TREATMENT OF 25 CASES OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA WITH ABDOMINAL ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY

Trigeminal Neuralgia is often found in female between 40-60 years old, marked by sudden severe pain on the face (a feeling of knife cutting, electric shock), and it is characterized by sudden, paroxysmal and periodical attack and triggered by touch). The attack usually lasts for 1 to 2 minutes with different intervals. The patient’s life quality can be seriously affected. It is mainly treated with orally taken drugs in western internal department but without satisfactory result, and with local closing therapy in surgical department. The problem may reoccur half a year later in most patients complicated with facial paralysis, so western medicine is not likely to be accepted by the patients. The author has tried to apply abdominal acupuncture in the treatment of 25 cases of trigeminal neuralgia with good effect. The result is as follows.

Discussion on the mechanisms of BO's abdominal acupuncture therapy

This article discussed the mechanisms and precautions of abdominal acupuncture from three different perspectives. First, the relationship between Shénquè （神阙 CV 8） and zang-fu and eight extra meridians stated in the ancient literature explained that the theory of CV 8 as the theoretical core of abdominal acupuncture therapy had literature support and theoretical evidence; second, with emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment based on differentiation of syndromes, four methods for selecting the points, including the ones according to hologram, meridians and collaterals, the Ba-kuo （八 廓） and three energizer, meanwhile, the origin of method selecting the points according to Three Energizer and clinical experience was also addressed; third, some problems about the manipulation of abdominal acupuncture therapy were put forward, such as selection of depth, direction, needle tool, as well as personal ideas and precautions, in order to ensure the clinical effect.

Future directions:combination of acupuncture with mesenchymal stem cells for Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease(PD)is a progressive chronic disease currently with no radical cure drugs and means due to the complex pathological mechanisms and limited regenerative capacity of neurons.Acupuncture aids in neuronal regeneration via various signaling routes like ROCK,Wnt,and Notch,safeguarding dopaminergic neurons against inflammation,oxidative stress,and cell death,which in turn enhances the progression of PD progression.Numerous research findings indicate that integrating acupuncture with mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)transplantation is more effective than using either acupuncture or MSCs infusion alone.The combined treatment improves the survival rate of MSCs,promotes the generation of functional neural networks by stimulating the secretion of neurotrophic factors,and ultimately improves the disease microenvironment.In this review,we state the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture or MSCs treament alone in PD,then summarize the application of acupuncture combined with MSCs therapy in other diseases.Consequently,we anticipate that integrating acupuncture with MSCs transplantation may emerge as a novel and efficient approach for managing PD.This possibility needs to be verified through further basic and clinical research.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON 36 CASES OF SCAPULOHUMERAL PERIARTHRITIS TREATED BY ABDOMINAL ACUPUNCTURE AND BODY ACUPUNCTURE

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture plus body acupuncture and simple body acupuncture in treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis. Methods: 68 cases of scapulohumeral periarthritis patients were randomly divided into abdominal acupuncture plus body acupuncture (AABA) group (n=36) and simple body acupuncture (BA) group (n=32). In AABA group, abdominal acupuncture points used were Zhongwan(CV 12),Shangqu (KI 17) (on the healthy side) and Huaroumen sanjiao (on the affected side); and body acupoints employed were Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao(TE 14), Binao (LI 14), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5) and Hegu (LI 4) on the affected side. In BA group, the body acupoints used were the same to those mentioned above. The acupuncture needles were retained for 20 min. Acupuncture treatment was given once daily, with 10 sessions being a therapeutic course and the interval between two courses being one week. 2 courses of treatment were conducted altogether. Results: Following 2 courses of treatment, in AABA and BA groups, 6 (16.7%) and 1 (3.1%) cases were cured, 19 (52.8%) and 12 (37.5%) had remarkable improvement, 11 (30.6%) and 17 (53.1%) had improvement, 0 and 2(6.25%) had no effect respectively. There was a significant difference between two groups in the therapeutic effect (P<0.05). Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture plus body acupuncture is superior to that of simple body acupuncture in treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis.

