Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Chinese herbal fumigation plus beating with mulberry stick in treating heel pain.
Methods: Sixty patients with heel pain were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by Chinese herbal fumigation plus beating with mulberry stick, and the control group was by orally taking Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release Tablets plus external use of She Xiang Zhen Tong Gao (Moschus Analgesic Plaster). After one treatment course, the visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to observe the change of pain, and the clinical efficacies were also evaluated.
Results: After intervention, the improvement of VAS score in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.01).
Conclusion:Chinese herbal fumigation plus beating with mulberry stick can produce a higher clinical efficacy than orally taking Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release Tablets in treating heel pain.

Objective: To observe the efficacy of acupoint selection by meridian differentiation plus qi-guiding needling in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH).
Methods: By using the random number table, 549 patients with LDH were randomized into two groups. Two hundred and eighty participants in the observation group were intervened by selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation associated with qi-guiding needling method, and the other 269 participants in the control group were by selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation plus electroacupuncture. At the end of intervention, the changes of conduction velocities of the common peroneal nerve, superficial peroneal nerve, and tibial nerve were observed, and the therapeutic efficacies were compared.
Results: The total effective rate was 87.5% in the observation group versus 86.6% in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The recovery rate was 51.8% in the observation group versus 37.2% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation associated with qi-guiding needling can produce a similar total effective rate to selecting acupoints by meridian differentiation plus electroacupuncture, while its recovery rate is comparatively higher.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of‘setting fire on the mountain’ manipulation by Lu Shou-yan for cervical radiculopathy as well as the infrared thermographic changes of the cervical area before and after treatment.
Methods:A total of 120 eligible cases with cervical radiculopathy were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 60 in each group. Cases in the observation group were treated with Lu Shou-yan’s ‘setting fire on the mountain’ manipulation, whereas cases in the control group were treated with even reinforcing-reducing manipulation. After two courses of treatment, the infrared thermographic changes and overall therapeutic efficacies in the two groups were compared.
Results: The recovery rate and total effective rate in the observation group were 68.3%and 98.3%respectively, versus 28.3%and 81.7%in the control group, showing statistical differences in recovery rate and total effective rate (both P<0.01). There was between-group statistical significance in comparing the infrared thermography after treatment (P<0.01).
Conclusion:‘Setting fire on the mountain’ manipulation by Lu Shou-yan is better than even reinforcing-reducing manipulation for cervical radiculopathy.

Objective: To observe the effect of acupoint massage in relieving pain after ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy.
Methods: Ninety-two patients undergone ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy were enrolled and randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 46 in each group. Patients in the control group were given regular nursing care, while patients in the treatment group were intervened by acupoint massage in addition to the regular nursing care. The pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after operation, and compared between the two groups.
Results:There was no significant difference in comparing the VAS score at 6 h after operation between the two groups (P>0.05). The VAS scores in the treatment group at 12 h and 24 h after operation were significantly lower than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Fewer patients in the treatment group used analgesics compared with those in the control group.
Conclusion: Acupoint massage can effectively relieve the pain after ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy, reduce the use of analgesics, and promote the recovery.

Objective: To observe the effect of balancing yin-yang needling manipulation on post-stroke upper limb spasticity and changes of electromyography (EMG) after treatment.
Methods: A total of 60 eligible cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 30 in each group. Based on routine medication, cases in the control group were treated with conventional needling manipulation, whereas cases in the observation group were treated with balancing yin-yang manipulation. After the courses of treatment were completed, the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated using modified Ashworth scale and clinical spasticity index (CSI), coupled with the integrated electromyography (IEMG) and root mean square (RMS) value of biceps in passive flexion of the elbow joint during isokinetic testing recorded with the surface EMG.
Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 86.7%, versus 53.3% in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P < 0.05). After treatment, there was between-group statistical significance in severity of elbow spasticity (P<0.05); there were intra-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and inter-group (P<0.05) statistical significances in CSI index;and there were intra-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and inter-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) statistical significances in IEMG and RMS values.
Conclusion:Balancing yin-yang and conventional needling manipulations can both improve upper limb spasm and reduce CSI as well as IEMG and RMS values in stroke patients;however, balancing yin-yang manipulation is better than conventional manipulation in clinical effect.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupoint sticking with Chinese herbs for edema due to chronic cardiac failure.
Methods: One hundred and seventy patients in conformity with the diagnostic criteria of edema due to chronic cardiac failure were randomly divided into two groups, 85 cases in each group. The observation group was treated by oral administration of diuretics plus acupoint sticking with Chinese herbs. The control group was treated just by oral administration of diuretics same as the observation group. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after continuous intervention for 14 d.
Results: The total effective rate was 90.6% in the observation group, remarkably higher than 67.1% in the control group. The difference of overall therapeutic effect between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.01).
Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of acupoint sticking with Chinese herbs plus oral administration of diuretics is better than simple oral administration of diuretics in treatment of edema due to chronic cardiac failure.

