Clinical Study on Acupuncture at Couplet Point of Houxi and Huantiao Combined with Penetrating Moxibustion Therapy for Lumbar Disc Herniation of Cold-Damp Type
Abstract:Objective:To observe the curative effect of acupuncture at couplet point of Houxi (SI3) and Huantiao (GB30) combined with penetrating moxibustion therapy on lumber disc herniation of cold- damp type. Methods:A total of 60 patients with lumber disc herniation of cold-damp type were randomly divided into three groups,with 20 cases in each group. The control group 1 was treated with acupuncture at the couplet point of Houxi and Huantiao, the control group 2 was treated with penetrating moxibustion therapy alone, and the treatment group was given acupuncture at couplet point of Houxi and Huantiao combined with penetrating moxibustion therapy. The three groups were treated for 3 courses of treatment , with 10 days as a course of treatment. Before and after treatment,the scores of Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) for treatment evaluation,and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for low back pain were evaluated,and the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as well as the changing temperature of infrared thermography of the lumbar were detected. The curative effects in the three groups were compared and the safety of treatment was observed. Results: After 3 courses of treatment,the total effective rate was 95.00% in the treatment group,higher than that in the control group 1 and the control group 2, the difference being significant (P<0.05). Comparing the JOA scores in the three groups,the difference was significant (P<0.05). The JOA score in the treatment group was higher than that in the other two groups, differences being significant (P<0.05); there was no significant difference being found in the comparison of JOA scores between the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P>0.05). Comparing the VAS scores in the three groups, the difference was significant (P<0.05). The VAS score in the treatment group was lower than that in the other two groups,differences being significant (P<0.05); there was no significant difference being found in the comparison of VAS scores between the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P>0.05). Comparing the levels of serum IL- 6 and hs- CRP in the three groups , the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The levels of serum IL-6 and hs-CRP in the treatment group were lower than those in the other two groups,differences being significant (P<0.05); there was no significant difference being found in the comparisons of levels of serum IL- 6 and hs- CRP between the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P>0.05). Comparing the temperature and temperature difference of infrared thermography of the lumbar in the three groups, the difference were significant (P<0.05). The temperature and temperature difference of infrared thermography of the lumbar in the treatment group were higher than those in the other two groups, differences being significant (P<0.05); there were no significant difference being found in the comparison of temperature and temperature difference of infrared thermography of the lumbar between the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P>0.05). No adverse reactions occurred in the treatment of the three groups. Conclusion : Acupuncture at couplet point of Houxi and Huantiao combined with penetrating moxibustion therapy has a good clinical effect on lumber disc herniation of cold-damp type, which can effectively reduce the degree of inflammatory symptoms,mitigate the low back pain,improve the quality of life of patients,and obviously increase the temperature of the lumbar with a synergetic effect.