Observation of combination technique of acupuncture and moxibustion on postherpetic neuralgia

Abstract

Objective To observe the clinical effect of combination technique of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods Sixty four PHN patients admitted to the National Acupuncture Hall of Shanxi Provincial Acupuncture Hospital from July 2017 to May 2018 were selected. Patients were divided into the acupuncture group and the western medicine group by random number table method, 32 cases in each group. Patients in the acupuncture group were treated with akupotomye, cupping, plum blossom needling, filiform needling, and moxibustion. The western medicine group was given oral pregabalin. The pain changes and clinical efficacy of the two groups before and after treatment were observed by VAS score. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared by χ2 test. The VAS scores of the two groups before and after treatment were compared by two independent samples t test. Results The difference in the VAS scores between the acupuncture group and the western medicine group after 2 weeks of treatment was statistically significant (t=2.896, P<0.05). In the acupuncture group, 13 cases were cured, 14 cases were markedly effective, 3 cases were effective, 2 cases were ineffective, and the total effective rate was 97.75% (30/32). In the western medicine group, 3 cases were cured, 9 cases were markedly effective, 13 cases were effective, 7 cases were ineffective, and the total efficiency was 78.12%(25/32). The difference in the clinical efficacy between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=18.387, P<0.05). Conclusion The combination technique of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia is effective and worthy of clinical application. Key words: Acupuncture therapy; Moxibustion; Neuralgia, postherpetic