 95% CI: -2.15 to -0.72; P < 0.0001). Additionally, acupuncture therapies combined with routine treatment had a more pronounced effect in relieving lumbosacral pain after the intervention (MD: -1.14; 95% CI: -2.12 to -0.17; P < 0.00001) in patients with PID. The incidence of adverse events did not increase with the addition of acupuncture therapies (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.21 to 1.51; P = 0.25). The findings also indicated that acupuncture therapies, as a complementary treatment, could induce anti-inflammatory cytokines, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, alleviate anxiety, and improve the quality of life in patients with PID. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that acupuncture therapies may effectively reduce pain intensity in the abdomen and lumbosacral region as complementary or alternative treatments, induce anti-inflammatory cytokines, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines, alleviate anxiety, and enhance the quality of life in patients with PID, without increasing the occurrence of adverse events. However, due to the low quality of the included trials, the conclusion should be interpreted with caution, highlighting the need for further high-quality trials to establish more reliable conclusions.

Acupuncture for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (PDPN) is a common complication of diabetes, it severely affects the quality of life of patients. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in the treatment of PDPN. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for pain relief in patients diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: We thoroughly searched specific databases, which included PUBMED, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database and the Wanfang Data. All randomized controlled trials of acupuncture therapy for PDPN with pain change scales were included. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality according to the risk of bias from the Cochrane handbook. Meta-analyses were carried out to analyze the outcomes, subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and funnel plot analyses were undertaken. Results: This systematic review evaluated a total of 25 trials of acupuncture therapy in combination with conventional treatment, involving a total of 1,561 patients with PDPN. According to the results, among 16 trials using VAS scores with a total of 1,552 patients, 2 acupoint injection trials (MD -2.38, 95% CI: -2.76 to -2.01, p < 0.00001), 12 acupuncture trials (MD -1. 31, 95% CI: -1.60 to -1.02, p < 0.00001) and 2 moxibustion trials showed that acupuncture therapy combined with conventional treatment improved pain better than conventional treatment (MD -2.50, 95% CI: -2.76 to -2.24, p < 0.00001). In the subgroup analysis of the acupuncture group, the results of the 5 trials in which the location of acupuncture was only in the limbs (MD -1.27, 95% CI: -1.54 to -1.01, p < 0.00001) and the 7 trials both in limbs and torso (MD -1.38, 95% CI: -1.81 to -0.95, p < 0.00001) also demonstrated that acupuncture was effective in pain improvement. Conclusion: This meta-analysis analyzed the possible efficacy of acupuncture in combination with conventional treatment for pain in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, particularly when acupoints are located in the limbs. However, there are limitations to this meta-analysis and future clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023449447, identifier (CRD42023449447).

