Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods One hundred and forty-eight KOA patients were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 74 cases each. The treatment group received heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion and the control group took diclofenac sodium enteric-coated tablets. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score and 50 yards fastest walking time were observed in the two groups before and after 30 days of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the VAS score and WOMAC subscores in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in 50 yards fastest walking time in the treatment group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the VAS score, the WOMAC score and the WOMAC pain and stiffness scores between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the VAS and WOMAC scores at three months after treatment between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 95.9%at the end of treatment and 95.6%at three months after treatment in the treatment group, and 86.1%at the end of treatment and 86.8%at three months after treatment in the control group; there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion is an effective way to treat knee osteoarthritis.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of kidney-reinfocing and Du meridian-regulating acupuncture plus ginger moxibustion in treating ankylosing spondylitis. Methods Sixty patients with ankylosing spondylitis were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received kidney-reinfocing and Du meridian-regulating acupuncture plus ginger moxibustion and the control group, medication. After three months of treatment, the clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results The cure and marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate were 76.7%and 100.0%, respectively, in the treatment group and 53.3%and 70.0%, respectively, in the control group. There were statistically significant differences in both the rates between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Kidney-reinfocing and Du meridian-regulating acupuncture plus ginger moxibustion is an effective way to treat ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of fire-needle acupuncture in treating myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Method Seventy-two patients with MPS were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 36 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by fire-needle acupuncture, while the control group was by ordinary acupuncture. The short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) was observed before and after the intervention, and the clinical efficacy was compared. Result The total effective rate and markedly-effective rate were respectively 94.4% and 77.8% in the treatment group versus 80.6% and 30.6%in the control group. There was a significant difference in comparing the markedly-effective rate between the two groups (P<0.01). The MPQ item scores [pain rating index (PRI), present pain intensity (PPI), and visual analogue scale (VAS)] were significantly changed after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). After intervention, the MPQ item scores of the treatment group were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Fire-needle acupuncture is an effective method in treating MPS.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of XIE’s Wen Du Qu Mai (Warming the Governor Vessel to expel smog) needling method plus heat-sensitive moxibustion in treating chronic simple rhinitis due to yang deficiency. Method Eighty patients with chronic simple rhinitis due to yang deficiency were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 40 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus heat-sensitive moxibustion, while the control group was by medication. The symptom and sign score was observed before and after 1-week treatment, and the clinical efficacy was compared. Result The total effective rate was 85.0%in the treatment group versus 55.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The symptom and sign scores were changed significantly after treatment in both groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). After treatment, the symptom and sign score in the treatment group was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion XIE’s Wen Du Qu Mai needling method is effective in treating chronic simple rhinitis due to yang deficiency.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus Chinese herbal medicine in treating allergic rhinitis. Methods One hundred and thirty-five patients with allergic rhinitis were randomly allocated to combination, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine groups, 45 cases each. The combination group received treatment with acupuncture plus Chinese herbal medicine; the acupuncture group, treatment with acupuncture alone; the Chinese herbal medicine group, treatment with Chinese herbal medicine alone. IgE, IL-4, IL-5 and TNF-αlevels and clinical symptom and sign total score were observed in the three groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the three groups. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in IL-4, IL-5, TNF-αand IgE levels in the three groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in IL-4, IL-5 and IgE levels between the combination group and the Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture group (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in clinical symptom and sign total score in the three groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in clinical symptom and sign total score between the combination group and the Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture group (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 91.1%in the combination group, 71.1%in the Chinese herbal medicine group and 66.7%in the acupuncture group. There was a statistically significant difference in the total efficacy rate between the combination group and the Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture group (P<0.05). Conclusions Acupuncture plus Chinese herbal medicine has a better therapeutic effect on allergic rhinitis. It can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms and signs and reduce IgE, IL-4 and IL-5 levels in the patients.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion in treating primary dysmenorrhea in adolescent female undergraduates. Method Sixty patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4), while the control group was by moxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The symptom score was observed before intervention and after 3 menstrual cycles, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Result The symptom score was changed significantly in both groups after intervention (P<0.01). After intervention, there was a significant difference in comparing the symptom score (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 100.0%in the treatment group versus 93.3% in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion is an effective approach in treating primary dysmenorrhea, and moxibustion at different points will produce different effects.