OBSERVATION ON THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF LOCAL SELECTION OF POINTS COMBINED WITH ABDOMINAL ACUPUNCTURE FOR FACIAL SPASM

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of local selection of points combined with abdominal acupuncture in the treatment of facial spasm. Methods Eighty cases of facial spasm were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 40 cases in each group,treated respectively by abdominal acupuncture combined with local selected points and local points simply. After 30 sessions of treatment, the therapeutic effect was evaluated. Results In the treatment group, the total effective rate reached 92.5%, the curative rate 75.0%; while in the control group, the total effective rate was 80.0%, the curative rate 55.0% with a significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05 ). Conclusion The therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with local points is superior to that of simple local selection of points in the treatment of facial spasm.

IMPACTS OF PENETRATION THERAPY WITH HEAD ELECTRICAL ACUPUNCTURE ON PROLIFERATION OF NEURAL STEM CELLS IN SUBSTANTIA NIGRA OF RAT MODEL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Objective To probe into the function mechanism of penetration therapy with head electrical acupuncture on Parkinson＇s disease. Methods Microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamin （6-OHDA） on the left cor- pus striatum was adopted to prepare rotation model of Parkinson^s disease in rat. Penetration therapy with head electrical acupuncture was administered in treatment. Normal group, sham-operation group, model group and penetration therapy group were set up. （1）lmmunohistochemical （IHC） method was used to test the morphology and count of positive cell of tyrosine hydroxylase （TH）. （2）RT-PCR technology was used to detect the expression of nestin mRNA of neural stem cell （NSC）. Results （1）Compared with model group, in pene- tration therapy group, the expressions of TH-positive neurons in immune response were increased in areal density （AD）, numerical density （ND） and integrating optic density （P〈0.05）. （2）Compared with model group, in penetration therapy group, the expression of nestin mRNA was increased （P〈0. 05）. Conclusion Penetration therapy with head electrical acupuncture promotes the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in substantia nigra of rat model of Parkinson＇s disease.

Clinical observation of body acupuncture combined with FANG’s scalp acupuncture for limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of body acupuncture combined with FANG’s scalp acupuncture in treating limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke and explore the mechanism.Methods:Sixty patients in the remission stage of stroke with limb dysfunction were divided into a control group and a treatment group using the random number table method,with 30 cases in each group.The control group was treated with ordinary acupuncture based on the conventional rehabilitation treatment,and the treatment group was additionally offered FANG’s scalp acupuncture.The interventions were conducted once daily with 10 sessions as 1 course.The Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA)and Barthel index(BI)scores and serum malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)levels were compared after 2 treatment courses,and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:After treatment,the FMA and BI scores increased in both groups(P<0.05)and were higher in the treatment group than in the control group(P<0.05).Both groups showed a decreased MDA level and an increased SOD level after the intervention,all showing statistical significance(P<0.05);there were significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion:Based on the conventional rehabilitation treatment,ordinary acupuncture used alone or in combination with FANG’s scalp acupuncture can lower the oxidative stress level and improve limb function in treating limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke;body acupuncture plus FANG’s scalp acupuncture can produce better results.

EFFECTS OF ELECTRO ACUPUNCTURE AND TWIRLING REINFORCING-REDUCING MANIPULATIONS ON VOLUME OF MICROCIRCULATORY BLOOD FLOW IN CEREBRAL PIA MATER

Effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and routine acupuncture with twirling reinforcing and reducing manipulation of the needle (RA) both at Zusanli point (St 36) on volume of microcirculatory blood flow in the cerebral pia mater were observed by fenestration of the cranial bone and laser Doppler microcirculatory blood flow analyser. Results showed that both RA and EA could increase the volume of microcirculatory blood flow in the cerebral pia mater; and that the increase in the EA group was superior to that in RA group. This suggests that a moderate and effective stimulation is a key to the production of a regulative effect on the organism.