Observation of the therapeutic effect of Tongyuan needling combined with jingyu herb-separated moxibustion on recurrent implantation failure of kidney deficiency and blood stasis. / "é€šå ƒé’ˆæ³•"联合精玉药灸治疗肾虚血瘀型反复种植失败疗效观察.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the therapeutic effect of Tongyuan needling combined with jingyu herb-separated moxibustion on the patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) of kidney deficiency and blood stasis undergoing frozen embryo transfer of the conventional hormone replacement therapy cycle. METHODS: Sixty RIF of kidney deficiency and blood stasis patients who planned for frozen embryo transfer were randomly divided into a combined treatment group (30 cases) and a western medication group (30 cases). In the western medication group, the conventional hormone replacement therapy was performed for endometrial preparation during transfer cycle. On the basis of treatment as the western medication group, in the combined treatment group, Tongyuan needling combined with jingyu herb-separated moxibustion was adopted. Regarding tongyuan needling, the acupoint prescription for Tongdu Tiaoshen (promoting the governor vessel and regulating the spirit, e.g. Dazhui [GV 14], Ganshu [BL 18], Shenshu [BL 23] and back-shu points) and that for Yinqi Guiguan (conducting qi back to the primary, e.g. Zhongwan [CV 12], Qihai [CV 6], Guanyuan [CV 4] and front-mu points) were selected. Acupuncture was delivered at these two prescriptions alternatively each time. After acupuncture, the herb-separated moxibustion (in which, the herbal powder was prepared with the modified Yangjing Zhongyu decoction for cultivating the kidney essence and promoting pregnancy) was operated at Shenque (CV 8). This combined therapy was delivered once every two days, 3 sessions a week till the day of embryo transfer. The pregnancy outcomes (positive rate of human chorionic gonadotropin [ß-HCG] and clinical pregnancy rate) were compared between the two groups, as well as the TCM syndrome score, serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) levels, endometrial thickness and type, endometrial blood flow index (pulsatility index [PI], resistance index [RI]) before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the clinical pregnancy rate of the combined treatment group was 40.0% (12/30), higher than that of the western medication group (16.7%, 5/30, P<0.05); and the difference in the positive rate of ß-HCG was not significant statistically between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of E2 and P were elevated (P<0.05), the endometrial thickness was thickened (P<0.05); the scores of TCM syndrome, and the levels of PI and RI were reduced (P<0.05) when compared with those before treatment in the two groups. The proportion of type A endometrium increased compared with that before treatment in the combined treatment group (P<0.05). Except the levels of E2 and P, the above indexes in the combined treatment group were superior to the western medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of frozen embryo transfer of conventional hormone replacement cycle, the intervention of Tongyuan needling combined with jingyu herb-separated moxibustion can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms, increase the endometrial blood flow and its thickness, and improve the endometrial receptivity, thereby ameliorate pregnancy outcomes in RIF patients of kidney deficiency and blood stasis.

The Relationship between Meniere's Disease and Acute Low-Tone Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Objective: To analyse the vestibular function characteristics of patients with Meniere's disease and acute hypophonic sensorineural hearing loss in order to find more reliable and objective ancillary tests that will reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses. Methods: From January 2021 to December 2021, 60 healthy adults who underwent physical examination in our hospital were included in the control group, 60 patients with Meniere's disease were included in Study Group A, and 60 patients with acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss were recruited in Study Group B. All participants underwent the caloric test (CT), video-head impulse test (vHIT), headshaking test (HST), and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing, which includes ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP). Results: Statistical analyses of unilateral weakness and directional preponderance (DP) in the two groups of patients found no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the abnormal rate of vHIT and HST results between the two study groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the wave latencies, interwave intervals, and amplitudes of cVEMP and oVEMP, among the three groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study found that factors affecting CT, vHIT, HST, and VEMP results included age, head posture and position during testing, stimulus type, manipulation method, and control of muscle tone, and also those that are related to the testing instrument, statistical software, and manipulation procedures, resulting in different excitation rates and testing parameters. The small sample size prevented a comprehensive assessment of the differences in vestibular function between patients with Meniere's disease and acute hypotonic sensorineural hearing loss, and a larger sample size will be investigated in the future to provide useful insight into the diagnosis, treatment and differentiation of Meniere's disease, and acute hypotonic sensorineural hearing loss.

[Effect of staging treatment of Tongyuan acupuncture on pregnancy outcome in patients with recurrent implantation failure of thin endometrium type].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of Tongyuan acupuncture combined with medication and medication alone on pregnancy outcome in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) of thin endometrium type. METHODS: A total of 74 patients with RIF of thin endometrium type undergoing freeze-thaw embryo transfer were randomly divided into an observation group (37 cases) and a control group (37 cases). The patients in the control group were treated with freeze-thaw embryo transfer in hormone replacement cycle, and the estradiol valerate tablets were taken orally from the fifth day of menstruation, 2 mg per day. On the basis of the control group, the observation group was additionally treated with Tongyuan acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), etc., combined with other acupoints based on syndrome differentiation and menstrual stage, once every other day. Both groups were treated for 3 menstrual cycles. The clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rate of the two groups were observed after transplantation; the endometrial thickness and type, resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of endometrial blood flow were measured before treatment and one day before transplantation, and adverse reactions was recorded. RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate was 37.8% (14/37) in the observation group, which was higher than 16.2% (6/37) in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in embryo implantation rate between the two groups (P>0.05). One day before transplantation, the endometrial thickness and the proportion of type A in endometrial classification in the two groups were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The PI and RI of endometrial blood flow in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). During the treatment, 6 patients in the control group had discomfort such as breast distending pain, stomach pain, dizziness and nausea, and there were no adverse reaction in the observation group. CONCLUSION: On the basis of conventional medication, Tongyuan acupuncture could increase the endometrial thickness, improve endometrial receptivity, improve pregnancy outcome and reduce adverse reactions in patients with RIF of thin endometrial type.

