OBJECTIVETo observe the effect difference between acupuncture of "five needles therapy" and conventional acupuncture for asthma of latent cold phlegm-fluid in the lung.

METHODSTwo hundred and ten cases were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 105 cases in each one. Finally 7 cases were dropped out in the observation group; 6 cases in the control group. Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen (BL 12) were used in the observation group; conventional acupuncture was used in the control group, and the main acupoints were Feishu (BL 13), Zhongfu (LU 1), Tiantu (CV 22), Danzhong (CV 17), Kongzui (LU 6), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Fenglong (ST 40), Fengmen (BL 12), Taiyuan (LU 9). The needles were retained for 30 min each time, once a day for continuous 12 days. The scores of the individual symptoms and signs were observed before treatment and on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th days, including pant, cough, cough up phlegm, fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, wheezing rale and shortness of breath. The clinical effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of six individual symptoms and signs on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th days in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (all<0.05), except the score of wheezing rale in the control group on the 3rd day (>0.05). The scores of pant, wheezing rale, cough on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th days in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all<0.05), except the score of wheezing rale score on the 3rd day (>0.05). There were no significant difference between the two groups about the scores of cough up phlegm, fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm and shortness of breath on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th days (all>0.05), except the score of fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm in the observation group was lower than that in the control group on the 12th day (<0.05). 46 cases were clinical cured, 39 cases were markedly effective, 10 cases were effective and 3 cases were ineffective in the observation group with the total effective rate of 96.9%. 23 cases were clinical cured, 43 cases were markedly effective, 24 cases were effective and 9 cases were ineffective in the control group with the total effective rate of 90.9%. The difference was statistical (<0.05).

CONCLUSION"Five needles therapy" has significant therapeutic effect for asthma of latent cold phlegm-fluid in the lung, which is better than conventional acupuncture.