Acupuncture and vitamin B_(12) injection for Bell's palsy:no high-quality evidence exists

OBJECTIVE： To assess the efficacy of acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 acupoint injection versus acupuncture alone to reduce incomplete recovery in patients with Bell＇s palsy. DATA RETRIEVAL： A computer-based online retrieval of Medline, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM databases until April 2014 was performed for relevant trials, using the key words ＂Bell＇s palsy or idiopathic facial palsy or facial palsy＂ and＂acupuncture or vitamin B12 or methylcobalamin＂. STUDY SELECTION： All randomized controlled trials that compared acupuncture with acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 in patients with Bell＇s palsy were included in the me- ta-analysis. The initial treatment lasted for at least 4 weeks. The outcomes of incomplete facial recovery were monitored. The scoring index varied and the definition of healing was consistent. The combined effect size was calculated by using relative risk （RR） with 95% confidence interval （C/） using the fixed effect model of Review Manager. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Incomplete recovery rates were chosen as the primary outcome. RESULTS： Five studies involving 344 patients were included in the final analysis. Results showed that the incomplete recovery rate of Bell＇s palsy patients was 44.50% in the acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 group but 62.57% in the acupuncture alone group. The major acupoints were Taiyang （EX-HN5）, Jiache （ST6）, Dicang （ST4） and Sibai （ST2）. The combined effect size showed that acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 was better than acupuncture alone for the treatment of Belrs palsy （RR = 0.71, 95%CI： 0.58-0.87; P = 0.001）, this result held true when 8 patients lost to follow up in one study were included into the analyses （RR = 0.70, 95%CI： 0.58-0.86; P = 0.0005）. In the subgroup analyses, the therapeutic effect in patients of the electroacupuncture subgroup was better than in the non-electroacupuncture subgroup （P = 0.024）. There was no significant dif- ference in the incomplete recovery rate by subgroup analysis on drug types and treatment period. Most of the included studies were moderate or low quality, and bias existed. CONCLUSION： In patients with Bell＇s palsy, acupuncture combined with vitamin 812 can reduce the risk of incomplete recovery compared with acupuncture alone in our meta-analysis. Because of study bias and methodological limitations, this conclusion is uncertain and the clinical appli- cation of acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 requires further exploration.

40 CASES OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE

40 cases of Parkinson’s disease were treated with acupuncture at Baihui(GV 20), Taichong(LR 3), Shaohai(HT 3), Hegu(LI 4), Waigaun(TE 5) and Juegu(GB 39) points. As a result,the total effective rate was 95 %. The therapy has the action of regulating Qi and blood, and balancingYin and Yang.

Bo′s abdominal acupuncture improves disordered metabolism in obese type 2 diabetic rats through regulating fibroblast growth factor 21 and its related adipokines

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Bo′s abdominal acupuncture(BOAA)on fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21)and its related adipokines in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)rats.METHODS:This study established obese T2DM rat model by high-fat diet(HFD)with a dose of streptozotocin(STZ,30 mg/kg).Obese T2DM rats were randomly subdivided into four groups(n=10):negative,BOAA,conventional acupuncture(COA group)and metformin group(Met group)groups.The biochemical parameters,mRNAs,and proteins were analyzed using enzyme-lined immunoassays kits,quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.RESULTS:Treatment with BOAA attenuated the histopathological changes in visceral fat and restored the alterations in the levels of body weight,fasting blood glucose(FBG),homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).BOAA treatment significantly decreased the levels of triglyceride,total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein cholesterol,leptin,and increased the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21),adiponectin(ADP),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPAR-γ),C-peptide(C-P)in obese T2DM rats.Furthermore,BOAA treatment significantly increased the mRNA expressions of FGF21,ADP,leptin,PPAR-γ,PPAR-αand adenosine 5‘-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK).Besides,BOAA treatment upregulated the protein expressions of fibroblast growth factor receptors3(FGFR3),PPAR-α,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),phosphorylated ERK(p-ERK),AMPK,p-AMPK,Liver kinase B1(LKB1),phosphorylated LKB1(p-LKB1),acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACC)and phosphorylated ACC(p-ACC),while downregulated the protein expressions of FGF21 and PPAR-γin visceral fat.CONCLUSIONS:BOAA treatment reduced FBG and body weight,and improved insulin sensitivity through regulating FGF21 signaling pathway and its related adipokine in obese T2DM rats.