The Effects of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes of Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and hopefully provide reliable guidance for clinicians and patients. METHODS: Through searching domestic and foreign medical journals, the literature of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for RIF undergoing IVF-ET was collected. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis and Cochrane's risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. RESULTS: Seven documents meeting the criteria were finally included. The results showed that the intervention group contributes more in outcomes including clinical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.90, 95% CI (1.51, 2.40), P < 0.05), biochemical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.59, 95% CI (1.27, 1.99), P < 0.05), embryo implantation rate (RR = 1.89, 95% CI (1.47, 2.45), P < 0.05), and endometrial thickness (MD = 1.11, 95% CI (0.59, 1.63), P < 0.05) when compared with the control group, and the difference is statistically significant. In terms of the number of embryo transfers and the type of endometrium, the difference between the acupuncture group and the control group was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture therapy on patients with RIF can improve the pregnancy outcome of patients. It is a relatively effective treatment with satisfactory safety and suitable for clinical application. However, as the quality of the included studies is not good enough, the conclusion of this meta-analysis should be treated with caution. More double-blind RCTs equipped with high quality and large samples are expected for the improvement of the level of evidence.

[Effects of tongyuan acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes of ovarian induction period with clomiphene citrate: a retrospective analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and action mechanism of tongyuan acupuncture for ovulatory disorder infertility of ovarian induction period with clomiphene citrate (CC). METHODS: Through retrospective analysis, 36 patients with ovulatory disorder infertility were divided into CC group (16 cases) and tongyuan acupuoture group (20 cases) by method. The patients in the CC group were treated with oral administration of CC (50 mg) for 5 days from the 5th day of menstruation; based on the treatment of CC, patients in the tongyuan acupuncture group were treated with tongyuan acupuncture; the group A of acupoint was mainly consisted of acupoints of the conception vessel and the three yin meridians and front-mu acupoints in abdomen; the group B of acupoint was mainly consisted of acupoints of the governor vessel and back-shu acupoints. The two groups of the acupoints were selected alternately, combined with the si-guan points (Taichong (LR 3)、Hegu (LI 4)) and five-shu points. The needles were inserted with flying needling method, and the needles were retained for 30 min per treatment; acupuncture was given once every other day. All the patients were treated for 2 months, and treatment stopped if pregnancy occurred. The pregnancy rate, cycle ovulation rate, maximum diameter of follicle, endometrial thickness and adverse effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate of the tongyuan acupuncture group was 75.0% (15/20), which was superior to 37.5% (6/16) in the CC group (P<0.05). The cycle ovulation rates of two groups were 70.4% (19/27, P>0.05). The maximum diameter of follicle and the endometrium thickness in the tongyuan acupuncture group were superior to those in the CC group (both P<0.05). The incidence of adverse effects in the tongyuan acupuncture group was 0% (0/20), which was lower than 18.8% (3/16) in the CC group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tongyuan acupuncture combined with CC could improve the quality of follicle and the receptivity of endometrium in patients with ovulatory disorder infertility, so as to improve the pregnancy rate, which could be used as a safe and effective means to cooperate with modern assisted reproductive technology.

[Professor LAI Xinsheng's treatment experience of infertility by Tongyuan needling technique].

