Clinical efficacy of opposing needling in the treatment of migraine with the symptom of ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang and its effect on NO level in plasma of patients

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of opposing needling for the treatment of migraine with the symptom of hyperactivity of liver yang type and its effect on NO level in plasma of patients. Methods Atotal of 60 migraine patients with the symptom of hyperactivity of liver yang who met the inclusive criteria were randomly divided into a opposing needling group （group A） and a routine acupuncture group （group B） by using SPSS 15.0 software according to the registration order with 30 patients in each group. Patients in group A were treated with opposing needling. Taich6ng （太冲 LR 3）, Zhongzhu （中渚 TE 3）, ZOlfnqi （足临泣 GB 41） and QiOxu （丘墟 GB 40） in the uninjured side were selected. After deqi, reducing method was used. Then Taixi （太溪 KI 3） in the uninjured side was selected. After deqi, rein forcing method was used. Needles were retained for 30 rain. Patients in group B were treated with routine acupuncture. Local Ash point, Sishncong （ 四神聪EX-HN1）, Yifeng （翳风 TE 17）, Fengchi （风池 GB 20）, Sizhukong （丝竹空 TE 23）, Shuaigu （率谷GB 8）, Hegu （合谷 LI 4） and LiEque （列缺 LU 7） were selected. After puncturing, reducing method was used routinely and needles were retained for 30 rain. After 2 weeks treatment, migraine specific quality of life questionnaire （MSQ）, visual analogue scale （VAS） and nitric oxide （NO） level in plasma of patients in two groups were observed. Results After treatment, the MSQ, VAS and NO of two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment. After treatment, score of MSQ functional limitation was 73.41±10.22 in group A and 60.95 ± 10.15 in group B; the score of MSQ dysfunction was 86.11 ±8.22 in group A and 75.45±8.34 in group B; score of MSQ emotion was 80.51±10.16 in group A and 75.01± 10.20 in group B. The improvements of group A were superior to those of group B, and the differences were all statistically significant （all P〈0.05）. After treatment, the VAS score was 0.93 ± 1.25 in group A and 2.17± 1.70 in group B. The improvement of group A was superior to that of group B, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. After treatment, blood plasma NO level was （42.15 ± 16.15） μmol/L in group A and （62.76±15.17） μmol/L in group B. The improvement of group A was superior to that of group B, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. Overall response rate was 86.7% （26/30） in group A and 53.3% （16/30） in group B, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Opposing needling is an effective method for the treatment of migraine with the symptom of hyperactivity of liver yong. Its mechanism is to regulate the generation of NO in migraine patients, and improve the relaxation and contraction of cerebral vascular smooth muscle, so as to adjust the cerebral circulation.

Observation of therapeutic effect on primary trigeminal neuralgia treated with contralateral needling technique (Ju Ci)

Objective To observe the differences in therapeutic effects on primary trigeminat neuralgia between contralateral needling technique and routine acupuncture. Methods One hundred and thirty cases were randomly divided into contralateral needling group and routine acupuncture group, 65 cases in each one. In contralateral needling group, contralateral needling technique was adopted on the acupoints on the opposite side corresponding to the affected face in neuralgia. According to the localization of trigeminal neuralgia, the points were selected. For example, for ophthalmologic branch, Yuyao （鱼腰 EX- HN 4） and Touwei （头维 ST 8） were selected as the main point. In routine acupuncture group, the corresponding acupoints were selected on the affected side of the face. The points were same as that in contralateral needling group, Three courses of treatment were required in two groups. The clinical efficacy was evaluated 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Results The total effective rate was 95.4% （62/65） in contralateral needling group, which was superior to that in routine acupuncture group E86.2% （56/65）1 （P〈0. 001）. Conclusion Contralateral needling technique achieves apparently superior effects on primary trigeminal neuralgia compared with routine acupuncture.

Contralateral Needling Method and Its Applications in Treating Upper-limb Pain

Contralateral Needling is an ancient needling method recorded in Nei Jing （Inner Canon）. It said in the Guan Zhen chapter of Ling Shu （chapter of needling technique of Spiritual Pivot） that contralateral needling is to needle the points on contralateral side to the affected side of the body.