Insomnia treated with abdominal acupuncture combined three-route relaxation therapy

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy on insomnia treated with abdominal acupuncture and three-route relaxation therapy. Methods Seventy-six cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 38 cases in each one. In observation group, abdominal acupuncture was applied to Yinqi Guiyuan Xue [引气归元穴： conduct qi back to the origin, Zhōngwǎn （中 脘 CV 12）, Xiàwǎn （下脘 CV 10）, Qìhǎi （气海 CV 6）, Guānyuán （关元 CV 4）], combined with three-route relaxation therapy. In control group, according to syndrome differentiation, modified Guipi Decoction （归脾汤）, Anshen Dingzhi Pill （安神定智丸） plus Suanzaoren Decoction （酸枣仁汤）, Huanglian Ejiao Decoction （黄连阿胶汤）, Longdan Xiegan Decoction （龙胆泻肝汤）, Huanglian Wendan Decoction （黄 连温胆汤） were administered. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI） score was compared between two groups. Results After treatment, PSQI total score and the scores of 7 factors all decreased in two groups as compared with those before treatment （all P0.05）, but the improvements in PSQI total score and the scores of 7 factors in observation group were remarkable compared with those in control group （all P0.05）. Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture plus three-route relaxation therapy has good clinical efficacy on insomnia, which is superior to Chinese herbal medicine.

Reporting quality and effect size comparison in randomized controlled trials of bo's abdominal acupuncture using CONSORT statement and STRICTA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials(RCT) that compared Bo's abdominal acupuncture with conventional body acupuncture, and compare the efficacy and safetybetweenthembyperforminga Meta-analysis.METHODS: All RCTs comparing Bo's abdominalacupuncture with conventional body acupuncture were included. English and Chinese databases were searched from their respective inceptions to March 2014. The reporting quality was assessed according to the "Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials"(CONSORT) checklist for parallel RCTs and the revised "Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture"(STRICTA). A Meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the effect sizes,and publication bias was evaluated by the Egger linear regression test using Stata.RESULTS: Ninety-seven studies were included, of which most lacked adequate reporting information, and 80.4% showed that the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture is superior to conventional body acupuncture, especially for the following diseases:lumbar disc herniation, cervical spondylosis, omarthritis and cervical vertigo, except simple obesity.Effect-sizes were controversial when evaluating different outcomes.CONCLUSION: The international standard CONSORT statement and STRICTA guidelines should be strictly applied when reporting acupuncture RCTs in the future. Abdominal acupuncture appears to be more effective compared with conventional body acupuncture for some diseases. However, further high quality blind RCTs using validated outcomeindexesandstandardreportingarewarranted.

Abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian for chronic pharyngitis

Objective：To evaluate the effectiveness of abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian in treating chronic pharyngitis. Methods：Thirty eligible subjects with chronic pharyngitis were given abdominal acupuncture plus needling Lieque （LU 7） and Zhaohai （KI 6）, two out of the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian, once a day, 10 sessions as a course, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after a treatment course. Results：After a treatment course, of the 30 subjects, 21 were recovered, 5 showed markedly effective, 2 were improved, and 2 failed,the total effective rate was 93.3%. Conclusion：Abdominal acupuncture plus the Confluent Points of the Eight Extraordinary Meridian is effective in treating chronic pharyngitis, worth promoting in clinic.

