Effect of combined scalp and body acupuncture on Parkinson's disease: A randomized clinical trial: 头针联合体针对帕金森病运动症状的治疗效应:随机临床研究

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect of combined scalp and body acupuncture on the motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), and on the score of levodopa equivalent dose (LED). MethodsThis is a randomized, single blind trial. Sixty-six patients with PD were randomized into an acupuncture + medication group (33 patients) and a medication group (33 patients). The patients were aware of allocation and the assessors were blinded to group assignment and therapeutic regimen. Anti-PD drugs were administered in both groups. In the acupuncture + medication group, scalp and body acupuncture therapy was added. Treatments were applied for 8 weeks. In scalp acupuncture, the anterior oblique line of the vertex-temporal (MS6), lateral line 1 of the vertex (MS8), lateral line 2 of the vertex (MS9), and lower-lateral line of the occiput (MS14) were selected. In the body acupuncture, the acupoints included Băihuì (百会GV20), Sìshéncōng (四神聪EX-HN1), and Dàzhuī (大椎GV14), as well as the bilateral Fēngchí (风池GB20), Nèiguān (内关PC6), Hégŭ (合谷LI4), Gānshū (肝俞BL18), Shènshū (肾俞BL23), Yánglíngquán (阳陵泉GB34), Zúsānlĭ (足三里ST36), Fēnglóng 丰隆ST40), Sānyīnjiāo (三阴交SP6), Tàixī (太溪KI3), and Tàichōng ( 太冲LR3). Before and after treatments, the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), 3rd section of the UPDRS (UPDRS-III), and motor dysfunction rating scale for Parkinson's disease (MDRSPD) were scored in the patients. The therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and LED score were compared between both groups. ResultsThirty-three cases were included in data analysis in each group. After treatment, UPDRS scores were (28.77 ± 8.85) and (36.58 ± 10.16) points, UPDRS-Ⅲ scores were (12.16 ± 1.97) and (17.47 ± 2.93) points and MDRSPD scores were (15.56 ± 3.31) and (19.13 ± 4.87) points in the acupuncture + medication and medication groups respectively. The UPDRS, UPDRS-III, and MDRSPD scores all reduced after treatments in both groups (all P < 0.05). All three scores were lower in the acupuncture + medication group than in the medication group (all P < 0.05). When examining the therapeutic effects of TCM, the total effective rate was 87.88% in the acupuncture + medication group and 75.76% in the medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the LED scores were (387.55 ± 146.24) points and (437.42 ± 183.16) points in the acupuncture + medication and medication groups, respectively. The LED dose differences before and after treatment for the acupuncture + medication and medication groups were (40.36 ± 16.33) points and (95.88 ± 35.79) points, respectively. The LED scores in both groups were higher than the pre-treatment scores (P < 0.05). However, the post-treatment LED score was lower in the acupuncture + medication group than in the medication group (P < 0.05), as was the dose difference before and after treatment (P < 0.05).No relevant adverse reaction was found in each group. ConclusionIn addition to anti-PD medication, the scalp and body acupuncture may effectively relieve the motor symptoms of PD and improve the control of LED score.