OBJECTIVETo study effects of a combined regime of auricular-plaster and body acupuncture in treatment of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type and make a preliminary revelation of the mechanism.

METHODSNinety-two patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, the treatment group (n = 56) received the combined regime of auricular-plaster and body acupuncture, and the control group (n = 36) received treatment with body acupuncture. Clinical symptoms and signs, therapeutic effect and some indexes about vertebrobasilar hema-kinetics and hema-rheology were investigated before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe treatment group was better than the control group in the clinical overall effective rate (89.29%) and the clinically control rate (17. 85%), and in improving the following indexes, including dizziness and headache, the vertebrobasilar volume and rate of blood flow etab and IR (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA combined regime of auricular-plaster and body acupuncture ameliorates not only main signs but also some indexes about vertebrobasilar hema-kinetics and hema-rheology. This treatment is an effective therapy for cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type both in Malaysia and in China.