OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of electrical acupuncture (EA) at Qiuxu (GB 40) and Tianshu (ST 25), and to probe the factors of influencing the therapeutic effect.

METHODSTwo hundred and seventy-five cases were randomly divided into the test group of 138 cases treated with EA at Qiuxu (GB 40) and the control group of 137 cases treated with EA at Tianshu (ST 25). Their therapeutic effects were observed and the factors influencing the therapeutic effect were analyzed.

RESULTSThe transient effective rate was 70.3% in the test group and 58.4% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), and there were very significant differences between the two groups in the therapeutic effects at treatment of 4 weeks, and following-up 3 and 6 months later (P<0.001), the transient analgesic effect of EA at Qiuxu (GB 40) being better. EA had better transient effect on migraine for the mental workers, or the patient with high pain score at treatment, or more frequent attack. The long-term analgesic effect of EA at Qiuxu (GB 40) was better than Tianshu (ST 25).

CONCLUSIONThe analgesic effect of EA at Qiuxu (GB 40) is better than Tianshu (ST 25) and the profession and conditions of the patient are the factors influencing the therapeutic effect.