Clinical observation of abdominal acupuncture for subhealth insomnia

Objective： To assess the clinical efficacy of abdominal acupuncture for subhealth insomnia. Methods： Eighty-two cases of subhealth insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group （41 cases） and a control group （41 cases）. The control group was treated with conventional acupuncture. The observation group was treated with Bo＇s abdominal acupuncture on the basis of conventional acupuncture. Six treatments constituted one treatment course. The measuring scale of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome for subhealth state （MSSSHS） and Pittsburgh sleep quality index （PSQI） scores were compared between the two groups after two courses, to estimate the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture for subhealth insomnia. Results： One case dropped out from the observation group, while 2 cases dropped out from the control group. The MSSSHS score and PSQI score both declined after the treatment in the two groups （all P〈0.05）. The MSSSHS and PSQI scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group （both P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The abdominal acupuncture is effective for subhealth insomnia, and it can enhance the effect of conventional acupuncture.

Clinical Observation on the Effects of Bo’s Abdominal Acupuncture in 40 Cases of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Objective: To observe the curative effect of Bo’s abdominal acupuncture on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Methods: Forty cases with CFS were treated by Bo’s abdominal acupuncture at the points for conducting qi back to its origin and 4 points on the abdomen once a day for 2 weeks. Scores for symptoms and scores for fatigue questionnaires were compared before and after treatment. Results: After treatment, the clinical symptoms of patients were differently alleviated, and scores for symptoms, mental condition and neural feeling in questionnaires on fatigue were obviously reduced (P<0.01-0.05). Conclusion: Bo’s abdominal acupuncture has a good curative effect on general disease with complex symptoms, especially on lassitude, anorexia, insomnia, amnesia, diarrhea, and general pain.

Clinical study on abdominal acupuncture for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

Objective： To explore the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture in treating patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture （OVCF）. Methods： Forty-five eligible OVCF patients were randomized into an abdominal acupuncture （AA） group, a body acupuncture （BA） group and a medication group according to the random numbers generated by the SPSS 22.5 version software, 15 subjects in each group. Patients in the medication group were intervened by Ossotide injection （intravenous injection）, Caltrate （oral administration）, Alfacalcidol （oral administration）, and Salcatonin injection （muscular injection）. In addition to the intervention given to the medication group, patients in the AA group additionally received acupuncture at Zhongwan （CV 22）, Xiawan （CV 20）, Qihai （CV 6）, Guanyuan （CV 4）, Shuifen （CV 9）, and Huaroumen （ST 24）; while patients in the BA group additionally received acupuncture at Jiaji （EX-B 2, superior and inferior to the affected area） points, Ashi points, Weizhong （BL 40） and Chengshan （BI. 57）. For the AA and BA groups, the acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 6 d per week, for 3 weeks in total. Prior to the intervention, and respectively after 1-week treatment, 2-week treatment and 3-week treatment, visual analogue scale （VAS） and Barthel index （BI） were adopted to evaluate pain degree and activities of daily living （ADL）. Results： After intervention, the VAS and BI scores were significantly changed in the three groups （P〈0.05）. Respectively after 2-week, 2-week and 3-week treatment, the VAS and BI scores in the two acupuncture groups were significantly different from those in the medication group at the same time point （P〈0.02）. After 2-week and 2-week treatment, the improvements of VAS and BI scores in the AA group were more significant than those in the BA group（P〈0.05）; after 3-week treatment, there was no significant difference in comparing the VAS score between the two acupuncture groups （P〉0.05）, but a significant difference was found in comparing the BI score （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Abdominal acupuncture can produce a more significant effect in improving VAS and BI scores in OVCF patients than body acupuncture and pure medication treatment, and it＇s efficient and causes few sufferings.

