Clinical research of postpartum pantalgia treated with individualized moxibustion: 个体化灸法治疗产后身痛的临床研究

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect and safety of individualized moxibustion in treatment of postpartum pantalgia. MethodsA total of 99 patients with postpartum pantalgia were divided into three group at the ratio of 1: 1: 1 according to random number table, i.e. an individualized moxibustion group, a quantitative moxibustion group and a voltaren group. The same acupoints were selected in the individualized moxibustion group and the quantitative moxibustion group. With the patient in supine, Zhōngwăn (中脘CV12),Guānyuán (关元CV4), bilateral Tiānshū (天枢ST25), bilateral Xuèhăi (血海SP10), bilateral Yánglíngquán (阳陵泉GB34), bilateral Zúsānlĭ (足三里ST36) and bilateral Sānyīnjiāo (三阴交SP6) were selected. With the patient in prone, Dàzhuī (大椎GV14), bilateral Géshū (膈俞BL17), bilateral Píshū(脾俞BL20), bilateral Shènshū (肾俞BL23), Mìngmén 命门(GV4), bilateral Wĕizhōng (委中BL40) and bilateral Yŏngquán (涌泉KI1) were selected. In the individualized moxibustion group, the moxibusion dose was determined by patient's constitution and conditions as well as no occurrence of dry throat, thirst and local skin lesion. In the quantitative moxibustion group, the moxibustion dose was fixed as 1 cone at each acupoint in treatment. In these two groups, the treatment was given once every two days, three times a week and the treatment for 2 weeks was as 1 course. Totally, 2 courses of treatment were required. In the voltaren group, voltaren ointment was used externally at the pain area, once a day, for 4 weeks totally. Separately, before treatment, at the end of treatment course and in follow-up, the symptom score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pain score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and patient's treatment satisfaction score were observed in the patients of the three groups. ResultsIn comparison within group, TCM symptom score, VAS score and the treatment satisfaction score at the end of treatment were all reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment in each of the three groups (P < 0.05). In 4, 12 and 24 weeks of followup after treatment, the differences in these data were not significant as compared with those at the end of treatment in the individualized moxibustion group and the quantitative moxibustion group respectively (all P > 0.05). In the voltaren group, these data were not different as compared with those at the end of treatment in 4 weeks of follow-up (all P > 0.05), but these data were all increased as compared with those at the end of treatment in 12 and 24 weeks of follow-up (all P < 0.05). In comparison among three groups, at the end of treatment and in 4, 12 and 24 weeks of followup, the above-mentioned three therapeutic effect indicators were all different significantly (all P < 0.05). In comparison between two groups, in the individualized moxibustion group, TCM symptom score, VAS score and the patient's treatment satisfaction score were all lower than those in the quantitative moxibustion group at the end of treatment and at each time point of follow-up successively, indicating the significant differences (all P < 0.05). ConclusionIndividualized moxibustion and quantitative moxibustion improve the short-term and long-term therapeutic effect on postpartum pantalgia as compared with the external application of voltaren ointment. The therapeutic effect and patient's satisfaction of individualized moxibustion for replenishing kidney and nourishing blood are better than the quantitative moxibustion. The individualized moxibustion therapy for replenishing kidney and nourishing blood achieves a satisfactory effect on postpartum pantalgia and is excelled to voltaren ointment that is strongly recommended in modern medicine. Individualized moxibustion is an external therapy of TCM with optimal short-term and long-term therapeutic effect and reliable safety. Hence, it deserves to be promoted in practice.