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture intervention in muscle, bone and joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer. Method One hundred and forty breast cancer patients with aromatase inhibitors-caused muscle, bone and joint pain were randomly allocated to groups A, B, C and D, 35 cases each. group A received ear acupuncture plus the intravenous drip of zoledronic acid;group B, ear acupuncture alone;group C, the intravenous drip of zoledronic acid alone;group D, oral administration of calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 chewable tablets and alfacalcidol soft capsules. The Brief Pain Inventory score was observed in every group before and after treatment. Bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae were compared between the groups before and after treatment. Result In groups a and B, there was a statistically significant difference in the pain interference score at three, six and twelve weeks of treatment and at six weeks after the end of treatment compared with before treatment (P<0.01). At three, six and twelve weeks of treatment and at six weeks after the end of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in the pain interference score between group A or B and group C or D (P<0.01). In groups a and B, there was a statistically significant difference in the pain score during the most severe pain at three, six and twelve weeks of treatment compared with before treatment (P<0.05). At three, six and twelve weeks of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in the pain score during the most severe pain between group A or B and group C or D (P<0.05). At three weeks of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in the pain score during the most severe pain between group B and group C or D (P<0.05). In every group, there was no statistically significant difference in BMD T-score at twelve weeks of treatment and at six weeks after the end of treatment compared with before treatment (P>0.05). Conclusion Ear acupuncture can significantly relieve muscle, bone and joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors and the pain relief is not related to bone mineral density, but muscle, bone and joint pain recurs in the patients after the treatment is discontinued. Zoledronic acid can not relieve the pain. Ear acupuncture plus zoledronic acid is not more effective than ear acupunctura alone in relieving the pain.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of suspended moxibustion plus Chinese medication in treating icteric hepatitis. Method Ninety-two patients with icteric hepatitis were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 46 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by suspended moxibustion plus oral administration of Chinese medication for supplementing yang, tonifying spleen, expelling dampness, and activating blood circulation;the control group was intervened only by the same Chinese medication. The symptom and sign score, and liver function items including TBil and ALT were observed, and the clinical efficacy was compared. Result The symptom and sign scores were significantly changed in both groups after intervention (P<0.05). After intervention, there was a significant difference in comparing the symptom and sign score between the two groups (P<0.05). The TBil and ALT levels were significantly changed after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). The recovery rate and total effective rate were respectively 87.0%and 95.7%in the treatment group versus 76.1%and 82.6%in the control group, and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Suspended moxibustion plus Chinese medication is an effective method in treating icteric hepatitis.

Objective To observe the real-time and short-term anti-hypertension efficacy of ear apex bloodletting plus acupoint thread embedding. Method Eighty-three eligible hypertension patients were randomized into group A of 28 cases, group B of 29 cases and group C of 26 cases. Group A was intervened by bloodletting at ear apex, group B was by acupoint thread embedding, and group C was by bloodletting at ear apex plus acupoint thread embedding. The blood pressure was recorded 5 min before intervention, as well as 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, and 60 min following intervention, and the real-time anti-hypertension efficacy was compared. By analyzing the blood pressure before treatment and after 1-month treatment, the short-term anti-hypertension efficacy was compared. Result In group A and group C, the systolic and diastolic pressures at 15 min, 30 min, and 60 min after treatment were significantly different from that at 5 min before treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 60.7% in group A, 51.7%in group B, and 80.8% in group C. The therapeutic efficacy of group C was significantly different from that of group A and B (P<0.05). The total effective rates for grade 1 and grade 2 hypertension were respectively 84.6%and 40.4%in group A, 76.9%and 31.3% in group B, and 100.0% and 64.3% in group C. In the three groups, the therapeutic efficacy for grade 1 hypertension was markedly different from that for grade 2 hypertension (P<0.05). Conclusion Bloodletting at ear apex can produce a significant anti-hypertension effect, and bloodletting at ear apex plus acupoint thread embedding is an effective method in treating hypertension.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus auricular point sticking in improving tobacco withdrawal symptoms after smoke cessation. Method Forty-eight patients with tobacco withdrawal symptoms were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 24 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus auricular point sticking, while the control group was by auricular point sticking. The daily consumption of tobacco, Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and Self-rating Scale of Tobacco Dependence (SSTD) were observed before and after intervention, and the smoke cessation rate was also compared. Result The smoke cessation rate was 83.3%in the treatment group versus 54.2%in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After intervention, the daily consumption of tobacco and SSTD score in the treatment group were significantly changed and markedly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). The FTND scores were significantly changed after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in comparing the FTND score between the two groups after intervention (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture plus auricular point sticking can improve the tobacco withdrawal symptoms.