OBJECTIVETo observe differences of therapeutic effect between acupuncture combined with bloodletting and regular western medication on chronic urticarial.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture bloodletting group and a loratadine group, 80 cases in each group. In the acupuncture bloodletting group, Quchi (LI 11), Neiguan (PC 6), Xuehai (SP 10) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected and manipulated with reducing method, and pricking bloodletting with three-edge needle and cupping were given at Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), once every other day. The oral administration of 10 mg loratadine was applied in the loratadine group, once a day. The therapeutic effect in two groups was observed and compared after four weeks.

RESULTSThe cured and markedly effective rate was 91.3% (73/80) in the acupuncture bloodletting group, which was similar to 81.3% (65/80) in the loratadine group (P > 0.05). The scores of symptom-sign in the two groups were reduced after treatment (10.14 +/- 1.95 vs 2.12 +/- 40.32, 10.30 +/- 1.82 vs 3.21 +/- 0.28, both P < 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). There was no obvious adverse effect in the acupuncture bloodletting group while 3 cases of mild somnolence were reported in the loratadine group.

CONCLUSIONThe acupuncture bloodletting is an effective method for chronic urticarial, which has similar effect to loratadine without adverse effect.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Bloodletting ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Urticaria ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects of pricking blood therapy combined with acupuncture and routine western medicine on herpes zoster.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty cases were randomly divided into 2 groups, 120 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with acupuncture combined with pricking blood therapy on the point with the most pain, and cupping and surround needling; the control group with external application and oral administration of Aciclovir plaster and Aciclovir tablets, respectively. Their therapeutic effects were compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 92.5% in the treatment group and 55.8% in the control group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The time of producing killing pain, stopping vesication and scabbing in the treatment group was shorter than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe pricking blood therapy combined with acupuncture is an effective therapy for herpes zoster.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phlebotomy ; methods