Objective To observe the efficacy of stage treatment with acupuncture plus intermediate frequency for Bell's palsy and its effect on serum NO content. Method By adopting a randomized controlled design, eighty eligible patients with Bell's palsy were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The two groups both received acupuncture treatment in acute stage (within 1 week after the onset); in the remission stage (since 1 week after the onset), electroacupuncture apparatus was added for the control group, and intermediate frequency was given to the treatment group in addition to the intervention for the control group. The House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve grading system and serum NO content were observed before and after the treatment. Result The H-B facial nerve grading was improved after the intervention in both groups; the total effective rate was 95.0% in the treatment group, significantly higher than 82.5% in the control group (P<0.05); the serum content of NO was significantly improved after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05), while the increase in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion In treating Bell's palsy, stage treatment with Acupuncture plus intermediate frequency can effectively restore facial nerve function, significantly enhance clinical efficacy and shorten treatment duration. This disease is closely related to the content of serum NO, and the benign regulation on serum NO content is possibly the mechanism of acupuncture in treating facial paralysis.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect difference between drug-spreading moxibustion and the oral administration of meloxicam for primary dysmenorrheal with cold stagnation and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSA total of 101 patients with primary dysmenorrheal were randomly assigned into a drug-moxibustion group(52 cases) and a western medication group(49 cases). Drug-spreading moxibustion was used on the lumbosacral acupoints area and then around lower abdominal five days before menstruation until the 3rd day of menstruation,once three days,while western medicine meloxicam was prescribed one day before menstruation,7.5 mg at a time,once a day and continuously for three days. The clinical effects after one course,namely three menstrual cycles,were compared between the two groups. Meanwhile,the resistance index(RI) and the pulsatility index (PI) of uterine artery and arcus arteriarum were examined through color Doppler ultrasound before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter one-course treatment,the effective rate was 92.3%(48/52) in the drug-spreading moxibustion group,which was better than 67.3%(33/49) in the western medication group(<0.05). Also,all the RI and PI in the drug-spreading moxibustion group were obviously decreased than those before treatment(all<0.05),and the ones were superior to those of the western medication group(all<0.05),which showed no apparent decrease after treatment(all>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDrug-spreading moxibustion can improve the symptoms of primary dysmenorrheal with cold-damp stagnation,and the effect is better than that of meloxicam. The mechanism may be related to improve the blood supply to the uterus.