OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical effect of combination of far with near acupoints, Chengshan (BL 57) and Changqiang (GV 1), for acupuncture treatment of hemorrhoidal pain.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of hemorrhoids with pain were randomly divided into 2 groups, an electroacupuncture group and a medication group, 60 cases in each group. The electroacupuncture group were treated by electroacupuncture at Changqiang (GV 1) and Chengshan (BL 57) with sparse-dense wave, frequency 2/100 Hz; and the medication group with oral administration of Tramadol and rectal application of Mayinglong Shexiang Zhichuang Suppository. The two group were treated for five days. Changes of pain were assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores at the defecation each day.

RESULTSIn the electroacupuncture group, VAS score was 6.64 +/- 3.66 before treatment and 5.65 +/- 2.21 on the second day of treatment with a significant decrease (P < 0.05), and 1.85 +/- 1.24 on the fifth day after treatment end. In the medication group, VAS score was 6.58 +/- 3.18 before treatment and 4.86 +/- 2.04 on the third day after treatment with significant decrease compared with that before treatment, and 2.24 +/- 1.46 on the fifth day. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the pain score on the fifth day after the treatment end.

CONCLUSIONCombination of Chengshan (BL 57) with Changqiang (GV 1) is effective for improvement of hemorrhoidal pain in defecation.