OBJECTIVETo Assess therapeutic effect of ear point taping and pressing therapy combined with acupoint-injection on residual neuralgia of herpes zoster.

METHODSOne hundred and sixteen cases were randomly divided into a comprehensive group (n = 60) and a medication group (n = 56). The medication group were treated with routine western medicine, and the comprehensive group with ear point taping and pressing therapy combined with acupoint-injection besides the routine western medicine. Auricular points selected for ear point taping and pressing were Shemen, Neifenmi (endorine), Pizhixia (subcortex), Gan (liver), Dan (gallbladder), Fei (lung) and corresponding auricular points to the lesion parts, with the two ears alternatively used, pressing each day; points selected for point-injection of VitB12 were Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), Quchi (LI 11), Taichong (LR 3). The pain degrees, the time of pain alleviation and pain ceasing of the patient were regularly recorded.

RESULTSThe average time of pain alleviation and pain ceasing of the patient in the comprehensive group were significantly shorter than those in the medication group (P < 0.01). The cured rate and the cured and markedly effective rate were 60.0% and 83.3% in the comprehensive group, and 28.6% and 50.0% in the medication group, with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEar point taping and pressing therapy combined with acupoint-injection is effective and safe for treatment of residual neuralgia of herpes zoster.