OBJECTIVETo optimize the best acupuncture therapy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and to explore its mechanism in terms of immunology.

METHODSOne hundred and eleven cases were randomized into an acupuncture-moxibustion group, an elongated needle group and a herb-partitioned moxibustion group, 37 cases in each group. In acupuncture-moxibustion group, penetration needling with elongated needle was applied at Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 26) and Huantiao (GB 30), which was followed with herb-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) and Yaoyangguan (GV 3), etc, once a day. Elongated needle and herb-partitioned moxibustion were applied in the elongated needle group and herb-partitioned moxibustion group respectively. The efficacy of each group was observed after 21 treatments and the value of serum immunoglobulin was measured and analyzed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 97.3% (36/37) in acupuncture-moxibustion group, which was superior to 75.7% (28/37) in the elongated needle group and 73.0% (27/37) in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group (both P<0.05). The visual analogue scale (VAS), straight-leg raising range and motion range of the lumbar vertebra in three groups were all improved after treatment (all P<0.05), which was more significant in the acupuncture-moxibustion group (all P<0.05). The difference of value of serum immunoglobulin before and after treatment was significant in the acupuncture-moxibustion group (P<0.05), which was not in the elongated needle group and the herb-partitioned moxibustion group (both P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapy of elongated needle combined with herb-partitioned moxibustion achieves superior efficacy in the treatment of LDH as compared with elongated needle or herb-partitioned moxibustion therapy, and it can regulate the humoral immunity system of patients.