Objective:To investigate the effects of acupoint massage on cognitive function and sleep quality in elderly patients with hypertension. Methods:A total of 68 elderly patients with hypertension were enrolled, and their ages were all over 60 years old. They were divided into a control group and a treatment group by simple random method, with 34 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were treated by routine psychological health guidance and sleep knowledge education, while patients in the treatment group were treated by acupoint massage on the base of the interventions given to the control group. Both of their treatment courses were 3 months. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores before and after treatment were recorded and compared. Results:Two groups’ PSQI scores before treatment had no significant difference (P>0.05). After 3 months of treatment, their PSQI scores were statistically different (P<0.05). There was also no between-group statistical difference in MMSE score before treatment (P>0.05), but there was a significant difference after treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupoint massage for elderly patients with primary hypertension can improve their sleep quality and enhance their cognitive function, thus it is worthy of being applied in clinical nursing work.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with low-frequency electric stimulation on scissor gait in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods:A total of 60 spastic cerebral palsy kids were allocated into two groups by random number table, 30 in each group. Cases in the control group were treated with physical exercise therapy, massage and hydrotherapy. Based on the therapies given to the control group, cases in the observation group were supplemented with acupuncture combined with low-frequency electric stimulation. Selected points included Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Jiexi (ST 41), Chengshan (BL 57), Naoqing [Extra, locates at 2 cun directly above Jiexi (ST 41)] and Genping (Extra, locates at the midpoint of the line connecting medial and lateral malleolus). The treatment was done once every other day and 10 d made up a treatment course. The low-frequency electric stimulation was applied to anterior tibia, 6 times a week and 20 times made up a treatment course. Cases were treated for a total of 3 courses and there was a 15-20 d interval between two courses. The low limb functions were assessed before and after treatment using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and composite spasticity scale (CSS). In addition, the ankle dorsiflexion angles were measured before and after treatment. Results:After treatment, the ankle dorsiflexion angles and CSS scores in the observation group were better than those in the control group, showing statistical significances (P<0.05); the effective rate in the observation group calculated by MAS and ankle dorsiflexion angle were both higher than that in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion:Rehabilitation training combined with acupuncture and low-frequency electric stimulation can achieve better effect than rehabilitation training alone in improving scissor gait in kids with spastic cerebral palsy.

Objective:To investigate the pathological changes following the focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats and the effect of acupuncture on them. Methods: A model of ischemia and reperfusion was established by thread occlusion, and the brain-activating acupuncture was applied, and then the morphological changes of the cerebral cortex on the ischemic side were observed under electron and light microscopes. Results:Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion could lead to the structural injury of neurons, gliacytes and capillary vessels in rat's brain, and acupuncture could improve the ultra-structural injury in the area around the cerebral ischemia. It was also found that acupuncture intervention at 3 hours following reperfusion was more ideal than that at any other time points. Conclusion: Acupuncture has a protective effect on the ultra-structural injury of neurons associated with focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats, and acupuncture given within 3 hours following reperfusion can produce a satisfactory effect.

Objective: To observe the conditions of the activating areas in the brain evoked by needling Shenmen (HT 7) acupoint. Methods: Twelve healthy young volunteers were needled at Shenmen (HT 7) acupoint with rotating and twisting techniques. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was adopted to detect the brain activating areas, TR/TE/FA=3560 ms/50 ms/90°. After scanning, the images were dealt with SPM2. Results: Needling Shenmen (HT 7) primarily activated BA2 and BA1 of the gyms postcentralis in right-sided frontal lobe, BA47 of left-sided inferior frontal gyms and BA43 of left-sided gyms postcentralis, and also activated BA40 of inferior parietal lobule in right-sided parietal lobe, BA22 of gyrus temporalis superior in left-sided lobus temporalis, and BA40 of right-sided insula; however, the sham acupoints could not activate these nucleus. Conclusion: Needling Shenmen (HT 7) can activate the relevant functional areas in the brain.