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

Abstract

ObjectiveTo 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. MethodsA total 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. Tàichōng (▪ LR 3), Zhōngzhí (▪ TE 3), Zúlínqì (▪ GB 41) and Qiūxū (▪ GB 40) in the uninjured side were selected. After deqi, reducing method was used. Then Tàixī (▪ Kl 3) in the uninjured side was selected. After deqi, rein forcing method was used. Needles were retained for 30 min. Patients in group B were treated with routine acupuncture. Local Āshì point, Sishéncōng (▪ EX-HN1), Yifēng (▪ TE 17), Fēngchí (▪ GB 20), Sīzhúkōng (▪ TE 23), Shuàigŭ (▪ GB 8), Hégŭ (▪ LI 4) and Lièquē (▪ LU 7) were selected. After puncturing, reducing method was used routinely and needles were retained for 30 min. 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. ResultsAfter 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). ConclusionOpposing needling is an effective method for the treatment of migraine with the symptom of hyperactivity of liver yang. 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.