Acupuncture combined with herb decoction for intractable hiccup

Objective To observe the efficacy of scalp acupuncture combined with oral administration of ènì Tāng（呃逆汤, Hiccup Decoction） for treatment of intractable hiccup. Methods One hundred patients with intractable hiccup were divided into treatment group（acupuncture combined with herb decoction group） and control group（western medicine group） according to the random number table method with 50 patients in each group. In treatment group, scalp acupuncture was conducted in the gastric area and thoracic area of patients, and Hiccup Decoction was taken orally. In control group, anisodamine（654-2） was injected intramuscularly in the dosage of l0 mg. The treatment was conducted for once a day in each group, and treatment for three consecutive times was needed. The number of times and the frequency of hiccup were observed after each treatment, and the results were compared. The standard of therapeutic effectiveness was evaluated by the number of hiccups decreased. Results In treatment group, the total cure rate was 54%, and the total effective rate was 84%, in control group, the total cure rate was 32%, and the total effective rate was 66%. According to the comparison between the two groups in the cure rate and total effective rate, the differences were statistically significant（both P〈0.05）. After the first treatment, there was no statistical difference according to the comparison between the two groups in the cure rate and total effective rate（both P〈0.05）, after the second treatment, the differences were statistically significant according to the comparison between the two groups in the cure rate and total effective rate（both P〈0.05）, and the efficacy in treatment group was obviously superior to that in control group, after the third treatment, there was no statistical difference according to the comparison between the two groups in the cure rate and total effective rate（both P〈0.05）. Conclusion In the one course of treatment, the efficacy of acupuncture combined with herb decoction for treatment of intractable hiccup was obviously superior to that of intramuscular injection with anisodamine. The therapeutic effect of intramuscular injection with anisodamine for treatment of intractable hiccup was the best at the first treatment, and the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with herb decoction was the best at the second treatment.