Professor LAI Xinsheng's treatment experience of infertility mainly by Tongyuan needling technique for both females and males is summarized. Tongyuan needling technique is a treatment method of leading qi to its primordial location mainly through viscera back-shu points that can dredge the governor vessel and tonify the spirit and conception vessel points in abdomen and abdominal front-mu points, and according to state of illness acupoints for opening the 4 gates or five shu points are combined; reinforcing and reducing manipulations of acupuncture are applied for reference. With the method of listing cases, professor LAI Xinsheng's Tongyuan needling technique is detailedly introduced in different aspects, such as the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome infertility and male infertility and improving the success rate of test-tube baby, and the manipulation of Tongyuan needling technique is summarized, indicating that Tongyuan needling technique is worth vigorously prompting in clinical treatment of infertility.

[Effects of natural moxibustion on cytokines and specific transcription factors in asthma rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of natural moxibustion on regulating immune imbalance in asthma rats. METHODS: Seventy SD male rats were divided into a normal group, a placebo group, a dexamethasone group, a big-cake for long-course moxibustion group, a big-cake for short-course moxibustion group, a small-cake for long-course moxibustion group and a small-cake for short-course moxibustion group, ten rats in each one. The rat model of asthma was established by egg albumen sensitization and stimulation in all the groups except the normal group. The natural moxibustion was used in all moxibustion groups, in which big cake of 1 cmX 1 cm size was used in the big-cake groups and small cake of 0.5 cmX 0. 5 cm size was used in the small cake groups. According to relevant acupoints, the natural moxibustion was performed, 5 h per time, once a day. Four times of treatment was considered one course, and three courses were required in the long-course groups and one course was required in the short-course groups. Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone was applied in the dexamethasone group, which had the same course as long-course moxibustion group. After the treatment, changes of EOS in peripheral blood of asthma rats were observed; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to test the contents of IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the lung tissue; real-time Q-PCR method was adopted to measure the expression level of transcription factor T-bet and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) in the lung tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the EOS in whole blood as well as IL-4 and IgE in plasma were all increased in the placebo group (all P< 0. 01), IFN-gamma in plasma was obviously decreased (P<0. 01); while the levels of EOS, IgE and IL-4 were significantly reduced (all P<0. 01), the content of IFN-gamma was increased (P<0. 01) in all moxibustion groups and dexametnasone group. Compared with the normal group, the expression of T-bet mRNA in the placebo group was significantly reduced (P<0. 01). Each treatment group could significantly increase the expression of T-bet mRNA and reduce that of GATA-3 mRNA (P<0. 01). Compared with the short-course moxibustion groups, the expression of T-bet mRNA was obviously increased in the long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (both P<0.01), and that of GATA-3 mRNA was reduced (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (P> 0. 05), and also no significant difference could be seen between big-cake moxibustion group and small-cake moxibustion group (P>0. 05). CONCLUSION: The natural moxibustion could obviously reduce airway inflammation in asthma rats. With time passing, the efficacy is enhanced, indicating evident timeliness, which has no apparent relationship with the size of moxibustion cake.

[New percutaneous absorption herbal patch for asthma of paracmasis and its effect on the relative transcription factors of patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of new percutaneous absorption herbal patch for asthma of paracmasis, and to optimize the form of the patch. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cases of paracmasis asthma were randomly divided into medicine patch group, medicinal vesiculation group and western medication group with 40 cases for each. The new percutaneous absorption herbal patch was applied on medicine patch group. Traditional medicinal herbs cake of the hospital were applied on medicinal vesiculation group. Feishu (BL 13), Fengmen (BL 12) and Dazhui (GV 14) were adopted for both groups. Each patch was applied for 6 hours and once every other day. Accuhaler was applied on the western medicine group with 2 inhalations a time and twice a day. Clinical symptom scores, number of attacks and asymtomatic days were observed right before, after and half a year after the treatment. Meanwhile, the expression level of IgE, IL-4, GATA-3 mRNA and T-bet mRNA were observed and compared before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Clinical symptom scores of all the 3 groups were improved (all P < 0.01). The differences of the total effective rate, number of attacks and asymtomatic days of all the 3 groups are without statistical significance (all P > 0.05). However, the long-term therapeutic effect in half a year after the treatment showed that the total effective rate of the medicine patch group was 80.0% (32/40), and the medicinal vesiculation group was 70.0% (28/40). Both of the them were obviously higher than 47.5% (19/40) of the western medicine group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). And the medicine patch group surpassed the other 2 groups in controlling the number of attacks and increasing the asymtomatic days (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The level of IgE and IL-4 of all the 3 groups decreased sharply after the treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). And there was no statistic significance in differences among groups (all P > 0.05). The level of GATA-3 mRNA was obviously decreased, while the level of T-bet mRNA was obviouly increased in the medicine patch and medicinal vesiculation groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). And the medicine patch group had obvious superiority on increasing the level of T-bet mRNA when compared with the medicinal vesiculation and western medicine groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the new percutaneous absorption herbal patch has exact effect on asthma. The treatment may reverse the imbalance condition of Th1/Th2 through regulation on cell factor and its specific transcription factors.

