Therapeutic observation of 'warming-unblocking needling technique'for knee osteoarthritis due to deficiency of liver and kidney

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy between'warming-unblocking needling technique7 and reinforcing method by twirling in treating knee osteoarthritis(KOA)due to deficiency of liver and kidney.Methods:A total of 72 patients with KOA were divided into a warming-unblocking group and a reinforcing group by complete randomized method,with 36 cases in each group.Xuehai(SP 10),Heding(EX-LE 2),Liangqiu(ST 34);Neixiyan(EX-LE 4),Xizhong(Extra),Dubi(ST 35),Yinlingquan(SP 9),Zusanli(ST 36)and Yanglingquan(GB 34)were the main points in both groups.Taichong(LR 3),Taixi(Kl 3)and Sanyinjiao(SP 6)were the combined points.'Warming-unblocking needling technique'was applied in the warming-unblocking group,and reinforcing method by twirling was applied in the reinforcing group.The treatments were performed once a day,10 times as a treatment course,at a 2-day interval between two courses,for 3 courses in total.The scores of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC)in the two groups were observed before and after the treatment,and the clinical efficacy was compared.Results:After treatment,the total effective rate was 94.3%in the warming-unblocking group and 87.9%in the reinforcing group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The component scores of pain,stiffness and daily activities in WOMAC and total WOMAC scores in both groups decreased after treatment(all P<0.01).The component and total WOMAC scores in the warming-unblocking group were lower than those in the reinforcing group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:'Warming-unblocking needling technique' has significant efficacy than reinforcing method by twirling in treating KOA due to deficiency of liver and kidney.It can significantly improve pain,stiffness and daily functional activities of patients.

Evaluation of a granulated formula for the nerve root type and vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis：a multicenter,single-blind,randomized,controlled,phase Ⅲ clinical trial

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of cervical spondylosis formula granules in reducing the symptoms of patients with the nerve root type and the vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis.METHODS:This was a multicenter, single-blind,randomized, controlled trial.From April 2002 to November 2003, 499 patients were randomly assigned to either the treatment or the control group.The treatment group was orally administered granules prepared with a formula for cervical spondylosis, while the control group was given Jingfukang granules.The treatment course was 1 month for both groups.RESULTS:In patients with the nerve root type of cervical spondylosis, the total effect rate in the treatment group(87.21%) was significantly higher than that in the control group(80.70%, P < 0.01).After the treatment period in both groups, the treatment group had a significantly greater rate of resolution of pain, numbness of the upper limbs, muscle strength of the upper limbs, and fatigue than the control group(all P < 0.05).In patients with the vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis, the total effect rate in the treatment group(82.07%) was similar to that in the control group(71.21%, P >0.05).After the treatment period in both groups,the treatment group had a significantly greater rate of resolution of weakness of the waist and knees than the control group(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:The cervical spondylosis formula granules significantly improve numbness, muscle strength, and fatigue, and reduce pain in patients with the nerve root type of cervical spondylosis,and improve the weakness of the waist and knees in patients with the vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis.

Clinical Study on Early Senile Cataract Treated by Shezhu Mingmu Powder(麝珠明目散)

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of Shezhu Mingmu Powder (SZMMP) in treatment of early senile cataract. Methods: A comparison was made between the treatment group, 162 eyes of 92 cases of early senile cataract treated by SZMMP, and the control group, 57 eyes of 30 cases treated by drops baineitini.The treatment periods were one to three months. Results: The total effective rate for the treatment group was79. 01 % and the rate of obvious improvement was 25. 31 %. In the treatment group both rateswere clearly higher than the rates (36. 84 % and 7. 02 % ) of the control group. After 4 to 8 months' following up, treatment of 42 cases showed that most of them reached the best curative effect within 1 to 3 months. Conclusion: SZMMP is obviously effective in improving visual acuity of early senile cataract, but the lens opacity was not changed.