Ninety cases of simple obesity treated with the combined therapy of penetration needling, flash-fire cupping method and auricular acupuncture

Objective: To observe the clinical effects on simple obesity treated with the combined therapy of penetration needling, flash-fire cupping method and auricular acupuncture.Methods: In 90 patients of simple obesity, the Bo’s abdominal acupuncture therapy was adopted. Taking Shénquè(神阙 CV 8), the points 2 cun directly below CV 8 and 2 cun directly above CV 8 as the landmarks, 3 cun bilateral to each of the above three points, and penetrated through to the conception vessel. Then the electroacupuncture apparatus was connected, with the disperse-dense wave for 30 min.After acupuncture, the glass cup of the middle size was used to stimulate the selected points with the flash-fire cupping method. The cupping stimulation stopped when the skin turned to be slightly red. One treatment was given each day and every other day after 5 days. The 10 treatments made one course. In the auricular acupuncture therapy, Jīdiǎn(饥点), Shénm6 n(神门TF4), NèiFēnmì(内分泌CO18) and S5 njiāo(三焦 CO17) were selected. The auricular acupuncture therapy was given once every two days and 10 treatments made one course. After 3 courses of treatment, the waist circumference, hip circumference,body weight and body mass index(BMI) were observed.Results: Compared to before treatment, after 3 courses of treatment, the waist circumference of patients was(92.3 ±2.4 vs 80.4 ±2.3) cm, hip circumference(110.6 士 2.3 vs 99.2 ±2.5) cm, body weight(74.2 ±3.1 vs 68.2 ±2.4) kg and BMI(29.8 士 3.1 vs 25.2 士 2.1), they were all reduced obviously, indicating the significant differences(all P<0.05). Seventy-nine patients lost three to five kilograms, accounting for 87.8%.Conclusion: The combined therapy of penetration needling at abdomen, flash-fire cupping method and auricular acupuncture achieves the significant therapeutic effects on simple obesity.

Professor Yu Hai-bo's clinical experience in treating acute attack of hemorrhoids with acupuncture-moxibustion

Hemorrhoid refers to soft vein mass formed by varicosity of submucosal veins around the end of the rectum and subcutanceous veins of the anal canal. It is the most common anorectal disease. This article summarized the regular patterns, features and advantages of Professor Yu Hai-Bo＇s acupuncture-moxibustion therapy for hemorrhoids, in order to guide the acupuncture treatment for hemorrhoids.

Effect of acupuncture at Bǎihuì (百会GV 20) and Zúsānlǐ (足三里ST 36) on the level of serum inflammatory cytokines in patients with depression

Objective To investigate the immunologic mechanism of acupuncture at Bǎihuì（百 会 GV 20） and Zúsānlǐ（足三里 ST 36） for treatment of depression. Methods Eighty-four cases of depression patients were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture observation group（group A）, an electroacupuncture control group（group B） and a medication control group（group C）, 28 cases in each group. Bǎihuì（百会 GV 20） and Zúsānlǐ（足三里 ST 36） were used in the group A; Tàichōng （太冲 LR 3）, Sānyīnjiāo （三阴交 SP 6）, Nèiguān （内关 PC 6） and Shénmén （神门 HT 7） were used in the group B; and the group C was treated with oral administration of Fluoxetine. The scores of Hamilton Depression Scale （HAMD） were tested and the level of serum interleukin 1（IL-1β）, interleukin 6 （IL-6）, and tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α） were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay （ELISA）before and after treatment. Results Their scores of HAMD were obviously decreased after treatment in three groups（all P0.01）. In the group A, 2 cases were cured, 19 cases were markedly effective, 5 cases were effective and 2 cases were failed. In the group B, 16 cases were markedly effective, 12 cases were effective. While in the group C, 1 case was cured, 17 cases were markedly effective, 7 cases were effective and 3 cases were failed. The grade distribution of clinical effect showed that the effect of group A was better （P0.05）. The levels of serum IL-1β and IL-6 in the three groups were obviously decreased after treatment （P0.05, P0.01）, while there was no significant difference between the level of serum TNF-α before and after treatment. Conclusion The effect of electroacupuncture observation group is superior to those of electroacupuncture control group and medication control group.All of these three methods can clear the inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 away and improve the symptoms of depression.