[Effect of catgut implantation at acupoint on gonadal hormone and beta-endorphin in patients of climacteric syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical therapeutic effect of catgut implantation at acupoint on climacteric syndrome (CS) and its mechanism. METHODS: Sixty cases were randomly divided into a catgut implantation group and a western medicine group, 30 cases in each group. The catgut implantation group was treated by catgut implantation at Shenshu (BL 23), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The western medicine group was treated by oral administration of Diethylstilbestrol tablet. Their therapeutic effects and changes of content of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotrophic hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in serum were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.3% in the catgut implantation group and 70.0% in the western medicine group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). After treatment, the beta-EP concentration in the catgutation implant group was significantly increased (P < 0.05), the FSH concentration was significantly reduced and E2 concentration was significantly increased as compared with those in the western medicine group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Catgut implantation at acupoint has an obvious therapeutic effects on CS. It can significantly improve the ovaries function and has a favorable regulative action on the endogenous opioid peptides.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide and substance P in perennial allergic rhinitis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the underlying neuroimmunological mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). METHODS: One hundred PAR outpatients were evenly randomized into EA group and medication group. Patients in EA group were treated with EA (5-10 mA, 80-100 Hz, and 30 min of stimulation) of Sphenopalatine ganglion area, Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8), Yintang (EX-HN 3), supplemented with other acupoints according to syndrome-differentiation (once daily, 10 days being a therapeutic course). Patients of medication group were treated by Cetirizine (10 mg/times, t. i.d, peros). Before and after the treatment, blood samples of the ulnar vein were collected for detecting plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) contents with radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: After the treatment, of the two 50 cases in EA and medication groups, 20 (40%) and 16 (32%) had an obvious improvement, 28 (56%) and 24 (48%) had an improvement, 2 (4%) and 10 (20%) failed, with the total effective rates being 96% and 80% separately. The therapeutic effect of EA group was significantly superior to that of medication group (P < 0.05). Self-comparison of each group showed that after the treatment, both plasma VIP and SP levels of two groups lowered apparently (P < 0.05, 0.01). Comparison between two groups showed that after the treatment, the content of VIP in EA group was markedly lower than that of medication group, while no significant difference was found between two groups in plasma SP levels (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can effectively relieve perennial allergic rhinitis patients' clinical symptoms, which is closely related to its functions in lowering plasma VIP and SP levels.

[Auricular point sticking plus moxibustion for treatment of recurrent herpes simplex].

OBJECTIVE: To search for the best therapy for recurrent herpes simplex. METHODS: Ninety-six cases were randomly divided into an auricular point sticking plus moxibustion group (treatment group, n = 54), a medication group (control group, n = 42). The treatment group were treated with auricular sticking at points Spleen, Lung, Kidney, and others, and moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), and local blister; the control group were treated by oral administration and external application of aciclovir. RESULTS: The cured rate and the total effective rate were 55.5% and 100.0% in the treatment group, and 9.5% and 61.9% in the control group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The auricular point sticking plus moxibustion is a better therapy for recurrent herpes simplex, with a significantly better therapeutic effect than that of the medication.