OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) of damp-phlegm constitution treated with embedding therapy on back-shu points and front-mu points and needle-pricking therapy on Sifeng (EX-UE 10).

METHODSEighty-five patients were randomly divided into 2 groups of observation group (42 cases) and control group (43 cases). Embedding therapy on back-shu points and front-mu points and needle-pricking therapy on Sifeng (EX-UE 10) were applied to the observation group. Points such as Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Tianshu (ST 25), Zhangmen (LR 13), Jingmen (GB 25), Qimen (LR 14), Ganshu (BL 18), Weishu (BL 21), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25) and Xiaochangshu (BL 27), etc. were adopted for embedding therapy. At the same time, needle-pricking therapy on Sifeng (EX-UE 10) was also applied once a week. 0. 5 g metformin hydrochloride tablet was given to the control group, once a day for the first week, and twice a day from the second week. Estimation on therapeutic effect was made for both groups after 3 months treatment. Change of symptoms and signs scores, fasting insulin (FINS), 2 hour insulin after meal (2hINS) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) of both groups before and after treatment were observed, and therapeutic effect estimated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of the observation group is 97. 6% (41/42), and that of the control group was 95. 4% (41/43). There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0. 05). Scores of symptoms and signs after treatment were significantly improved in both groups (all P<0. 01), and the observation group was better than the control group (7.01+/-4.23 vs 8. 47+/-2. 82,P<0. 05). Compare with those before the treatment, FINS, 2hINS and HOMA-IR after the treatment were all decreased in both groups (all P<0. 05). The comparison between the two groups showed that differences of FIN had no statistic significance (P>0. 05) after the treatment, while both differences of 2hINS and HOMA-IR had statistic significance [ 2hlNS: (443. 531+/- 93. 90) pmol/L vs (621.29+/-93. 87) pmol/L ; HOMA-IR: 4. 88+/-0. 30 vs 5.06+/-0. 32, both P<0. 05]. The improvement of 2hINS and HOMA-IR in the observation group was better than that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of PCOS of damp-phlegm constitution with embedding therapy on back-shu points and front-mu points and needle-pricking therapy on Sifeng (EX-UE 10) have positive effect, which can effectively reduce the insulin resistance, meanwhile, reduce the side-effects of western medication.