OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on the basis of western medicine treatment on persistent vegetative state.

METHODSThe patients of treatment group were treated by acupuncture at "Liming", Shuigou (GV 26), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Shixuan (EX-UE 11), Yamen (GV 15), Yongquan (KI 1) on the basis of routine treatment of western medicine, more using the method for activating brain and restoring consciousness, and firstly using moxibustion until the manifestation of deficiency improving and then using above methods for prostration syndrome. And control group were treated with routine treatment of western medicine.

RESULTSThe recovery rate and cured rate for mind after 3 therapeutic courses were 90.0% and 5.0%, and after 6 courses were 95.0% and 25.0% in the treatment group, respectively, which were significantly better than 47.5%, 0, and 65.0%, 5.0% in the control group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can obviously increase the recovery rate and cured rate for mind of persistent vegetative state.