OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects between body acupuncture and scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture on atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage.

METHODSForty-two cases of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage were divided into 2 groups. They were treated respectively by scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture and simple body acupuncture. The comprehensive scores of mind, speech, limb motor function, etc. of the patients before and after treatment were recorded and compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the cumulative scores in the two groups reduced significantly (P < 0.01); the difference of scores before and after treatment in the scalp-body acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the body acupuncture group (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference between the two groups in clinically effective rate (P > 0.05), but there was a very significantly difference between the two groups in the markedly effective rate (P < 0.01), the scalp-body acupuncture group being significantly higher than that in the body acupuncture group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can improve mind, speech and limb motor function of the patient with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage, and the therapeutic effect of scalp combined with body acupuncture is better than that of simple body acupuncture.