Intradermal needle at auricular acupoint for insomnia:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To compare whether there is clinical effects difference between intradermal needle at auricular acupoint and conventional acupuncture for insomnia.Methods:A total of 70 patients were randomly assigned into an intradermal needle group and an acupuncture group,35 patients in each group.Finally 34 patients completed the study in the intradermal group,32 patients completed validly in the acupuncture group.The patients in the intradermal needle group received intradermal needle therapy,in which the needle was imbedded subcutaneously at auricular acupoint:Shenmen(神门TF4),Pizhixia(皮质下AT4),Zhen(枕AT3),Xin(心CO15),and back-shu point:Ganshu(肝俞BL18),Xinshu(心俞BL15),Shenshu(肾俞BL23)and Pishu(脾俞BL20),as well as Anmian(安眠EX-HN18)retained for 2 days,and the patient would received a second therapy every other day,one course of treatment consisted of 3 times of treatment.The patients in the acupuncture group received a conventional acupuncture therapy,in which Zhaohai(照海KI6),Shenmai(申脉BL62),Shenmen(神门HT7),Sanyinjiao(三阴交SP6),EX-HN18,Sishencong(四神聪EX-HN1)were punctured conventionally with needle and the needle was retained for 30 min,once per day,one course of treatment consisted of 5 times of treatment.Before and after the4 courses of treatment,Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)of the patients in the two groups were evaluated,and their clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated too.Results:There were no statistically significant differences of PSQI scores and clinical therapeutic effects of the patients with insomnia in two groups after treatment(both P>0.05).Conclusions:Intradermal needle at auricular acupoint and conventional acupuncture therapy have comparable clinical therapeutic effects.

Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with western medication for ninety cases of Bell’s palsy at different stages: A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To observe the differences in the clinical effect on Bell’s palsy at the acute stage and the recover stage,as well as the differences in the clinical effect between the simple acupuncture-moxibustion therapy and the combined therapy of acupuncture-moxibustion and western medication,explore the optimal intervention time point and therapeutic regimen.Methods:All of the patients were collected from the outpatients and the inpatients in the Specific Department of Acupuncture for Facial Paralysis in Hubei Chinese Medicine Hospital.A total of 128 patients with Bell’s palsy were collected from February 2017 through to February 2018 and 90 patients of them were in compliance with the inclusion criteria.90 cases were randomized into three groups,named group A(acupuncture and moxibustion at the acute stage),group B(acupuncture and moxibustion combined with western medication at the acute stage)and group C(acupuncture and moxibustion combined with western medication at the recovery stage),30 cases in each one.In the group A,acupuncture and moxibustion were adopted at the acute stage of Bell’s palsy.In the group B,at the acute stage,acupuncture and moxibustion were adopted in combination with the oral medication of hormone and vitamin.In the group C,at the recovery stage,acupuncture and moxibustion were adopted in combination with the oral medication of hormone and vitamin.The clinical healing time and the total effective rate were observed in the patients of the three groups and the occurrence of sequelae in facial paralysis was followed-up.Result:①The clinical healing time in the Group B was slightly shorter than the Group A,but without statistical significance in comparison(P>0.05).The clinical healing time in either the Group A or the Group B was shorter than Group C,indicating the statistical significance in comparison(both P<0.05).②The results of 3-month follow-up observation showed that there were 3 cases of sequelae in the group A,2 cases in the Group B and 7 cases in the Group C.③After treatment,the total effective rate in either the Group A or the Group B was higher than the Group C,indicating the statistical significance in comparison(both P<0.05).Conclusion:The simple use of acupuncture and moxibustion at the acute stage achieves the similar clinical effect on Bell’s palsy as the treatment of acupuncture-moxibustion combined with western medication.The simple application of acupuncture and moxibustion prevents from the potential side effects of hormone to the largest extent and displays its dominate advantages in safety.Besides,the early intervention of acupuncture-moxibustion shortens the healing time and effectively improves the prognosis of Bell’s palsy.