Clinical Observations on the Treatment of Migraine by Acupuncture plus Auricular Plaster Therapy

Objective： To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus auricular plaster therapy for treating migraine. Methods： One hundred and fifty migraine patients were randomly allocated to an observation group （n=90） and a control group （n=60）. The observation group were treated by acupuncture plus auricular plaster therapy based on syndrome differentiation and the control group, by oral administration of Flunarizine. The curative effects were compared between the two groups. Results： The total efficacy rate was 94.4% in the observation group and higher than in the control group （73.3%）. The recovery rate was 87.8% in the observation group and higher than in the control group （55.0%）. There were significant differences between the two groups （both P〈0.01）. The curative effect was significantly better in the observation group than in the control group. Conclusion： Clinically, acupuncture plus auricular plaster therapy based on syndrome differentiation has a good effect on migraine.

Survey： Use of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Acute Low Back Pain by Physicians and Physiotherapists in Ontario

Objective： To determine the prevalence of the use of acupuncture treatment for acute low back pain （LBP） among acupuncture practitioners, and investigate acupuncture practitioners＇ perceptions on the effectiveness of this treatment modality and the costs associated with its use in Canada. Methods： A questionnaire designed to achieve our objectives was distributed to all 285 members in the Ontario chapter of the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada （AFC） in September of 1996. Only responses from physicians and physiotherapists were included in the analysis. Results： Of the 281 eligible physicians and physiotherapists, 197 completed the survey （response rate of 70.1%）. 45.0% of the respondents were physicians and 55.0% of them were physiotherapists. 87.0% of the respondents had used acupuncture for the treatment of acute LBP in the past, 66.0% of them were using it at the time of the survey and 87.0% said they would continue to use it in the future. 83.0% of the respondents perceived acupuncture to be effective for acute LBP and 60.0% of them believed that treating acute LBP with acupuncture will prevent the development of chronic LBE The average cost per treatment was $28 and the average time of treatments thought to be necessary to treat acute LBP was 5.7. Conclusions： The results showed that the majority of the respondents had a positive and favorable outlook towards using acupuncture for the treatment of acute LBP. They frequently used acupuncture for treating this condition in their practice and an overwhelming majority perceived acupuncture to be effective for treating acute LBP. In addition, over half of the respondents believed that acupuncture treatment would prevent the progression of acute LBE Although the acupuncture practitioners surveyed in this study perceived acupuncture to be an effective treatment for acute LBP, quantitative data from high quality research are needed to validate these perceptions.

Observations on the Efficacy of Acupuncture plus Tuina Therapy in Treating Supraspinatus Tendinitis

Objective： To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus Tuina therapy in treating supraspinatus tendinitis. Methods： One hundred patients with supraspinatus tendinitis were randomly allocated to two groups. The treatment group of 50 cases was treated with acupuncture plus Tuina therapy and the control group of 50 cases, with simple acupuncture. Treatment was given once daily, 10 times as a course. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after two courses of treatment. Results： The total efficacy rate was 96.0% in the treatment group and 74.0% in the control group. X^2 test showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the total efficacy rate between the two groups （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus Tuina therapy is superior to simple acupuncture in treating supraspinatus tendinitis.